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Date Posted: 15:21:31 08/15/02 Thu
Author: Jacqui/AN
Subject: Act 2
In reply to: Jacqui/Anya's Necklace 's message, "Buffy #09 : Relapse -- Act 1" on 15:19:24 08/15/02 Thu

ACT TWO


Scene: Cemetery [Ext.], Night

XANDER's quiet moment, some hours later, comes to an end as HALFREK steps up beside him.

HALFREK
She's counting on you.
(beat)
We haven't much time. Can she count
on you?

XANDER turns.

XANDER
What do we do?

HALFREK
Well, her essence, her life-force
is still alive. It is one of
millions circling endlessly,
wandering through the expanse we
call "the ether". What we need to
do is find her and release her. I
won't lie, it isn't simple. We may
need a little power boost.

XANDER
And that's where you come in?

HALFREK
No. You don't need vengeance on
your side, you need magic.
(beat)
And it's gotta be strong. You want
Anya back the way you had her? You
want her back in the human world?
We can't do that using tricks, and
we certainly can't work it out by
talking. There's one way out of
this. And it's aching, it's evil
and it's dark.
(then, simply)
The darkest, actually. Kills most
mortals.
(off his look)
Or so I'm told.

XANDER
Halfrek... I can't do that. I can't
force someone to channel those kind
of magicks.

HALFREK
This is it Xander, time to choose.
If you want Anya back, sacrifices
need to be made.

XANDER
There's gotta be some other way --

HALFREK
There isn't. To enter the ether
requires great power. There is no
other way.

She waits a moment, before pulling a stone from her pocket and handing it to XANDER.

FADE TO:

Scene: Training Room [Int.], Night

XANDER stands in front of a punching bag. He brings his right arm up, slamming his fist into the bag. Harder and faster, he launches into a series of punches. Again and again, harder and faster. Behind him, we see WILLOW enter. Quietly, she stands and watches, before --

WILLOW
You mind if I ask?

XANDER
(still punching)
Yes.

WILLOW
What's going on?

XANDER
(still with the fists)
Nothing I want you involved in.

WILLOW
What do you mean?

XANDER
Back off Will.

WILLOW
I can't.

She steps forward, placing herself between XANDER and the bloody pulp of a punching bag.

WILLOW
You know that.

XANDER
Yeah, I know.
(beat)
Stay away.

WILLOW
Why?

Without thinking, XANDER goes to punch, stopping just short of WILLOW.

WILLOW
(forcefully)
Why?

XANDER
(snapping)
Because it involves magic.

This stops her.

XANDER
There's a way to bring her back.
Her essence is still alive, but
without
(imitating Hallie)
'dark and powerful' magic, there's
nothing I can do.
(beat)
So stay away.

He moves her gently aside, before sending a solitary, long awaited punch into the punching bag.

WILLOW
(soft)
I can do it.

XANDER
What? No. I can't let you do it.

WILLOW
Yeah, you really can.

XANDER
NO.
(then)
I want to, god Will, I miss her so
much... but I'm not willing to risk
losing another person I love. You
can't do this.

WILLOW
I want to. Xander, I have to.
(off his pained look)
You can't just leave her there.

XANDER
I don't think I have a choice.

There is a brief silence, before a voice sounds from the doorway.

AMY (OS)
You always have a choice.

WILLOW and XANDER look up to see AMY, looking on with suggestive determination.

Scene: Buffy's House - Kitchen [Int.], Night

BUFFY sits alone, chewing on the end of a pen. As she stares between her blank notepad and the numerous books scattered across the countertop, a look of frustration creeps across her face. The radio is on, pumping out the vocals of an obnoxiously bad teenage pop sensation.

A loud, hurried knocking rings out through the house. BUFFY switches off the music, and as the knocking continues she makes her way to the front door.

Scene: Buffy's House - Foyer [Int.], Continuous

She opens it, coming face to face with an overly anxious SPIKE.

SPIKE
Buffy...

BUFFY
What?
(knowing)
Oh god... Dawn.

SPIKE
We were out,
(quietly)
patrolling --

She slams SPIKE against the doorframe.

BUFFY
You took Dawn patrolling with you?!

SPIKE
Buffy, there's more...

BUFFY
(sick)
Oh god. Where is she? -- SPIKE, who
took her? WHO TOOK HER?

SPIKE
Drusilla.

BUFFY backs away, almost losing her footing. She stumbles for a second, blinking, groping for the wall.

SPIKE
(unsure)
Buffy... are you ok? Buffy? Buf --

She snaps her head up, speaking in a small and unusual tone.

BUFFY
(disjointed/weird)
No. No, get away. You touch me, and
they'll kill you. Get out, stay out
in your garden. Get out. Get out.
GET OUT!

BUFFY stumbles again, slipping back into reality. They share a knowing look.

BUFFY/SPIKE
The Mansion.

BUFFY
Let's go.

She starts out the door, SPIKE following close behind.

Scene: Buffy's House [Ext.], Continuous

SPIKE
Buffy. What the hell was that?

She doesn't stop, doesn't slow down as she answers in a worried tone.

BUFFY
(softly)
I don't know.

Scene: Mansion [Int.], Night

DRUSILLA enters from the garden. She carries a small flower in her hand.

DRUSILLA
(smiling)
I've been playing outside. I
brought you something.

She is speaking to DAWN, who sits before her, chained to the wall – terrified, and just a little pissed off. DRUSILLA hands her the flower.

DRUSILLA
(worried)
It's a little dirty. But I shouldn't
worry, everything's changing up.

DAWN
I don't want it.

DRUSILLA reels back.

DRUSILLA
You're all dirty too. I can smell
the slayer on you right now. She's
all over you. Inside you.
(off Dawn's look)
It's like paint, dripping, dripping
right through you.

DAWN
(acidic)
What do you want?

DRUSILLA
I've come to fix things. My Spike
is all dirty, just like you. He's
been inside the Slayer.
(then)
I can get him all clean again.

DAWN
(frightened)
How?

DRUSILLA
I have to teach him a lesson. Him
and the Slayer.

DAWN lurches forward, stopped only by her chains.

DRUSILLA
Awww, babies getting tired.
(then)
Don't you want to stay awake for
the show?

DAWN
(blunt)
You hurt them and I'll kill you
myself.

DRUSILLA lets off a delirious laugh, grabbing DAWN by the throat and pulling her close. DAWN takes a beat, then spits at DRUSILLA -- who, in her insane manner, remains in DAWN's face, keeping right on laughing.

Scene: Training Room [Int.], Night

We're back on AMY as she moves into the room.

WILLOW
Amy...

XANDER
How much did you hear?

AMY
Enough to I know I can help.

XANDER
(weak)
No.

He pulls out the stone HALFREK gave him, squeezing it in his palm, tensing his muscles in frustration.

XANDER
I can't let you risk yourself. The
spell creates a rift to the ether.
It's too dangerous, I won't let you.

AMY
Hey, powerful witch here... try and
stop me.
(beat)
I know it's dangerous because I've
used this kind of spell before.
(to Willow)
The witch hunter -- Jack -- his
sister died because of me. Because
of what I did wrong --

XANDER
You're not inspiring my confidence.

AMY
Listen to me, this is my chance to
make amends.

XANDER
By risking more lives?

AMY
I won't. I know I can do this. Give
me the chance.

XANDER looks to WILLOW, almost pleading silently. WILLOW looks over at AMY, then back to XANDER. She nods.

XANDER passes AMY the stone.

BLACK OUT.


END OF ACT TWO

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