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Date Posted: 13:50:23 07/31/02 Wed
Author: Jeanny & Dawneen
Subject: Act II
In reply to: Jeanny & Dawneen 's message, "Act I" on 13:48:06 07/31/02 Wed

ACT TWO

Scene VI: Int. Xander’s Apartment, Day.

XANDER is sitting at his kitchen table, toast and coffee untouched in front of him. He looks like hell, and he’s staring at the table as if to avoid looking at something else. The phone rings and he jumps. He stands as if to answer it, then picks up his jacket and keys instead. He’s halfway to the door before he realizes what he’s doing and flings the jacket and keys as if bitten.

XANDER’
Gah! What am I doing?

He slumps on to the couch. The ringing stops.

XANDER
I’m not going back there. I don’t need to go back today.
I don’t want to go back today. I’m not going back today.
(near hysteria)
There, you hear me? I’m not going back to the Magic
Box today!

Dead silence meets his declaration. Then suddenly...

ANYA
(v.o.)
Xander, where are you? Don’t leave me here...

XANDER
Anya...

He stands, then sits again, wrapping his arms around himself.

ANYA
(v.o.)
Xander...

XANDER
It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not...

ANYA
(v.o.)
Come to me, my love. Come...

XANDER lies down on the sofa, putting a pillow over his head as we CUT TO:

Scene VII: Ext. Spike’s Crypt. Day.

SPIKE
(v.o.)
Damn it!

Scene VIII: Int. Spike’s Crypt. Day.

We see CLEM sitting on a ragged couch, eating from a large bag of pork rinds. SPIKE is agitated, pacing back and forth across the concrete floor.

SPIKE
(con’t)
Y’know what I detest most about humans? Their
bloody feelings for one another, always big on the
caring and - the remorse. The grief. Like there’s nothing
else in life but pain and death. Bloody hell - I’m a
vampire. A vampire! Nightly bringer of the very death
and pain these mortals cling to. We feed on them.
Suck them dry til there’s nothin’ left but skin and bones.
Time was that meant something.

CLEM
Yeah...say, you wanna go get-

SPIKE
(interrupting)
’Course, if we find one that appeals to us - one we can
tolerate and would like to spare - we turn ‘em. Not that
I ever found one that could hold any particular interest
for me, except...well, and I‘m bloody well not gonna turn
her, am I?

CLEM
Who? Buffy?

SPIKE
No. Claudia Bloody Schiffer.

CLEM
(impressed)
Really? You know her?

SPIKE
I’m talking about Buffy you soddin idiot.

CLEM opens his mouth to protest, then thinks better of it.

SPIKE
(cont’d)
It used to be so simple. I had all I every wanted with
Dru - she was my, my sire. She was supposed to be
with me for eternity; that’s what they say at any rate.

CLEM
Nothing lasts forever, Spike. Love, soul mates - it’s all
overrated if you ask me. Hey, you wanna watch some
TV? The new TNN has on a ‘MacGyver’ marathon
tonight - might cheer you up.

SPIKE
Yeah, forever. That’s what vampires are all about -
staggerin’ through the never-ending abyss between life
and death. Had it quite cozy until I discovered the one
thing that could bring this eternal party to its knees. The
Slayer. The first two were easy, mere amateurs in their
trade. Neither ever stood a chance. We fought; we
danced. I bluffed for a round or two, lulled them into
their own shallow hope of victory and than - wham!
Showed them who the big bad truly was. It was
supposed to be that simple. Come here, kill her,
establish our reign on the Hellmouth. Didn’t even
need to write this one down.
(sighs)
Would have happened too, if it hadn’t been for
Angelus. Slayer had to have her shag and ruin it all.
And then, all I wanted, was my Dru back. But that
damn deal.
(growls)
That damn deal was the start. Forced me to come
crawling back to this wretched place, getting this
damn chip - havin’ no other choice but to join her
rank and file. It’s all her bloody fault. Her fault -
OH how I hate that girl!

SPIKE kicks a nearby chair.

CLEM
(mildly)
I thought you loved her.

SPIKE
(like explaining to child)
Of course I love her! Why else would I hate her this
much?

CLEM
(getting it)
Oh. Gotcha. Totally following now.

SPIKE
But you know who I hate even more than her, huh? Not
Little Bit, not the witch, not even the bloody Watcher.
No, it’s Harris. I save her, I love her, I give her everythin’
I have and whom does she turn to for comfort and to
thank? The most mortal, insipid, and talentedless one
of the bunch - Harris. Always quick with the ‘Xander
this’ and ‘Xander that’. Ugghh, should have drained
him that first night I was offered his neck.

Focus on: SPIKE falling down into his recliner and lighting up a cigarette.

CLEM
(o.s.)
Wow. So you’re in love with Xander Harris?

SPIKE chokes on his cigarette.

SPIKE
Bloody hell no! What the hell are you suggesting?

Cut to: CLEM sipping a Big Gulp. He sets it down on the end table beside him.

CLEM
(wisely)
Not the least little thing.
(a beat, then)
I’m taking this as a ‘no’ to the MacGyver marathon.
Geez, Spike, what’s up with all this negativity recently?
I can’t remember you being so at odds with the world
before. If you put a positive spin on all this - things
might turn themselves around.

CUT to: SPIKE raising his eyebrows and giving him a pissed off glare.

CLEM
(con’t)
Hey, it works - I was watching Oprah and Dr. Phil said
that, or something pretty darn close to it anyways.

SPIKE
(scoffs)
So all I gotta do is turn my frown upside down? Piffle.
It’s this stupid soul is all. Since that mumbo-jumbo
African demon restored it, nothin’ has been right.
Didn’t the stupid sot know that a vamp with a soul
can only end up destroying himself? I hate what I’ve
done, what I’ve been. What kind of existence can I
have if all I do is hate?

CLEM
You just gotta give it time. It’s like Dr Phil says -
(Spike growls lowly)
My point is that you didn’t like the chip but you learned
how to deal with it. This is the same thing.

SPIKE
(mumbles)
Not bloody close.

CLEM
Well, maybe a tad more on an emotional level. But on
a positive note, I’m sure Buffy will come around. Isn’t
the whole ‘vamp-with-a-soul’ a real turn on for her?

SPIKE
(jumps up and starts pacing again)
I. Am. Not. My. SIRE! I never wanna be like that bloody
poof. Slogging around after the Slayer, skulking in the
shadows, brooding about for eternity cuz I can’t stop
feeling for every victim I ever fed on. I don’t...I liked the
killing, see? Still like it. It’s not supposed to be like that.
It’s all supposed to be simpler.

CLEM
It’ll be simple once you figure out what you really want.

SPIKE
No, it won’t. Say I wanna be what I was before the chip.
The Big Bad. A vamp that defeated slayers and instilled
fear into any puny mortal who dared cross my dark path.
(stops pacing)
But who am I foolin’, huh? There is no ‘one-good-shag-
and-it’s-gone’ clause for me. I can never go back. Not…
not anymore.

CLEM
(shaking his head sympathetically )
Newsflash, Spike - did you honestly expect otherwise?

CLOSE IN on SPIKE’S somber expression. We hear knocking.

Scene IX: Ext. Xander’s Apartment. Day.
CLOSE UP: a hand knocking on a door. Door opens to XANDER, wearing his brown suede jacket.

XANDER
(startled)
Ah, Will? Didn’t expect to see you here. Thought you
and Buffy would still be knee deep in the research
hoopla at her house.

Pan over to WILLOW, she’s eyeing XANDER with concern.

WILLOW
We were, I mean - we are - yes. But I’m worry about
you. Buffy said that you seemed a bit…I don’t know -
out of it yesterday...where are you going?

XANDER
Got some errands to run. You know, things that need
doing.

WILLOW
And how many of these do-needing things happen to
take place at the Magic Box?

XANDER
Not too many.

WILLOW
Right. That was nearly mildly unconvincing.

XANDER
What difference does it make where I’ve got to go?

WILLOW
None. You’re an adult, go where you wanna, do what
you gotta, but...there’s a lot of brooding going on, and
it’s not like you to-

XANDER
(bitterly)
Anya’s dead. I know you don’t find that upsetting, but
forgive me if I do.
(off her hurt look)
Oh, hell. I’m sorry, Will. Hey, I’m fine. No need to worry.
Just need some time to myself, to sort things out. I’ll be
okay. I promise.

XANDER tries to step out into the hallway, but WILLOW stands her ground. XANDER’s grows a bit annoyed and agitated.

XANDER
(con’t)
Come on, Will, what’s the what here?

WILLOW
Xander, you don‘t have to go through this alone. We’re
your friends. You’re going through so much, and we
want to be there for you, cause, it might be more than
you can handle and-

XANDER
(hotly)
And what? Xander can’t do anything for himself, is that
it? Trust me, I can take care of this.

WILLOW
(bewildered)
I’m not saying - you know I know you can - it’s just…
we care about you. Tell you what, you take a little self-
reflection time and than meet us at Buffy’s later tonight.
Believe me, this sired slayer deal is gonna take a
combined effort to crack.

XANDER
(sighs reluctantly)
Sure, I’ll see what I can do.

WILLOW
(smiles)
Thank you.
(a beat, then)
You know I love you, right?

XANDER smiles weakly, nods, and looks at the floor. WILLOW steps forward and they embrace in a light hug. FOCUS on Xander’s blank expression as we hear:

ANYA
(v.o.)
Xander - I’m still waiting for you…


Scene X: Int. Magic Box, Dusk
Doors opens as XANDER walks in. XANDER stops a few feet inside. We hear the door shut. It’s eerily still. Close up on XANDER’s waist as a pair of arms wrap around him.

ANYA
(v.o.)
God, I never thought you’d come back. Been calling
for you - didn’t you hear me?

Pan up to XANDER’s face. His eyes are shut and he has a smile on his face. Now that he’s here, he’s totally relaxed.

XANDER
Of course, I heard you. It just took me a while to get
here - I was, um, distracted.

ANYA
(v.o)
Oh, yeah - by ‘her.’ I don’t like her, Xander.

XANDER
Willow? But-

ANYA
(v.o.)
It’s just...I love it when it’s just the two of us. Me and
you - together.

XANDER
Yah, just me and…

XANDER’s eyes shoot open. His smile turns into a frown. He whips around.

XANDER
(whispers)
Anya?

No ones there. XANDER is confused.

XANDER
(cont’d)
Okay, whoa.

He whirls around again.

XANDER
(cont’d)
What the hell is going on here?

FADE to:


Scene XI: Int. Summers Dining Room, Dusk

Shot of books scattered on it. Some open, mostly lots of stacks.

BUFFY
(v.o)
Dunno, still at a loss really.

We see BUFFY sitting at the table with DAWN. Each has a book open, but not reading - more like just skimming.

DAWN
But what do we know so far?

BUFFY
Well, for sure she was a Slayer. Her name’s Saria...
and she’s old...and she’s Chinese...well, not
necessarily. We know she’s been to China...

DAWN
She’s old and been to China. Sure you’re not talking
about Nixon?
(off BUFFY’s unamused look)
What, I can’t do the odd inappropriate humor thing?
Okay, okay, so, she’s old...what, like, Spike-old?
Angel-old?

BUFFY
Angel-old times ten, according to what I’ve read.

DAWN
(scared)
Oh.

BUFFY
Yeah...
(a beat, then with false cheer)
But, I mean, she’s just a vampire. Which I’ve fought
many of. And she was a Slayer, true, but I seem to
remember kicking Faith’s ass rather nicely. So, no
worries.

DAWN
Ummm…some worries.

BUFFY
Very touched by your support.

DAWN
No, it’s not that I don’t believe in you...it’s just that all
we know is that she’s been around, she was a Slayer,
and now she’s a vamp, and she’s a senior senior
senior citizen, right? That’s like nothing. Why is she
here? What does she want?

BUFFY
Sorely lacking in the knowledge category there, which
is why we should all be on research duty - starting like
yesterday.

DAWN
If Giles were here, he’d -

BUFFY
(coldly)
Yah, well, he’s not. We’ll be fine.
(pauses)
Now, Willow went to extract Xander from his brooding
in the ashes - she’s threatened to compare him to
Angel if necessary - and bring him out into the real
world of Sunnydale and the ever-present demon
slayage.

DAWN
Because that’s so much better for him.
(off BUFFY’s glare)
Sorry.

BUFFY
Once they’re here, we can start formulating some sort
of plan -

DAWN
You forgot Spike. You should count him in on this.

BUFFY
(irritated)
No. No, I - it’s a bad idea. I don’t want him here.

DAWN
What? Why not? Buffy, he could really -

BUFFY
(sternly)
Dawn, I said ‘no.’ Now please let it go.

DAWN
(shakes her head)
No, I won’t - not this time, Buffy. This vamped
slayer and her undead groupies are going to take
some major Scooby investigative work - we
should be pulling together now more than ever.
We’re family - Spike included. You can’t afford to
shut any of us out on this one.

BUFFY
Dawn, please…
(pauses)
Look, I know this is gonna be difficult. Yes, we’re
family, but Spike is…Spike is not what is important
at the moment. He’s, um, can we please talk about
him later and bring our focus back to something more
relevant for the time being?

DAWN
(goes back to flipping through her book)
Sure, whatever.
(a beat, then)
Do you think Xander’s gonna be all right? He’s not
wigging out, is he?

CLOSE UP: BUFFY’S concerned look.

BUFFY
I don’t think so. Xander’s strong. He’s got it together.

Scene XII: Int. Magic Box, night
XANDER is pacing inside the charred main store. Alone.

XANDER
I’m falling apart. I’ve gone crazy! That’s gotta be it. I’m
finally snapping - too many years on the Hellmouth,
that’s what it is. It has to be that.

XANDER halts, looks at the door. Starts for the door, but is drawn back into the shop. Tries again to go to the door, but turns right back around. Does this several more times. Finally stops.

XANDER
(con’t)
I hate magic - magic hates me. The last place in the
world I would wanna be is here. Didn’t want to come
here, except I did, a lot, but I don’t know why. And
now, why the hell can’t I leave? Wait, Dawn, did she...
no, she didn’t make a wish. And why would she wish
for me to be stuck at the Magic Box? Unless Dawn‘s a
demon...and I’m back to insanity again. Yay.
(a pause, then)
Still, thinking not a wish. More like a curse.

XANDER is exasperated. He throws up his arms.

XANDER
(con’t)
This place is definitely cursed. I already thought that,
before, but now I have proof...that I’ll never be able to
share with anyone cause I’m trapped. Okay, so not the
thing to think. Don’t panic. Don’t panic. That’s - oh! Or...
or it’s seriously possessed. Yeah, possessed - that’s it.
I mean, possessed means haunted and that’s how I…I
feel. It’s not the shop; it’s me. I’m possessed. I’m doing
a Linda Blair...No, no, no, hearing Anya, not Satan...But
why? Why do I feel so…haunted?

Behind XANDER, the shimmering image of ANYA appears. XANDER doesn’t notice that she’s there; he’s lost in his own thoughts.

ANYA
(whispers over music)
You’re not haunted - it’s our love. What your feeling is
the love we still share between us. I love you.

ANYA voice takes on a deeper darker tone.

ANYA
(con’t)
I’ll never stop loving you.

XANDER smiles, lost in what he believes are his own thoughts. ANYA smiles contently. XANDER turns, sees her. His jaw drops open in shock.

Fade out.

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