| Subject: 8x13: Absentee |
Author:
VKMax
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Date Posted: 21:03:50 12/14/03 Sun
In reply to:
VKMax
's message, "8x13: Absentee" on 21:02:44 12/14/03 Sun
INT – HOSPITAL – NIGHT
Dawn is packing up her bag’s as Spike walks in
SPIKE
Boo!
Dawn drops her bag and holds her chest – shocked
DAWN
Spike?
SPIKE
Right, what are you doing?
DAWN
Wait, what are you doing here?
SPIKE
Came to see how you are is all
DAWN
You’ve been like majorly not here
SPIKE
I’ve been to see you here twice now
DAWN
How long have you been back?
SPIKE
Never went away
DAWN
Does Buffy know?
SPIKE
Since a today just
DAWN
Another thing she didn’t tell me
SPIKE
She’s scared Dawn
DAWN
Of you?
SPIKE
For you
DAWN
I’m okay though – Willow’s spell, it worked
SPIKE
Not that, s’your Dad, wants to take you to live with him – Buffy’s scared that he’ll be able to, more scared that you’ll want to
DAWN
How could she think that?
SPIKE
How could she not? You know and I know that’s she’s done a bloody great job with you – all she sees the exposure to death and the threat of it
DAWN
What about the prevention?
SPIKE
Hey, niblet, it’s her you need to be having this talk with – I just came to check up on you
DAWN
Right
SPIKE
She coming to pick you up?
Dawn looks down guilty before walking to the door
SPIKE
Ah, discharging yourself
She walks a little further, ignoring Spike – he picks up the pad from the bed and places it on himself, Dawn turns, startled and wide eyed as she hears the beep begin to start again
SPIKE
Got your attention now?
DAWN
How…
SPIKE
You
DAWN
Me?
SPIKE
That night when you went on a wild one – you touched me, you bought me back
DAWN
But…
SPIKE
Don’t mean to be all movie of the week for you little bit, but you’ve got, no you are a great power – I don’t think you’re going to die. I think you can use this.
DAWN
The power?
SPIKE
Yourself – why do you think Glory wanted you so badly? Doesn’t matter what form you’re in – you can still do something big.
DAWN
But…
SPIKE
S’up to you kid, keep dying slowly or live it large while you got it
CUT TO.
INT – MAGIC BOX – NIGHT
Tara walks in to the shop – it’s practically empty as she glides through, running her fingers along the edge of table’s and chairs
ANDREW
We’re closed…oh, Tara
TARA
It’s you
ANDREW
It’s me
TARA
Willow’s friend
ANDREW
Right, Willow’s friend- not W…I’m just Willow’s friend
TARA
Warren’s friend
ANDREW
What?
TARA
It wasn’t your fault, I-I don’t blame you or the little one
ANDREW
But…
TARA
It just feels strange you know?
ANDREW
Not really, I never died before
TARA
No, that’s true
ANDREW
Are you okay?
TARA
This place looks different
ANDREW
Well it’s like totally rebuilt since Willow wrecked the place
TARA
W…oh, I remember
ANDREW
You remember?
(beat)
Wow, cool can you really see thing’s from up there because I did this neato kicking thing in the High School last Spring but like everybody missed it so if you could just clarify that’d be…
Tara begins to head for the door
ANDREW
There goes another one
CUT TO.
EXT – SUNNYDALE – NIGHT
Buffy and Willow are walking along with fair speed, not watching much as they cross the street
BUFFY
Willow calm down
WILLOW
How can you ask me to be calm?
BUFFY
Willow listen to me!
Buffy grabs Willow by the arm and holds her in place
BUFFY
Willow she’s a grown woman – she just needs space, time to figure it all out
WILLOW
Buffy don’t you remember what it was like when you came back?
BUFFY
But Tara hasn’t been in heaven
WILLOW
What are you talking about?
BUFFY
She said to me, she told me that she couldn’t remember where she’s been the past two years because she hasn’t been anywhere
WILLOW
I don’t understand
BUFFY
The last thing she saw was you, when you crossed over, the next thing she knew was tonight
WILLOW
Oh god, how can she…how can she even look at me
BUFFY
Because she’s Tara, she can feel who you are – she knows it’s you Will
WILLOW
We have to find her
BUFFY
We will, just, calm down okay?
WILLOW
Okay
HANK (O.S)
Buffy
Buffy looks over and sees Hank across the street
BUFFY
Oh crap
WILLOW
Who’s that?
BUFFY
My estranged absentee father
WILLOW
That’s your dad?
BUFFY
Long story
WILLOW
I expect so
HANK
I want to talk to you about what happened at tonight
WILLOW
I should probably…
BUFFY
Don’t go anywhere
WILLOW
Which is also a good plan
HANK
I’d prefer we talk in private
BUFFY
I’d prefer you never came back but hey beggar’s can’t be choosers. What do you want?
HANK
Really, I don’t want to discuss this in front of your friend
WILLOW
That’s my cue to…
BUFFY
Stay
WILLOW
Okay.
HANK
Fine. If you want me to make it public
BUFFY
It wont’ be public – you see this girl has been my best friend for eight years and lived with me for three – I trust her, what I don’t trust is you. So cut to the chase
HANK
Just the same as your mother, always shooting off about…
Hank is suddenly holding his nose as blood pours from it
BUFFY
Ever say anything about her again I will hit you so hard you’ll time travel
HANK
You’re insane and this just proves my case
Hank starts to walk away
HANK
I’ll be by to collect Dawn tomorrow
WILLOW
Buffy what’s going on?
Buffy just stare’s at Hank as he walks away
CUT TO.
INT – XANDERS APARTMENT – NIGHT
Xander answers the door to Dawn who is looking lost as a lamb
XANDER
Did I fall asleep?
DAWN
I discharged myself
XANDER
Wait, you’re trying to avoid death right?
DAWN
I’m better
XANDER
I’m talking about when Buffy finds out
DAWN
I don’t care
XANDER
Well I do – we’re hardly on the best of terms and if she finds I’m stowing her away she’ll be extreme pissed
DAWN
You guys fell out?
XANDER
It’s nothing major
DAWN
Xander
XANDER
She kinda found out I knew something and didn’t tell her
DAWN
Spike
XANDER
She told you?
DAWN
He came to see me
XANDER
Again?
DAWN
You knew he’d already been?
XANDER
Don’t get mad! I was completely sworn to secrecy! I still haven’t told Buffy it was you who made a hole in the wall with her weapons
DAWN
I won’t fall out with you – it was good he came by, he had an after school special talk with me
XANDER
He’s good at those lately. What did he say?
DAWN
Talked about how to use myself
XANDER
That’s disgusting, I mean, I know you’re a little woman now but…
DAWN
(rolls eyes)
My powers. He says I should use them
XANDER
You can use them?
DAWN
I don’t know, maybe – but if I can then I should, if I’m supposed to be so precious I must do something other than open that gate otherwise I wouldn’t have existed for thousand’s of years
XANDER
Wow. That’s the first time you’ve said that
DAWN
What?
XANDER
I
DAWN
I’ve said “I” lot’s of times
XANDER
Not when referring to the key
DAWN
Oh. Well yeah, I guess I just have to accept it – they key is me, I’m the key
CUT TO.
INT – BUFFYS HOUSE – NIGHT
Dawn walks through the door with Xander, Willow runs straight over to her
DAWN
What’s going on?
WILLOW
Where’s Tara? Have you seen Tara?
Xander and Dawn look at Willow like she’s lost the plot
XANDER
Time to take you off the preppy pills
WILLOW
She’s back – she…from the dead she’s back
DAWN
What?
WILLOW
It’s complicated – you had her top in your room and I thought it was yours and used it for your restoration spell, restoring life to the owner – but the owner wasn’t you. Just the hair in the brush and…
XANDER
Come up for air
DAWN
Tara’s back?
XANDER
Okay I see we have some catching up to do, does Buffy know?
A very sour faced Buffy slowly walks in unfolded
BUFFY
What are you doing here?
XANDER
I just bought…
BUFFY
Dawn
XANDER
…home
BUFFY
I was talking to Dawn
(beat)
Dawn, what are you doing here?
DAWN
I…discharged myself
BUFFY
Oh, that’s really going to help things. Thanks oh so much.
(pause)
Excuse me
Buffy runs out of the door, closely followed by Xander
EXT – BUFFYS HOUSE – NIGHT
XANDER
Buffy
Buffy stops but doesn’t turn around
XANDER
I spoke to Dawn – she has no intention of going with your Dad
BUFFY
She’s a minor! She doesn’t have a legal choice
XANDER
She’s a person, yes she does
BUFFY
Xander I can’t do this, not all at…
Buffy stops as her cell rings
BUFFY
Hello?
FAITH
Buff
BUFFY
Faith?
XANDER
Faith?
Buffy raises her hand to asks Xander to stop for a moment
BUFFY
What is it?
FAITH
Somethin’s goin’ down B. I got back from L.A today there’s another one
BUFFY
Another what?
FAITH
Rona’s dead – inside’s out
BUFFY
Oh god
FAITH
We’re losin’ ‘em B
Buffy hangs up the phone and stares into space
XANDER
Buffy what is it?
BUFFY
It’s…have you seen Vi? I need to speak with Vi
XANDER
What is it? What happened?
BUFFY
It’s Rona…she, she’s been killed
XANDER
Vampire?
BUFFY
Worse – get the gang together, we need to talk
CUT TO.
EXT – FOREST – NIGHT
Tara is walking slowly through the forest as she comes across a rusted axe which is set in the floor.
She walks a little further and find’s two trees, touching the bark she closes her eyes
FLASH TO WHITE
Willow
Bored Now.
Warren’s skin tears off
FLASH TO WHITE
Tara pulls her hand back and winces at the memory
CUT TO.
INT – BUFFY’S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Xander, Andrew, Dawn, An anxious Willow and a tearful Vi are sat around as Buffy marches in front of them
BUFFY
Wow. I may be a little rusty I haven’t done one of these in a while
SPIKE (O.S)
Room for one more?
Everyone turns to see Spike standing in the door way
BUFFY
(smile)
Always
Spike sits down next to Xander, they both give awkward understanding glares
BUFFY
Something’s happening – something big. A few weeks back I had a vision
WILLOW
Buffy?
BUFFY
Kendra – she came to me in my sleep she had the scythe and…then Robin gave me back the slayer bag, he sent me to the other dimension
SPIKE
Knew he was evil
BUFFY
He’s not evil. He sent me there to meet Kendra – she showed me slayers all over the world being killed off, but never showed me who was doing it. She took me to the hellmouth where Amanda died.
Buffy walks more up front
BUFFY
It could be Glory. It could be The First – it could be something new, all I know is the best of the best are sinking and fast and we’re not going to let that happen. That will make this entire year and half a waste of time to lose everyone we saved.
(pause)
Vi, you’re moving in – I can’t risk you being at the manor anymore, Siobhan and Sarah are heading to Los Angeles tomorrow. I figure the more spread out, the harder we are to kill.
(beat)
This mean’s that I may have to skip down for a few days to check on the slayer’s – the coven, Willow, anyone we can find with power – I need them to set up a tracker spell, locate wherever the slayers are and what area’s the numbers are decreasing in.
(longer pause)
We’ve beat a Hell God and the thing that created evil, we’ll beat this.
Everyone looks unsure and uncomfortable as the door slams shut and everyone turns around
END OF PART THREE
INT – WILLOWS ROOM – NIGHT
Tara walks in as Willow bolts up and runs over, hugging her
WILLOW
Where’ve you been? I thought…
TARA
I’m sorry
WILLOW
No, no it’s okay I’m just relieved to have you back and…
TARA
I went to the forest where you killed Warren
WILLOW
(confused)
Tara
TARA
I went there to try and…I don’t know why you did it
WILLOW
I wasn’t me Tara, it wasn’t my fault
TARA
Yes it was, I know you were grieving and I understand that, but it was your fault – you let yourself go that far by staying with the magic even after I broke up with you
WILLOW
But I…I stopped I got off it
TARA
Did you?
WILLOW
What does that mean?
TARA
Will, what you did…I can forgive you. I’ll always forgive you, but I saw it, the destruction –
WILLOW
What are you saying?
TARA
I can forgive
(shakes head)
But I can’t ever forget what you did
Tara walks past, avoiding eye contact as she prepares for bed, Willow stares at nothingness
CUT TO.
INT – KITCHEN – MORNING
Buffy is making breakfast for Dawn
BUFFY
You’re going to be late!
Dawn comes running and grabs toast from the side
DAWN
I can’t believe you’re making me go to school when you and Willow are skipping it!
BUFFY
Willow’s spending time with Tara and I have to save the world again, but hey if you feel like it you can go get thrown around a graveyard in Indiana!
DAWN
I’ll skip it thanks
HANK
Knock, knock
Hank steps in through the back door
BUFFY
What are you doing here?
HANK
I told you Buffy, don’t act like you can’t remember
BUFFY
Leave
HANK
I’m here to collect my daughter
DAWN
No!
HANK
Dawn, I’m afraid by law, after your Mom’s passing I’m your legal guardian
BUFFY
Don’t make me give Dawn orphan status. You have no right to claim her as your responsibility after three years of forgetting she existed! You wouldn’t be doing this if you hadn’t seen me kill that demon the other night!
HANK
Don’t start this again
DAWN
It’s true. She’s the slayer and she does this as her calling
HANK
Not you to!
(to Buffy)
I’m going to beat you – even if it means I have to do it physically
Hank looks over to the door a little mystified
GILES
I’d like to see you try it and live
END
Special Guest Star
Anthony Stewart Head
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