Act II -- CyberScripts: Member Board

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3], 4 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 16:56:04 07/31/02 Wed
Author: BB
Subject: Act II
In reply to: BB 's message, "Act I" on 16:51:44 07/31/02 Wed

ACT II

Scene: Summer's House [Ext.], Early Afternoon
There is a brief establishing shot showing that the rain has temporarily subsided.

Scene: Summer's House, Kitchen [Int.], Early Afternoon
WILLOW watches the kettle come to the boil. It is the only noise that fills the room. The kettle makes a squealing noise and WILLOW lifts the kettle and turns to the counter.

The room is dark and the atmosphere: gloomy.

As WILLOW turns we see DAWN standing against the door post in the entrance to the kitchen. She is pretty much motionless; obviously thinking about the nightmare from the previous night.

WILLOW pours the water into a clear glass mug methodically; the water mixing with the coffee granules already in the cup. Her movement is sluggish and her face looks blank and emotionless. She turns to replace the kettle.

DAWN
[Quietly]
Willow�

WILLOW stops. She looks into the camera.

DAWN
You okay?

WILLOW turns to DAWN. She puts on her Willow-esque brave face.

WILLOW
I'm just worried about Xander.

DAWN
Buffy is with him.
[Pause]
He'll be alright.

WILLOW takes her cup of coffee and lifts it slowly. She blows on the steam that wafts from the open surface of the hot drink.

WILLOW
Will he?

DAWN moves from her position in the doorway to sit on a stool at the kitchen counter.

DAWN
When me and Buffy lost mom-
[Pause]
We had you guys to help us get through
it. And now; Xander has us.

WILLOW
But Xander� he doesn't show his emotions
like everyone else. He pretends he is all strong
and macho. He evens uses his stupid little
jokes to cover everything up. But inside� if you
take away that shell - that is where my best friend
is. And that best friend? He is frightened.

DAWN
Of what?

WILLOW
The future.
[Pause]
He was always scared of the future. The unknown.
Ever since he was a kid.

WILLOW looks up, smiling at the memories.

WILLOW
[Continued]
Back in second grade we had to write where we'd
be in twenty years from now.
[Pause]
He spent three days thinking about it.
[Pause]
Pretty much the only homework he ever cared about.

DAWN
What did he think he'd be doing?

WILLOW
[Looking up]
Saving people.
[Pause]
He decided he wanted to be a fireman.

DAWN smiles.

WILLOW
But what he's going through now� I dread to
think.
[Pause]
In one way or another he loved Anya; whether
it be fiery passion or platonic he loved her.
[Pause]
And without her� he is gonna be so confused. So
lost. And I don't know if any of us can really help
him.

DAWN looks down.

The back door opens and in steps BUFFY.

She looks up and shares a sombre smile with WILLOW and DAWN. DAWN stands up.

DAWN
How is he?

BUFFY
He's�

BUFFY sees DAWN is worried.

BUFFY
He's hurting� but he'll be okay�

BUFFY puts her bag on the table and removes XANDER's denim jacket. It is completely soaked through.

BUFFY and DAWN share a long sisterly hug. Over DAWN's shoulder, BUFFY shares a look of worry with WILLOW.

WILLOW
How about you? You look exhausted.

BUFFY sits on the stool and DAWN stands next to her.

BUFFY
Creepy nightmare. Kept me awake.

WILLOW
Prophetic slayer type nightmare?

BUFFY
You're asking me? I just have the dreams; I
leave the understanding to you guys.

DAWN looks a little worried.

DAWN
What was it about?

BUFFY
Running through a cemetery. Evil bitch chasing
me. Fall over�

BUFFY pauses.

BUFFY
It kinda ended there.

WILLOW
Probably nothing to worry about.

DAWN
[Unsure]
Yeah. Probably nothing at all.

WILLOW smiles to the two sisters.

The door bell rings.

BUFFY
[To DAWN]
Could you get that�
[Sitting still]
I'm kinda beat.

DAWN
Sure.

DAWN exits the kitchen.

BUFFY waits for DAWN to be out of ear shot before turning to WILLOW.

BUFFY
I'm worried Will. I've never seen Xander like
that. He hasn't spoken once and he practically
cried himself to sleep.
[Pause]
He seems so�

WILLOW
�lost?

BUFFY nods.

BUFFY
Have the police said anything about the fire?

WILLOW
They seemed to accept the self combusting
magic powder story.
[Pause]
They were more concerned with the
whereabouts of Anya.

DAWN
[Off-Screen]
Buffy.

BUFFY and WILLOW turn to see DAWN standing in the kitchen doorway.

DAWN
He's back.

There is a slight look of confusion on BUFFY and WILLOW's faces before GILES steps out from behind DAWN.

BUFFY
[Happily]
Giles!

WILLOW
[Worried]
Giles�

BUFFY leaps off her stool and straight into GILES' arms. They share a tight embrace.

BUFFY
I missed you so much.
[Pause]
When did you get back?

GILES
About an hour ago. I left England as soon
as I got your call.

BUFFY
How was the flight?

GILES
A little tiring but all things considered fine.

DAWN
Airlines not as fast as teleporting then?

GILES
[Smiling]
No.
[Pause]
But the food was especially nice.

BUFFY
Mushy peas?

GILES
[Straight faced]
Yes. My favourite.

BUFFY and GILES let go of one another. Both are smiling.

The smile dissipates. GILES turns to speak to WILLOW but she has slipped out of the back door.

DAWN
[Worried]
I'll go.

DAWN stretches up to kiss GILES' cheek before running out of the door after WILLOW.

GILES turns to BUFFY.

GILES
[Worried]
How is Xander doing?

BUFFY
Honest opinion?
[Pause]
On a scale of one to ten where ten is Prozac
induced happy person and one is Prozac
needing depressed person.
[Beat]
I'd say about two.

GILES looks worried.

Scene: Summer's House, Backyard [Ext.], Early Afternoon
WILLOW is leaning on a wooden post that supports the decking at the back of the house. DAWN stands behind her.

DAWN
You can't keep running from things you know.

WILLOW looks off into the distance.

WILLOW
I know.

DAWN
[Cross]
Then why?

WILLOW
[Pissed Off]
Because last time I saw Giles he almost
died�
[Pause]
�because of me.

DAWN walks towards WILLOW a little.

DAWN
So speak to him!
[Pause]
He loves you Willow. If you let him see how much
you've grown then�

WILLOW
�he will still see the evil bitch that brought him inches
from death.

DAWN
[Pleading]
That's not true! It'll be alright!

WILLOW lets go of the support and turns to face DAWN.

WILLOW
[Screaming]
And what would YOU know?

DAWN is a little taken aback.

From the back door BUFFY and GILES emerge. They wait in the doorway.

WILLOW
You're not like me!
[Pause]
You'll never know what it's like to feel the
darkness. And you'll never have to face killing
the people you loved.
[Shouting]
So tell me how you know it'll be alright?

DAWN has tears in her eyes. She looks up at WILLOW.

DAWN
Because Giles isn't the only one you came
so damn close to killing, is he?

WILLOW is a little taken aback herself.

DAWN
Buffy. Xander. Anya.
[Screaming]
ME!
[Cross]
You don't think I was scared? You don't think
I hated you?
[Pause]
You'd be wrong.
[Pause]
I thought you were dirty. Disgusting. Evil.
[Pause]
But I also knew it was you. I knew it was
the Willow that I loved and still love. So I
forgave you. I stood by you. All through the
summer.
[Pause]
You cried every day. And I was there. We were
all there. And now? We're still here. And we still
care and love you.
[Pause]
We've all moved on.
[Quiet]
Maybe you should too.

WILLOW stands completely shocked as DAWN turns and heads down the steps before walking off.

In the doorway we see BUFFY about to take off after DAWN until GILES places a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

WILLOW turns to BUFFY and GILES before pushing through them both and running upstairs.

GILES
They'll be okay Buffy. They just need time
to adjust.

BUFFY
I know.

GILES turns to BUFFY.

GILES
I'm going to speak to Xander, and then I have
to sort a few things.
[Pause]
You'll be alright?

BUFFY nods before hugging GILES.

BUFFY
I'm glad you're back.

GILES smiles before letting go and walking off.

BUFFY is alone.

Scene: Xander's Apartment, Bedroom [Int.], Afternoon
XANDER is holding a cardboard box. In the box we can see an assortment of items belonging to ANYA: clothing, photos, jewellery e.t.c.

XANDER opens a drawer and lifts out one of ANYA's shirts. Without emotion he places the object in the box.

He starts to sift through other objects in the drawer. His facial expression changes as he feels something at the drawer's bottom.

He pulls the object out.

It is a small box. He opens it carefully.

It is the wedding ring.

We expect XANDER's facial expression to change again, but it doesn't. It is a monotonous blank.

In the background we hear a knock on the apartment's main door. XANDER holds the ring between two fingers and studies it carefully. He is about to place it in the box but instead he pockets it.

XANDER stands up and taking the box with him he moves through the apartment. He puts the box down.

There is an eerie silence.

Taking a deep breath he moves to the door and opens it.

It is GILES.

XANDER
[Croaky voiced]
Giles!

GILES steps into the room and XANDER immediately moves forward. The two men hug tightly. No! There is no slash! OKAY!?

GILES has a tear in his eye while XANDER's face continues to show zero emotion.

XANDER
I am SO sorry.

GILES lets go and stands back a little.

GILES
What happened� it wasn't your fault.

XANDER
I burnt the shop to the ground.

GILES
I don't care about the shop.

XANDER looks up.

GILES
[Continued]
What I care about is you and the others. You're safe
and that is ALL that matters.

XANDER
[Quietly]
Yeah. All safe�

XANDER turns back into the apartment. It is pretty much a mess. GILES follows XANDER and sits down on the couch.

XANDER
Drink?

XANDER finds himself in the kitchen area as he starts searching the cupboards.

XANDER
Coffee? Tea?

GILES
I'll have a tea-
[Remembering the quality of XANDER's tea]
�coffee would be nice.

XANDER starts getting panicky as he realises he can't find the things he is looking for. GILES watches as XANDER starts systematically opening the head-height cupboards and paws out each one's contents. XANDER's speed increases.

GILES
Xander�

XANDER rips more items out of another cupboard. He has basically gone psychotic over trying to find some coffee granules.

GILES
[Sternly]
Xander!

XANDER slams one of the cupboard doors shut using both hands. He turns around panting.

We watch as XANDER starts slumping down to the floor. He is exhausted and upset.

GILES gets up and crouches in front of XANDER.

XANDER
[Upset]
I miss her Giles. I miss her SO much.
[Opening up]
If I'd told her. If I had let her know how I felt.

GILES
You cannot blame yourself Xander.

XANDER
No?
[Panicking]
If I'd told her 'I love you'. If I'd told her how much
I cared for her then she wouldn't have done it. She
wouldn't have made the wish. She wouldn't be gone!

GILES looks at XANDER.

GILES
Anya knew you loved her. With all your heart.
[Pause]
But you can't lie to people Xander.
[Pause]
Anya wanted a kind of love that you could no
longer give her.
[Pause]
In the end, it was Anya's decision.

XANDER looks up teary eyed.

GILES
You need to accept that decision.
[Pause]
You need to accept that she has gone.

XANDER
It's just so hard.

GILES
So let your friends support you.
[Pause]
I won't lie. The next few weeks are going to
be tough Xander.
[Pause]
There is a service to consider�

XANDER gets himself upright again.

GILES
You need to take things slowly Xander.

XANDER walks over to ANYA's box of belongings. He picks out a snow globe and looks at it fondly.

XANDER
Yeah.
[Pause]
I know.

Scene: Hills near Sunnydale [Ext.], Dusk
We get a time establishing shot as we see the clouds move over Sunnydale and the sky get increasingly dark.

Scene: Summer's House, Kitchen [Int.], Evening
Buffy is in bed trying to catch up on some sleep. She is plagued by another prophetic nightmare. She wakes up with a start. She looks at her clock it is 6.58pm. Willow comes to the doorway. She asks if Buffy is okay. Buffy says another nightmare. She asks if Dawn is back. Willow says no. Willow apologises for earlier. Buffy and Willow have a heart to heart. Buffy seems agitated and she keeps looking out of the window. Buffy bluntly asks Willow if she will come on patrol with her; she is worried about the dreams especially since Dawn is still out. Willow says sure.

Scene: Park [Ext.], Late Evening
We follow DAWN as she slowly walks down a sidewalk. She finds herself outside the gates to the park.

From this position, her face is bathed in a golden light from the orange street light above.

After pausing for a moment DAWN enters the park. She heads through the bushes. From this vantage point we can see someone clad all in black sitting on one of the swings - SPIKE.

The camera pans around to in front of SPIKE. We watch him swinging very slowly as DAWN approaches from behind. DAWN sits on the swing adjacent to SPIKE's.

There is awkward silence for a moment or two.

DAWN looks up.

DAWN
[Quietly]
Why didn't you try to stop her?

SPIKE looks up. He looks confused.

DAWN
[Continued]
Xander found out about the consequences of
Anya's wish from YOU.
[Pause]
You knew what she was gonna do� what it
meant�
[Pause]
You could have stopped her Spike! You could
have stopped her dying.

SPIKE bites his lip.

There is another moment of silence.

SPIKE looks up. He actually has tears in his eyes.

SPIKE
And I wish I had�

DAWN looks up and she is pretty much shocked to see the emotion that SPIKE is showing.

SPIKE
I wish I could have told her how it was stupid
and how Xander would miss her. How'd you all
miss her.
[Pause]
How I'd miss her.

DAWN
Then why didn't you?

SPIKE
[Slowly]
Because sometimes we have to make our own
choices�

Looking down, DAWN scuffs her feet in the dirt on the ground below.

There is another pause for reflection.

SPIKE
[Quietly]
I miss you too.

DAWN continues to look down although she stops swinging.

SPIKE
I know things have been awkward between
us� and that is mostly because of things
between me and your sister� and there's
a lot of damage that needs repairing�
[Pause]
but� I'm trying� and I know it's gonna take
a while� but� I'd like it if we spent some
more time together�

SPIKE looks to DAWN.

The camera focuses on DAWN she raises her head slowly.

DAWN
I'd like that too.

DAWN turns to face SPIKE and�

�screams!

As everything moves to slow motion we see SARIA (the INDIAN WOMAN) standing in the bushes behind SPIKE. She is holding a cross-bow which is clearly aimed at SPIKE's heart.

While the filming continues in slow motion, the camera, at high velocity, pans around to SARIA's position.

We see DAWN screaming and SPIKE starting to turn.

We return to normal viewing speeds as we see SARIA pull the trigger on the cross-bow and shout:

SARIA
[Indian Accent]
Vampyr!

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Act III -- BB, 16:57:18 07/31/02 Wed
- Act IV -- BB, 16:58:22 07/31/02 Wed

Forum timezone: GMT+0
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums^(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.