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Date Posted: 05:21:52 08/09/02 Fri
Author: Jeanny & Dawneen
Subject: Act III
In reply to: Jeanny & Dawneen 's message, "Act II" on 05:12:49 08/09/02 Fri

ACT III

Scene: Bronze [Int.], Night
Pickup on the same shot, SPIKE with his fangs on the GIRL’s neck. Suddenly, SPIKE jerks his head back, hands to his forehead - THUMPING fades into GIRL screaming.

SPIKE
[stumbling back]
Oh, bloody hell!

CLEM enters the scene. Sees the GIRL’s wound. She weak now, barely standing up.

CLEM
Spike, hey, what’s going on - you didn’t?

SPIKE
[shaken]
No, ‘nother bugger did - got him though. Can you see
to it that she gets some medical attention? Nasty
scratch there.

SPIKE turns to go. CLEM goes to the GIRL and scoops her up.

CLEM
Sure, what are you gonna do?

SPIKE stares at him for a long moment, utterly lost. Finally he rallies a bit of his old attitude, but it rings false.

SPIKE
I’ll be back at the crypt. Watching back episodes of
Passions, I guess.

CUT TO:


Scene: Summers’ House, Living Room [Int.], Night
XANDER is still leafing through a text while WILLOW cleans up from their day of research.

WILLOW
So you don’t know what it’s gonna be yet?

XANDER
All I know is, no magic supplies. Someone else is
gonna have to take that carpet ride. But I’m gonna
rebuild the training room in the back, dummy and all.
Whatever I end up doing with it, I want Buffy to...
everyone to feel like it’s still home. Scooby Central.

WILLOW
Oh. Well, I think that’s good. I liked having our
meetings out of the house...it made them feel more
official and stuff...

XANDER
Will, not to change the subject, but can I ask you
something?

WILLOW stops cleaning and sits down, picking up the seriousness in his tone.

WILLOW
Sure.

XANDER
So...this Slayer loves vampire thing...do you think it’s,
you know, a thing?
[off her blank look]
Like a regular thing? Like a can’t-help-it-it’s-destiny-
and-therefore-completely-inevitable thing?

WILLOW
Oh. That kind of thing.

XANDER
Yeah.

WILLOW
I don’t really know. I guess, before, with Angel and
Buffy, I always thought that was kind of unique.

XANDER
Yeah, but then, Spike.

WILLOW
Which was totally different, other than the both being
vampires.

XANDER
The characteristic that’s kind of the point here, Will.

WILLOW
I know...I’m just saying that Saria’s vampire boyfriend
maybe complicates the issue. You’d think Slayers
falling for their prey on a regular basis might show up
in the Watcher’s Guide with a big neon “Look out”
sign.

XANDER
Maybe it isn’t all Slayers...I mean, a lot of them didn’t
last long enough to take a walk on the wild side, right?
But if it’s a Slayer thing...then maybe Buffy won’t ever
be happy with someone that’s, you know, normal.

WILLOW
Well...maybe not. But isn’t that true for all of us?

XANDER
Not following you Will. I’ve never had a thing for the
vampires.

WILLOW
No, you’ve been demon guy. Please don’t make
me recite the litany of insects and mummies and
Cordelias.

XANDER
You just-

WILLOW
(interrupting)
And my relationships have been...unconventional,
right? So can’t we just chock it up to Love,
Hellmouth Style? Just a little bit?

XANDER
I grant you there’s a bit of truth there...but Buffy’s
different. You and me, when it comes right down
to it, we’re pretty much normal. Buffy’s the Slayer.
She’s kind of got her feet in two worlds, and
being...involved with the undead, it...

WILLOW
You think it makes her more a part of their world?

XANDER
Don’t you?

WILLOW
I don’t want to.

XANDER
But I think we have to. This Saria girl...we don’t know
that her lover wasn’t the one that killed her. And we
don’t know she didn’t ask him to do it.

WILLOW
(firmly)
Buffy wouldn’t do that!

XANDER
How can you be so sure?

WILLOW
Because Buffy’s different from other Slayers. She
has more ties to our world, right? She has us. And
Dawnie. And, okay, she tends to fall for the undead,
but Buffy would never let herself be turned. She’s
not gonna leave us, Xander.

Before XANDER can answer, DAWN comes running in, extremely agitated.


DAWN
Buffy’s gone!

XANDER
Relax, Dawnster. She probably went on patrol.

DAWN
No, she hasn’t! Not like normal, she’s on a hunt or
something…

WILLOW
Calm down, honey. What are you talking about?

DAWN
Buffy’s in trouble.

XANDER
What?

DAWN
She is, I can feel it. I see...

CLOSEUP on DAWN as we see…


Scene: Sewer Tunnel [Int.], Night
…a strange distorted image of BUFFY patrolling, holding a stake.

DAWN
[Voice-Over]
Buffy!

SARIA’s smiling face comes into the frame, and BUFFY is grabbed from behind.

SARIA
[distorted]
Really, you’re gonna make it that easy?

DAWN
Buffy! No!

SARIA looks up sharply, and BUFFY knocks into her. DAWN is pulled back out of the vision.

FLASH CUT back to:


Scene: Summers’ House, Living Room [Int.], Night
DAWN puts her hands to the sides of her head.

DAWN
Why can’t I see where she is?

XANDER and WILLOW exchange worried looks.

WILLOW
Dawnie, I think you should sit down.

She goes to put her arm around DAWN, who shrugs out of her grasp.

DAWN
What? No! We’ve gotta find Buffy, now!

XANDER
We will, Dawnie. Right now.

XANDER pulls WILLOW out of DAWN’S earshot. We move to a two shot of them, with DAWN out of frame.

XANDER
(continued)
[softly, to WILLOW]
Is she delirious?

WILLOW
I’m not sure, but I think she’s right about finding
Buffy.

XANDER
She should have her cell.

WILLOW
Call her...Dawn, why don’t you-Dawn!

DAWN is no longer there, and the kitchen door is standing open. XANDER runs to it and looks out, then shakes his head.

XANDER
Gone.

WILLOW
Oh God. Okay. Get the weapons. I’ll try to reach
Buffy.

She walks to the phone and starts to dial

XANDER
Will, what’s happening here?

WILLOW
I don’t know. But I don’t like it. Dawn’s been wiggy for
a while now, and I think Saria’s the cause...come on!
Pick up!

XANDER
How?

WILLOW slams the phone back in its cradle.

WILLOW
[near tears]
Xander, I don’t know! I don’t know I don’t know I don’t
know! Buffy’s not answering.

XANDER grabs her by the shoulders, squeezing them gently.

XANDER
Will...it’s okay. I mean, it’s not, but it will be. But we
don’t have time for you to fall apart right now. Just
remember what ol' Jack Burton does when the earth
quakes, the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the
pillars of Heaven shake. Jack Burton just looks that
big old storm right in the eye and says, "Give me your
best shot. I can take it."

WILLOW
Was that meant to be comforting?

XANDER
[affronted]
Come on, Big Trouble in Little China! How
could it not be comforting?

WILLOW
[smiling in spite of her upset]
You’re right. We gotta go find her.

XANDER
Where do you think she went?
[off WILLOW’s frustrated look]
Oops, don’t know, sorry.

WILLOW
Actually, I don’t know exactly…but I’ve got an idea.

She looks away, and XANDER makes a face.

XANDER
[nodding]
Spike? Of course. Where all the Summers girls go
when troubles a-brewing. Into the arms of a vampire.


Scene: Forest [Ext.], Day.
SARIA runs through the trees, much as we saw in the Teaser. She crouches down in a clearing then looks up, her eyes wild with grief.

SARIA
I know you’re there. I can feel you. I can...
[wiping away angry tears]
You know what you feel like? Like death. Your own.

She takes off again, only this time she’s moving slowly and silently, completely alert. She stops near a cave.


Scene: Cave [nt.], Day
With a cry, SARIA comes bursting in, but the cave is empty. She searches it wildly.

SARIA
No...you’re here. You have to be here...I can feel you!
I can feel you!

She suddenly freezes, staring down in horror.

PAN TO: a CLOSEUP of the snake symbol again, only there’s something lying in the center. SARIA lifts it with shaking fingers…it’s her lover’s necklace.

SARIA
[half-sob]
No...Amar!

She runs from the cave...

CUT TO:


Scene: Forest [Ext.], Day
We track SARIA running through the trees, in and out of shadow like a strobe effect. She reaches the dwelling and enters, but the camera remains focused on the entrance. From outside we hear her anguished scream.

CUT TO:


Scene: Spike’s Crypt [Int.], Night.
SPIKE is sitting in his armchair, sullen, drinking. The television is on, we can tell by the sound, but he’s not even looking at it, staring at the bottle instead. He might have been crying, but we can’t be sure. We hear the door open, but he doesn’t look up at that either.

SPIKE
Whatever it is you’re selling, I’m not buying any today.

SWITCH ANGLE to SPIKE’s POV: DAWN is walking over, determined.

DAWN
Spike...

SPIKE
Go away. Shouldn’t be here. And a man has a right to
drink undisturbed. Course, I’m no man then, am I?

DAWN places herself directly in front of the television. SPIKE looks away.

DAWN
It’s Buffy.

SPIKE
[with bitter humor]
No. Today it‘s actually not.

DAWN
I think Buffy’s in trouble. I have to find her.

SPIKE
She’s not here.

DAWN
[exasperated]
I know! I need your help!

SPIKE
But I mean, why would she be here? Why would she
ever choose someone...no, something...like me...don’t
deserve her, never did...

DAWN
Stop it! Stop feeing sorry for yourself, stop pretending
you don't care about what happens! I need you to help me!
You keep acting like you don't want to be involved, like
you're afraid of Saria, and I know that's not it.

SPIKE
Well, you're half-right. I'm not afraid of Saria. But I don't
care what happens. So, off with you.

DAWN
You're lying. What is with you? Buffy’s in trouble...

SPIKE
And I told you to go away. There’s nothing for you
here, moppet. Run along and find your sis and leave
the big bad vamp to his cups, alright?

DAWN leans in angrily and slaps the bottle out of his hand.

DAWN
I don’t believe this. I don’t know what your problem is,
but you better grow up and get over-

SPIKE flies out of his chair and grabs DAWN, flinging her roughly against the wall and holding her there by the upper arms.

SPIKE
[almost out of control]
You’re right. You have no idea what my problem is,
and yet you waltz in here like you own the place and
say get over it? Like you own me, is that it, pet? Well,
I’m not Buffy’s faithful lapdog any longer and I’m not
yours either...

DAWN
Spike...you’re hurting me...

SPIKE
[screaming]
Of course I am! It‘s what I do. It‘s what I do!

His head dives forward, his teeth inches from her neck...

DAWN
[screaming]
Spike! No!

...and he stops, pulling away as if burned. He holds up his hands, trembling, and they’ve got blood on them, old blood from earlier, but fresh blood too. DAWN’s hands go to her arms where he was holding her, and she draws breath sharply. pulling her hands away. We see that he dug his fingers into her arms deep enough for his short nails to scratch her. She looks at her blood on her own fingers wonderingly.

SPIKE
[shakily]
Dawn...

DAWN
It’s just a scratch.

SPIKE
[sickened]
Dawn...I...I’m...I didn’t mean to...Oh God...

DAWN
[distantly]
Your hands...

Closeup on DAWN’s eyes as we CUT TO:


Scene: Vamp Cult Lair [Int.], Night.
Dream-like shots of BUFFY facing off with SARIA, and the snake symbol of the vampire cult glowing. CUT BACK TO:


Scene, Spike’s Crypt [Int.], Night.

DAWN looks up from SPIKE’s hands with a start. He misinterprets her reaction and jerks away.

SPIKE
I wasn’t gonna...I’m sorry!

DAWN
Spike...

SPIKE
Told her, didn’t I? Told her to keep you away, that I’d
only-

DAWN
Spike...the place...the vampire lair, the one you
destroyed. Where was it?

SPIKE
[still in shock]
Underground sewer tunnel, south side of town...
Dawn, I think you should...

DAWN turns and runs out of the crypt. SPIKE stares at his hands, confused and even more depressed.

SPIKE
(continued)
...go.

Scene: Vamp Lair [Int.], Night.
SARIA stands over BUFFY’s prone form. She kicks at her side, and BUFFY grunts.

SARIA
You see this mess? From what my sources tell me we
have your little pet vampire to thank for this.

BUFFY
My little...Spike...that’s just wrong on so many levels...

SARIA
[amused]
Cute nickname...he’s really thrown a spanner into the
works here, you know. Blowing up those vamps, just
when they were good and ready to bring the mother
back. All they needed was your blood, girlfriend. And
now, here you are, all ready to spill it, and they’re dust.
Sad.

BUFFY
I think the word you’re searching for is ‘yay’. When I
slay the evil I usually prefer it stay of the slain. The
Slayer gig’s tough enough without your kind getting
do-overs.

SARIA
I can see your point, except...sometimes you get
cheated. You don’t get to make the kill, even though
your blood boils for it.

BUFFY
Life’s a bitch.

She flips to her feet. SARIA looks unimpressed.

SARIA
But you see, I’ve found if you hang around long
enough, another opportunity presents itself.

BUFFY
Is there going to be a point soon? I generally like my
exposition a bit more expose-y.

SARIA
[cold anger]
You have a smart mouth.
[calmer, smiling]
You are so familiar to me, Slayer. We shared a
destiny in life...a common thread, a heritage.

BUFFY
Are we bonding now? Some big Slayer sisterhood
thing? Cause I feel the need to point out that you’re
playing for the other team now.

SARIA
I am no longer the Slayer, true. But I will destroy her,
if I have to bring her back myself to do it. After that I
will happily stake myself. Hell will be heaven for me if
I can join my beloved. But so help me, I will first slay
the mother myself.

BUFFY
Again with The Mother! Whose mother-

SARIA catches BUFFY off-guard with a sudden vicious attack. She knocks BUFFY over, pinning her to the ground, and raises a stake over her head.

SARIA
[smiling]
Yours.

BUFFY
[horrified]
What? My...you’re insane...

SARIA
Her blood is in you...in every Slayer...

BUFFY
I don’t understand...

SARIA
She’s your family. And for that you will die!

The stake comes down.

BLACK OUT

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