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Date Posted: 17:31:19 05/14/03 Wed
Author: First aired Wednesday 14th May 2003
Subject: Episode 8.14 - "MINIME PERCURSUM ITER" by anyas_butt_monkey (Part I)

PREVIOUSLY, ON BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER:

From "The Chosen Three"
RAVEN: I'm one of you, a Slayer, a Chosen One.

(Clip of Raven vamping out)

From "Riding The Wave"
RAVEN: I call forth the power of the four, the servants of the end. Morbus, Bellari, Fames, Fera Regnare.

JAMES: You summoned us?
RAVEN: I've got a job for you.

From "Hotshot"
RAVEN: What are you doing?
JAMES: You wanted us to get started.... we are.

(Clip of Raven's body unconscious on the floor of the High School Basement)

From "Ritual Me This"
(Clip of Giles, Faith, Spike & Kennedy walking down the corridor of the High School. Raven's battle with the Four Horsemen - Raven escaping the Horsemen's ritual and leaving before anybody notices. The Horsemen powering their own ritual, opening The Hellmouth. Giles, Faith & Kennedy fall into the Hellmouth.)

From "Doppelgangland"
ANYA: Give me another chance.
D'HOFFRYN: Your time has passed.
ANYA: But....but I....
D'HOFFRYN: Do not ask again.

From "Hell's Bells"
D'HOFFRYN: It's time you got back to what you do best....don't you think?

(Clip of Anya staring up at him)

From "Broken Windows"
(Clip of Anya looking at her ring)

From "Ritual Me This"
(Clip of Willow dropping to the floor)

WILLOW: The Hellmouth....it's....oh God, Buffy!

*START OF EPISODE*

The screen is totally dark.

ANYA: (VO) Sometimes in life, things happen that you least expect. Make that most of the time, really. They can change you, for better. Or for worse. And you'll never know until you've made a choice. Chosen a path.

*FADE INTO: THE HELLMOUTH*

(Anya's voiceover continues as the screen slowly fades into a view of The Hellmouth.)

ANYA: (VO - Cont...) But you'll always be wondering, what if you'd chosen a different path...

(Camera pans around, its dark. Suddenly, Faith walks into view. She's looking around, slightly confused.)

ANYA: (VO - Cont...) And what of your life before? It doesn't just disappear into the history books. Oh, no.

(Faith carries on walking, stake in hand. As she rounds a corner, she sees something. Two somethings. Chained to the wall. Faith runs up, then a look of bewilderment comes on her face.)

FAITH: Oh my god, Giles...Kennedy...how'd you guys end up like this?

ANYA: (VO - Cont...) One lesson I've learnt living with the Scoobies....is that the past always comes back to bite you in the ass.

VOICE: That was me.

(Faith turns around in the direction of the voice, and her jaw drops.)

VOICE: There's my girl!

(Faith's lip trembles.)

FAITH: Boss?

*FAMILIAR WOLF HOWL. MAIN TITLE CREDITS ROLL*

*EXT: THE HIGH SCHOOL*

(Spike, Buffy and Willow are still outside - Willow's still on the ground.)

BUFFY: Will! Willow! Are you alright?

WILLOW: Oh god....it's awful, Buffy.....I can feel everything.... there's so much violence....

SPIKE: We should get going.

BUFFY: Not until I know she's alright! *to Willow* Can you move?

(Willow starts to get up.)

WILLOW: Yeah....I think so....but Buffy -

(Willow grabs Buffy's arm. Buffy looks at her.)

WILLOW: - We shouldn't go down there.

BUFFY: Faith is down there, Giles and Kennedy are too. You're saying we should just leave them?

WILLOW: No, but Buffy, what I felt.....it was - is - different. We shouldn't go in unprepared.


(Buffy looks at the bag of weapons Spike is carrying.)

BUFFY: I hardly call carrying an arsenal "going in unprepared".

WILLOW: You don't get it! Whatever it is that's down there, it's strong. Powerful. We're going to need more than weapons! *pause - Willow continues, quieter* The books we got from Amy's and the Council, they may have information.

(Buffy looks at her friend for a minute, then glances over at Spike - he has been listening, but hasn't tried to interrupt either of them so far. She looks back at Willow, then sighs.)

BUFFY: Willow, I know what you felt is scary. Probably horrific. But we can't just leave our friends - your girlfriend - to die, at the hands of whatever it is that you're feeling. On a hunch that some dusty books might be useful. Is that a risk you're willing to take?

(There's silence.)

WILLOW: I *know* what I felt. And I *know* that we won't be any help without more facts.

SPIKE: Red's right.

(Buffy looks at Spike, slightly surprised.)

SPIKE: I mean, what if there is something else down there? We'd just be going in to die alongside the others. If we go in, we go in fully-prepared.

(Spike drops the bag of weapons.)

SPIKE: Or not at all.

(Buffy looks at her two friends. She thinks for a few seconds.)

BUFFY: Fine. We'll go back to the house. But not for too long, I do not want to risk their lives any more than we have to.

WILLOW: Neither do I, Buffy.

BUFFY: Good. Then we're all agreed. Oh, get Anya on the phone, she might have some books at The Magic Box that we can use.

(Spike and Willow head off, away from the High School. Buffy picks up the weapon's bag, and begins to head off with them. She takes one last look at the High School, a solemn look on her face.)

BUFFY: Be safe, Giles.

*INT: THE MAGIC BOX*

(Anya is closing the door.)

ANYA: I'll call you, Jack. Thanks for the number!

(Just as the door closes, Anya's mobile rings.)

ANYA: Darn. I bet it's Giles, moaning about "entertaining guests" again....

(She goes for her bag, which had fallen from behind the counter, onto the floor, during the slight quake earlier. She pulls out the phone.)

ANYA: *into the phone* Hello? *pause* Oh, it's you. *pause* You want me to what? *pause* Oh, books. Why? Is there another apocalypse headed our way? *pause* I really shouldn't have said that, should I? *pause* Yes, I'll get them *pause* Willow, I know which books to get. They're part of Giles' private collection. *pause* Oh, right you know that. Coz of that time when you went all evil and sucked them dry *pause* Right, sorry. Look I'll be at the house soon.

(Anya puts the phone back into her bag, and heads up the stairs to Giles' stash of books. She browses the shelves, looking for the right books. The camera pans down into the main floor of The Magic Box. There's a small flash of light, and then...)

(D'Hoffryn appears in The Magic Shop. Anya, who hasn't noticed, is still looking through the private book collection, finding the books pertaining to The Hellmouth. He stands, waiting for her to register his arrival. After a minute, he coughs.)

ANYA: Bah!! *turns around* Oh, its you. Oh! It's you!

D'HOFFRYN: Finally! Honest to god, Anyanka, you've really lost your edge now that you're human again.

(Anya looks suspicious, and isn't in a hurry to walk down those stairs.)

ANYA: Have you come here to kill me?

D'HOFFRYN: Goodness, no, Anyanka! If I wanted to do that, I would've done it already! Whatever gave you that impression?

ANYA: Well, you've been sending demons after me to kill me. That was a pretty big clue.

D'HOFFRYN: Anyanka, I'm sorry that you got the impression I was trying to kill you –

ANYA: By sending demons after me. To kill me. You wanted me dead.

D'HOFFRYN: Well, ok, yes, I did. But it was little more than a petty squabble between lifelong friends. I'm past the animosity.

ANYA: You are?

D'HOFFRYN: Yes. *slightly frustrated* Can you come down here, so I don't have to talk so loud, my throat's kind of raw today... Look, can I just get the point of my visit?

ANYA: Sure, if it doesn't involve killing me.

(Anya makes her way down the stairs, clutching a thick book to her chest.)

D'HOFFRYN: Would you stop with that?! Just listen to me! I just came to give you some friendly advice.

ANYA: What? Become a demon again because what's coming is gonna be bad? Hallie already tried that once, it didn't work!

D'HOFFRYN: She did? Oh, well, that really spoils the reason for my visit. But she was right, you know.

ANYA: Right about what?

D'HOFFRYN: That you're on the wrong side. What you and your Slayer pals are about to face, its big. Its bad.

ANYA: It's the Big Bad, yes we already know that. We do have the internet, you know.

D'HOFFRYN: *Gets a puzzled look* Anyway. You have to choose a side, Anyanka.

ANYA: I already have.

D'HOFFRYN: Have you really? I mean, really, you'd rather fight on the side of some weakling humans than join with the Ultimate Crusade?

ANYA: They're not weak. Two Slayers, one Potential, an incredibly powerful witch, a vampire, and a Watcher.

D'HOFFRYN: Along with the Carpenter, the Brat, that...other guy, and the....what are you now, anyway? Shopkeeper? Part-time Witch? Ex-Demon? Do you even know what you are anymore?

ANYA: *silent*

D'HOFFRYN: Thought not. That's why you need to return to the fold. Your identity is Vengeance, Anyanka. Thats what makes you you, not this pathetic excuse for a life.

ANYA: Just go, D'Hoffryn, you're wasting your time.

D'HOFFRYN: I don't think I am. You remember the life, don't you Anyanka? The soirees, the torture, the massacres, all the men queuing to date you. Wouldn't you like all of that back?

ANYA: Hey! I have men queuing! They are queuing halfway round the block!

D'HOFFRYN: Really? Where, Anyanka? I didn't see any on my way in...

ANYA: Metaphorically, you moron.

D'HOFFRYN: Oh. You mean THAT snivelling excuse for a human?

ANYA: Don't talk about Xander that way.

D'HOFFRYN: Who said anything about Xander? I'm talking about....whats his name, oh, Jack.

ANYA: What do you know about Jack?

D'HOFFRYN: Only that he doesn't deserve you, Anyanka. You're far too good for him - he's beneath you. You can do much better, and all you have to do is say yes.

ANYA: D'Hoffryn, there is only so many ways I can tell you "no". Pretty soon, I'm gonna have to start using another language to turn you down. I've made my choice.

D'HOFFRYN: Then you've made the wrong one. What you're about to face - it'll be the death of you. You're all going to die fighting. If you come with me, you can have a ringside seat at the apocalypse, rather than participating.

ANYA: Thats a bloodless way of looking at it.

D'HOFFRYN: Yes, very effective. *Pauses for a moment* Well, if you're sure. I'll be off then. See you in Hell, Anyanka.

(D'Hoffryn vanishes again, leaving Anya to stand there, in the middle of the shop.)

ANYA: Well, that could've gone much worse.

##################################################

*CUT TO: THE HELLMOUTH*

Faith is standing there, right where we left her. The Mayor is standing in front of her, smiling.

FAITH: You're.....dead?

MAYOR: It's complicated. But the long and short of it is....yeah, I'm dead!

FAITH: Then how are you....

MAYOR:...standing right in front of you? Well, you see, I sold my soul once. Pesky thing, always getting in the way of my evil antics... Anyway, the deal I made - extends through death. Just because my corporeal self is gone, doesn't mean I've stopped working for the cause.

FAITH: *still confused* Cause of what?

MAYOR: Somebody's poking her nose into places it doesn't belong...

FAITH: Fine, don't tell me. But how –

MAYOR: *interrupting* How have I been, you ask? Oh, apart from the death thing, pretty good actually. Been keeping myself busy, you know the drill.

FAITH: *working her way out of her confusion* That's great, really. But I gotta be going now, so...

MAYOR: Are you walking away from me Faith? After all this time apart? You don't wanna catch up?

FAITH: Not particularly. What with you not being real, I don't think its such a good idea.

MAYOR: Oh, but I think it is. I know you, Faith. I know who you really are. Remember? We used to work together, side by side.

FAITH: That wasn't me. I wasn't myself.

MAYOR: And you're being yourself now? As Buffy Summers' lapdog?!

FAITH: *unconvincingly* It's not like that.

MAYOR: You can't fool me Faith! You always were such a terrible liar.

FAITH: Just stop it.

MAYOR: Oh, and did I tell you? I heard this crazy rumour that you were in prison! Willingly!

FAITH: I wanted it, I needed to be there. I did some wicked horrible things back then, but I've paid my dues.

MAYOR: *continuing his train of thought* Of all the things I thought I'd see... that wasn't one of them.

FAITH: Then it just shows how much you never really knew me. Which brings me to my next point...

(Faith pulls her stake up and aims at The Mayor's neck.)

FAITH: Who. Are. You?

(She plunges the stake into The Mayor, but he disappears. The inertia of plunging the stake keeps Faith going for a foot or two, as she stumbles over. As she rights her footing, she notices The Mayor standing behind her. She turns around.)

FAITH: You're all teleporty.

MAYOR: Yes I am! Its a not-unfortunate side effect of being dead. And now that I've got your full attention....I want you to tell me what you've been up to since I've been gone. *pause* No, wait. I want to tell you what I've been up to.

(Faith just stands there, getting more & more confused as to what's going on.)

MAYOR: I've been dead. Stuck in some crappy hell dimension as some Ubergod's bitch.

FAITH: Guess you deserved it.

MAYOR: Oh, I didn't deserve it. I was caught at a bad time.

FAITH: Is that what you call it?

MAYOR: Look, Faith, I've had a lot of time over the years to reflect. And I've come to the conclusion that my death? Wasn't my fault.

FAITH: Oh, wait. You're saying it's Buffy's fault your dead. Listen, Boss, I've fought side by side with her. I've heard the stories, and you know what? B didn't get lucky, she didn't catch you at a "bad time". You, and all those other bad guys she faced, were just stupid.

MAYOR: *chuckling* You're probably right, as usual. *pause* Just not in this instance. Actually, what I was going to say was that YOU, Faith, are to blame for my death.

FAITH: How's that?

MAYOR: *getting angry* You had the chance to finish Ms Summers off and you let it slip by! You held her life in the palm of your hands, and you let her live!

FAITH: Didn't really have a choice, she had a knife in my gut.

MAYOR: *ignoring her words* If you had done what you had to, and killed her, none of it - my death, you're coma - would've happened!

(The Mayor suddenly disappears, then reappears behind her. Faith is momentarily confused, but regains her focus.)

MAYOR: You wanted her to kill me! You let her kill me!

FAITH: It wasn't like that!

MAYOR: Then what was it like?!

FAITH *breaking down* I just wanted....

MAYOR: Yes?

FAITH: I wanted it to end! The death, the bad feelings inside.

MAYOR: But that didn't end, did it Faith? By letting her gut you, things just got even worse. Well, now's your chance to rectify that.

FAITH: *tears welling* What are you talking about?

(The Mayor points at Giles and Kennedy.)

MAYOR: Kill them.

FAITH: *pause* Kill them?

MAYOR: Not just them, Faith. Kill them all. Every last one.

FAITH: I can't, I don't want...

MAYOR: Do this for me, Faith, you owe me that.

Faith just looks at them, and the stake in her hands.

##################################################

*CUT TO: THE SUMMERS HOUSE*

(Dawn and Xander are researching. Andrew is nowhere to be seen.)

DAWN: Any ideas yet, Xander?

XANDER: Nothing yet. Although I did find out that there was meant to be a ritual blood-letting last Saturday...I'm guessing it didn't happen. Either that, or the world will end next Tuesday....

(They go back to their books.)

XANDER: I hope Faith will be ok.

DAWN: Huh?

XANDER: Just that... nothing. She's just been a little off her game since the Terral incident, is all.

DAWN: I hadn't noticed.

XANDER: Not many people would.

(Silence descends once again.)

DAWN: Do you actually think its The Hellmouth?

XANDER: I don't know.... I mean, we *do* live in California, one of these days Buffy may have to learn that sometimes, an earthquake is just an earthquake.

DAWN: But we do live in Hellmouth City...

XANDER: Which is true, and to be fair, the last 2 times we had a major quake, it was a sign of the apocalypse. *pause* But there's always a chance that the Hellmouth won't be opening *this* time...

(The front door bursts open. Xander and Dawn turn, and see Spike entering the house. Close behind him are Willow and Buffy.)

SPIKE: The Hellmouth's back in business.

XANDER: Ok, so I was wrong. I'll admit that.

DAWN: So why aren't you guys fighting to the death? *pause* With the demons...

BUFFY: Willow felt something. Something new. We need to hit research mode.

(Xander gestures to the books.)

XANDER: We're one step ahead of ya, Buffy.

BUFFY: Good.

(Buffy turns to Spike.)

BUFFY: Spike, let's just go. *turns to the group* Keep researching. See if you can find anything that might help us with this.... situation.

WILLOW: What? Why are you going?

SPIKE: *Where* are *we* going?

BUFFY: Back to the Hellmouth. I'm not going to leave them in danger. The least I can do is help them. Anyway I can.

WILLOW: But what I felt could....

BUFFY: Kill me, yes. But at least I'll die trying to save my friends. Spike, let's go.

(Spike looks at Buffy, then at Willow.)

SPIKE: Looks like she's going. And somebody should go to help her. So....

(Spike turns to follow Buffy out of the house. Just as they reach the front door, Anya arrives.)

SPIKE: Anya...

ANYA: No time for chitter-chatter. Get back inside!

BUFFY: *to Spike* Isn't it great how Anya always manages to remain irritating during a crisis?

(Anya comes into the house, carrying 3 large books. She sets them down on the table, then turns to the assorted Scooby Gang members.)

ANYA: We're in big trouble guys.

(Having heard Anya come in, Andrew rushes into the living room.)

ANDREW: Hey Anya! My birthday-cookies are ready, they're oatmeal. You wanna try some?

ANYA: *incredulous* You've been baking? What, are you retarded?! Are they special demon-killing cookies?

ANDREW: *slightly hurt* I said they were oatmeal.

ANYA: Whatever. Look, D'Hoffryn came to visit me. And he had news.

(Xander stands up, walks over to Anya.)

XANDER: D'Hoffryn? Are you OK? Did he try to kill you?

ANYA: No, apparently he's over it.

(The gang take a moment to register this.)

BUFFY: Oh.

DAWN: That's a good thing, right?

ANYA: Not really. Because he said we're all going to die anyway.

BUFFY: Anya, you know what these bad guys are like, always saying "you're all going to die", and none of them have ever really gotten to the killing-us part.

(Everyone looks at Buffy, then at Willow.)

BUFFY: Uh....what I meant to say was that, you know....crap.

(Buffy looks at Willow, Willow smiles at her.)

ANYA: Are we finished with the moment yet? Listen, D'Hoffryn doesn't make threats lightly. He always remains aloof, he likes to think he's above the petty Earth-dimension squabbles. For him to get involved...this could be bad.

BUFFY: *getting serious* What exactly did he say, Anya?

ANYA: Well, he told me I had to choose a side. And that the side I had chosen was the wrong one.

SPIKE: Wait, haven't we already had this storyline? Last year, with
Cecily....uh, I mean, Halfrek?

ANYA: Yeah, but this new writer. So unoriginal.

SPIKE: Huh.

ANDREW: Who's Cecily?

SPIKE: *hurriedly* No one, no one. You were saying, Anya?

ANYA: Focus people! He said we would all die fighting. *pause* I think he's telling the truth, D'Hoffryn doesn't take these matters lightly.

XANDER: Matters....?

ANYA: The apocalypse. You know what demon's are like, they can't wait for another demonic Messiah to end the world. D'Hoffryn takes these things seriously.

BUFFY: Who doesn't? Look, its probably just some idle threat to get you back into Vengeance.

SPIKE: Buffy, D'Hoffryn is still a big guy in the demon world. If he thinks this is big, then chances are...

ANYA: It is big.

DAWN: *hopeful* Well, did he happen to give away any handy clues like bad guys are so often prone to do?

ANYA: That only happens in Bond movies. And no, he didn't. He just kept saying that it was "big, and bad, and coming to kill us all."

XANDER: Wow. The Big Bad speech again. I tell you, these Uber-Bad guys, they're just so predictable when it comes to timing.

ANDREW: Apart from that one time when Willow went all... *realising everyone is glaring at him*....nothing.

BUFFY: Well, it sounds like whatever D'Hoffryn's talking about, is the same thing Willow felt.

ANYA: Did I miss something?

DAWN: Willow felt some new evil down in the Hellmouth.

ANYA: *to Willow* You can do that?

WILLOW: Yeah. Not a positive, believe me.

ANYA: What did it feel like?

WILLOW: Um....mostly, pain, and oddly some stomach cramps....

BUFFY: OK, well, if you girls would like to stop discussing the feel of evil, I think we've got ourselves a plan.

ANYA: We do?

BUFFY: Sure. We get D'Hoffryn. Here. And interrogate him.

DAWN: That's not a plan, that's suicide.

SPIKE: Niblet's right. It wouldn't be safe.

ANYA: Besides, Buffy, it's easier said than done. He's an incredibly powerful demon, and we have a hard enough time controlling a teenager.

DAWN: Hey, I said I was sorry for the *accidental* spillage...

ANYA: On my new blouse!

BUFFY: *turning away from Dawn & Anya* Will, do you know of any way of controlling D'Hoffryn?

WILLOW: Well, I still have that talisman....and I think I can work a binding spell on him. But D'Hoffryn's pretty powerful, I don't know how long I could hold it up.

BUFFY: Doesn't matter. We won't be too long. Get working on that. Dawn, Anya, Xander –

XANDER: Book bound, we know the drill.

BUFFY: We need to know what is going on here. The Hellmouth's opened.

XANDER: Buffy, we know. Don't worry. Get going.

ANDREW: What about me?

BUFFY: Oh. Well, I suppose you could...

(Andrew perks up.)

BUFFY: Bake more cookies.

(Andrew looks visibly deflated.)

DAWN: Buffy, what are you going to do?

(As Buffy walks out of the room with Spike, we hear her answer as we watch her back.)

BUFFY: Fight this thing.

ANYA: Enough of the melodrama, already.

(Buffy & Spike leave for The Hellmouth. The gang get started on their "missions".)

ANDREW: Who's Cecily?

##################################################

*CUT TO: THE HELLMOUTH*

(Faith is still standing there, looking between her stake and her two friends, chained to the wall of the cavern.)

MAYOR: *getting impatient* Look, Faith, I know that you have issues about this, but once you start killing again it'll be that much easier the next time. Just like riding a bicycle!

FAITH: These people have helped me, they're my friends.

MAYOR: You're not the type of person who has friends, Faith. You don't play well with others, you've said it yourself.

FAITH: That was then. This is –

MAYOR: - you fooling yourself? Come on Faith, you honestly believe these two, and the others, are your friends? If it was a choice between you or their precious Buffy, do you really think they'd choose you?

FAITH: That's not how this works...

MAYOR: Do you wanna know why the keep you around Faith? It's not because they like you! And it certainly isn't because you're the Slayer - they already have one of those.

FAITH: Stop it.

MAYOR: It's because they can look at you, and think how much better they are than you. How much more superior than you they are.

FAITH: They're good people, they're not like that. And I'm their friend, they like me for who I am. Who I'm trying to be.

MAYOR: You really are in denial, aren't you? Oh well, someday you'll wake up, and realise these people aren't who you thought they were.

(Faith turns around, and walks off. As she does so, she spies something walking towards her from out of the shadows....it's herself.)

FAITH: Wha....?

(The Mayor walks up behind her, as the duplicate Faith walks right up to the real Faith, and just stands there.)

MAYOR: It's like looking in a mirror, isn't it? Only, in this mirror, you see what's *really* there....

(Faith looks bemused. Her counterpart just smiles back at her, until she walks backwards, towards Giles and Kennedy.)

FAITH: No....

(Faith tries to move forward, but walks into some kind of invisible wall. She starts banging on the wall, screaming out to Giles, as she watches her doppelganger go over to them.)

(We now watch from the other side of the invisible wall. The real Faith is banging and screaming, but we can't hear anything. The Mayor stands behind her, smirking. The duplicate Faith takes a knife out of her pocket (the one The Mayor gave Faith in season 3), goes right up to Giles, and slices his left arm open. She looks over at Faith, who is virtually in tears - and smiles.)

(*Camera shifts back to the other side of the "wall"* The other Faith is gone, but Giles' arm is still bleeding profusely.)

FAITH: No..... No.....

(Faith turns round, a solitary tear streaming down her face.)

FAITH: You bastard.

MAYOR: Not me. You. You did that.

FAITH: No I didn't! She wasn't me.... you made her, you made her do that. Just let us go!

MAYOR: No use trying to escape, Faith. You can't.

(Faith turns away from The Mayor.)

FAITH: No harm in trying.

(Faith manages to make her way to the cavern wall, and starts climbing. She reaches the top, where the Sunnydale High basement should be, and...)

(She's back in the cavern. She turns around, and the gaping hole she just climbed through has gone. The Mayor stands in front of her, laughing.)

FAITH: What is going on?

MAYOR: There's only one way out of here, Faith. You have to kill them.

(The Mayor points at Giles and Kennedy.)

FAITH: I already told you, no. I am not that person anymore.

MAYOR: *starting to get angry* Yes you are, Faith! You're *my* Slayer, and you will do as your told!

FAITH: Not anymore, you lost control. In fact, you just plain lost.

MAYOR: I don't want to hear another word of this. Just kill them, you little ingrate!

FAITH: Oooh, name calling. That's real mature.

(Suddenly, another Mayor comes up behind Faith. Then a third. Pretty soon, about eight Mayors are standing around Faith, in a circle, all shouting and berating her.)

MAYOR 1: You wanted me dead!

MAYOR 3: You let her get away with it all!

MAYOR 4: You don't belong here, Faith!

(Faith's head starts spinning, she can't cope with this abuse.)

MAYOR 2: Don't be like this, Faith, you're a killer, not a whiner.

MAYOR 7: End this madness, just kill the Watcher.

FAITH: No!

(Faith reaches out to grab one of The Mayor's. As soon as she grabs him, the other seven all disappear.)

MAYOR: Just one hard plunge, that's all it takes.

FAITH: You got it.

(Faith plunges the stake into the heart of The Mayor. The Mayor looks down, in shock. He looks back up again, angry.)

MAYOR: You're gonna pay for that, you little bitch!

(The Mayor starts glowing red, from the inside outwards. Faith starts to back away from him. The red glow surrounds his entire body. As Faith looks closer, she sees The Mayor's face melt away, replaced with one of a demonic woman with snakes in her hair. The demon hisses at Faith.)

FAITH: What....?

(Before anything else can happen, the Mayor/demon explodes in a ball of fire, which knocks Faith back into the wall.)

##################################################

*CUT TO: THE SUMMERS HOUSE, EXTERIOR*

(Willow is walking out, on her way over to The Magic Box. Dawn comes running out of the house towards her.)

DAWN: Willow!

(Willow turns around, hearing Dawn call her name.)

WILLOW: What is it Dawnie...isn't it a bit late for a walk?

DAWN: Huh? Oh, the coat. No, I wanna go with you to The Magic Box.

WILLOW: Oh, sure. But it won't be much fun, just looking for ingredients and such like. Are you sure you wouldn't wanna stay with the others? Andrew's baking again...

DAWN: Oh, no, I'm sure. I mean, sit researching with Xander and Anya? I'd be suffocated by the tension!

WILLOW: *lost in thought*....what flavour cookies is Andrew baking? I'm in a cookie mood now... oh, right, yeah, research. With Xander and Anya. I don't think it's *quite* like that anymore, Dawn. They've sorted things out, moved on. Its what people do.

DAWN: So they've had closure? Coz I don't think that closure is possible when you get that involved with someone....

WILLOW: Have you been at my Sex & The City collection again?

DAWN: No. *pause* Well, yeah. *pause* I was bored!! But anyway, my point was that Xander and Anya went through so much together - how can people move on from that? How can they even begin to think of other people in the same way?

WILLOW: *looking thoughtful* You just do. You have to, otherwise you end up alone. Or worse.

(The duo stop walking, Dawn turns to face Willow.)

DAWN: You thinking about Tara?

WILLOW: Yeah.

DAWN: I do too. Sometimes, when I'm alone at night, I talk to her. Not really, of course - its not like The First is back again or anything. But I like to think she's up there, with mom, looking out for me. She was a good person...

WILLOW: *touched* Thats so sweet, Dawnie.

(The girls just stand there, staring up at the sky for a moment.)

DAWN: But enough moping around. We have a job to do!

WILLOW: Sure do. Lets get moving, we dont wanna be out here too long without protection...

DAWN: Fear not, because I have liberated Mr Pointy for my own personal use!

WILLOW: You mean you stole it. From Buffy.

DAWN: "Stole" is such a strong word...

(They continue to walk on, this time in silence. Willow is lost in thought, of Tara. And Kennedy. Dawn breaks the silence.)

DAWN: Are you worried about Anya?

WILLOW: Sorry?

DAWN: Worried. Anya. That was the gist of it.

WILLOW: Oh, right....why do you ask?

DAWN: Well, I mean being visited by your extremely powerful ex-boss, who tells you that unless you become a demon you're going to die horribly...that must be kinda weird for her.

WILLOW: But you're forgetting, our lives make Michael Jackson look normal and well-adjusted *smiles*.

DAWN: I know, I know, but still....if that happened to you, wouldn't you start wondering? About whether or not you are on the right side?

WILLOW: Um, I suppose it would, I guess....where are you going with this?

DAWN: Oh, nowhere really. I was just thinking out loud.

(They walk on, both now concentrating on the task in hand.)

##############################################

(Jack is walking up to his front door. As he walks in to his apartment, his attention is taken by the beeping light on the phone - he doesn't notice D'Hoffryn standing in his living room.)

(Jack checks the message - its from Anya. He smiles, at hearing her voice, kind of sweet-like.)

ANYA: Uh, hey, Jack, its me, Anya. But of course you already know that, coz I'm the only girl who would be calling. *pause* Aren't I? *another pause* Uh, anyway, look, if you get any visitors by the name of, oh, I dont know, D'Hoffryn....don't let them in, OK? He's kinda tall, wears black a lot, and oh, yeah, he's a demon with purple skin and horns. So, see you tomorrow?!

MACHINE: End of new messages. If you would like to -

(Jack presses another button and the machine stops talking. He smiles.)

JACK: I'll just pretend that was her asking me round for dinner or something...

(He turns around, coming face to face with D'Hoffryn.)

JACK: Aaargh!!

D'HOFFRYN: Hi there!

JACK: Wha....wha....what are you?!?!

(At this point, Jack has started to back away towards his front door.)

D'HOFFRYN: Oh, I think you know that answer. Tall, wears black, has purple skin and horns...

JACK: Wha...? D'Hoffryn....?!

D'HOFFRYN: Ah, the penny has dropped I see. Well, now that we're on first name terms, I think you should stop backing away from me. Really gives off a bad vibe, you know?

JACK: *still shaken* Well, uh, I'm hardly looking for us to be friends...

D'HOFFRYN: Of course not, why would you? You've got all the friend you need in Anya. Speaking of which...

(D'Hoffryn waves his hand, and Jack is rooted still on the spot. He can't move, despite his best efforts.)

D'HOFFRYN: What makes you think you're good enough for MY Anyanka?

JACK: Who...whose Anyanka?

D'HOFFRYN: Precisely my point.

(At that, D'Hoffryn grabs Jack and snaps his neck. He then takes out a dagger and starts stabbing his body, in what seems like a pattern. After the body is bloodied and broken, D'Hoffryn drops Jack to the floor.)

D'HOFFRYN: Oh, would you look at that, he stained my best robe! Now I'll have to change...

(D'Hoffryn disappears in a puff of smoke, leaving Jack's body on the floor.)

##############################################

*CUT TO: THE SUMMERS HOUSE, INTERIOR*

Xander and Anya are the only two in the Summers' living room. Anya sits, engrossed in a large and thick book. Xander sits across from her, half reading and occasionally glancing up at her. After a couple of seconds, he puts the book and goes to sit next to her.

XANDER: You ok?

ANYA: *looks up from her book* Fine. Why wouldn't I be?

XANDER: Just, you know....a visit from D'Hoffyn, The Hellmouth opening, hardly normal stuff –

ANYA: *cutting in* For other people. We're different.

XANDER: Yeah. I guess so.

(Slight pause. Neither of them know where to look.)

XANDER: Well, if you ever wanna talk, you know....we're still friends.

ANYA: I know.

XANDER: Doesn't hurt to say it again though.

(Anya smiles at Xander, then goes back to reading her book. Xander just watches her.)

ANYA: You know how off-putting that is?

XANDER: Kinda. I'm just bored. All this reading, its like being back in high school. Complete with the weekly life-and-death situations.

ANYA: Could you be bored elsewhere?

XANDER: *thinks about it* Does this annoy you?

ANYA: I'm going with yes.

XANDER: Then no. I wanna be bored here.

ANYA: Why don't you help Andrew with his cookies?

XANDER: I was thinking about that.... uh, wait. That’s not what I meant. Would you care to rephrase that?

(Anya just smiles, then goes back to reading. Xander looks around the room, then turns back to Anya.)

XANDER: So - D'Hoffryn really offer you your old job back?

ANYA: *slightly frustrated* Yes, he did.

XANDER: What'd you say?

ANYA: I said "Yeah, please make me a Mistress of pain again D'Hoffryn."

XANDER: If I remember, you don't need D'Hoffryn to do that...

ANYA: *laughingly* Stop it!

(Slight pause again.)

XANDER: So seriously, what did you tell him?

ANYA: *looks away from Xander* I told him no.

XANDER: 'S Good. Wouldn't wanna lose you again just as we...

ANYA: *turns back to Xander* But I'm not so sure I made the right choice.

XANDER: *pause* Anya...

(The phone starts ringing. Anya turns back to her book, while Xander reluctantly gets up to answer.)

XANDER: Hello?

DAWN: Hey, Xander, its me. Will & I have got the stuff she needs, we're on our way home now.

XANDER: Good, good.

DAWN: Are you ok? Your voice sounds....weird.

XANDER: No, no, I'm fine. *faking perky* Nothing to worry about!

DAWN: Oh, and Willow says you should get the basement ready. She doesn't wanna get scorch marks on the carpet. Not after last time...

XANDER: Will do.

DAWN: Oh, and she says hey too. Well, see you later!

(Dawn hangs up. Xander goes back into the living room. Anya is nowhere to be seen.)

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