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- Back - Episode 147: " Lady Sings the Blues " - Season 8, Episode 3 by the Powers to Be:
#Disclaimer# I do not own the characters in this story apart from Claudia Gorman and
Hugo Jackson*, nor do I own any rights to the television show "Buffy
the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel the Series". They were created
by Joss Whedon and belong to him, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Television,
Kuzui Enterprises, 20th Century Fox Television, WB and UPN Television
Networks. PREVIOUSLY on "BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER" Drusilla: Do you love my insides? The parts you can't see? CUT TO: DRUSILLA: Don't worry, dear heart. CUT TO: FIRST SLAYER: You love with all of your soul. It's brighter than the fire ... blinding. Love ... give ... forgive. CUT TO: BUFFY: Tell me you want me. SPIKE: (whispers) I always want you. CUT TO: BUFFY: I love you. SPIKE: Thanks for sayin' it. CUT TO: CLEM: I don't think anyone's gonna be able to stop it. I mean, I'm sure you'll do fine. Complete confidence in you. Heh. Uh, if anyone can do it, you can, because you...rock! If you save the world, I'll come back, we'll have drinks. When. When, I mean. When you save the world. CUT TO: RILEY: There's been a spate of disappearances in the Central Park Area. SAM: We’d like to move you all there and set you up RILEY: And a school . . . To train the new slayers CUT TO: CLAUDIA: So mine is a high and lonely destiny is it? GILES: Not so lonely. After all, there are a hundred or so of you, you know. GILES: Are you able to leave today? CLAUDIA: I handed in my resignation. My suitcases are packed. I’m ready. Teaser INT. JAZZ CLUB BUFFY is sitting at a round check-clothed table in a Jazz club with WILLOW, XANDER and CLAUDIA, the English slayer from episode 2. The girls are dressed up – Buffy’s wearing an off-the-shoulder dress, Willow has her hair all piled up elegantly – and XANDER’s in a sharp suit. On stage, a beautiful woman with long auburn hair and emerald eyes is swaying to the music while the band play an instrumental chorus of “That Old Black Magic”. The gang are sipping cocktails. CLAUDIA: (leaning over to talk in Buffy’s ear) I must say, this isn’t exactly how I pictured life as a slayer. BUFFY: Giles gave you the “sacred responsibility, certain death” pep talk huh? CLAUDIA: Something along those lines. XANDER: (leaning over the table) Well hey, you never know, there could be a vamp or two here tonight with your name on it. If you’re looking to flex those slayerly muscles. CLAUDIA: (sipping at a Manhattan) The only thing I mean to flex tonight is this straw. BUFFY: God yes. Mi totally piace fa niente. CLAUDIA: Oh, you speak Italian! BUFFY: That's pretty much all I know. Well, apart from ordering pizza which translates as...pizza. I lived in Italy for a while. But it was Dawn who was the language meister. (taps Xander on the hand, smiling with excited memory) Oh, remember that one time, I was slaying an Italian demon, she was even translating my quips. XANDER: Though, don’t think your witty use of daytime TV references really crossed the cultural barriers. BUFFY: (shrugs) Sometimes, I’m not just there to make the demons laugh. WILLOW: (dreamily, absorbed in the music and the atmosphere) Does anyone else still find that a weird idea? The fate of the world occasionally not being in our hands? BUFFY: (with a happy sigh) Yeah, weird. But kinda nice. XANDER: Where’s Ken? She taking up the ol’ ancient mythical burden tonight? WILLOW: (Nodding) Soon as I mentioned jazz, she volunteered for patrol. XANDER: (clicking his fingers) Not a hep cat? WILLOW: Not so much. More of a skate punk cat. XANDER: Dr Seuss meets Blink 182 huh?
SINGER: That old black magic has me in its spell, that old black magic
that you weave so well. Cut to a HANDSOME MAN in the corner, staring over at the Scoobs’ table. The camera follows him as he walks over and smiles at Buffy. GUY: Would you like to dance? He holds out his hand in an old-world gesture. He’s hot, he’s stylish. Buffy’s charmed and smiles at him. BUFFY: (getting up) Sure. Why not? SINGER: The same old tingle that I feel inside, and then that elevator
starts its ride The guy takes BUFFY’s hand, leads her onto the dance floor and they start to dance. GUY: What’s your name? BUFFY: Buffy. GUY: Buffy . . . you know, Buffy, you’re a beautiful girl. BUFFY: (cheeky smile) So I’ve been told. So, Mr smooth talker, what’s your name? GUY: Let’s not talk about me. BUFFY raises an eyebrow. BUFFY: I guess you’re not from New York then? The guy shrugs and doesn’t answer. He’s looking at her intently. BUFFY doesn’t notice, she’s looking over his shoulder as they dance. SINGER: I should stay away, but what can I do? GUY: (whispers) I love you. BUFFY: Huh? GUY: (holding her closer, speaking louder) I think I’ve always loved you. BUFFY: (pushing him away) Ok, are you drunk, or just creepy? SINGER: Aflame with such a burning desire that only your kiss can put
out the fire. GUY: (reaching out to her as she backs away) Please! I need you. My heart’s yours (grabs her arm) BUFFY: (shakes him off, begins to walk away) No, my restraining order’s yours. GUY: You’re just so beautiful! I almost can’t bear to look at you. He hurries after BUFFY, who’s disgusted. BUFFY: Really? Don’t then. SINGER: And every time your lips meet mine, darling, down and down I go, round and round I go In a spin, loving the spin I'm in, under that old black magic called love. GUY: I can’t bear to look….my eyes….you’re too much. (Buffy glances over her shoulder, about to say something. Cut to close up of the man’s face. His eyes are glowing) GUY: My eyes! Suddenly, the MAN’s eyes are white hot, streaming with liquid for a moment. The camera cuts to BUFFY’s horrified face. There’s a pop and a splat and we hear the thud of a body hitting the ground. Cut to shot of BUFFY’s feet. An eyeball rolls to a standstill by her shoe. WILLOW and the others run up to BUFFY’s side BUFFY: (grimly) Don’t you just hate it when people roll their eyes at you? Wolf Howl, Buffy's theme plays.
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Anne Summers Special Guest Star:
Enter myfic challenge: So I said to myself, "self," I said.... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 05-19-2004, 12:47 PM #2 Join Date: Mar 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Act I scene i INT. BUFFY’S APPARTMENT BUFFY, WILLOW, CLAUDIA, DAWN and XANDER are sitting round BUFFY’s breakfast table. CLAUDIA’s drinking a hot drink, DAWN’s munching on cereal. DAWN: So, just, “I love you” then splat? BUFFY: Uh huh. Love. Splat. Dead. XANDER: Snappy, Buff. DAWN: (brightly, through a full mouth of cereal) Still, at least you don’t have to worry about “will he call me in the morning”. CLAUDIA: (gulping from her mug) You lot are awfully cheery considering last night. XANDER: Ahh, barely hits a four on the Scooby scale. Maybe a four point five for that demon taxi driver on the ride home. With the . . . (mimes messed up tentacly scabby features) face. BUFFY: Hey Mr casual, I’m the one who had Mr Stalkerman explode on me. It was . . .(shudders) gahh. Let’s say, not in my top ten romantic evenings. And I’ve been on dates in sewers. DAWN: Any idea what made him go all instant cyclops? Any demons running away from the scene? Anyone looking all glowy-magicky? BUFFY shrugs. DAWN: I’ll book it. (Puts down her spoon) After I go to Bloomie’s with Bobbie. (puppy dog eyes to Buffy) I’m guessing, one guy going all lovey dovey then dead isn’t end of the world stuff, right? BUFFY: (frowning) You want some extra curse to go with that jinx? (smiles) Ok, you go spend government money on cute outfits. DAWN: It’s my sacred duty. DAWN gets up and grabs her jacket. CLAUDIA gets up too and picks up her handbag. CLAUDIA: I’ll go down with you. I could murder a cigarette. DAWN makes a disapproving face. CLAUDIA: (With a cheeky grin) I would have to join a mystical quest run by health fascists. Californian health fascists no less. DAWN: Just don’t come crying to me when you’ve got lung cancer. CLAUDIA: (as they go out of the door) I don’t cry. The door closes. XANDER: And there goes Claudia the emotion slayer. Kinda reminds me of Wes, back in the day. With the stiff upperiness. BUFFY: Mm huh! (getting up) I’m going to grab a shower. I still feel like I’m covered in eyeball juice. XANDER: (grimaces) Can we not say eyeball juice? I have (beat) issues. With a half smile of apology, BUFFY walks to the bathroom. WILLOW’s staring into space and XANDER snaps his fingers close to her nose. XANDER: Earth calling? WILLOW: Mph? Oh, I was just thinking about last night. Thing is, I didn’t sense anything magicks-wise. But then I might still be off my game after the ghosties. She glances over to an armchair, where LENORE’s ghost-cat-napping. WILLOW: Though Lenore’s helping. (The sleeping cat gives a little prrr-mgknao and a happy shiver) Aww! It’s like I’m a computer with a virus and she’s the downloadable patch. XANDER: (grins) Nice to know the geek inside’s till alive and kicking Will. WILLOW: (bats his arm, playfully) Hey! She’ll be kicking you if you give her more cheek young man! XANDER returns her playful look for a moment. Then his expression becomes more serious. He’s staring at Willow. He lifts his hand, hesitantly. XANDER: Your lips . . .they’re so . . . He leans forward, slowly. WILLOW can’t quite work out what’s going on. WILLOW: Huh? What’s wrong with my lips? Milk moustache? When XANDER’s lips are almost on hers, she suddenly realises he’s trying to kiss her. At that moment the door opens and ANDREW comes in wearing loose karate pants and a t-shirt saying “L'Impero Colipisce Ancora” [The Empire Strikes Back]. He’s sweaty. GILES is behind him, panting and sweaty too. ANDREW: Hey guys, I totally kicked Giles’s . . . (clocking Xander and Willow’s almost-clinch) What?! WILLOW pulls back, and XANDER snaps out of whatever weird head space he was in. In unison {XANDER: What?! LENORE leaps up from her snooze, hissing. GILES: It’s good to know we’re all in agreement. XANDER:Willow, I’m sorry, I . . . something happened there. WILLOW: (resolve face) Durn tootin'! ANDREW: It’s unnatural and wrong! How could you Xander . . . she’s your best friend! Tu es pazzo mi amici! XANDER: Quit it! The bilingual thing, not helping. ANDREW: I’m not . . . (beat) oh. XANDER sits down heavily at the table, staring about him and scared. ANDREW grabs a carton of juice from the side board and starts to swig it. XANDER: Must be a spell. A love spell. (Looks at Willow and points at her in a sudden fluster) It’s the jacket! WILLOW: Xander, I wear this every day. XANDER: (deflated) You sure you haven’t . . . enchanted it at all? You know, by accident. (beat) Ok, clutching at straws there. WILLOW: (crossing her arms) Short ones. GILES: (mopping his brow with a towel) If it’s not a redundant question . . . did you feel anything unusual? XANDER: I was . . . (looks up at Willow) . . . in love with you.
CLAUDIA is walking along a back street, talking on her cell phone. She’s got a cigarette in one hand but is too caught up in her call to smoke much of it. CLAUDIA: No sir. We . . . they . . . haven’t discovered what caused it.(pause) That’s all for now. I’ll call you back if I get the chance. CUT TO: INT. BUFFY’S SHOWER BUFFY is lathering her hair and humming, then starts to sing, happily, bopping with her shoulders. BUFFY: My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, CUT TO: INT. BUFFY’s BEDROOM BUFFY is in a robe, toweling her hair dry, to the rhythm in her head, then she sings again. BUFFY: Lala-lalala,
GILES is alone, reading a large leather-bound book and drinking a cup of coffee. We hear BUFFY singing from her bedroom. GILES sighs and rubs his forehead. He’s still in his exercise clothes. O.S BUFFY: (muffled, from other room) GILES gets up and walks over to the stereo, he’s had enough of BUFFY’s Kelis attempts. He flips through several CDs, dissatisfied with the selection. He picks up one box, recognises a song, decides to try it. He sticks it on the player and settles back into his chair, looking a little stiff. Andrew’s clearly given him a good workout. As it were.) SFX: Killing Me Softly by The Fugees (GILES finds himself pleasantly surprised by the music. The door opens and CLAUDIA enters, looking around) CLAUDIA: Oh, hello. Where’s everyone gone? GILES: In various directions. But principally to research. CLAUDIA: You’re being very mysterious. (She walks closer, a little sinuous sway to her walk, in time to the music. Then, under her breath) I like that in a man. GILES: (absorbed in his book) Pardon? CLAUDIA: (slight double take, shakes her head) Sorry, my mouth’s just running away with me. What did I miss? GILES: That’s what I’m trying to determine. It seemed to be a love spell in its primary effects, and yet it only lasted a moment. Love spells customarily last longer . . . days even. CLAUDIA: Love spell? (she licks her lips nervously, her eyes flicking over Giles’s face. She’s inching closer to him, very slowly, without either of them realising) Ah yes. Love. GILES: (looking at her, curiously) Are you alright Claudia? You look a little under the weather. CLAUDIA: (Meeting his look) I’m fine. (she rolls her shoulders slightly) I think someone’s turned up the thermostat a notch though. GILES: Eh? No, I don’t think so. (He peruses his book for a moment) Hmm . . . and Xander was almost immediately aware of it. No, it doesn’t fit any love spell that I’ve heard of. CLAUDIA: (undoing the top button of her shirt) You don’t feel the . . . warmth? GILES: (lost in the text) There’s a few cold drinks left in the fridge if you want. CLAUDIA sidles over in front of GILES, her hips now swaying, feeling the music. He starts as she places her hands on the book, pushes it down. Then she reaches up to her own shirt and starts to unbutton it. CLAUDIA: I don’t want something cold. GILES: Whatever are you doing? CLAUDIA: Giving in. . . to what’s real. Her eyes are riveted to him. Her hands reach out. GILES: (jumping up and back in shock) Claudia! CLAUDIA: (reading this as ardour) Yes! Oh, you feel this . . . you must. CLAUDIA grasps GILES by the shoulders. He tries to pull away but can’t escape her slayer grip. GILES: C..c..claudia, this is a spell! CLAUDIA: Yes.(leaning closer) It’s our magic. I adore you She pulls him in close for a kiss. GILES kicks backwards in a shock reflex, knocking over a chair. O.S BUFFY: (muffled, from another room)What was that bang? GILES: (still trapped in Claudia’s kiss) Mpph! CLAUDIA pulls away and contemplates Giles’s face, stroking his hair while keeping him trapped in her powerful embrace) CLAUDIA: I feel like we’re the only people in the whole world. CUT TO: shot of Buffy, dressed and standing in the doorway from the bathroom. Her expression contains more horror and disgust than you’d think a human face was capable of. CUT TO FIVE MINUTES LATER: CLAUDIA’s sitting on the sofa looking mortified. GILES and BUFFY are standing. GILES’s shirt is missing some buttons and his mouth is a little red from CLAUDIA’s rough kiss. BUFFY: (pacing) It’s pure, undiluted evil. I’m going to find it, make it pay my therapy bill, then kill it. Uber dead. GILES: Er…quite. CLAUDIA: Sorry. I don’t know what came over me (gestures to door) Shall I leave you to . . . BUFFY: Probably a good idea. CLAUDIA creeps out sheepishly. GILES: (cleaning his glasses like they’ve never been cleaned before) Willow and Andrew are looking into this. I’m sure we’ll find an answer soon. BUFFY: And until then . . . I’m going to put a lot of distance between me and everyone I know to prevent...(glances at the front door after Claudia, then at Giles) . . . terrible confusion. BUFFY heads to the door. BUFFY: I’m on my cell if you find anything. Yes. A long long walk, that’s what I need. Possibly to the next state. GILES: Don’t you think you’re overreacting a little? It was all above board. Entirely mystical. BUFFY: Yes, and I don’t want anything even slightly mystical to happen between (Buffy gulps, looks at Giles) bye! BUFFY shuts the door behind her, leaning on it a moment, just in case. Act I scene iv BUFFY’s walking quickly along a busy avenue, tense and pissed off looking. She walks past a pet shop. Out the door of the shop comes CLEM, carrying a bag. CLEM: Buffy! BUFFY: (brightening) Clem! They hug happily then pull apart. BUFFY: Wow, what are you doing here? CLEM: (hurriedly) I’m buying a . . . goldfish. BUFFY gives him a sceptical look. CLEM: Definitely not kittens. A mewing sound comes from his bag. CLEM jumps. CLEM: They’re for a friend. BUFFY: (rolling her eyes indulgently) I meant in New York, Clement. CLEM: Ahh! I moved here with Willy after Sunnydale. He said it was a good place for demons. No-one seems to notice the . . . (he gestures to his flaps of skip and other demony parts) But I never see him downtown, he hangs out in some dive in the Bronx . . . But . . . wow, I had no idea you were here! So, guess you saved the world huh? (makes boxing gesture) BUFFY: Yup. CLEM: Yay! BUFFY: Oh, and we awoke slayers all over the world. CLEM: Well how about that! Can I buy you a Frappuccino? Least I can do for the world’s best slayer! BUFFY: Really, you don’t have to do the toady thing. I don’t mind about the kittens. But I wouldn’t say no to some caffeinated sugar. Act I scene v INT. COFFEE SHOP BUFFY and CLEM are coffee shop sipping on long iced coffees. The BARISTA is a scaly green demon with tentacles) BUFFY: Whaddya know. Starbucks has demon franchises. CLEM: It’s more demon friendly than an actual demon franchise. Positive discrimination is out of vogue nowadays. BUFFY: Check you out with your vogue-ing! CLEM blushes modestly. Not that you can see him blush, with all the saggy bits of skin. BUFFY looks into her drink. BUFFY: Hmph. I didn’t ask for sprinkles. CLEM looks embarrassed. CLEM: Uh, sorry. I’m shedding. It’s the pollution. BUFFY makes a face and pushes her drink away. CLEM does a “sorry” smile and gestures to the BARISTA for another. BUFFY zones out for a moment. CLEM: What’s up slayer? You don’t look your usual girl power self. BUFFY: Oh, it’s probably nothing. Just another new evil in town. First there was this guy last night who said he was in love with me and his face exploded, then Giles… CLEM: Oh no! Giles exploded? BUFFY: Worse. (shrugs) No, he’s fine. I’m dealt. (beat) Dealing. (beat) Pushing it far out of my mind. CLEM wrinkles his brow with concern and a bit of confusion. But he shrugs and continues. CLEM: The exploding guy . . . he said he was in love with you? Where was this? BUFFY: At some jazz club last night. Off Broadway somewhere. CLEM: Funny Valentine’s? BUFFY: Huh? Didn’t have you down as a jazz buff. CLEM: I’m not but . . . (seriously) See, the (makes exploding gesture with his hands) has happened before. (brightly) But hey, you should ask Spike about this, he was there. I’m sure he can tell it better than me. (pause) How is he by the way? The camera closes in on BUFFY’s face, a quick spasm of pain followed by her jaw falling involuntarily open with surprise, eyes widen, as she realises that CLEM doesn’t know that Spike is dead. BUFFY: Oh. End Act I Enter myfic challenge: So I said to myself, "self," I said.... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 05-19-2004, 04:36 PM #3 Join Date: Mar 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACT II Act II scene i EXT, CRUISE LINER, NIGHT SUPER: New York, 1948 SFX: The “pooop” of a cruise liner’s horn Camera shot of SPIKE’s face, black hair combed back. The camera pulls back to reveal him standing on deck of a cruise ship that’s about to dock. He’s sillhoutted against the New York Skyline, wearing a slick suit and a long overcoat and a hat. He sparks up a cigarette and looks at the city for a moment) SPIKE: So Dru. Is this where I’ll find you? There’s a mewing-howling noise behind him. A cat shoots towards him across the deck. He reaches out and grabs it, absent-mindedly and snaps its neck. O.S VOICE: Hey! That’s mine! The camera pans round to show CLEM, wearing low-ranking US Military uniform. He’s panting. Act II scene ii CUT TO: INT. STARBUCKS, PRESENT BUFFY’s looking at CLEM in disbelief. BUFFY: You were in the army? CLEM: (nodding proudly, which makes his ears waggle) Uh huh. I may be a demon, but I love my country. Plus, I got hidden talents that the military wanted . . . I secrete this fluid see . . . BUFFY: So how about the exploding people huh? CLEM: Uh. Sorry. BUFFY: My bad. Sitting still and listening is not a skill I’ve honed. Balancing daggers on my chin I can do... But, sorry, go on. Act II scene iii INT. SMOKY JAZZ BAR, 1948 CLEM and SPIKE and a few other demons are sitting round a poker table. A basket of mewing kittens is placed in the middle of the table. A HORNED DEMON is dealing HORNED DEMON: (Irish) So what brings you to New York boyo. SPIKE: I’m looking for this girl, see. Drusilla. I don’t suppose you’ve . . . (he looks hopefully at the other demons on the table. Clem shrugs pleasantly and shakes his head) Ah bugger. I’ll have to hunt her down myself. HORNED DEMON: Ah. Chassy la femme, to be sure. No, I don’t know her. But there’s plenty of other girls round about here. SPIKE: (Hint of threat in his voice) I’m not interested in other girls. I’m looking for my lady. At that moment, a SINGER walks onto the stage at the front of the club and the band strikes up the first chords of “Mad about the Boy”. It’s the same SINGER we saw in the modern-day jazz club. Piercing green eyes and wearing a shimmery gold dress. HORNED DEMON: The Lady! SINGER/LADY smiles at the audience. Then Her expression switches to mournful as she starts to sing. THE LADY: Mad about the boy, THE LADY: Walking down the street, The HORNED DEMON is looking at Spike. His expression changes from super-cool to dopey-lovey-dovey. HORNED DEMON: Spike… SPIKE: Sh! I’m listening to the music. HORNED DEMON: Your cheekbones . . . they’re amazing. SPIKE: Are you trying to be funny? HORNED DEMON: (earnestly) No! Please, I’d never want to hurt you. You’re the most beautiful . . . SPIKE shoves the table violently, sending cards and kittens flying. SPIKE: That’s it! I don’t know what your game is but . .
. THE LADY: SPIKE is grappling with the DEMON. HORNED DEMON: Oh yes! Please! Embrace me! My heart burns for you! SPIKE punches the demon in the face. HORNED DEMON: Oh, my heart, my love! SPIKE: You little . . . (he starts to throttle the demon. The HORNED DEMON’S chest starts to bubble, like something out of ALIENS) Uh? SPIKE jumps out of the way as the HORNED DEMON’s chest bursts open with a nasty splattering sound and the DEMON falls heavily onto the next table, sending a candle flying. This sets Spike’s tailored suit jacket alight. SPIKE: Oi! Not the jacket! Never the jacket! Act II scene iv INT. STARBUCKS, PRESENT, DAY BUFFY and CLEM are still in Starbucks. BUFFY: So. Where the Lady goes, there’s the love, then there’s the death. Add in some leaving and you’ve got the teleplay of me. CLEM: Aww, Slayer! That’s so sad I could cry. (apologetic) If I had the ducts. Really! BUFFY: Sounds it maybe. But you know? I’m kinda over myself. CLEM: You’re a real role model, you know that? BUFFY: God I hope not! And we were talking about slaying evil weren’t we? You let me get all diversiony! CLEM: Sorry. But I like hearing you talk about you. It’s interesting. Better than Passions even. BUFFY: That’s good (she pauses and looks at him suspiciously) so long as this isn’t going to turn into you going all weird and intense then having some part of you drop off with love? CLEM: (thinks) No. I don’t think so. I’m good. BUFFY: (slurps last part of her drink) Ok. I’m feeling focused. Professional. Ready to get to the root of this mystery. Show the forces of darkness who’s who. (pause) Or I might ask Willow to do it. (smiles) It’s . . . so nice. Being able to spread the load a bit. Delegate. I’m getting good at doing that. (She grins) CLEM: How’s it feel? Not being the only one any more? BUFFY: That’s like when people ask you on your birthday, “how does it feel being 21”. It doesn’t feel . . . I’m still the same, you know? I’m still Buffy the Vampire Slayer. At this, demon ears prick up around the café. A few demons scrape back their chairs, slowly, carefully, then get the hell out of there. CLEM makes an apologetic face at one of them while BUFFY’s looking at her drink. She’s too wrapped up in her own thoughts to really notice them. BUFFY: I know the “The” part’s not right any more. But it’s still who I am. Partly. (Clem makes to interrupt but he doesn’t get the chance) You know, it’s been forever since there’s been someone around to just listen to me talk into the distance. I mean, in a non-speechifying way. Normally, only time I get people listening without butting is when I’m telling them where to stick their pointy ends . . . of weapons . . . it’s good to talk like this and . . . there’s a definite babble factor here, huh? (She looks at her empty cup, and the three other empties next to her) Starbucks is evil. Act II scene v CUT TO: FLASHBACK, JAZZ BAR, 1948, NIGHT SPIKE and CLEM are standing by the fallen imploded body of the Horned Demon. The club has emptied. People clearly left in a hurry. There’s a lot of overturned chairs. SPIKE: What the bloody hell happened there? CLEM: (cheerily) Seems (clicks his fingers, starts to sing) somebody loves you! SPIKE: Want me to rip your fingers off? CLEM shakes his head. His skin wobbles. SPIKE: I don’t like this at . . . He turns suddenly. The LADY is standing behind him, still and composed, giving off a slight radiance. LADY: Hey sugar. SPIKE: Oh. S’you. (quiet respect)Good set, luv. LADY: I’m glad you liked it. CLEM: (shyly) It was . . . wow . . . you . . . you’re the best! Really! LADY: Perhaps you boys would like to go on somewhere? I’m feeling . . . lonely tonight. CLEM: I’m kinda beat. It’s been a long trip from Tipperary. (Yawns and turns to go) See you around Spike. And . . . uh . . .any chance of the... (looks awkward and holds his hands up like kitty paws) SPIKE: You’ll get the kittens. CLEM: (hopefully) Including the tabby? SPIKE inhales through his nostrils. CLEM scarpers.
SPIKE: Luv, you’re a sight for sore eyes and all. But I’m looking for my lady friend. Name of Drusilla. Someone told me she might be here. LADY looks sad. LADY: Ah. Drusilla. She’s searching for you. I heard you left her in Europe. SPIKE: What? I was press-ganged by the bloody . . . never mind. (eagerly) Where can I find her? LADY: (forlornly) Don’t know. But Manhattan’s not such a big place. I’m sure you’ll find her. SPIKE: Cheers luv! SPIKE rushes off leaving the LADY LADY: (sitting down at a table) Alone again. Act II scene vi INT. A TRENDY BOHEMIAN NYC CAFE., PRESENT WILLOW and ANDREW are sitting at a table. WILLOW’s on her computer and ANDREW’s absorbed in a book. The other customers are studenty looking, all denim and weird haircuts. A lot of them working on their laptops too, no doubt writing the next great screenplay. ANDREW’s changed out of his Italian starwars t-shirt into a stylish shirt. His stint in Italy definitely had a good effect on his dress sense if not his inner cool. He looks up. ANDREW: Maybe it’s a jazz demon? That would be way cool. Like (imitates trumpet) bibbedy bibbedy bibbedy (makes swipe with air-trumpet) kapow! Die human scum! (realises he’s getting looks and pouts) Students are so stuck up. WILLOW’s phone starts to ring with “I’m under your spell” from OMWF as the tone. WILLOW fumbles in her bag. ANDREW: Molto coolio tone! WILLOW: Yeah (beat) It’s a song I heard once. ANDREW: It’s like…if Sarah Maclachlan was big with the digital mood and . . . WILLOW has found the phone now. She picks up, cutting across Andrew as she answers. WILLOW: Buffy, hey! ANDREW: (slightly petulant) Can I download it off you? WILLOW: How’s the investigation going? (pauses to listen) That's - - but - - do - - (She can't get a word in, makes yappy-hand signs at ANDREW) Have you been at the lattes again? (scowls) Whaddya mean yes mom? (pause. Willow looks surprised) He’s here? ANDREW reacts with a shocked start. WILLOW: (nodding) Sure, you take some time out, catch up. We’ll
do the do be do be do . . . sorry, Andrew was getting all Jazzy before.
(pause) Well, say hey to him for me! Sure. Bye now. ANDREW: (warily) So . . . Buffy knows he’s alive? WILLOW: You saw him too huh? I didn’t know you guys knew each other? ANDREW: Us not know each . . . we fought side by side! He’s a shining light in dark places.(sighs) He’s amazing. WILLOW: (completely thrown for a loop) Ok, we talking about the same Clem here? Fighting? Shining? Though, he does have a nice smile I guess. The penny drops for ANDREW. He does a surprisingly good job of poker face-ing it. ANDREW: Fighting side by side. Uh yeah . . . there was . . . I did tae kwando…at a demon gym in Sunnydale. When I was evil. (pulling himself together) So how is my old buddy Clem? WILLOW looks at him, brows furrowed for a moment. Then shrugs, putting it down to Andrewness. WILLOW: All good. Buffy’s going to have some downtime and hang out with him. She’s really found the fun since Italy. Not . . . that she’s slacking. She’s given me some info that might help us out. So, you want to help me kill the girl and save the day? ANDREW: (firmly) I always want to. (beat) Save the day, not kill girls. (nodding seriously) That’s sexist. Act II scene vii INT. A SCHOOL LIBRARY The camera moves through the open door of a well-stocked library. GILES is leading a YOUNG MAN with dark hair around the shelves. The MAN’s wearing a shirt and chinos, looking a little bit Merchant Ivory/Room with a View. He’s listening keenly to what GILES has to say, occasionally pulling a volume off the shelf and poring over it with the kind of love that Anya used to show for a till full of money. He looks charming but potentially random and eccentric. But there’s iron in there somewhere. When he speaks his voice is English, not particularly posh but well spoken. GILES: It’s taken a while, but I think you’ll find we now have quite an impressive collection. HUGO: (holding a volume, looking impressed) How on earth did you get the D’ath Book of the Undead? First edition! GILES: An army of Slayers just a phone call away. It tends to make underworld book dealers amazingly co-operative. HUGO: Phew. It would do. (he looks around, then at Giles) Thanks Rupert. I really appreciate this opportunity. S’big of you. GILES: You’re more than qualified for the job. HUGO: Oh, I know that. (cheeky smile) I’m a boy wonder. But. . .thanks all the same. GILES: It’s the least I could do.(mockney) Francis has brought you up a real gentleman(tips Hugo a wink) HUGO: Thanks Magwitch.(beat, laughs)Magwarlock. The library door bangs and ANDREW comes rushing in, breaking the moment ANDREW: Hey Giles, I’m looking for . . . who’s this? HUGO: (holding out a hand) Hugo Jackson. ANDREW shakes his hand, looking thrown. He’s not good with new things and people if he can’t slot them into his story version of the world. GILES: Our very first school librarian. ANDREW: (disappointed) But he’s . . . not old. GILES scowls. HUGO: (slight raised eyebrow) Don’t worry, I’m very responsible. I shall hardly ever vomit on the books when I’m pissed. ANDREW: Pissed? Oh, Inglese!. (He breaks into a smile and holds out his hands, mafia style and kisses Hugo on both cheeks. The world makes more sense to him now. He stands up straighter, moves into a more authoritative, formal mode). Welcome to Slayer School. I’m Andrew. Andrew Wells. HUGO: Very nice to meet you. But I thought it was Joyce Summers Memorial College? ANDREW: (nodding sagely) True, that is the face we show the world. But Joe Public must never know what truly transpires behind these walls. (beat) Will transpire . . . when school starts. GILES: What was it you’re looking for, Andrew? ANDREW: (lists on his fingers) Books on love spells . . . books on music-related spells . . . oh, and the latest Anne Rice. (thinks) Though, the Vampire Chronicles have been kinda going downhill since . . . GILES: (cuts across) Hugo, would you do the honours? HUGO nods and heads over to the shelves. ANDREW: I think we might be looking for a vengeance demon. Cos, men burning up with love, that sounds like a V.D’s modus operandi. O.S CLAUDIA: What a charming abbreviation. GILES: (awkward) Oh, hullo Claudia. Are you . . . CLAUDIA: I’m fine, thank you. No longer in a gerontophilic mood. (Giles scowls and Claudia smiles wickedly. She looks up and notices Hugo) CLAUDIA: At last. An attractive man. HUGO walks over carrying two books. HUGO: Andrew, do you want both volumes of Amor Perfidius? (notices Claudia) Hallo. (extends a hand) Hugo Jackson. Librarian. CLAUDIA: (takes hand, shakes it) Claudia Gorman. Slayer. HUGO: A pleasure. Act II scene vi EXT. CENTRAL PARK, 1948, NIGHT DRUSILLA: Mad about the boy . . . hmm hmmm . . . A little magic that would finally destroy . . . This dream that pains me and enchains me, but I can't…(curiously, suspiciously) Spike? SPIKE steps out of the shadows SPIKE: Right you are luv. I’m here. I’ve come back for you. (He paces forward, she edges back like a cornered animal) DRU: (growls) You’re not welcome my Spike. (turns away from him) The moon says you don’t love me. SPIKE: (approaches her slowly) Moon’s talking bollocks then Dru. DRU: You ran away to sea and left me. I won’t listen to you. DRU covers her ears. SPIKE grabs her hands, pulls them round him. SPIKE: I didn’t sodding run! I was sandbagged by the bloody Boche! And I woke up on this submarine, see . . . SPIKE’s voice trails off as Dru gives him a stern, sarcastic look. DRU: Hmh! SPIKE: Oh, I don’t care how it sounds. Every moment without you. . . it’s been torture. Just like every minute with you’s torture. . .sweet, precious, exquisite. . . torture. SPIKE leans slowly to kiss her but she pulls away. He has hold of her wrists and pulls her back, spinning her into his arms. DRU: (hisses) I was alone. . . I couldn’t get the stars to sing. I couldn’t hear the beautiful music. (angry) I think I hate you. . .(maliciously) Willy. SPIKE: Oi! DRU: (softer) My William. DRU snaps her teeth in the air near his neck, then moves in for the kiss. DRU: I'll show you -- torture. SPIKE: Will you now? DRU vamps, bites his cheek savagely, spins away. SPIKE recoils, holding his face. DRU: Might. DRU de-vamps starts swirling in circles and looking up at the moon. Then she stops and looks at him. DRU: The world’s cold tonight. Some people have rocks in their hearts and they can’t feel the air. Can’t feel anything. SPIKE: We can. I can. My blood -- it's searing Dru. DRU draws her finger across SPIKE's scar and then across his lips. DRU: I can taste you -- I'd forgot how my Spike tastes. (Whimpers slightly) Promise you won't leave me. SPIKE: (forceful) I could never leave you. DRU: Never ever? SPIKE: Never and beyond. DRU [laughs rudely, and rakes her fingers down his chest] Then we can play. The camera pans away down the hill but we still hear DRU giggling and singing and SPIKE’s excited but unnecessary breath. The camera eventually rests on a dark figure. In the moonlight her eyes glow green. It’s the LADY. INT. BEDROOM, 1948, DAY The camera opens on SPIKE’s face. One cheek bears a red raw scratch and there’s a couple of bruises under his left eye. His eyes are closed. With a “mph” and a twitch he starts to come awake. The camera pans out to reveal his mussed up black hair, then further out and we see he’s lying in a well-ruffled bed in a beautifully furnished apartment. He opens his eyes and tries to get up, then realizes his arms are shackled. He tries to kick off the covers, then remembers his legs are shackled too. He smiles. SPIKE: (murmurs) Dru? (he waits. Then louder) Dru luv? Are you going to untie me? Or . . . is there (hopefully) more? (He winces slightly, but happily) O.S LADY: She’s not here. SPIKE starts, making his chains rattle. SPIKE: You! What have you done to her? LADY: (sitting down on the bed. She speaks calmly, eyeing Spike) I staked her. SPIKE lets out a roar. Vamping out, he tries to pull loose from his chains. LADY: Not really. SPIKE glares in angry confusion. LADY: She’s…safe. Asleep. A little potion. The same I gave you. But more. I’m not interested in her. I’m interested in you. SPIKE: And now what? You want to recruit me into your demon army or something? Cos I’m getting bloody bored of this conscription lark. SPIKE wrestles, frustrated, with his bonds, but he’s weak. He sinks
back on the pillow with a whispered “balls!”. SPIKE: What do you want from me you crazy. . . LADY: (cuts him off) Nothing. That’s all I ever want. Feel. Nothing. Or . . . nothing good. SPIKE: What, you want me to feel sorry for you? Have to tell you pet, drugging a feller’s not the best way to get his sympathy. LADY: I don’t want your sympathy. LADY gives him a long, inscrutable look. The sun lights her green eyes and her hair casts shadows on her beautiful pale face. LADY: I want you to love me. END ACT II Enter myfic challenge: So I said to myself, "self," I said.... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 05-19-2004, 06:24 PM #4 Join Date: Mar 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACT III Act III scene i EXT. STARBUCKS, DAY BUFFY and CLEM are leaving the cafe. CLEM’s lip is looking wobbly CLEM: I had no idea he didn’t make it. BUFFY shrugs and gives him a little smile. BUFFY: Didn’t make the front pages? CLEM: Not of the demon papers (beat, thinks) Well, cause, there aren’t any. BUFFY: If there were, I doubt they’d lead with “vampire dies to save the world”. Not really what the target audience wants to hear. They walk on in silence for a few moments. CLEM looks awkward. He makes to say something a couple of times but can’t find the right thing. BUFFY: It’s been a year since. . . and, being the – a – Slayer, you don’t have time to sit around just. . .feeling. There’s a long pause. BUFFY: Or maybe. . . I can’t quite feel that he’s gone, you know? It’s as if Sunnydale still exists somewhere, under the rubble, or in some parallel universe. And he’s there figuring out some wacky scheme to find me again. (half-mouth smile) But, it’s just dumb daydreams. CLEM: It’s not dumb. Hey, you’re not capable of dumb Buffy. BUFFY: That’s sweet. (looks at him) And again, needing to check you’re not hit by the love whammy. CLEM: Nah. (looks her up and down) Even under a spell, I couldn’t get crazy over a girl without at least a few skin folds. (beat) No offense. BUFFY: I think I’ll pass on the offense this time. (pause) So I’m not playing the grieving widow. Not that we were married. Or planning to. Except. . .but that was Willow. CLEM: You were going to marry Willow? Or. . .was Spike Willow one time? Jeez, I can’t keep up with you kids! BUFFY: Neither of the above. But, really, not bad guesswork. CLEM’s smile turns to serious. CLEM: You loved him? BUFFY: Does it matter now? CLEM: Does it matter to you? BUFFY: Now you’re getting all heavy-philosophical on me. CLEM: (modest shrug) I’ve been hanging with some of the undead grad students at NYU. They’re way better read than the Sunnydale vamps, all big with the (he waves his hands)“beyond good and evil” thang. So, I'm thinking about deeper stuff these days. (Inspects his arms) Say, my skin's been a bit unflappy lately, you think maybe if I cut down the caffeine...? Act III scene ii INT. BEDROOM, 1948, DAY SPIKE and the LADY are lying side by side in bed. The shackles are discarded on the floor. SPIKE is even more scratched and roughed-up than before. He’s got his arms behind his head, looking satisfied. The LADY doesn’t look quite so cat that got the cream. SPIKE reaches over to the bedside table for a pack of cigarettes, deftly pulls one out with one hand and puts it in his mouth then offers the pack to the LADY. SPIKE: Or maybe you shouldn’t. . .being a singer and whatnot. LADY: (taking one) I’m a demon. Makes no difference. SPIKE nods and offers her a light, then lights his own. They both drag on their cigarettes in silence. SPIKE: Dru’s not gonner to wake up any time soon is she? LADY: We’ve got hours. SPIKE: (grins) Shame. Not nearly enough time for another round then. The LADY shrugs, not sharing his enthusiasm. SPIKE: I don’t know why you’re looking so miserable luv. That was bloody brilliant! For a genteel lady, you’re quite the. . .fiend(he tails off with a wicked grin, his eyes meeting hers) LADY: (Breaking the gaze) It was. . .pleasure. (looking at him again) But was it love? For you? SPIKE: (incredulous) Er. . .no. . . we only just met (getting macho) Plus, evil vampire here. (thinks) So, I can have meaningless sex. Yeah. I’m not Dru’s lapdog (His face isn’t looking sure. Then his bravado collapses into loved-up-pup) Oh buggerit. I am. She’s got me. Hook line and bloody sinker. (sighs)Ah! LADY: (little voice) Everyone around me falls in love. Except me. And never with me. I don’t know. . .what’s wrong with me? SPIKE: Maybe you’re trying too hard. Love is . . . (looks from side to side, piecing together his scenario) Wait, why the bloody hell am I giving you advice? LADY: Because you can’t resist a damsel in distress? SPIKE: Maybe I can’t. But you’re. . .the first one who can resist me. LADY: You’re a liar. (putting her hand on his cheek) A beautiful liar. LADY swings her long legs gracefully out of bed and wraps a sheet round her. Spike looks up at her, curious. LADY: The only time I’m happy is on stage. When I sing . . . for a moment…I feel love. For no one in particular, but it’s . . . warm then. I’m alive. CUT TO: PRESENT Act III scene iii EXT, ALLEY, PRESENT BUFFY stops in her tracks. BUFFY: (eureka face) The singing! CLEM: You lost me, Slayer. BUFFY: She sings . . . people get all crazy and go splat. It must be her voice. CLEM: What a voice. You never forget it. Someone really should offer her a recording contract. Hey, I wonder if she needs an agent - this friend of mine’s recently out of a job in LA and looking for clients . . . BUFFY: Sometimes I think you forget I'm the Slayer, not Buffy the Demon-Redeemer. CLEM: It does get confusing. (beat) So, what, we rip out her vocal chords? BUFFY: Eww! CLEM: Just trying to be zero tolerance guy. BUFFY: Anyway, I’ve got to find her first. Maybe we should check in with the others. Dawnie would be stoked to see you! Act III scene iv INT. BUFFY’s APPARTMENT, DAY CUT TO: DAWN AND CLEM IN TIGHT EMBRACE Close up of the pair hugging. DAWN’s squealing with happiness, CLEM’s laughing. They pull apart. DAWN: Come and see my room! Wait, no, come and see everything. I’ll give you the full tour. CLEM: (grins) Alright! DAWN: See you guys in a bit. Good luck with the diva demon. CLEM gives BUFFY a little wave as Dawn takes him off by the hand to see her new home. The camera focuses on BUFFY joining WILLOW, XANDER and ANDREW at the kitchen table XANDER: So, she’s found her father-figure-cu’m-mascot again. SCOOBIES pause to think about what XANDER just said. Slience. Some things are better left un-glossed. ANDREW: So, it is a music demon then? Hey, I was right! XANDER: It’s a mad world.(beat) So, the singing, that’s why I went all . . . (looks at Willow) . . . formal wear-d? BUFFY nods. XANDER: So now, all we need to do is search and destroy. Maybe you could send one of the girls? It sounds like a good simple bit of field practice. BUFFY: Nuh-uh. This slay has my name written all over it. In permanent marker. Alongside the words “Giles”, “fondling” and “girl three years older than Dawn”. (makes a face) That particular little vision made me seriously consider the nun option again. And that’s before we get onto my exploding date. WILLOW: Hey, not loving my kissy kissy no free will part in this either. . . .wait, there was a nun option? ANDREW: I’m glad you didn’t make a habit of it. BUFFY: And I’m not delegating the puns, either. XANDER: Hey, relax Buff. It’s really time you got over the fact that the G-man has sex. BUFFY: No. No he doesn’t. I’m not listening to this crazy talk. WILLOW: (sly grin) Yes he does. In fact, he had sex on the couch. (points to the couch across the room) Right there. Last night. BUFFY: (imploringly, to Xander) Help! She’s gone evil again. Do the crayon thing. XANDER: Sorry, I think the evil we’re seeing here? Beyond this carpenter’s skills. ANDREW: (levelly) I used to hear him have sex in England, when we shared a flat. (nods to himself in memory) There was this weird noise he made . . . BUFFY leaps up, hands over her ears. Andrew starts to smile, hesitantly. BUFFY glares at him, shocked. BUFFY: Wait, did you just make fun of me? ANDREW looks shocked, swiveling his head Father Dougal style. Now he grins. XANDER: (puts an arm round Andrew’s shoulders) Perhaps your Rain Man days are over my friend? ANDREW: Rain Man’s overrated. XANDER: (taking the arm away) Or maybe you’re not ready to join the world of well adjusted adults just yet. ANDREW: (innocent) And you are? BUFFY suddenly grabs a sword. ANDREW flinches, thinking he’s overstepped the mark. BUFFY rolls her eyes (hypocrite, ed). BUFFY: It’s for the demon. Which I’m going to kill before we all die of inertia. WILLOW: Oh, wait, don’t go, I’ve got a thing. WILLOW runs out. XANDER: Willow has a thing. All these years I've known her, she's managed to keep this big thing hidden. BUFFY: (perfectly straight-faced) You think Willow has a big thing? (beat) Were we this juvenile in Sunnydale? WILLOW runs back in, a chain swinging from her hands. She’s holding a talisman. WILLOW: This might help. It wards off -- I'm not exactly sure what it wards off. Danger, attacks . . . I've never used it. BUFFY: (taking it) Every little helps. Thanks Will. WILLOW: But I want it back. (beat) It was Tara’s. She mentioned it . . . in her diary . . . it’s special somehow. Don’t know how-how though. (apologetic shrug) BUFFY: I’ll figure it out. BUFFY puts on the necklace, putting down her sword, then takes it up again, ready for action. BUFFY: Right. Ladykiller time. ACT III scene v FLASHBACK EXT. ROOFTOP, 1948, NIGHT DRU is battering the hell out of Spike. SPIKE: Please, luv, it meant nothing! DRU: Nothing will come of nothing . . . (smacks him round the face, sending him flying) speak again. . . SPIKE: (looking up, from the ground) I love you! DRU: (jumping on top of him, pinning his arms down) You used . . . our chains! (she scratches his face, viciously. Spike pushes her away, she regains her footing, catlike, they square off against each other against the night sky) SPIKE: You know you’re the only one for me! We’re forever, Dru! DRU: Hmph. Not for ever. Not for ever and ever. DRU’s hissing softly. SPIKE: Please . . . I’ll do anything for you. SPIKE leaps at DRU, grabs her up in his arms and kisses her, roughly. As he pulls away, DRU c’ocks her head and raises an eyebrow. DRU: Anything? SPIKE: Oh God yes. Anything under the moon. DRU stabs him in the gut with her knife. SPIKE’s eyes widen in surprise. DRU picks SPIKE up, lifts him above her head and walks to the edge of the building. DRU: Scream for mummy then. DRU throws him off the building. We hear him scream. CUT TO: shot of the pavement SPIKE’s lying there, blood coming out of his mouth. His eyes open and he smiles. SPIKE: That’s . . . my girl. CUT TO: angle of someone watching Spike. The camera switches. It’s the LADY. CUT TO: EXT. STREET, PRESENT, DAY TIME BUFFY: Wow, demon home delivery. God I love New York. LADY walks swayingly, slowly, in tune with some unheard rhythm, towards Buffy. LADY: I've been hearing . . . an old song. An old voice, echoing. BUFFY: Oh good. A crazy demon. (walking closer, batting the flat of the sword in her hand) Sometimes I feel I should have the men in little white coats as backup on patrol. LADY: Insanity . . . now that would be a start. A release. My head . . . hurts. BUFFY: Tense, nervous headaches? (lifts sword) I can give you a release. Really. No trouble. LADY: You don't understand. They’re circling one another now, poised, coiled. BUFFY: Let me guess . . . because you’re all powerful, beyond my puny mortal . . . whatever? LADY: No, you don’t understand . . . what we share. I can hear him in you. His song, still trapped inside. BUFFY: Him? In BUFFY’s moment of hesitation, with a single swift move, the LADY has flips the blade out of BUFFY’s grasp, into her own hand. The LADY holds the point against the hollow of BUFFY’s throat. She turns it around as if returning it to BUFFY, then swings the hilt hard against BUFFY’s temple, and drops the Slayer. We see the pavement from BUFFY’s P.O.V as she blacks out. LADY: We’ll dance, Slayer. We’ll dance the night away. END ACT III Enter myfic challenge: So I said to myself, "self," I said.... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 05-19-2004, 07:36 PM #5 Join Date: Mar 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACT IV Act IV scene i EXT. STREET, DUSK BUFFY is limping a little, and out of breath. She’s been running, now she’s looking up and down the street. Then she sees the neon sign of “Funny Valentine’s”. INT. CELLAR BUFFY is walking through the dusty semi-darkness of some kind of cellar/store room, a labyrinth of broken shelves, boxes and musical lumber - music stands, a broken guitar, sheet music marked with a footprints languishing on the floor. BUFFY clutches tighter onto her sword when she hears murmuring, then rounds a corner and finds LOST SOUL 1 curled up in a foetal position, rocking. LOST SOUL 1: (muttering) She’s not in my arms . . . I want to lose them . . . never use them . . . lose them . . . why not take, why won’t she take me all? He sounds like a stuck, jumbled record. BUFFY looks at him, pitying. LOST SOUL 1: (seeing Buffy, or half seeing her) Hello? You’re . . . your goodbye left me….why should I, eyes that . . . go on . . . BUFFY: What. . . BUFFY knows there’s no use trying and walks on, trying to muster anger to fuel her. Another LOST SOUL steps out of the shadows. His skin is red-raw and scratched, like the worst eczema you ever saw. Buffy stares in horror as he begins to scratch) MAN 2: She’s under my skin. I can’t get her out, however hard I try. It’s . . . she’s . . . (yelp) NO! He bolts back into the shadows, animal-like. O.S LADY: Not all of them die. BUFFY whips round. The LADY is standing on the other side of the room. BUFFY: So, that what you want to do to me? LADY: It's not what I want. It's just what happens sometimes. BUFFY curls her lip in disgust. LADY: Sometimes I want it to happen to me like that so I can lose my self. But I can't. I can't ever feel it. BUFFY: My total lack of sympathies. BUFFY raises her sword, but there’s an uncertainty growing inside her. BUFFY pads closer to the LADY, who doesn’t move. One of the LOST SOULS screams – from his own mental pain, not BUFFY’s sword. LOST SOUL 1 sets off another victim, a WOMAN who cries out. BUFFY stops a moment, her eyes still on the LADY, watching for sudden moves. BUFFY: You keep them here? As what? Some sick petting zoo? LADY: A reminder. I need them to…study. To glimpse . . . what it’s like to be inside the song. BUFFY: Song? (shakes off her curiosity) Just demon rambling. (She hefts her sword again) LADY: (shakes her head) I’ve lived for centuries. Hollow, inside. The only time I feel anything warm is when I sing. So I sing. And they die. Or . . . (she looks sorrowfully at one of the crazed lovers) BUFFY: You can try to make this some sort of cosmic quest. LADY: You believe telling yourself that makes it bearable, don't you? BUFFY: I'm just here to make it stop. BUFFY swings her sword, but the LADY turns lightly, out of reach. They circle one another. The LADY’s steps are dance-like, BUFFY’s, slayer-fierce. But she’s being drawn into the rhythm in spite of herself. A realisation-light is the Lady’s face and she stops like a statue, her arms hanging by her sides. LADY: You were there! In. . .unutterable love. And then. . .you lost it. You were taken out. BUFFY: (quiet and deadly) You can't know about that. I . . . won’t let you! BUFFY swings once more, with rising confusion and fury behind the blow. But again, the LADY evades her in a fluid movement. In the shadows, the LADY seems translucent now. LADY: But you have to be dead for that love. BUFFY: (backing away) You can't . . . you don’t have the right. LADY: Living love -- it's something . . . it's something different. You know it is. (urgent) Tell me. BUFFY: Stop! LADY: (stepping forward, wrapping her arms around herself then stretching them out towards Buffy, pleading) More than anyone I’ve heard in all my centuries, you KNOW. You’ve known . . . BUFFY: (pulls the sword up in front of her) Get out of --(her eyes are focused in fury) I will cut you to bleeding shreds and send you to the deepest hell there is, I swear!! The LADY’s moving forwards, shimmering now, a little ghostly, without any colour in her face except her green shining eyes. LADY: (pleading not threatening) You can't hide it from me. You have to give it to me! Tell me! Again BUFFY attacks. The LADY catches the sword blade, holding it in place, horizontal to the floor. It digs into her hands, but she either doesn’t feel pain or doesn’t care. The two figures push at each other, at a deadlock. LADY: You want to shrivel again? Shrink your heart into a corner? Be . . . like me . . . ? The LADY fixes her with an empty gaze. BUFFY can’t look away. LADY: (Sings quietly) As she’s singing these few lines, Buffy’s TALISMAN begins to glow blue. Sweat breaks out on her forehead. The LADY’s eyes are glowing with the same colour. BUFFY takes in a sharp breath and, caught by some wave of power inside, the Lady’s song chokes in her throat, she staggers back against the wall. BUFFY rushes at her, swinging the sword, the LADY puts out a hand. BUFFY grabs it to push her back. There’s a flash of fire, a spark as they clasp hands and they’re pushed apart by a silent bolt of blue energy. Act IV scene iv BUFFY opens her eyes, groaning. The LADY is still lying prone on the ground by a pile of boxes. She’s murmuring. BUFFY rises painfully to her feet – she landed on something sharp – and walks over. The LADY sits up, suddenly. But she’s not looking at BUFFY. She’s somewhere far away. She stands, slowly, shaking. LADY: I can feel it. It’s really here. BUFFY stops. The LOST SOULS in the cellar are hushed, hiding. LADY: I . . . (she looks up at Buffy, seeing her clearly for a moment) You feel . . . so much. It’s terrifying. BUFFY: (quietly) What is this? LADY: Beautiful (getting up, staggering backwards) This is what it means? What I’ve been looking for? (She’s up against the wall of the cellar now, her palms against the bricks) It’s all falling down. Shaking. (she looks at Buffy again) You were blank. Then . . . there was a spark. I’m . . . he was monstrous . . . but he touched . . . (she sinks down the wall, panting) We see BUFFY’s dim shadow fall on the lady. She’s standing over her now. SFX: A low, orchestral melody rises. Sharp violins, dark cellos. LADY: (covering her face) It isn’t right. No, it’s too much.
I can’t let CUT TO: BUFFY’s face. Her eyes are full of recognition. She’s moving closer to the LADY. LADY: And then he came back for me. (Takes her hands away, looking at Buffy in silent awe) And he was forgiven. And he was loved…was it love? BUFFY’s face is flushed, her eyes bright. The LADY’s skin is strangely radiant, lighting them both. The ghostliness is all gone, she looks suddenly very real, very solid. BUFFY reaches out to touch her, then winces and pulls back. It’s hot, the skin. The LADY’s breath is fast and shallow. She rises again, trembling. They’re standing close now. LADY: I let him die. I let go. She lets out a violent gasp and grabs BUFFY’s face in both hands.
LADY: I love . . . She pulls BUFFY to her. BUFFY doesn’t resist. The LADY kisses her, intensely, tenderly. And BUFFY melts into it, kissing her back. BUFFY’s eyes are closed. It’s a moment of total peace. The LADY pulls away and BUFFY’s eyes open. A strange smile spreads over her lips. LADY: You’ll see . . . She’s cut off by a wave of pain and sags. BUFFY catches her and lowers her gently to the ground. The LADY’s eyes fade from blazing blue to silver and at last glaze over as BUFFY stares in wonder at her. The camera slowly homes in on BUFFY’s face. There are tears in her eyes. We hear a gasp and the music rises as the scene fades to black.
INT. BUFFY’S APPARTMENT, NIGHT Shot of BUFFY shutting the door, she’s home. The apartment seems dark and empty. Then: WILLOW: Buffy . . . ? WILLOW slowly rises from where she's been sitting, incense curling away. WILLOW: The talisman -- did it work all right? Is she -- BUFFY: She's gone. WILLOW: When Tara left it to me, I thought it was just for protection. But she made the protection. . . with love. (Buffy says nothing, just looks the question.) WILLOW: It was made to protect ... whoever wears it . . . with the love they have inside. See, it opens the attacker to feeling love so they can't hurt anyone. And . . . (beat) I'm not sure about this last part. She didn’t exactly sit down and write a “how-to” guide for it. But I think it channels the love. . .the power. . of the person you've been closest. . .the most intimate with. You know. BUFFY places the talisman in WILLOW's cupped hands, pouring the chain, and then closes WILLOW's hands together. BUFFY: Keep it safe, Will. WILLOW: So . . .nothing to report? BUFFY: Just need some rest. BUFFY exits as WILLOW holds the talisman near her face, lightly caressing it. A little piece of TARA. CUT TO: INT. BUFFY's BEDROOM BUFFY switches the light on. Then changes her mind, the light’s too much. She flips it off again and over to a chest of drawers. Moonlight is flooding through the window. She opens a small box on her dresser and pulls something out. A lighter. She walks over to the window and looks out. (Through the rest of the ep, we hear Ute Lemper sing Kurt Weil’s “I’m a stranger here myself”) Tell me is love
A FLASHBACK of NYC 1948, NIGHT DRU and SPIKE are standing there on the ledge of the torch, slow-dancing as the wind whips DRU’s hair up round her face. She stiffens suddenly and stares at SPIKE, then turns to look out over the city. (The song becomes quieter, purely orchestral) DRU: My Spike will be here again . . . you'll come back. Blown on the dragon’s breath. . .(giggles) oh yes, I remember that one time SPIKE looks puzzled, strokes her arm. SPIKE: Luv? She looks faraway, her eyes glazed. DRU: But not with me…not for me...not for Princess... (The song rises again, with the lyrics once more) Why is it wrong CUT TO: DRU’s perspective as she sees time pass over New York, seeing buildings rise and fall, the skyscrapers growing higher and higher, until we see New York as it is today…with snow falling on the statue. V.O. (DRU): She’ll see you again…
EXT. NIGHT SCOOBY BUILDING From the middle distance we see BUFFY's dark window then the flicker of a small flame casting light on her face for a moment as the song and the scene FADE TO BLACK.
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