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Date Posted: 03:10:46 06/18/02 Tue
Author: Jeanny
Subject: Act III
In reply to: Jeanny 's message, "Act II" on 03:09:42 06/18/02 Tue

ACT III


Scene XIV: Oz's Apartment, Nearly Dawn.
WILLOW turns to OZ and he jumps to his feet.

OZ
Willow? Baby? I know you don't want to-

WILLOW
(still very angry)
You don't know what I want! I'm not your baby...I'm
not your anything! I'm nothing!
(less angry, more sad)
Nothing!

OZ steps toward her, paying no heed to the scary magical energy. He reaches for her, and she begins to shake.

OZ
(pained for her)
Willow. You'll never be nothing.

OZ continues to hold his arms out to her, loving, accepting. WILLOW meets his gaze, finding no judgment there and her eyes return to normal. She's shaking even harder, but instead of falling into his arms like we expect, she jumps back, horrified

WILLOW
Oz...oh God...I almost...I can't!

OZ
It's okay.
WILLOW continues to back away, then turns and runs for the door.

WILLOW
I've got to get out of here...I can't hurt another person I...
I have to go!

WILLOW runs to the door and fumbles with the lock, still trembling.

WILLOW
(panicking)
No, let me out!

OZ
Wait! Don't go! Please, just take a deep breath and try
to calm-

WILLOW blasts the door off its hinges and runs, leaving OZ framed in the smoking doorframe, shocked and saddened.

OZ
-down.

Scene XV: Outside DAWN's Examining Room, Early Morning
BUFFY is leaning against the wall to the left of the door to DAWN's room, her face in her hands. ANYA is standing close by, but not touching her, looking uncomfortable. A SECURITY GUARD is now been standing in front of the door, eyeing the two women cautiously.

BUFFY
(muffled by her hands)
I can't believe this is happening.

ANYA
Huh?

BUFFY drops her hands and shakes her head.

BUFFY
I said I can't believe this is happening. After everything
we've been through, everything we've lost, and
everyone we've...I really thought we were turning the
corner.
(a bitter laugh, then)
How really, incredibly stupid of me.

ANYA
(under her breath)
I didn't say it.

BUFFY seems not to hear ANYA, or possibly is simply ignoring her.

BUFFY
I don't care what I have to do, Dawn's going to have a
future. She just has to. She can't...her happiness...
that's what's most important...

ANYA
(heavy sarcasm)
Sure. Right. Now.

BUFFY
(confused)
What are you saying?

ANYA
(ready to spill)
I'm saying you haven't...
(remembering her promise)
Never mind. I...just forget it...

BUFFY
No, I want to know. You think I haven't been there for
Dawn? Is that what you...oh God...

BUFFY stops, a horrified expression on her face. She whirls towards the door as...

Scene XVI: Inside DAWN's Examining Room, Early Morning
We see the doctors once again preparing the paddles as all of the monitors show flatline. Closeup of DAWN looking dead, then again we are:

Scene XVII: Outside DAWN's Examining Room, Early Morning
BUFFY tenses to spring, and ANYA helplessly grabs her arm as the SECURITY GUARD also tenses, his hand moving not so subtly to his weapon.

ANYA
Buffy, don't. There's a guard-

BUFFY
Who we both know can't stop me.

ANYA
They'll kick you out of the hospital.

BUFFY
I don't care. Dawn needs me! I'm going!

ANYA
Right. Okey-dokey.
(to the GUARD)
Please, just let her in. Her sister's dying, and if you
don't she'll just hurt you...and you could care less...
right...okey-dokey...
(to BUFFY)
Be sure and tell Xander I was all heroic, 'kay?

GUARD
I've got orders-hey!

ANYA launches herself at the GUARD with a high-pitched battle cry. He catches her reflexively, the momentum pushing him away from the door. BUFFY flies through without hesitation, though everything has suddenly shifted to slow-motion...

Scene XVIII: Inside DAWN's Examining Room, Early Morning
...as BUFFY runs into the room, she falls forward on to her hands. There is a dreamlike quality to the scene, colors seem a bit washed out and we hear only the musical score as the doctors slowly bring the paddles down.


Scene XIX: Alley in Los Angeles, Early Morning
Brief shot of WILLOW running for her life, though we can see there's nothing there; at least nothing she can run from...


Scene XX: Inside DAWN's Examining Room, Early Morning
Closeup of BUFFY's anguished face as she crawls toward the bed, then back to DAWN's body again jerking off the bed, and coming back down, her hand dangling off the bed. The medical staff seems not to even notice BUFFY crawl in front of their legs until she's near her sister's shoulders and we angle down on her, then get an extreme closeup of her hand reaching up towards DAWN's limp fingers...


Scene XXI: Alley in Los Angeles, Early Morning
...and cut back to WILLOW as she collapses in exhaustion, holding her trembling hands in front of her face. Energy still crackles from her fingers and WILLOW closes her eyes. As her tears fall onto the already wet asphault, we see her plunge her hands into a puddle. The closeup of her fingers rippling the water dissolves...


Scene XXII: Inside DAWN's Examining Room, Early Morning
...to BUFFY's hand reaching up. BUFFY is also sobbing and we read her lips.

BUFFY
(soundless whisper)
No...please...

Extreme closeup of their hands again. Buffy grabs her sister's hand as she pulls herself to her feet, still in slo-mo. The music reaches a mournful coda...and Dawn suddenly inhales sharply and sits straight up, eyes open wide, causing the medical people to jump back in surprise. She looks at BUFFY's hand in hers, then smiles at her sister, weak but very much alive. BUFFY smiles back through her tears.

BUFFY
(softly, to no one)
Thank you.

And as she pulls her sister into her arms, we slowly dissolve to...

Scene XXIII: Street in Los Angeles, Morning
WILLOW is walking along, arms crossed against her chest, her expression pensive and kind of spent, the kind of numbness that often follows a big emotional moment. She stumbles slightly and looks down at a filthy HOMELESS WOMAN slumped on the sidewalk, looking up at her with pained pleading eyes.

HOMELESS WOMAN
Can you spare something? Just a little...please...

WILLOW bends down and presses her hand into the beggar's palm. The woman's eyes fill with tears as her hand closes over the twenty dollar bill.

WILLOW
Here. You take care.

WILLOW straightens and the woman reaches out and clutches her hand again for just a brief moment in a gesture of gratitude. WILLOW doesn't smile, but we see something in her ease slightly.

HOMELESS WOMAN
Bless you...take care...must be brave...fortune favors
the brave...

WILLOW steps back, a bit alarmed, and continues walking as the HOMELESS WOMAN leans back and closes her eyes, smiling though her expression is still pained.

HOMELESS WOMAN
Must be brave...brave...must be brave...brave for
what's coming...


Scene XXIV: Outside Sunnydale Hospital ER, Morning
ANYA is pacing outside, rubbing her arm and looking a bit put out, as XANDER and SPIKE come running up, SPIKE smoking a bit under his trusty blanket.

XANDER
Ahn, what's going on? No one's answering the cell
phone...

ANYA goes to hug him, then slaps his arm in distress, remembering.

ANYA
The cell phone...Giles! I hung up on Giles!

XANDER
Giles called? And you hung up on him?

ANYA
Things were all crazy...

SPIKE
(holding the blanket tighter, very nervous)
Not to put too fine a point on it, but could we move
story hour inside before some of us burst into
flames?

ANYA
I got kicked out of the hospital.

XANDER
You what?

SPIKE
(desperately)
I'm kicking you back in, luv. Come on people! Hurry
along!

SPIKE grabs both XANDER and ANYA by the arm and pulls them inside.

Scene XXV: Hospital Corridor outside the ER, Sunnydale Hospital, Morning
SPIKE sheds his blanket with a relieved sigh as ANYA looks about for someone to come try to kick her out again. She huffs a bit when no one reacts to her presence.

ANYA
Well, that was a bit anti-climactic.

XANDER
(frustrated)
Anya, what the hell happened?

ANYA
(already heading down the corridor in a hurry)
Dawn's heart stopped...

SPIKE and XANDER both pale and pick up their pace to catch up with her...

ANYA
...but they brought her back with those electric paddle
things but Buffy kept trying to go to her and I tackled the
security guard to help her and...

They skid to a stop in front of the room where DAWN had been before. The door is open and the room is now empty of all people and equipment.

ANYA
(shocked)
...and they're gone.

SPIKE grabs a passing NURSING ASSISTANT by the shoulders roughly and hauls her over to face the room.

SPIKE
Summers. Dawn. Girl that was in this room, fighting for
her life. You people moved her. Show us where.

Scene XXVI: Inside DAWN's Hospital Room, Morning
BUFFY is brushing her sister's hair. DAWN is still pale, but is sitting up and is clearly happy with all the attention. Her eyes light up when she sees SPIKE who now seems uncomfortable. SPIKE manages a smile as he and ANYA approach the bed. BUFFY gets up and goes to XANDER, who grabs her into a hug.

DAWN
Spike! You're back! And you're here!

SPIKE says nothing; the sight of her in the hospital bed seems to have rooted him to the spot. The look on his face is growing stormier by the second. ANYA sits lightly on the edge of the bed and smiles at the girl.

ANYA
(to DAWN)
And you're looking much less dead.
(thinking better of that)
I mean pasty.

BUFFY
(softly, to XANDER only)
Xander, she almost...

XANDER
(whispering in her ear)
I know...but she's okay. It's alright...
(pulling away to go to DAWN's side)
although I'm sure I'm not the first to say you gave us
the big freak-out, young lady. How're you feeling?

DAWN
Better...I don't really remember a lot, but they tell me
that's normal...

BUFFY
She's gonna have to stay here for a few days, but they
think she's gonna be fine now.

DAWN
(happily)
They want to observe me. Big pain in the-

BUFFY
(teasing)
Right! Like you don't love the cute interns fawning all
over you.

DAWN
Nuh-uh! Well, some of them...

XANDER sits on the side opposite ANYA. He grabs DAWN's hand with one hand, lightly stroking her hair with the other.

XANDER
(mock-stern)
Well, any of them get fresh, you let me know and I'll
teach them a few new uses for a nice cold
stethoscope...

BUFFY and ANYA give him looks, but DAWN giggles and XANDER grins in satisfaction.

BUFFY
Don't encourage him.

XANDER
At least one Summers lady appreciates my wit...

He leans in and gives DAWN a peck on the cheek.

XANDER
(whispering in her ear)
You mind if I borrow your sis for a sec?

DAWN
(saucily)
Only a second? Another illusion shattered.

XANDER
(pulling back in mock indignation)
What? You're implying that I...never mind. Okay if Buffy
and I step outside?

DAWN
Sure...go ahead...neither rain nor sleet nor
convalescing sisters can keep he Slayer from her
appointed...slaying...

XANDER takes BUFFY's arm, but the Slayer searches her sister's eyes for permission. DAWN makes a shooing gesture.

DAWN
Go on...I've got cute interns and Anya and Spike to
keep me...
(as they step out the door, confused)
Where'd Spike go?

We get a wider shot of the room that clearly shows no SPIKE. ANYA shrugs.

ANYA
Probably stepped out for a smoke.

DAWN
(alarmed)
But it's daytime!

ANYA
And we're talking about Spike, so wanna bet he's gone
to have a cigarette in intensive care?

DAWN
(relaxing)
You're right. That sounds like Spike...
(seriously and softly)
Ummm...Anya?

ANYA
You need something? Water? A doctor? What is it?

DAWN
I'm good...I just...I don't remember much, like I said,
but I do remember...
(looking down at her arm, uncomfortable)
...what I did...what I was going to...
(looking up at ANYA fearfully)
You didn't tell Buffy?

ANYA
About you trying to...cut yourself? No, of course not.
I promised I wouldn't.

DAWN
Good. Anya, thank you...

ANYA
Think you should, though.

DAWN
(alarmed)
What? Why? It's never gonna happen again, I swear.

ANYA
I know. And I know Buffy loves you. But she's the
Slayer, and that means a lot of things...a lot of
responsibilities, and choices...choices that don't just
affect her.

ANYA turns to look at the door, and we know its her own pain over XANDER she's really thinking about.

ANYA
I just wish for once she could see the fallout.

Scene XXVII: Outside DAWN's Hospital Room, Morning

BUFFY is holding the note WILLOW left behind, slightly crumpled, on top of an open address book as XANDER nods.

BUFFY
Just 'Goodbye'? That's it?

XANDER
Yup. She trashed the place...there might be clothes
missing, couldn't tell.

BUFFY
This is really bad. I mean, really, really bad...she could
be anywhere...

XANDER
That's why I brought her address book. I found it lying
open like that, thought maybe she might have called
someone, or gone to stay with someone.

BUFFY hands the note back to him and concentrates on the address book.

BUFFY
You're sure it was open to this page? It's blank.

XANDER
I know. I thought it was weird...

BUFFY
There's a page missing.
(running her finger down the middle of the book)
The edge here is jagged...

XANDER
Careful, that way lies paper cuts...Okay, that can't be a
coincidence. So Willow took a page from her address
book. Names that begin with O for a thousand.

BUFFY looks up and their eyes lock, reaching the same conclusion at the same time.

BUFFY and XANDER
Oz.

XANDER
Of course, gotta be...though I didn't know they were
still close.

BUFFY
I don't know that they are, but I know he's sent her a
few postcards...I don't know where she kept them...

XANDER
If she kept them...but we don't know from where...do
we?

BUFFY
No...but I just thought of someone who probably does.
Devon.

XANDER
I'll head over there.

BUFFY
I'll come with you.
(off his look)
It's Devon. We might have to charm him, and you
don't have the right...

XANDER
Lucky charms?

BUFFY smirks at him, then looks at the door to DAWN's room ruefully.

XANDER
Seriously, I can manage this one on my own.

BUFFY
No...and it's not just Willow. I've got to take care of
these vamps...there're too many of them and they're
too organized and they've got a big hard on to take me
on, which means we're all in danger until I deal with
them. You and Spike could have been...

XANDER
We handled it. I can whoop the vamp ass where
needed, Buff.

BUFFY
Well aware. Humor me?

XANDER
My life's ambition.

BUFFY smiles at him as she hands him back the address book and note. XANDER stuffs them back in his jacket pocket as BUFFY opens the door to DAWN's room.

Scene XXVIII: Inside DAWN's Hospital Room, Morning
They walk through the door to see ANYA and DAWN laughing together over something.

DAWN
(teasing, not upset)
That what you call a sec, Xander?

XANDER and BUFFY exchange guilty looks that are lost on no one.

XANDER
Well, no, and I think I need an extension.

BUFFY
What am I, a library book?
(to ANYA)
Hey, Anya, I know I haven't really thanked you for
staying with me last night, and...and helping me
earlier...

ANYA
(flatly)
I got kicked out. And I was frisked.

BUFFY
And I'm sorry about that...

ANYA
Actually it was rather exciting. Like that game Xander
and I used to play where I was the prostitute and he
was the street-wise cop-

XANDER
(mortified)
Anya!

BUFFY
(amused, to XANDER)
And I'm sorry about that.
(back to ANYA)
The thing is, Xander and I might have a lead on where
Willow is-

DAWN
Willow's missing?

BUFFY
(oops)
Ummm...not exactly missing...

XANDER
We think she went to visit Oz.

BUFFY
(soothingly, to DAWN)
We just need to talk to her.
(to ANYA)
I know I'm asking a lot, but could you-

ANYA
Stay with Dawn? No, I don't mind. She needs to rest,
and I enjoy spending time with her. And someone
should be here...

BUFFY walks to DAWN's bedside and gently kisses her sister's forehead.

BUFFY
I'll be back as soon as I can, I swear.
(to ANYA)
Thank you so much.

DAWN
(in a small voice)
I'm alright here alone.

BUFFY
(vehemently)
No!
(to ANYA)
Promise me you won't leave her alone, that either you
or Spike will...where is Spike?

Everyone looks blank and we cut to:

Scene XXIX: Sewers, Late Morning
A VAMPIRE MINION comes stumbling through the sewer, half-running towards the camera. He's muttering worriedly as he approaches the camera, looks around for a second in suspicion, then continues on past. As we watch him leave we hear a match strike, and the camera pan up to show Spike emerging from the shadows, lighting a cigarette and smiling a less than friendly smile.

SPIKE
That's it, sonny. Run home to mother.

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