Author:
written by Kenneth, not Joan
| [ Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 17:18:25 07/07/04 Wed
TEASER
EXT: Warehouse
Angel and Spike walk along outside.
SPIKE
All I’m saying is would it hurt to drum up a little business. Get some cash to fritter away, you know?
ANGEL
And we will, we just need to ease ourselves back into this.
SPIKE
We’ve been easin’ in for a bloody fortnight.
ANGEL
Oh, I’m sorry Spike, how long do you think is an acceptable amount of time to get over spending the best part of a year in a hell dimension?
SPIKE
What the hell are you worried about? I was ACTUALLY dead. I’m over it.
ANGEL
Well maybe it’s easier for you due to the fact your head is made of cement.
SPIKE
Do you smell that?
ANGEL
Oh would you stop…..
SPIKE
No. That.
Spike points to the warehouse.
ANGEL
Blood.
SPIKE
Demon and human.
ANGEL
Let’s check it out then.
CUT TO:
INT: Warehouse
Angel and Spike walk through the door. We can hear scuffling in the background. Angel indicates for Spike to go one way and goes another way himself.
Spike walks along his side. He sees some blood and touches it. He brings his fingers up to his nose smelling it and then moves on.
Angel walks up the other side. He sees a crowbar lying on the ground and picks it up – readying to use it as a weapon.
A piercing scream rings out – a woman’s voice. We hear gunshots ring out and a window smash.
Angel runs towards the noise. He gets there and Spike is already standing staring. On the ground a demon lies dead. Next to it a man cradles the dead body of the woman, we recognise her – and so does Spike.
SPIKE
Oh God.
The man looks up at Spike with a look of extreme grief mixed with much confusion. We recognise him too – he is Riley Finn. The dead woman in his arms is his wife, Sam.
END OF TEASER
STARRING
David Boreanez
James Marsters
J. August Richards
Amy Acker
Mercedes McNab
Ashley Scott
and
Alexis Denisof
SPECIAL GUEST STAR
Marc Blucas
ACT 1
INT : Warehouse
We pick up where we left off.
RILEY
Spike?
SPIKE
Riley.
ANGEL
Wait. Riley?
Riley turns around.
RILEY
Angel?
ANGEL
Yeah. Who’s the girl?
SPIKE
It’s his wife.
ANGEL
Wife?
SPIKE
How did this happen?
Riley looks down to Sam.
RILEY
I, I don’t know. They just… they were so fast. She…they.
Spike looks away and swallows.
ANGEL
Riley. It’s going to be alright.
RILEY
Alright? Alright!?! My wife is….(he breaks down crying)
ANGEL
(to Spike) We should probably get him back to the hotel.
SPIKE
Yeah.
CUT TO:
INT : Hyperion Lobby
Angel, Spike and Riley walk in. Riley is almost catatonic by this point. They are greeted by Harmony.
HARMONY
Boss, Miss “I don’t understand your pitiful technology” crashed the computer again.
ANGEL
Not now Harmony.
RILEY
Harmony? What is this? Evil Incorporated?
Gunn walks in.
GUNN
No, that was last year. (re: Riley) Charles Gunn.
Riley acknowledges him.
ANGEL
Riley. This way.
He indicates to his office. Riley walks in. Wesley appears from upstairs. Angel walks towards him and Gunn.
ANGEL
Guys, we’ve got a dead girl in the car. She's Riley’s wife. Do you think you could maybe bring her in and put her upstairs for now?
GUNN
Sure.
ANGEL
Harmony?
HARMONY
Yes Bossio?
ANGEL
Could you bring some coffee through to my office?
HARMONY
Sure thing.
She goes off to make the coffee. Angel walks towards the office but Spike stops him.
SPIKE
Angel – I’ll handle this one.
WESLEY
Are you sure that’s wise?
GUNN
Yeah Spike, this is a job that requires tact and comforting words.
SPIKE
And?
GUNN
That was kinda my point.
SPIKE
I know the guy. You don’t. It should be me.
ANGEL
Yeah. OK. But if you need help.
SPIKE
I know where you are.
ANGEL
OK.
Spike walks into the office and closes the door.
GUNN
So who’s this Riley guy anyway?
ANGEL
He used to date Buffy.
GUNN
Oh. Before or after you?
ANGEL
After.
WESLEY
Can’t have been married long then?
ANGEL
About two or three years from what I can gather.
GUNN
Any clue what did this?
ATHENA(O.S)
My guess is these guys.
All three guys jump as she sneaks up on them. She doesn’t even flinch as she hands Wes a tome.
ATHENA
There have been reports of these guys all over the city. (to Wes) Heard of them?
WESLEY
Unfortunately, yes. The Refgahd. An ancient species that devote their entire lives to discovering the meaning of it all. They tend to make a mess as they go along. Athena, has any kind of pattern emerged?
ATHENA
No.
WESLEY
Maybe I’ll take a look at those reports all the same.
ATHENA
I’m telling you there’s no pattern.
ANGEL
Wes take a look anyway. Once we get an idea where these guys should be we’ll go look for them. I’m guessing they won’t be hard too find anyway.
GUNN
Think we should bring in the Clean Marine?
ANGEL
No. He’ll be too volatile. He could get himself hurt. Spike’ll just have to keep him busy until we’ve taken out these guys.
GUNN
OK.
ANGEL
Let’s get to work guys.
END OF ACT 1
ACT 2
INT: Hyperion Office
Spike sits on Angel’s chair behind the desk. Riley sits to the front of the desk. Spike sips from his mug. Riley tearfully looks up to him.
RILEY
That blood?
SPIKE
He speaks. Yeah. It’s blood.
RILEY
Why are you even here? No chip, no Buffy to hold the leash. Instead, you're what, Angel's sidekick?
SPIKE
I'm nobodys sidekick.
RILEY
Whatever. What’s in this for you Spike?
SPIKE
Redemption.
RILEY
How can a soulless beast be redeemed?
SPIKE
I have a soul now.
Riley looks at him with disbelief.
RILEY
Gypsy curse?
SPIKE
Fought for it.
RILEY
Why?
SPIKE
Guilt.
RILEY
Over what?
SPIKE
That’s personal.
They both fall silent again. There’s a knock on the door and Harmony comes in.
HARMONY
Spike. Angel wants you.
SPIKE
Tell him I’m busy.
HARMONY
It’s about his wife being dead.
Spike gives a laugh of disbelief and shakes his head.
SPIKE
(to Riley) I’ll be right back.
RILEY
Don’t rush.
Spike walks out and joins the others at the reception desk. Illyria has joined them.
SPIKE
What’s up?
WESLEY
We think we’ve got a lead on the demons that did this.
ANGEL
We’re gonna head out and try to track them down. Can you keep Riley busy until it’s taken care of? I don’t want him fighting them in his current condition.
ILLYRIA
Fool.
ANGEL
Pardon me?
ILLYRIA
You are a hypocrite. I cannot abide hypocrites.
ANGEL
How am I a hypocrite?
ILLYRIA
You always fight because of grief. Sahjahn, Jasmine, Wolfram and Hart, (beat) me. You picked fights with every single one of us because of grief and now you want to stop this man because of it?
SPIKE
She kind of has a point.
ANGEL
Keep him busy.
SPIKE
I’ll try.
Spike walks back into the office.
ANGEL
Right. We’ll start at the warehouse. If they’re not there then we’ll split into two teams. Wes and Illyria you go one direction. Gunn and I will go in the other.
HARMONY
Uh boss?
ANGEL
What?
HARMONY
What team am I on?
ANGEL
Oh, right, well your on the team that (raises voice) STAYS HERE!!!
Gunn stifles laughter.
HARMONY
You know, I don’t deserve this treatment.
ANGEL
You betrayed us to an evil law firm, almost got us all killed and yet we’re still paying you. Deal with the treatment or leave.
HARMONY
If I leave you’ll kill me.
ANGEL
Yeah, probably. (to everyone else) Let’s move out.
CUT TO:
INT : Hyperion Office
Spike and Riley are sitting in the same positions as they were before.
RILEY
I feel ashamed of myself you know?
SPIKE
What happened wasn’t your fault.
RILEY
It’s not even that.
SPIKE
Then what?
RILEY
It’s just… It’s not even been two hours and already I’m finding myself thinking of her in the past tense. Thinking of all the things we used to do.
Riley begins to cry. Spike gets up and moves around to the other side of the desk. He sits on the edge and leans forward to touch Riley on the shoulder. Riley violently beats Spikes arm away.
RILEY
Don’t touch me!!! Don’t dare ever touch me!!! You disgust me!!! You're just like the bastards who did this!!! (he quietens down)Screw this, screw talking. I’m out of here.
He storms towards the door. Spike gives chase.
SPIKE
I can’t let you leave Riley.
RILEY
Let me? There is no let. I’m not staying here a second longer.
SPIKE
If I let you leave you’ll go after those demons and get yourself killed like a proper bloody wanker. That’s not happening.
RILEY
(coming round) Yeah. You’re right. That’s not gonna happen. (beat) I ain’t gonna get killed.
He storms out. Spike goes after him.
SPIKE
Riley!!! (he spins round) Harm!! Call Angel, tell him Riley’s left the hotel.
He runs out of the hotel.
HARMONY
Geez. Do I have to do everything around here?
ATHENA
You could quit.
HARMONY
Huh, you try pulling off this ensemble looking like a pile of dust.
END OF ACT 2
ACT 3
EXT: Dark Street
Wesley and Illyria walk along the street.
ILLYRIA
I do not understand the people of this time.
WESLEY
Well that is breaking news.
ILLYRIA
You are driven by so many different emotions that you are continually overwhelmed by the simplest of things.
WESLEY
By which you mean….
ILLYRIA
The soldier.
WESLEY
Of course.
ILLYRIA
And all the others.
WESLEY
The others?
ILLYRIA
Alexander Knox, Angel, (beat) You.
WESLEY
The link is grief.
ILLYRIA
I understand grief. I have experienced it when I thought you had been killed. What I do not understand is the inability to channel it into something positive.
WESLEY
Illyria, grief is not a positive emotion.
ILLYRIA
All emotion is positive.
Wesley stops and turns to face her.
WESLEY
(sighing) Here we go…
ILLYRIA
In my time here I have begun to understand more about human beings than I ever thought possible. Truthfully, I doubted there was much knowledge to gleam. To me you were a subordinate two-dimensional species, existing only to serve. But this is not so. It is a human beings ability to feel that sets them apart from the other species. If a human being did not feel such a range emotions it would be incapable of achieving anything. They are your greatest weapon, and given your pitiful physiques it is the only one you have.
WESLEY
You know, Illyria, the more I get to know you, the more I begin to think that maybe, you just really like the sound of your own voice.
ILLYRIA
You mock me because you do not like what it is I say.
WESLEY
No, I mock you because you’re an easy target for it. Look, Illyria, if we allowed every emotion we had to be expressed in a positive manner then we would lose that range of emotions. A lot can be said for self-pity.
ILLYRIA
Well, you would know.
WESLEY
Oh good, you’ve developed sarcasm. Aren’t we all lucky?
ILLYRIA
I tire of your tone. You are always….
WESLEY
Shut up.
ILLYRIA
Petulance!!!
WESLEY
I think I’ve found something. I better call Angel.
CUT TO:
EXT: Street (near the Warehouse)
Riley strides along the street, Spike follows a few paces behind.
SPIKE
What the hell do you intend to do to these guys if you find them anyway?
RILEY
Really need to ask?
SPIKE
Well good luck with that, you don’t even have any weapons you complete wanker.
RILEY
Not yet.
Riley takes a set of keys from his pocket and approaches a hunting shop door. He opens it and goes in.
SPIKE
You have a set of keys for this shop?
RILEY
I have a key that’ll open any shop in any city.
SPIKE
Think I could get a copy?
RILEY
No.
Riley starts pilfering weapons from the shelves. Spike starts to do the same.
RILEY
What are you doing?
SPIKE
I’m not letting you go after these guys alone.
RILEY
The hell you’re not.
SPIKE
What you gonna do? Kill me?
RILEY
Not necessary.
Riley pulls a tranq gun out of his pocket and shoots Spike in the shoulder.
SPIKE
Bollocks.
Spike collapses in a heap, as Riley weapons up and storms out of the shop.
CUT TO:
EXT : Street
Angel and Gunn walk along. Weapons in hand, hunting their prey.
GUNN
Think Wes and the Big Blue are having any more luck?
ANGEL
Doubtful.
GUNN
Yeah, they’re probably too busy having a hypothetical talk on the meaning of it all and human behaviour.
ANGEL
Very likely.
GUNN
So what you know about this Riley guy?
ANGEL
Not a great deal. Only ever met him once before.
GUNN
And..?
ANGEL
Kicked his ass.
GUNN
Why?
ANGEL
He was Buffy’s boyfriend.
GUNN
You’re a bit of a dick.
ANGEL
Duly noted. Look, Gunn, I don’t really wanna talk about it. I just want to find these guys, kill them and go home.
GUNN
With you there.
Angel’s phone rings.
ANGEL
Wes, hey…. Oh God… Right head back to the warehouse, we’ll meet you there. Don’t go in without us.
GUNN
What is it?
ANGEL
Seems the demons have discovered the meaning of it all.
GUNN
And what is it?
ANGEL
To end it all.
END OF ACT 3
ACT 4
INT : Warehouse
Six members of the Refghad stand in a hexagon formation. Two Refghad hang upside down in the middle of the hexagon – gutted and dripping organs and blood. They begin to chant.
VOICE (O.S)
You know what I hate about demons? They’re predictability.
The demons turn round to face him. It’s Riley.
RILEY
It’s always a goddamned ritual with you guys!!!
He opens fire.
CUT TO:
EXT : Warehouse
Angel and Gunn run up to Wesley and Illyria.
ANGEL
What we got?
WESLEY
I took a look inside. We’ve got six live demons performing a ritual.
ANGEL
Riley said that these guys move quickly.
GUNN
So we need a plan of attack then.
They hear the gunshots from inside.
ANGEL
Riley.
Angel dashes inside.
WESLEY
So much for the plan.
They follow.
CUT TO:
INT : Warehouse
One demon lies dead from the shots. Another has pealed off from the group to attack Riley. Riley punches it in the face but it dashes around to the other side and kicks Riley in the back. Riley falls forward onto his face. The demon lifts a sword and swings it down toward the back of Riley’s head. The roof above smashes in and Spike drops down kicking the demon away as he lands.
The others run in and go after the other demons.
Illyria can almost match them for speed and quickly snaps one's neck.
Riley runs over and tackles one of the group that’s chanting. He pummels it with fists as quickly as possible before it can move. He beats it to death.
Spike swings a sword and kills the demon that was going to stab Riley by taking its head clean off.
Angel fights another. It moves around rapidly – trying to put him off balance. Angel stops. The demon keeps moving. The demon finally stops and when it does Angel is waiting for it. He punches it in the face to send it reeling and then swings his sword and kills it.
Wes and Gunn both try to fight one together but it’s too much for them. Illyria joins in and puts her fist right through it.
SPIKE
That’s the last of them.
ANGEL
Where the hell have you been?
SPIKE
Got kinda held up.
GUNN
(re: Riley) What do we do about him?
They all look around to see Riley sitting on the floor and staring into space. They turn back to face each other.
ANGEL
We should take him back to the hotel.
Suddenly a gunshot rings out. They all spin round to see Riley lying on the ground. A gun in his hand and a bullet in his head.
Spike and Angel dash towards him. He’s dead.
SPIKE
Oh God.
The others recoil.
CLOSE-UP : Spike’s face. A very conflicted look on his face – not sure of which emotion to show.
FADE TO BLACK.
CUT TO:
INT : Hotel
Angel and Wes sit on the steps leading to the stairs.
ANGEL
I can’t believe he did that. They’re not meant to do that.
WESLEY
I guess it was just too much to take. Some people can’t handle that much grief.
ANGEL
Can I ask you a personal question Wes?
WESLEY
Of course.
ANGEL
When Fred…. Did you ever…?
WESLEY
Feel like I wanted to kill myself?
ANGEL
Yeah.
WESLEY
Every moment.
ANGEL
Why didn’t you?
WESLEY
I guess I believed I could get her back eventually. And then, the pain fades. It takes a while but eventually it goes, it never leaves completely, but it gets easier. I guess Riley couldn’t believe that.
ANGEL
Perhaps he didn’t want to.
WESLEY
Perhaps not. (beat) How do you think Spike's taking it?
ANGEL
I don’t know. Riley wasn’t exactly a friend of his.
WESLEY
He seems to have taken it hard just the same.
ANGEL
I guess it’s just a case of… Riley was his last one.
WESLEY
How do you mean?
ANGEL
Everyone that Spike had hurt immediately prior to getting his soul he had pretty much made it up to. Except Riley. I guess he was the last step.
Spike approaches them.
ANGEL
Hey.
SPIKE
Listen. I need to make a call.
ANGEL
I can handle that if you want.
SPIKE
No. It’s something I need to do.
ANGEL
OK.
Spike walks into the darkened office. He dumps himself in Angel’s chair despondently. After a beat he leans forward and picks up the phone. He dials in the number and waits for an answer.
SPIKE
Hey….Buffy?
END OF EPISODE
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
] |
Feedback: 