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Date Posted: 20:40:26 05/24/02 Fri
Author: ZachsMind
Author Host/IP: adsl-208-191-200-136.dsl.rcsntx.swbell.net / 208.191.200.136
Subject: [PG] "You Slay Me" 1/? (working title I'm not married to it)

CAUTION: May contain season six finale spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.

[I rated it PG even though there's nothing really particularly PG about it. It's whatever you'd rate an average episode of the show. There's no real major shipping going on, although I do have a little poke of fun at Buffy & Oz but it's very minimal. The story is incomplete, and I haven't even really titled it yet. Admittedly at the moment I've left it at a bit of a cliffhanger. Sorry about that. This is all I've got done as of the point, and would appreciate your thoughts. This story takes place AFTER the season six's finale (episodes "Two To Go" & "Grave")... sorta. It also revisits scenes from past episodes of Buffy, like "Welcome To HellMouth & "Dead Man's Party." But I tweak them a lot. It's vaguely got a sorta Back To The Future kinda twinge to it. The basic gist of the plot is that Willow finds herself reliving the past seven years of her life as if she were Buffy and Buffy were her. So it's a combination of temporal physics gone awry and Willow driving herself crazy. This is a VERY ROUGH DRAFT and may go under the knife and be dramatically altered before I get to the end of it.]


TEASER

A nondescript bedroom with some boxes randomly displayed around it. The camera shows a shot from above WILLOW in the bed. She's having nightmares that consist of flashes of her as Dark Willow causing carnage and damage and threatening her own friends.

She wakes with a start.

Dawn: (off camera) Willow? ...Willow are you up yet?

Willow: (sitting up) Huh? What? D-Dawnie?

Camera CUTS TO

Dawn: (entering room, wearing a backpack. Physically she looks the same but she's dressed in clothes obviously circa preteen early 90s) You're still in bed? (crosses to some boxes) This is the first day! You're gonna make us late!

Willow: (to herself) F-first d-day?

Dawn: (grabs a shirt and pants and throws them at Willow) Mom's gonna be pissed when she finds out! Get up!

CUT TO WILLOW still in bed

Willow: (blinking. She starts putting the shirt on) Where are we going, Dawny? (from off camera, a pair of undies is thrown and lands on Willow's head)

Dawn: School, dummy!

CUT TO DAWN who is pacing and getting school supplies together for Willow, occasionally throwing things off camera towards Willow still on the bed.)

Dawn: You're going to high school, and I'm going to middle school. I know you're scared, 'kay? We're both scared but that's no excuse to sleep in and freak out like you always do! Just think positive. Make friends. And try not to get us kicked out of the city this time, okay?

CUT TO shot from doorway framing Willow as she gets out of bed deshuffled but clothed. Dawn starts trying to unshuffle Willow and make her look presentable. Willow grabs Dawn by the shoulders.

Willow: Dawnie, listen! Something's happening!

Dawn: (forced loud whispers. She's talking through her teeth and looks back at the door as if waiting for Joyce to look in on them any moment) Yes! Something's happening! We're going to school if I have to drag you by your feet kicking and screaming. I don't know what you did back home but this is home now and I don't want you freaking out having Mom lose her job and us moving again. You understand me? Get your act together!

Joyce: (off camera) Dawn! Willow! Let's go!

Dawn: (very fake smile in her voice) Coming, Mom!

Dawn grabs Willow by the arm with one hand, grabs a pair of shoes for Willow with the other and drags Willow through the door towards the camera. Dawn goes off camera, Willow stops at the door frame. Extreme Close up of her face.

Joyce: (off camera) Willow? I'm gonna get the car running.

Willow: (a look of abject fear and confusion on her face) C-Coming Mom!

BLACKOUT. OPEN CREDITS.


ACT I

Cut to the school. The camera pans from the street to the main building. Cut to Joyce pulling up to the school in her Jeep to drop off Willow.

Joyce: Things okay with you and Dawn? She seemed a little..

Willow: Oh, uh. We're okay, Joyce. Just uh. We're okay.

Joyce: (laughs nervously) Joyce?

Willow: uh, Mrs. Summers? M-Mom?

Joyce: (looks hard at Willow. beat) Okay! (motions for Willow to get out.)

Willow gets out. Closes jeep door, looks back at Joyce when she hears her voice.

Joyce: Have a good time. I know you're gonna make friends right away, just think positive. (gives a thumbs up)

Willow looks through the open car door and gives her mother a quick nod. She turns to go.

Joyce: And honey?

Willow looks back at her mom again.

Joyce: Try not to get kicked out?

Willow: Oh of course.

Joyce: Okay.

Willow: (turns back and crosses forward off camera left. To herself) What's happening to me?

Willow faces the school and lets out a deep breath. Joyce drives off. Willow just stands there. Not knowing what to do. Cut to Xander, bobbing and weaving through the crowd on his skateboard. (it looks cooler this time)

Xander: 'Scuse me, comin' through, pardon me, 'scuse me, whoa! 'Scuse me, not sure how to stop! Please move, whoa, 'scuse me... (notices Willow) Whoa!

He stares at her and doesn't notice that he's headed right for the stair railing. He crashes into it and falls beneath it, grunting in pain. Buffy appears on screen. She walks up and has to step high to avoid tripping over his legs.

Xander: I'm Okay. I feel good.

Buffy looks down at him, smiling and pulling her hair behind her ear.

Xander: (sees her) Buffy! You're so very much the person that I wanted to see! (gets up)

Buffy: Oh, really?

They start walking toward the school, passing Willow whose eyes are practically bigger than her head. She's staring right at them. Xander glances back embarrassedly. Buffy doesn't notice Willow at all.

Xander: Yeah. You know, I was hoping to get on the team and thought you being a cheerleader you could put in a good word for me?

Buffy: Well it doesn't really work that way-

Willow: (runs to & around them, so her back ends up to the camera) Buffy! Xander! God, it's so good to see you!

Xander: You.. you know me?

Buffy: Uh, hi? You look new. How do you know our names?

Willow: Guys! It's me! Willow!

Buffy: Wow. That's an original way to get to know new people. Works for me. But might not work for most people. Does it work for you Xander?

Xander: (to Willow) Well I can pretend we're long time friends if that works for you. I'm easy. uh, I mean flexible- Ack what I mean to say-

Buffy: Xander's like this around women. It takes some getting used to. Come to think of it you two probably have a lot in common.

Willow: You don't remember me?

Buffy: Sorry. Nope. Willow was it?

Willow nods unhappily

Buffy: I do wanna help you though. You might not want to try this "old friends" gimmick on anyone else here at Sunnydale. It's kinda freaky weird and if you're new you don't want to stand out. Xander? Show Willow around okay? (she pretends to notice someone behind Willow wanting to talk to her, by smiling & nodding & waving off camera) I gotta go. Nice to meet you! (Buffy leaves quickly)

Xander & Willow stand there a beat. Awkwardly. Willow looks over Xander's shoulder and sees a car on the street. In the car she sees Angel's face briefly, surrounded by black.

Willow: Angel?

Xander: Well I try to be an angel. What if I start by showing you the-

Willow runs past Xander towards the street. She starts calling off after Angel. We don't see inside the car again, but it drives off with squealing tires as Willow hits the street still calling out after him. She stands there in the middle of the street for a beat, calling after him, then dejectedly walks back towards the curb. Xander's standing there.

Xander: Boyfriend? With a car? That's cool.

Willow: No he's not a.. Xander!

Xander: That IS freaky, Buffy's right about that. How do you know my name?

Willow: This is all so wrong! It's like I'm back in high school again. I already did this, but I wasn't me. I mean. I was Buffy and Buffy was me.

Xander: Come again?

Willow: I don't think you'd believe me if I told you. I don't think anyone... wait. Giles!

Xander: Giles? Another boyfriend?

Willow: No. He's the librarian. I think. If this is where I think it is.

Xander: Where you think? This is school! You're at a school. There is a library. Look, I can show you the library.

Willow: No thanks. I know the way. I'll see you uh.. later? (she walks away from him. Talking to herself) Much. Later.

Xander: Ah.. Okay! I'll uh, see you later then? Yeah. Great.

CUT TO LIBRARY

Willow rushes into the library and looks around. It looks deserted.

Willow: Hello? Is anybody here?

She looks at the book checkout counter and sees a newspaper. She looks at the date. 1997. A picture has been circled. The caption above it reads "Local Boys Still Missing." Giles comes up behind her and taps her on the shoulder. She spins around, startled.

Willow: Ooo! (exhales) Anybody's here!

Giles: Can I help you?

Willow: Yes I need some help and I think you're the only person who can help me.

Giles: Miss Willow Summers?

Willow: No! Rosenberg! Willow Rosengerg.

Giles: Well I got the Willow part right. I'm Mr. Giles.

Willow: I know. Rupert Giles. The librarian, right?

He heads around behind the counter.

Giles: I was told you were coming. Although they didn't tell me you were going by your mother's maiden name. That makes sense though, since you recently divorced.

Willow: Can you please explain to me what's going on here?

Giles: I know what you're after!

With a big grin on his face he pulls out a large old book with the word "VAMPYR" written in gold leaf on the front cover. Buffy looks up at him with an uneasy gaze.

Willow: That's not what I'm looking for.

Giles: Are you sure?

Willow: I'm *way* sure.

Giles: (confused) My mistake.

He puts the book back behind the counter.

Giles: (straightening back up) So, what is it you said-

Willow: I think you should sit down.

Giles: You do understand who you are, correct? I got the position here as librarian so we can keep a low profile. Are you sure you don't want the handbook? You look the book type.

Willow: (suddenly completely forgets her urgency) Wait is that THE handbook? The slayer handbook?

Giles obediently reaches back over to bring her the book, then places it back on the counter for her to peruse. Willow opens it voraciously and begins trying to memorize it all at once.

Giles: It's only the first volume actually. After we've worked through the basics of this volume together we can get into the others.. You know it's probably not wise to use the word "slayer" in public. You never know when people might walk in on us.

Willow: Oh well I always thought that Buff- (stops herself. closes the book.) I can't believe me! Giles! Something's happening.

Giles: Already? (he lightly takes her by the elbow and leads her to a nearby table. They sit down.) Have you already encountered something? You've only just moved to Sunnydale! Was it a vampire? Demon? Were there any distinguishing marks?

Willow: Giles! No! You're not.. Oh, this is so hard.

Giles: (comfortingly puts his hands on hers) It's alright. Take a deep breath. We'll get through this together.

Willow: (takes a deep breath, then says all the following in one breath) Okay I'm not supposed to be the vampire slayer I'm supposed to be the vampire slayer's best friend I'm not supposed to be Willow Summers I'm Willow Rosenberg and it's supposed to be Buffy Summers but this morning I woke up seven years back in time in Buffy's bed and her sister woke me up and told me not to ruin her life and then Buffy's mom who died two years ago is suddenly alive again and she drove me to school and I met Xander and Buffy only Xander and Buffy didn't recognize me and they don't know me from anyone but for the past seven years they and you and me we've all been working real hard fighting demons and vampires and annoying fairytale monsters who steal people's voices and then their hearts and I fell in love with a werewolf one time and then I learned how to be a witch but I was never a vampire slayer I'm not supposed to be the slayer I'm supposed to be the slayer's best friend.

CUT TO GILES who looks utterly stupefied.

Willow: See?

Giles: (takes off his glasses and begins cleaning them with a handkerchief) They told me that your previous watcher died in battle, and that you might be a bit.. mentally disturbed from the experience, but..

Willow: Disturbed? I'm not disturbed. Giles you've gotta trust me! Uh! I know you're from England! I know people used to call you the Ripper, though I never really paid much attention to understanding why. I know you have a really sweet nice lady named Olivia who will visit you from England and you two-

Giles: You know Olivia? How do you know Olivia?

Willow: Because I met her! Or rather I will! When I'm me again. Ooh! This is all so strange! My point is I couldn't possibly know all this about you if I was who you think I am or if I was disturbed. So I must be me. I mean Willow.

Giles: But you are Willow.

Willow: Yes! But I'm not Willow the Vampire Slayer. I'm just technogeek Willow. And then last I remember I became super scary veiny Willow with magic powers and I almost destroyed the world but then Xander- ..Oh my God! I almost destroyed the world! Maybe I did destroy the world and this is hell? This is my hell. Where I'm doomed to live out Buffy's life over and over for all eternity. Lord knows I probably deserve it but- Oh, Giles you've gotta help me!

Giles: Maybe we should take this from the top. You say you already know me.

Willow: Yes!

Giles: But I don't know you.

Willow: That's because I've somehow gone back in time. Or something...

He takes off his glasses and begins cleaning them with a cloth once again. Willow doesn't skip a beat.

Willow: ...I'm living the first day of school for Buffy. Only instead of me being me, I'm where Buffy was and she's where I was and Buffy's ..well Buffy's still Buffy but she's like friends with Xander. And I was friends with Xander, but now he doesn't know me and wants to show me around the school as if we've never met.

Giles: Now, slow down. You keep getting ahead of yourself.

Willow: Wait! The paper! (she stands and crosses back to the counter, picks up the paper. Shows it to Giles). Today was the day that they find a dead body in the locker room. Then later Buffy learned it had bite marks. I remember because it was the same day Buffy actually treated me like a real person. She was the first cheerleader type of person ever to treat me like a real person. At first I thought she was like everyone else and just wanted me to help her with her homework but she turned out to be so much more! Oh Giles, I don't want to live Buffy's life. My life was hard enough.

Giles: (beat. Giles stands up from table and crosses back to meet her at the counter) There's a body in the locker?

Willow: Yes! If you go there right now you'll know I'm saying the truth! Or, we can just wait till someone else finds the body and then you'll know I'm not crazy.

Giles: (looking at her with a smile on his face) I don't think you're crazy, Willow.

Willow: Well you're looking at me like you think I'm crazy.

Giles: Well it is difficult for me to understand how you could know so much about my past when so far as I know no one could have told you I was even going to be here waiting for you, but it's not entirely out of the question that somehow you were briefed on my arrival.

Willow: Why? To play a practical joke on you?

Giles: Well it wouldn't be the first one.

Willow: People have played practical jokes on you, Giles?

Giles: On occasion. You're not the only one who had a rough time before University.

Willow: What do I do?

Giles: Well based on what you've explained to me, I recommend that you go to class and continue participating in what you think ..Buffy's life was this day. I'll research and try to find previous occasions like this, and perhaps more evidence will present itself.

Willow: (a knowing look) In other words you don't know what to do either.

Giles: Well I... If what you say is true you obviously came to me because in your subjective perspective of reality I managed to come up with extreme answers to extreme situations, which is in fact what I do. And I do thank you for confiding in me by the way, but I'm not the Giles you remember. I mean I haven't the advantage of seven extra years of experience. I don't know what you mean by almost destroying the world-

Willow: My girlfriend got killed and I went a little.. murderous rampagy with the dark magicks. And Buffy tried to stop me. But she couldn't.

Giles: Who stopped you?

Willow: Xander. Thank God...

As if on cue, Xander opens the door. Camera angle shows him in the background. He looks around, spots Willow, and starts walking towards the two of them at the counter.

Willow: I'm still a bit upset about it all but I have to figure this out first. I must have blacked out after I tried to kill him..

Xander: Kill who? Willow, right? They're asking about you. You're in my first period class and when you didn't answer at roll call I told the teacher I thought I might know where you were. So. You're late. First day of class. Not a good thing, but I know the teacher I think we can straighten this out. (he nods at Giles) Sir. Sorry to interrupt.

Giles: Oh no by all means (Giles reaches into his pocket for a pink slip and a pen) it's perfectly alright. Miss Summers was just inquiring about our ..volunteer tutor program.

Willow: I was?

Giles: You were.

Willow: Oh yes of course. I uh- was.

Giles: Xander is it?

Xander: How come everybody knows my name all the sudden? Was I in the school paper?

Giles: Just tell your teacher I'm sorry and if she needs an explanation, I uh.. I'll come up with something.

Xander: Great. Pink slip. Always a good thing. Got one of those for me too? Cuz, the hall monitors are fierce around here before lunch.

Giles: Just stay with Miss Summers and go straight to class.

Xander: Gotcha.

Willow: Giles?

Giles: (after giving her the pink slip he takes off his glasses and wipes them with a handkerchief) Just go back to class *Miss Summers* and we'll finish discussing your unique situation later. Alright?

Willow: (as Xander is politely escorting her back to the door) You do that glass cleaning thing way too much, Giles.

Giles: Quite.


CUT TO HALLWAY outside girls' locker room. It's later in the day and there's people walking back and forth. The principal can be seen staring at students as he walks down the hall as if they're all guilty of something. He almost runs into Giles who enters screen cleaning his glasses and looks preoccupied in this thoughts.

Principal: Mister Giles!

Giles: Oof! Sorry! Yes?

Principal: Just the man I wanted to see.

Giles: (dryly) Oh really?

Principal: Yes. I hear you were talking with the new student. Miss Willow Summers?

Giles: Yes she came to the library to discuss with me about our tutorial program.

Principal: Well usually the new students are to be directed to my office so I can properly introduce them to the school.

Giles: Oh she hadn't already met with you? I thought that was how she learned about our tutorial program.

Principal: Oh really?

Giles: Yes and she had wonderful things to say about you sir.

Principal: But I didn't-

Giles: Yes she certainly did you made quite an impression on her-

Women's screams can be heard and a lot of young women begin rushing out of the girls' locker room. Giles glances over and notices where he is with a schock of revelation on his face.

Giles: If you'll excuse me, sir..

Giles runs to the locker room and fights through the door against the stream of women exiting. CUT TO inside girls locker room which is mostly deserted by now. Giles is looking about with the principal not far behind him.

Principal: Mister Giles! This is -what do you you think you're doing!?

Giles: Screams usually mean trouble, Mister Flutie. I'm uhm.. doing my duty.

Giles stops short in one of the halls of lockers where he sees a dead body on the floor. Two women, one dressed in towels the other just barely finished dressing in her clothes run away from the body and past him. They run into the principal and then off camera.

Principal: We have women coaches for this sort of thing! This is highly irregular. (he spots the dead body and his face turns cold) Oh dear.

Giles: (Grabs principal by the collar with one hand) Quick! Go call an ambulance immediately!

Principal: Yes! Uh, good thinking, Mister Giles. (and with that he's gone)

Giles rushes to the body and kneels before it. The place is completely deserted. He checks the corpse's wrist for a pulse, then glances around worriedly before checking the neck. CLOSEUP of bitemarks on the corpse's neck. CUT back to medium close up of a worried Giles.

Giles: Dear God. Willow Summers was right. The Council never prepared me for temporal anomalies. (heavy sigh) Oh dear.




ACT II

It's two years later. Giles' apartment building. Cut to outside his door. The kids are all standing there.

By kids I should specify. Willow is sort of flanked by Xander and Anya, Buffy and Oz. It looks familiar to the opening of the episode "Dead Man's Party" from episode two, but Cordelia is nowhere to be found, and though Willow still looks pretty much like Willow and Buffy still looks pretty much like Buffy, there's still some almost unconscious differences about their demeanor & appearance. It's obvious at a glance that Willow's in charge of this little clique.

Willow: You know, maybe it's too late. Maybe we should just come back tomorrow.

No one makes a move to go. Willow looks at the door, then back at the others.

Willow: Wha-What if he's mad at me? Still? Again?

Xander: Mad? Just because you ran away and abandoned your post and your friends and your mom and made him lay awake every night worrying about you? (to Oz and Buffy) Maybe we should wait out here.

Willow gives him a look. Then she gives Buffy & Oz a stranger look. Buffy & Oz are holding hands. They both get self conscious and let go at the same time. Willow turns around to face the door, reaches for the knocker and taps it a few times.

Cut inside. Giles opens the door and sees Willow standing there flanked by the others. His face remains expressionless for a long moment.

Xander: (to Giles) Check it out. The Watcher is back on the clock. (Giles slips on his glasses) And just when you were thinking career change, maybe becoming a... a looker or a... a seer.

Giles: Thank you, Xander.

He looks at his Slayer.

Giles: Welcome home, Willow.

Willow gives a worried smile at him. He pulls the door open further and steps back so they can all come in.

Cut to Giles' living room. Oz, Buffy, Anya and Xander are all on he couch. Willow is sitting in a facing chair. Giles is leaning on the backrest of another chair.

Willow: I got in a few hours ago, but I wanted to go see Joyce first.

Anya: You call your mom by her first name? That's so weird.

Willow: Uh, yeah Joyce. My mom.

Giles: Yes. Yes, of course. How, how did you find her?

Buffy: Well, I pretty much remembered the address.

Giles: Ah, eh, I mean, uh...

The teakettle in his kitchen begins to whistle.

Giles: How are things between you? (notices the whistling) Ah. Excuse me. (goes into the kitchen, removing his glasses as he does so.)

Oz: Hey, so Will. You're not wanted for murder anymore.

Willow: Good. That was such a drag.

Xander: So where were you? Did you go to Belgium?

Willow: (gives him an odd look) Why would I go to Belgium?

Xander: I think the relevant question is why wouldn't you? (smiles hugely and giggles) Bel-gium!

They both laugh. Willow glances over at Buffy & Oz who are very cozy on the couch. A chill seems to run down Willow's spine.

Cut into the kitchen. Giles gets the cups out of his cupboard. He smiles as he listens to the conversation in the living room, pleased that they are getting along so well again so quickly. Then he glances over at something on the counter and his face changes expression to one of somber resolve.

Willow: What about you, Xander? What's up with you?

Xander: Oh, you know, same old, same old.

Giles puts on his glasses and leans with his arm against the cupboard, reading from some notes he'd been working on just before they arrived. He touches his hand on an open book, then looks back towards the living room as if wondering whether anyone was looking over his shoulder. His concern darkens.

Anya: Hardly.

Xander: Okay, I lied, a whole lot is new.

Willow: Well, that's good, isn't it? New is good.

Giles shakes himself out of his reverie and completes preparing the tea.

Xander: Oh, yeah, absolutely, except for the obvious. It's not too much...

Anya: Yeah, 'cause you weren't at the hotel.

Giles lifts up the serving tray and takes it into the living room.

Xander: Anya's parents dragged her onto a luxury vacation.

Willow: I feel for you.

Giles: Here we are then. (sets the tray on the coffee table) Cheer us up.

He sits down in his chair and takes the teapot. Willow and Xander each take a cookie from the tray. Oz & Buffy are far too interested in one another to notice the tray or anything else in the room.

Anya: So were you, like, living in a box, or what?

Willow: Well, it's a long story.

Xander: So skip the heartwarming stuff about kindly old people and saving the farm and get right to the dirt.

Giles: (pours several cups) Perhaps Willow could use a little time to adjust before we grill her on her summer activities.

Willow: What he said.

Xander: Fair enough. In fact, you can leave the slaying to us while you settle in. We got you covered.

Willow: So I noticed. You guys seem down with the slayage, all tricked out with your walkies and everything.

Anya: Yeah, but the outfits suck. This whole Rambo thing is so over. I'm thinking more sporty, like Hilfiger maybe.

Giles: And how was your sister?

Willow: Fine, I guess. She wanted to come tonight but I keep telling her she's too young to.. you know.

Anya: Poke fangy vampire types with pointed sticks?

Willow: Exactly. Buffy was always right about that.

Giles clears his throat. Buffy & Oz practically fall out of the couch but manage to not appear too surprised that Buffy's name came up in conversation & they hadn't been listening.

Buffy: Huh? I mean what?

Oz: Whoops! Sorry.

Buffy: Oh no that's my boo. (they settle each other back in the couch)

Willow: I mean you were always saying how Dawnie shouldn't go trotting out getting in danger. I thought you were being overprotective then but I certainly understand now.

Buffy: What do you mean? Dawnie? I'm the one who told you last year now that she knows about you, she should be a part of our little Scooby Squad. She's a plucky kid. She can take care of herself?

Willow: Buffy?

Buffy: I don't remember ever agreeing with you on that.

Willow: Oh yeah..

Buffy: But I mean she's your sister.

Willow: Right. Of course.

Oz: I'd have to agree. (everyone looks at him.) I mean about her being your sister. But.. Ah.. I understand your points too, Buffy. And I've exceeded my number of words for the day.

(an uncomfortable silence. Everyone else looks away. Giles is looking at Willow. Willow's looking at Buffy & Oz.)

Giles: (standing up) Right, well. I know this is going to sound a bit unorthodox, but ..uhm..

Anya: What is it, Giles?

Giles: I'd uh.. Like a few moments alone with my slayer if you don't mind. Perhaps the lot of you could run off and get some.. American goodies? Candy bars and what not? There's a gas station down the street on the corner. That'll be long enough for me to ..catch Willow up on some things the council's asked me to discuss with her.

The others are already tentatively standing up and heading for the door, other than Anya.

Anya: But these cookies are fine (she takes one for the first time) I mean they look good.

Xander: Oh well Anya.. I've suddenly got a hankering for some cheetos.

Anya: Oh?

Xander: (politely takes her by the elbow and helps her to the door) and so do you.

Anya: But I hate cheetos.

Giles: (calling after them but sitting back down) We'll only need a few minutes, but kindly knock upon your return.

Oz: You got it.

Buffy, Xander, Oz & Anya make a hasty exit kibitzing with one another about what they're going to go buy, pretending they actually want to go to the gas station but thinking he's going to give Willow a royal thrashing. The door closes. There's an uncomfortable silence as Willow & Giles look at each other.

Willow: You are mad at me. Look, the same thing happened to the other Buffy. She had to leave for awhile and clear her head after she got wanted for murder. I understood then why she left. She came back. So have I. I must admit at the time I wasn't quite that cozy to Oz as she is now. You know it's kinda disturbing seeing them like that. I mean I never got quite like that. Buffy's so..

Giles: She's so not you.

Willow: Yeah.. You're not mad at me? This isn't about now?

Giles: No.

Willow: It's about the other thing.

Giles: Yes.

Willow: We've hardly discussed it.

Giles: Yes and I must admit there have been times when I thought you were kidding me two years ago. But then you'd know things. Things that no one could have known. Like a sixth sense. No slayer's ever had that.

Willow: Yes. Well. I'm special, I guess.

Giles: Quite. And then there's Angel.

Willow: Oh I know I so screwed that up. If this Buffy knew what that Buffy did, she'd be so mad at me. I didn't plan on it, but well, I just wasn't there at the right times, since I just couldn't bring myself to ..you know..

Giles: He wasn't your type.

Willow: Right.

Giles: So he was alone at times when in your alternate timeline Buffy was with him.

Willow: Right.

Giles: So you weren't there when he needed saving.

Willow: (dejected. Guilty.) I so wish I could go back. Now that he's dead. I mean dead dead. Well there was a lot of stuff that was supposed to happen but with him out of the picture, I honestly don't know what's going to happen now. How Spike & Drucilla will... Gee my mind's a blank there. And Angel really was a nice guy. I mean you never got to know him like I did. Well, I never really got to know him, except vicariously through Buffy. Back then I didn't know I was..

Giles: Gay?

Willow: Yeah.

Giles: So why does seeing Oz with Buffy bother you?

Willow: I don't know. I was where this Buffy is now. I guess.. I mean just cuz I'm gay now doesn't mean I don't still.. Oh I don't know.

Giles: You're hard on Buffy sometimes. She's just a cheerleader. Not as smart as you, perhaps. Not as strong. Sometimes not as brave.

Willow: Oh THIS Buffy, yes.

Giles: You often expect her to be able to accomplish things that she couldn't possibly do. Be another you.

Willow: But I keep telling you, Giles! She was me! I mean she was the slayer!

Giles: Quite.

Giles stands up and walks into the kitchen. He heads for his notes. Willow stays sitting in the chair.

Willow: You still don't believe me do you?

Giles: Oh no. I believe you. Unfortunately it's the only explanation. I've been pondering this temporal dilemma for the past two years, trying to find some prior example with slayers where this has happened.

Willow: Has it? Ever?

Giles returns to the living area with the notes and a book. He sets them in his lap as he returns to his seat.

Giles: Never. However, by pure chance I did come across times when situations vaguely similar to this have happened.

Willow: You have?

Giles: And I must commend you, Willow. The past two years must have been really trying for you. You've managed to slip into the role of slayer exceptionally well.

Willow: Don't patronize me.

Giles: Why whatever do you mean?

Willow: I killed Angel.

Giles: You most certainly did not. In fact comparing what has transpired with us to what you say Buffy did in your shoes, I must say you did admirably what any slayer should have done. I can't imagine how I would have allowed a slayer I'm watching to fall in love with a vampire.

Willow: We didn't tell you. At first.

Giles: Well..

Willow: And he was a vampire with a soul! He did some wonderful things. He saved us a number of times. I really wish I could go back..

Giles: Yes well you've read the vampire handbook. You know more about the duty and responsibility of your job than Buffy had. The, uhm.. Other Buffy..

Willow: What are you getting at, Giles?

There is a knock at the door.

Giles: (totally out of character and with some anger in his voice) We're not DONE! (he removes his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose) This is going to take longer than I thought.

Willow: Uh, guys? (she stands up and walks over to the door)

Giles: (forced whisper) don't let them in! (he looks around holding the notes and the book trying to figure out where to hide them but is at a bit of a loss)

Willow: (back towards Giles) okay. (to behind door) Look guys, he's not done tearing me a new one so maybe we should all get together tomorrow morning?

Giles stands up and slowly walks towards her. Because of the lighting we see him mostly sihloetted. It appears imposing, indicating that something's not right. More not right than things have been until now.

Xander: (off camera from behind door) You okay, Willow?

Willow: I'm great! Don't worry about me! I'll tell you all about it in the morning!

Oz: Don't leave out any details!

Buffy: And I wanna see any bruises if he hurts you! (laughter from the others and footsteps)

Willow: (Willow waves consciously at the door) Okay! Bye!

We hear byes from the others faintly as they walk out of earshot. OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT over Giles, facing Willow, as she turns around and her face is bathed in a green glow, apparently from Giles' eyes.

Giles: *Penphyskali!*

A green light shoots from Giles to Willow. She lets out a partial squeak that was almost a scream, then reaches for her neck, unable to breathe. Her eyes roll back in her head and she falls out of view.

Cut to Giles leaning down and picking up her body.

Giles: Foolish girl. You didn't even see it coming, did you?

HARD BLACK.

ACT III

[I'm not done. this is as far as I've gone. I do have an idea where I'm going with it, but trying to work it into what would amount to a full hour on a given show is difficult. I also may need to do some rewriting somewhere which is why I'd like feedback.]

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