Lie to Me
Prelude
In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand
against
the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the
Slayer.
slowly turns, and the swings move in the light evening breeze.
The only
person there is a boy sitting on the jungle gym, waiting for his
ride
home.
James: C'mon, Mom. She's
always late.
The camera pans around him until Drusilla can be seen slowly
walking
toward him from behind.
Drusilla: Are you lost?
James: (looks back at
her) No. My mom's just supposed to pick me up is
all. (climbs out of the gym)
Drusilla: Do you want me
to walk you home?
James: No, thank you.
Drusilla: (touches the
gym) My mummy used to sing me to sleep at night.
(slowly walks around the gym as she sings) Run and catch / The
lamb is
caught in the blackberry patch... She had the sweetest voice.
What will
your mummy sing when they find your body?
James: (looks at her
nervously) I'm not supposed to talk to people.
Drusilla: Oh. Well, I'm
not a person, see, so that's just...
Angel suddenly steps between her and the boy.
Angel: (to the boy,
sternly) Run home.
The boy only hesitates for a moment before running off. Drusilla
watches
him run away in dismay. Angel takes a breath and turns around to
face
her.
Drusilla: My Angel!
Angel: Hello, Drusilla.
Drusilla: (slowly
approaches) Do you remember the song mummy used to
sing me? Pretty.
Angel: I remember.
Drusilla: (senses) Yes,
you do.
Angel: Drusilla, leave
here. I'm offering you that chance. Take Spike
and get out.
Drusilla: Or you'll hurt
me?
Angel looks down at the ground.
Drusilla: (senses) No.
No, you can't. Not anymore.
Angel: If you don't leave
it'll go badly. For all of us.
Drusilla: My dear boy's
gone all away, hasn't he? To her.
Cut to the roof of the building across the street from the park.
Angel: Who?
Buffy walks along the roof keeping watch.
Drusilla: The girl. The
Slayer.
Buffy senses something and heads for the edge of the roof. Cut
to the
park.
Drusilla: Your heart
stinks of her. (puts her hand on his chest) Poor
little thing. (cut to Buffy) She has no idea what's in store.
Buffy looks over the edge and sees them standing close together.
She can
overhear.
Angel: This can't go on,
Drusilla. It's gotta end.
She tilts her head and reaches up for a kiss.
Drusilla: Oh, no, my pet.
This is just the beginning.
She pulls away without kissing and gives him an evil smile. She
keeps
her head turned to him as she slowly walks away. Buffy swallows
at what
she sees. Angel watches Drusilla go for another moment, then
turns to
leave also. Buffy steps away from the edge of the roof and runs
off.
Opening credits roll. Buffy's theme plays.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 1 ~~~~~~~~~~
Jenny: It's a secret!
Cut inside. Jenny and Giles come down the stairs.
Giles: What kind of a
secret?
Jenny: Uh, the kind
that's secret. You know, where I don't actually
tell you what it is.
Giles: I think it's
customary that when two people are going out on an
evening that they, they both have an idea of where they're
going.
Jenny: Oh, come on! Where
is your sense of adventure?
Giles: Well, I, I... Uh,
how will I know what to wear?
Jenny: (looks at his
tweed suit) Do you own anything else?
Giles: Uh, w-well, not as
such, no, um...
Jenny: (laughs) Rupert,
you're gonna have to trust me.
Giles: Alright, alright,
I p-put myself in your hands.
Jenny: That sounds like
fun. (starts on her way) Okay, tomorrow night,
Giles: Yes.
Buffy comes up to him as Jenny leaves.
Buffy: Hey.
Giles: Hello. (they start
to the library) Um, did we hunt last night?
Buffy: I did a couple
quick sweeps downtown.
Giles: Any encounters?
Buffy: Nothing vampirey.
Giles: Uh, I've been
researching your friend Spike. Uh, the profile is
fairly unappetizing. But I-I still haven't got a bead on why
he's here.
Buffy: You'll figure it
out.
Giles: You alright? You
seem a little glum.
Buffy: I'm fine.
They stop outside the library.
Giles: Why don't you take
the night off?
Buffy: Okay. That'd be nice.
Giles: Yes. You could
spend some time with Angel.
Buffy: I don't know. He
might have other plans.
She walks off to class. Giles wonders what that was all about.
Cut to class. Buffy opens a note from
Note: Do you know who she
was?
Boy: Well, it seems like
Louis XVI was just sort of a weak king.
Buffy and
to the note.
Teacher: That's fair
enough. Uh, any other impressions?
The camera pans forward to Cordelia sitting in front of Buffy.
Xander is
across from her in front of
head propped up on his fist.
Cordelia: I just don't
see why everyone's always picking on Marie
Antoinette. I can so relate to her. She worked really hard to
look that
good, and people just don't appreciate that kind of effort.
Buffy has finished her answer to
Answer: No Dark hair
Old dress pretty
Cordelia: And I know the
peasants were all depressed...
Xander: I think you mean
'oppressed'.
Cordelia: Whatever. They
were cranky.
Buffy folds the note and hands it back to
Cordelia: So they're,
like, 'Let's lose some heads'. Uhhh! That's fair.
And, and Marie Antoinette cared about them. She was gonna let
them have
cake!
The camera pans over to
Teacher: Yes, well,
that's a very interesting perspective.
Teacher: Um, would anyone
else like to comment?
Buffy opens the note.
Note: Vampire?
The bell rings. Cut to the hall. Buffy,
class.
Buffy: I don't know. I
don't think so. They seemed pretty friendly.
Xander: Who's friendly?
Buffy: No one.
Buffy:
Xander: Hey, it's me. If
Angel's doing somethin' wrong, I wanna know.
'Cause it gives me a happy! (smiles)
They head into the lounge.
Buffy: Mm, I'm glad
someone has a happy.
Xander: Aw, you just need
cheering up. And I know just the thing! (does
a wild move) Crazed dance party at the Bronze!
Buffy: I dunno. (crosses
her arms, depressed)
Xander: Very calm dance
party at the Bronze? (Buffy gives him a glum
look) Moping at the Bronze.
He sits on a couch next to
Ford: I'd suggest a box
of Oreos dunked in apple juice, but maybe she's
over that phase.
Buffy uncrosses her arms and turns around.
Buffy: Ford?
Ford: Hey, Summers!
They embrace.
Ford: How ya been?
Buffy: Oh, my God! What
are you doing here?
They let go and hold both hands.
Ford: Uh, matriculating.
Buffy: Huh?
Ford: I'm finishing out
my senior year at Sunnydale High. Dad got
transferred.
Buffy: This is great!
Ford: I'm glad you think
so.
Xander is not pleased.
Ford: I didn't think
you'd remember me.
Buffy: Remember you? Duh!
We only went to school together for seven
years. You were my giant fifth grade crush.
Xander: So! You two know
each other.
Buffy: Oh! (turns to
Xander and
Uh, Billy Fordham, this is Xander and
Buffy and Ford go to sit on the other couch.
Xander: Hi.
Ford: Hey.
Buffy: Uh, Ford and I
went to Hemery together in
you're here. For real?
Ford: Dad got the
transfer, and boom, he just dragged me outta Hemery
and put me down here.
Buffy: This is great!
Well, I mean, it's hard, sudden move, all your
friends, delicate time, very emotional, but let's talk about me!
(puts
her hand on his knee) This is great!
Buffy: Not even. Ford
wouldn't give me the time of day.
Ford: Well, I was a manly
sixth-grader. I couldn't bother with someone
that young.
Buffy: It was terrible. I
moped over you for months. Sitting in my room
listening to that Divinyls song 'I Touch Myself'.
She realizes how what she just said could be taken and casts a
nervous
look at Xander and
Buffy: Of course, I had
no idea what it was about.
Ford nervously scratches his temple with his finger. Xander just
smiles
and nods.
Buffy: (to Ford) Hey, are
you busy tonight? We're going to the Bronze,
it's the local club, and you have to come.
Ford: I'd love to! But if
you guys already had plans... Would I be
imposing?
Xander: No, only in the
literal sense.
Ford: Okay, then! I, I
gotta find the admissions office, (gets up) uh,
get my papers in order.
Buffy: Well, you know
what, (gets up) I'll take you there, and I'll see
you guys in French! (takes Ford's arm)
Ford: It was good to meet
you. (they go)
Xander smiles at them until they've gone. Next to him
thoughtful look on her face.
Xander: (sarcastically)
This is Ford, my bestest friend of all my
friends! Jeez, doesn't she know any fat guys?
Cut to the Bronze. Xander,
his shot and sets up for another as Buffy arrives at the table.
Buffy: Ford! You made it.
Ford: Wasn't hard to
find.
contest, and the, uh, swimsuit competition.
Buffy: Oh, my God, Ford,
stop that! The more people you tell, the more
people I have to kill.
Ford: You can't touch me,
Summers. I know all your darkest secrets.
Xander: Care to make a
small wager on that?
Buffy: I'm gonna go get a
drink. Ford, try not to talk.
She heads for the bar and finds Angel there.
Buffy: Hi.
Angel: Hey! I was hoping
you'd show.
Buffy: (sees he has a
drink) You drink! I mean, drinks. Non-blood
things.
Angel: There's a lot
about me you don't know.
Buffy: I believe that.
Cut to the pool table. They're racking them up. Ford sees Buffy
with
Angel.
Xander: He's Buffy's
beau. (sarcastically) Her special friend.
Ford: He's not in school,
right? He looks older than her.
Xander: You're not wrong.
Cut to the bar.
Buffy: So. What'd you do
last night?
Angel: Nothin'.
Buffy: Nothing at all.
You ceased to exist?
Angel: No, I mean I
stayed in, read.
Buffy: Oh.
She goes back to the pool table without another word. Angel
stands there
confused for a moment, then follows her.
Ford: Didn't want that
soda after all?
Buffy: Not thirsty.
Ford: Hi.
Buffy: (turns to Angel)
This is Ford. We went to school together in
Angel: Nice to meet you.
(shakes Ford's hand)
Ford: Whoa! Cold hands!
Xander: You're not wrong.
Buffy gives Xander a look.
Angel: So, you're here
visiting Buffy?
Ford: No, I'm actually
here to stay. Just moved down.
Buffy: Y'know, it's
getting really crowded in here tonight. Um... I'm a
little hot. (to Ford) You wanna take a walk?
Ford: Um, sure! That'd be
nice.
Buffy: Okay, then, um...
(to the others) I'll see ya tomorrow. (leads
Ford out past Angel)
Angel: Good night.
Ford: Take care.
Xander: Okay, once more
with tension.
Angel: He just moved
here?
Xander: Yeah. And, boy,
does he move fast.
She moves the rack into position, and when she looks back up
Angel is
gone.
Xander dismisses her comment and gets ready to break.
Cut outside to the alley. Buffy and Ford stroll slowly along.
Ford: So, that was your
boyfriend?
Buffy: No. Uh, yeah.
Maybe. Could we lay off the tough questions for a
while?
Ford: Sorry. So! What
else do you do for fun around here?
She hears noises coming from around the corner and suspects a
vampire.
Buffy: Um, my purse. I-I,
I left my purse at the Bronze. Uh, could you
get it for me?
Ford: Uh, okay. (heads
back)
Buffy: Good. Run! Thanks!
He starts to jog. A second later she starts running in the
opposite
direction and around the corner. Ford looks back and stops when
he sees
she's gone. He can hear a woman crying. He starts to walk back.
When
he's almost there a woman comes running around the corner and
past him.
He continues on, and is startled by a metal trashcan flying in
front of
him and into a stack of crates. He can hear punching and
grunting. He
sees someone hit the pavement face first. He peeks around the
corner and
sees a vampire get up and take a swing at Buffy. She ducks the
punch and
kicks the vampire in the face. The vampire swings again, and
Buffy grabs
his fist and holds on while she punches him in the face. Ford
watches as
she pulls out a stake and thrusts it into the vampire's chest.
He
staggers back into the wall and explodes into ashes.
Ford: What's goin' on?
Buffy is surprised and spins around to face him.
Buffy: Um... uh, there
was a, a cat. A cat here, and, um, then there
was a-another cat... and they fought. The cats. And... then they
left.
Ford: Oh. I thought you
were just slaying a vampire.
Buffy: What? Whating a
what?
Ford: I know, Buffy. You
don't have to lie. I-I've been trying to
figure out the right time to, to tell you. I know you're the
Slayer.
Buffy is taken aback.
Cut to later in
Buffy: Just like that.
(cut to her room) Said he found out right before
I got booted from Hemery.
Buffy: (cut to her) Yeah,
I guess it is. I don't have to constantly
worry that he's gonna find out my dark secret. It just makes
everything
easier.
Cut to an alley. Ford is heading for the Sunset Club. He knocks
on a
heavy metal door, and the viewport opens. It closes and the door
opens
to let him in. Cut inside. A welder is cutting the knob off of
the
inside door. Ford goes down the stairs to the main area. Dark
gothic
music sets the mood, and everyone is dressed in black and pale
makeup.
"Never Land", by The Sisters of Mercy, is playing.
Lyrics: I had a face on
the mirror / I had a hand on the gun
Diego meets him at the base of the stairs.
Diego: Ford? Hi, Ford?
Ford: Hey!
Diego: Well, how'd it go?
Ford: It went good.
Diego: Good? That's,
that's it? That's all we know? Well, when are
we...
Ford: (interrupts) Soon.
Diego: Oh, soon, okay.
Y'know, you could gimme a little more
information here. I'm trusting you. I'm out on a limb here. Not
to
mention the lease is almost up on this place. Who's gonna cover
that?
Ford: Marvin...
Diego: Diego! C'mon, man,
it's Diego now.
Ford: Diego. (takes out a
pill) Ritalin. Everything's gonna be fine.
He pops the pill as Chantarelle comes over and hands him a
drink.
Ford: Just make sure
you're ready when I say. True believers only.
Chantarelle: (smiles) I
can't wait!
Diego: Right, whatever, I
still think I should be in on the plan.
Ford: Diego, you gotta
trust me.
He sees a scene from a Jack Palance vampire movie playing on the
TV.
TV: Alright.
Ford: A couple more days
and we'll get to do the two things every
American teen should have the chance to do: die young, and stay
pretty.
He looks spaced out as he mouths the words of Jack Palance in
the movie.
Jack: So... You play your
wits against mine. Me, who commanded armies
hundreds of years before you were born. Fools!
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 2 ~~~~~~~~~~
except for some clothes on her bed. She's in her nightshirt
brushing her
hair. There is a knocking on her balcony door, which catches her
off
guard. She drops her brush on the bed, goes to the door and
pushes the
blinds apart to see who it is.
Angel: I wanted to talk
to you.
She gestures for him to come in, but he just stays standing
there.
Angel: I can't. Unless
you invite me, I can't come in.
She turns around as he comes in, and a look of horror appears on
her
face when she sees her bra just lying there on her bed out in
the open.
She quickly rushes over, grabs it and stashes it.
Angel: I-if this is a bad
time, I...
Angel: I promise to
behave myself.
Angel: I guess I need
help.
already know stuff.
Angel: I want you to
track someone down. On the 'Net. (eyes her laptop)
desk)
Angel: I just wanna find
everything I can. Records, affiliates, I'm not
even sure what I'm looking for yet.
Angel: Billy Fordham.
(faces him) do you promise not to bite me?
Angel: Are you gonna tell
me that I'm jealous?
Angel: You know, I never
used to. (sits on her bed) Things used to be
pretty simple. (
guilty... I really honed my brooding skills. Then she comes
along.
(
gut tells me this is a wrong guy.
anything weird... Hey, that's weird.
Angel: What?
stands up) I mean, usually they transfer your grades and stuff,
but he's
not even registered.
Angel: He said he was in
school with you guys, right?
Mrs. Rosenberg: (off
camera)
to bed now, mom!
Angel goes back out onto the balcony.
Angel: Don't tell Buffy
what we're doing, alright?
Angel: Just don't bring
it up until we know what's what.
Angel: That'd be nice.
She closes the door and frets a bit, nervous about what she has
to do.
Cut to the school the next day. Cut inside to a hall near a
drinking
fountain. Buffy and Ford come into the hall from outside.
to get a drink.
Buffy:
turning around, hoping to get away. She realizes she'd never be
able to
get away with it, and so turns to face them. She fidgets
nervously with
her hands.
Buffy: What's up?
Buffy: Do you wanna hang?
We're cafeteria-bound.
work that I have, so I cannot hang just now. Hi, Ford.
Ford: Morning.
Buffy: Okay, Will, fess
up.
Buffy: Are you drinking
coffee again? 'Cause we've talked about this.
has presented itself, and laughs out loud.
Buffy is taken aback.
Ford: Nice girl!
Buffy: There aren't two
of those in the world.
Giles meets them in he hall.
Giles: Buffy! Um... Yes,
uh... (sets down his briefcase and searches
his pockets) Ms. Calendar and I are going... somewhere tonight,
and
she's given, (finds the slip of paper) oh, given me the number
of her
beeper thingy, uh, in case you need me for, um... (eyes Ford)
study
help, uh, suddenly. (picks up his briefcase)
Buffy: He knows, Giles.
Giles: What?
Buffy: Ford (indicates
him) knows I'm the Slayer.
Ford: I know.
Giles: Oh! Uh, very good,
yes. Uh, um, Buffy... (leads Buffy aside) (to
Ford) Excuse me. (aside to Buffy) You are not, by any chance,
betraying
your secret identity just to impress, um, cute boys, are you?
Buffy: (smiles) I didn't
tell him. He knew.
Giles: Oh! Uh, right
then. Well, uh, just remember, if you...
Buffy: Go! Experience
this thing called fun. I'll try not to have a
crisis.
Giles accepts that and heads back to his library.
Cut outside the school at night. Buffy and Ford are strolling
along.
Buffy: And on your right,
once again, the beautiful campus. I think
you've now seen everything there is to see in Sunnydale.
Ford: Well, it's...
really...
Buffy: Feel free to say
dull.
Ford: Okay. Dull's good.
(sees two vampires running) Or maybe not so
dull. (Buffy sees them, too) Is that more vampires?
Buffy: Must be the
weather.
She pulls out a stake and a cross, and hands the cross to Ford.
He takes
it and reaches into his back pocket to pull out a stake of his
own. He
smiles and waves it about.
Buffy: Stay close to me.
She hops up the steps the vampires just ran up and cautiously
looks
around. Ford is close behind, cross and stake held ready. She
looks
around a corner and sees nothing.
Ford: Maybe they were
just passing through.
Buffy: (turns around) I
don't think so.
A blonde female vampire grabs her from behind and tries to bite.
Ford
takes a startled step back. Buffy does a high kick into her
face, then
grabs her by the arm and flips her over onto her back. A male
vampire
rushes her and grabs her, pulling her over a railing with him.
She lands
in a crouch on the grass below and gets up while the vampire
rolls to
his feet. She kicks him in the jaw, making him fall backward.
Ford looks
down at his stake and cross and then glances at the fight a
moment
before quickly approaching the other vampire and holding the
cross in
her face and the stake up and ready. She hisses at him.
Ford: You've got one
chance to live. Tell me what I wanna know, and
I'll let you go.
Below Buffy knocks the vampire out with a punch to the face and
stakes
him. She runs back up the stairs to Ford, who's crouched where
the
vampire was.
Buffy: Where's the other
one?
Ford: I killed her.
(coughs) I, I killed her and she just turned to
dust. It was... amazing!
Buffy raises her eyebrows in surprise.
Cut to Xander, Willow and Angel walking down the alley to the
Sunset
Club.
Willow: The only thing I
could track down was this address. The Sunset
Club. Still didn't find anything incriminating.
Angel: He leaves no paper
trail, no records, that's incriminating
enough.
Xander: Yeah, I'm gonna
have to go with Dead Boy on this one.
Angel: Could you *not*
call me that?
He knocks on the door. The viewport opens and the doorman looks
out.
Angel: We're friends of
Ford's.
The doorman nods. Cut inside. They walk in through the inside
door and
look around. It's gloomy in the extreme.
Willow: (wearing a
colorfully striped shirt) Boy, we blend right in.
Xander: In no way do we
stick out like sore thumbs.
Angel: Let's look around.
You guys check out downstairs.
Xander: Sure thing, Bossy
the cow! (they start down)
Willow: Okay, but do they
really stick out?
Xander: What?
Willow: Sore thumbs. Do
they stick out? I mean, have you ever seen a
thumb and gone, 'Wow! That baby is sore!'
Xander: You have too many
thoughts.
Willow is a bit hurt by that. Angel looks down from the balcony
and
continues around. "Reptile", by Creaming Jesus, is
playing.
Lyrics: The one hungry
life / My life with the other
Willow and Xander walk by a man standing in a coffin dressed as
a movie
vampire.
Man: (waves) Hi!
Xander waves back and looks around more.
Xander: Are you probably
noticing a theme here?
Willow: As in 'Vampires!
Yay!'?
Xander: That's the one.
Chantarelle gets up and comes up behind them.
Chantarelle: You guys are
newbies. I can tell.
Willow: (turns to face
her) Oh, no. We come here all the time.
Chantarelle: Don't be
ashamed! It's cool that you're open to it. We
welcome anyone who's interested in the Lonely Ones.
Angel comes down the stairs behind them.
Willow: The Lonely Ones?
Angel: Vampires.
Xander: Oh! We usually
call them the nasty, pointy, bitey ones.
Chantarelle: So many
people have that misconception. But they who walk
with the night are not interested in harming anyone. They are
creatures
above us. Exalted!
Angel: You're a fool.
Xander gives him a look.
Chantarelle: You don't
have to be so confrontational about it. Other
viewpoints than yours may be valid, you know. (goes away)
Willow: Nice meeting you.
They turn to Angel.
Xander: You really are a
people person.
Willow: Now nobody's
gonna talk to us.
Angel: I've seen enough.
I've seen this type before. I mean, they're
children making up bedtime stories of friendly vampires to
comfort
themselves in the dark.
Willow: Is that so bad? I
mean, the dark can get pretty dark. Sometimes
you need a story.
Angel: These people don't
know anything about vampires. What they are,
how they live, how they dress...
A young man dressed exactly like Angel comes down the stairs
behind him
and looks him up and down before continuing on. Angel clears his
throat.
They start up the stairs to get out of the club.
Xander: You know, I love
a good diatribe. But I'm still curious why
Ford, the bestest friend of the Slayer, is hanging with a bunch
of
vampire wannabes.
Willow: Something's up
with him, you're right about that.
Diego overheard them and watches them go. The girl talking to
him is
confused about his reaction.
Girl: Are you okay?
Cut to the library. Buffy comes in followed by Jenny and Giles.
Buffy: Sorry to beep you
guys in the middle of... stuff, but it seemed
really weird.
Giles: No, you did the
right thing. Absolutely.
Jenny: (stops in her
tracks) You hated it that much?
Giles: No! But, but, uh,
vampires on campus is, could have
implications. Very, very grave...
Jenny: You coulda just
said something.
Giles: Uh, honestly, I,
I've always, I've always been interested in,
in, uh, monster trucks.
Buffy: You took him to
monster trucks?
Jenny: I thought it would
be a change!
Giles: It was a change.
Jenny: Look, we could've
just left.
Giles: Wha-what, and miss
the nitro-burning funny cars? No, couldn't
have that.
Buffy: Okay, can we get
back on the vampire tip here? These guys were
here with a purpose.
Giles: Yes, yes, and, uh,
we must, uh, ascertain what that purpose is.
Jenny: Where's your
friend?
Buffy: I sent him home.
Giles: (sits at the
table) Oh, uh, good. Yes, the less he's involved in
all this, the safer he'll be.
Buffy: He did bag a vamp
his first time out.
Giles takes an open book from on top of another and exposes an
old
picture of Drusilla.
Buffy: Gotta give him
credit for... (notices the picture) that.
Jenny: Something wrong?
Buffy: (picks up the
picture) Who's this?
Giles: Um, she's called
Drusilla, a sometime paramour of Spike's. She
was killed by an angry mob in Prague.
Buffy: Well, they don't
make angry mobs like they used to, 'cause this
girl's alive. I saw her with Angel.
Giles: (taken aback) With
Angel?
Jenny: Isn't he supposed
to be a good guy?
Buffy: (puts the picture
back down) Yeah. He is.
Jenny: I think maybe we
need to read up on this nice lady.
Giles: (gets up and heads
for his office) Well, some of my new volumes
may be more helpful. Uh, my own research is...
The blonde vampire runs into him as she runs from his office.
Jenny
draws a startled breath. Buffy comes to Giles' aid, but is
knocked to
the floor underneath him when the vampire gives him a hard
shove. She
jumps up onto the table and leaps over the mezzanine railing,
making her
escape through the stacks. Jenny helps Giles and Buffy up.
Jenny: Are you guys okay?
Giles: A book! It took
one of my books!
Jenny: Well, at least
someone in this school is reading.
Buffy: He said he killed
it. That's the vampire Ford said he killed.
Cut to Spike's warehouse. Drusilla is talking to her bird as the
camera
pans around the cage.
Drusilla: You sing the
sweetest little song. Won't you sing for me,
hmm? Don't you love me anymore?
The bird is lying dead at the bottom of the cage. Spike comes
into the
room behind Drusilla.
Spike: Darling! I heard a
funny thing just now. Lucius tells me that
you went out on a hunt the other night.
Drusilla: My tummy was
growly. And you were out. (to the bird) Come on.
(whistles) I'll pout if you don't sing.
Spike: (puts his arms
around her) You, um, meet anyone? Anyone
interesting? Like Angel?
Drusilla: Angel.
Spike: Yeah. So...
(kisses her forehead) What might you guys have
talked about, then? Old times? Childhood pranks? It's a little
off, you
two so friendly, him being the enemy and all that.
Drusilla: (to the bird)
I'll give you a seed if you sing.
Spike: The bird's dead,
Dru. You left it in a cage, and you didn't feed
it, and now it's all dead, just like the last one.
Drusilla cowers and whines.
Spike: Oh, I'm sorry
baby. I'm a bad, rude man. I just don't like you
goin' out, that's all. You are weak. (takes her hand) Would you
like a
new bird? One that's not dead? (sucks on her finger)
Ford: This is so cool!
Spike looks up to see him standing among some crates.
Ford: I would totally
live here.
Spike: (loudly) Do I have
anyone on watch here? It's called security,
people. Are you all asleep? (walks toward Ford) Or did we
finally find a
restaurant that delivers?
Ford: I know who you are.
Spike: Yeah, I know who I
am, too. So what?
Ford: I came looking for
you, Spike. You are Spike, right? William the
Bloody?
Spike: You've got a real
death wish. It's almost interesting.
The blonde vampire comes in, walks up to Spike and hands him the
book
she stole. Spike begins to leaf through it.
Spike: Oh, this is great.
This'll be very useful. (to Ford) So, how did
you find me?
Ford: That doesn't
matter. I've got something to offer you. I-I'm
pretty sure this is the part where you take out a watch and say
I've got
thirty seconds to convince you not to kill me? (smiles) It's
traditional.
Spike: Well, (slams the
book and strides to Ford) I don't go much for
tradition.
He grabs Ford by the ear and lifts him.
Drusilla: Wait, love.
Ford is in obvious pain, but doesn't scream. Drusilla puts her
hand on
Spikes's shoulder, and he lets go.
Spike: Well?
Ford: Oh, c'mon! Say it!
It's no fun if you don't say it.
Spike: What? Oh. (rolls
his eyes and bobs his head) You've got thirty
seconds to convince me not to kill you.
Ford: Yes! See, this is
the best! I wanna be like you. A vampire.
Spike: I've known you for
two minutes, and I can't stand you. I don't
really feature you livin' forever. (to Drusilla) Can I eat him
now,
love?
Drusilla shakes her head.
Ford: Well, feature this:
I'm offering you a trade. (Spike turns back)
You make me a vampire, and I give you the Slayer.
Ford has their undivided attention. Spike smiles.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 3 ~~~~~~~~~~
The kitchen at the Summers house. Buffy is nursing a cup of
coffee.
Angel slowly pushes the door open.
Angel: Buffy. May I come
in?
Buffy: (looks up) Sure. I
thought once you were invited you could
always just walk in.
Angel: I can. I was just
being polite. (closes the door) We need to
talk.
Buffy: Do we? (picks up
her coffee and heads into the dining room)
Angel: It's about your
friend Ford. He's not what he seems.
Buffy: Who is these days?
Angel: Willow ran him
down on the computer.
Buffy: Willow?
Angel: We found this
address, we checked it out with Xander, and it
turned out...
Buffy: (disbelieving) And
Xander? Wow. Everybody's in. It's like a
great big exciting conspiracy.
Angel: What are you
talking about?
Buffy: I'm talking about
the people I trust. Who's Drusilla?
Angel lowers his eyes, seeing he's been caught in a lie.
Buffy: And don't lie to
me. I'm tired of it.
Angel: Some lies are
necessary.
Buffy: For what?
Angel: Sometimes the
truth is worse. You live long enough, you find
that out.
Buffy: I can take it. I
can take the truth.
Angel: Do you love me?
Buffy: What?
Angel: Do you?
She takes a moment to consider her answer.
Buffy: I love you. I
don't know if I trust you.
Angel: Maybe you
shouldn't do either. (turns away)
Buffy: Maybe I'm the one
who should decide!
Angel: I did a lot of
unconscionable things when I became a vampire.
(turns back, but doesn't make eye contact) Drusilla was the
worst. She
was... an obsession of mine. She was pure and sweet and
chaste...
Buffy: And you made her a
vampire.
Angel: First I made her
insane. (looks at her) Killed everybody she
loved. Visited every mental torture on her I could devise.
(Buffy looks
away) She eventually fled to a convent, and on the day she took
her holy
orders, I turned her into a demon.
Buffy: Well. I asked for
the truth.
Angel: Ford's part of
some society that reveres vampires. Practically
worships them. I don't know what he wants from you, but you
can't trust
him.
Fade to black. Cut to school the next day. Buffy walks up some
stairs to
the quad. Ford meets her there. The camera circles them as they
talk.
Ford: Buffy!
Buffy: Ford.
Ford: I had a great time
last night. Well, an interesting time.
Buffy: (arms crossed) I'm
glad.
Ford: Do you wanna go out
again tonight?
Buffy: Not busy.
Ford: I sort of had an
idea. It's a... It's a secret. Kinda wanna
surprise you.
Buffy: I like surprises.
Ford: Can you meet me
here?
Buffy: Sure.
Ford: At nine?
Buffy: At nine.
Ford: (smiles) It's gonna
be fun! (walks off)
Buffy just stands there for a moment before uncrossing her arms
and
continuing on her way.
Cut to later at the stairs in the hall. Xander and Willow are
sitting on
the steps. Buffy comes down behind them.
Willow: (gets up) Buffy!
Buffy doesn't really want to face her, but does.
Willow: Did, uh, Angel...
Buffy: He told me
everything.
Willow: I'm sorry we kept
stuff from you.
Buffy: It's okay. (smiles
weakly)
Willow: When Angel came
to my room he was just really concerned for
you, and we didn't wanna say anything in case we were wrong.
Xander: Did you find out
what Ford is up to?
Buffy: I will. (walks
off)
Willow and Xander sadly watch her go. After a moment something
clicks in
Xander's head.
Xander: Angel was in your
bedroom?
Willow: (nods) Ours is a
forbidden love.
Cut to the Sunset Club. Chantarelle is sitting and drumming her
fingers.
Diego paces nervously. The camera pans up to Ford coming down
the
stairs.
Ford: (ignoring Diego)
Chantarelle. Is everything ready?
Diego: Of course. It's
ready. (trying to get Ford's attention) Hi, I
took care of it. I always take care of it.
Chantarelle: Is it time?
Tonight?
Ford: You nervous? (pours
goblets of wine)
Chantarelle: Yes. No. I'm
ready for the change. Do you really think
they'll bless us?
Ford: (takes a goblet and
hands her the other) I know they will.
He smiles at Chantarelle. She smiles back.
Ford: Everything's
falling into place. (takes a sip of wine)
Diego: What about your
friends? Are they comin'?
Ford: What are you
talking about?
Diego: Your friends. They
came. Last night. Two guys and a girl.
Chantarelle: One was
mean.
Ford: Oh, Christ! Why
didn't you tell me about this?
Diego: I have to do
everything around here. Sorry, Mr. Flawless Plan
Guy, it slipped my mind.
Chantarelle: It's gonna
be alright, isn't it?
Ford winces in pain and puts his fingertips to his forehead.
Chantarelle: They're not
gonna let us down?
Ford: (the pain passes)
It's gonna be fine.
Chantarelle: I need them
to bless me.
Ford: It's gonna be fine!
Buffy: No.
They all look at her at the top of the stairs.
Buffy: It's really not.
Ford: (to Diego) It's
kinda drafty in here.
Buffy: (starts down the
stairs) I'm sorry, Ford. I just couldn't wait
till tonight! I'm rash and impulsive. It's a flaw.
Ford: We all have flaws.
Buffy: I'm still a little
fuzzy on exactly what yours is. I think it
has to do with being a lying scumbag. (reaches him)
Ford: Everybody lies.
Buffy: What do you want,
Ford? What's this all about?
Ford: I really don't
think you'd understand.
Buffy: I don't need to
understand. I just need to know.
Ford: I'm gonna be one of
them.
Buffy: You wanna be a
vampire?
Ford: I'm going to.
Buffy: You know, vampires
are a little picky about who they change
ov... (figures it out) You were gonna offer them a trade!
Ford: I don't think I
wanna talk anymore.
She grabs him by the throat and shoves him up against a pillar.
Buffy: Yeah, well, I
still feel awfully chatty! You were gonna give
them me! Tonight!
Ford: (nods) Yes.
Buffy: You had to know
I'd figure it out.
Ford: Actually, I was
counting on it. (smiles)
She lets go of his throat and backs away. He coughs a bit and
then
laughs.
Buffy: What's supposed to
happen tonight?
Ford: This is *so* cool!
It's just like it played in my head. You know
that part where you ask me what's supposed to happen? (snickers)
It's
already happening.
Diego swings the inner door shut with a loud clang. She runs
back up the
stairs and pounds on the door.
Ford: Rigged up special.
Once it's closed, it can only be opened from
the outside. As soon as the sun sets, they'll be comin'.
Buffy: Ford, if these
people are still around when they get here...
Diego: (interrupts) We'll
be changed. All of us.
Chantarelle: We're going
to ascend to a new level of consciousness!
Become like them. Like the Lonely Ones.
Ford: This is the end,
Buffy. No one gets outta here alive.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 4 ~~~~~~~~~~
The Sunset Club. Buffy hurries back down the stairs.
Buffy: There's gotta be
another way out of here! (looks around)
Ford: This is a bomb
shelter, Buffy. I knew I wasn't gonna be able to
overpower you. But this is three feet of solid concrete. Trust
me when I
say we're in for the long haul.
Buffy: At least let the
other people go.
Chantarelle: Why are you
fighting this? It's what we want!
Diego: It's our chance
for immortality.
Chantarelle: This is a
beautiful day. Can't you see that?
Buffy: What I see is
that, right after the sun goes down, Spike and all
of his friends are going to be pigging out at the
all-you-can-eat moron
bar.
Diego: Okay, that's it. I
think we should gag her.
Buffy: I think you should
try.
Diego: She's an
unbeliever. She taints us.
Buffy: I am trying to
save you! You are playing in some serious traffic
here! Do you understand that? You're going to die! And the only
hope you
have of surviving this is to get out of this pit right now, and,
my God,
could you have a dorkier outfit?
Diego is offended. Chantarelle smiles.
Ford: I gotta back her
up, D. You look like a big ninny. (his alarm
goes off) 6:27. Sunset.
They all walk away from her. She looks around for what to do
next.
Cut to Spike's warehouse. He comes marching out with his troops.
Spike: When we get there,
everybody spread out. Two men on the door,
first priority's the Slayer, everything else is fair game, and
let's
remember to share, people. (meets Drusilla ) Are you sure you're
up for
this?
Drusilla: I want a treat.
I need a treat.
Spike: And a special one
you'll have. Lucius! (hold up his keys) Bring
the car around.
Cut to the Sunset Club. Buffy runs back up the stairs to the
door. Ford
follows her.
Ford: Hey, you never give
up, do you?
Buffy: No, I don't.
Ford: That's a good
quality in a person. Too many people, they just lay
back and take it, but us...
Buffy: Us? We have
something in common now?
Ford: More than you
think.
Buffy: Yeah, well, let me
explain something to you. You're what we call
the bad guy.
Ford: I guess I am!
(chuckles)
Buffy: (looks down at the
people) These people aren't gonna get
changed, are they? The rest of them, they're just fodder.
Ford: Technically, yes.
But I'm in. I will become immortal.
Buffy: Well, I've got a
news flash for you, braintrust: that's not how
it works. You die, and a demon sets up shop in your old house,
and it
walks, and it talks, and it remembers your life, but it's not
you.
Ford: It's better than
nothing.
Buffy: And your life is
nothing?
Ford snickers.
Buffy: Ford, these people
don't deserve to die!
Ford: Well, neither do I!
But apparently no one took that into
consideration, 'cause I'm still dying.
Buffy begins to realize what he's up to now.
Ford: I look good, don't
I? Well, let me tell you something: (angry)
I've got maybe six months left, and by then what they bury won't
even
*look* like me. It'll be bald and shriveled and it'll smell bad.
No, I'm
not going out that way.
Buffy turns away.
Ford: I'm sorry, Summers.
Did I screw up your righteous anger riff?
Does the nest of tumors liquefying my brain kinda spoil the fun?
Buffy: (faces him) I'm
sorry. I had no idea. But what you're doing is
still very wrong.
Ford: Okay, well, you try
vomiting for twenty-four hours straight
because the pain in your head is so intense, and *then* we'll
discuss
the concept of right and wrong. (points down) These people are
sheep.
They wanna be vampires 'cause they're lonely, miserable or
bored. I
don't have a choice.
Buffy: You have a choice.
You don't have a good choice, but you have a
choice! You're opting for mass murder here, and nothing you say
is gonna
make that okay!
Ford: You think I need to
justify myself to you?
Buffy: I think this is
all part of your little fantasy drama! Isn't
this exactly how you imagined it? You tell me how you've
suffered and I
feel sorry for you. Well, I do feel sorry for you, and if those
vampires
come in here and start feeding, I'll kill you myself!
Ford: You know what,
Summers? I really did miss you.
Buffy can only look at him. Outside a car comes screeching to a
halt.
Buffy: Ford, help me stop
this. (silence) Please!
Ford remains silent. Buffy runs around to the stairs again.
Buffy: People, listen to
me! (Ford comes after her) This is not the
mothership, people! This is ugly death come to play!
Ford backhand punches her across the face, and she goes tumbling
to the
bottom of the steps. He comes down after her and punches her in
the back
as she tries to get up, sending her to the floor again. They
hear the
outside door open and look up. Chantarelle starts up the stairs
to meet
them. Ford checks to see that Buffy is still out cold on the
floor.
Chantarelle reaches the top of the steps as the inner door
opens. Spike
walks up to her in his game face and smiles. He roars at her and
she
flinches a bit but doesn't back down. He tears the choker off of
her
neck. She starts to cry in fear.
Spike: Take them all.
Save the Slayer for me.
The vampires run and jump down the stairs to the people below
and begin
feeding. Spike grabs Chantarelle by the neck and bites her
violently.
Buffy wakes and gets up, and Ford tries to hit her with a
crowbar. She
grabs his arm in mid-swing and pulls him around, making him hit
his head
on a concrete pillar. He falls unconscious to the floor. She
looks at
the mayhem going on around her and spots Drusilla standing by
herself on
the balcony. She takes a running leap off of a couch up to the
balcony
railing, quickly climbs over, grabs Drusilla from behind and
holds a
stake to her chest.
Buffy: Spike!
Spike stops feeding on Chantarelle and looks over at them.
Drusilla
stares at the stake poised in front of her.
Spike: Everybody STOP!
They all stop feeding.
Buffy: Good idea. Now you
let everyone out, or your girlfriend fits in
an ashtray.
Drusilla: (frightened)
Spike?
Spike: It's gonna be
alright, baby. Let them go!
They all let go of their victims, and the people hurry up the
stairs and
out.
Buffy: Down the stairs.
Spike slowly backs down the stairs. Buffy forces Drusilla ahead
of her,
still holding the stake ready. When Buffy reaches the top of the
stairs
she stares at Spike for a moment. She looks at Drusilla and
shoves her
down the stairs at Spike. He catches and steadies her as Buffy
turns and
rushes out the door. He starts to give chase as Buffy swings the
door
shut behind her. Spike slams up against it. He looks for the way
to open
it.
Spike: Uh, where's the
doorknob?
Cut to the alley. Buffy walks out of the building and sees the
people
help and support each other. Angel walks up to her and Willow
and Xander
are close behind.
Buffy: You guys are just
in time.
Willow: Are there
vampires?
Buffy: They're contained.
They'll get out eventually, though. We should
probably go. We can come back when they're gone.
Xander: Come back for
what?
Buffy: (looks back at the
entrance) For the body.
Cut inside the club. The vampires are banging on the doors. Ford
wakes
and gets up, holding his head. Spike is comforting Drusilla.
Ford: What happened?
Spike: We're stuck in a
basement.
Ford: Buffy?
Spike: (comes down to
him) She's *not* stuck in the basement.
Ford: Hey, well, I
delivered. I handed her to you.
Spike: Yes, I suppose you
did.
Ford: So? What about my
reward?
Spike and Ford just stare at each other.
Dissolve to the next day. Buffy comes back in and finds the door
broken
and twisted. She looks down below and sees Ford lying there. She
descends the stairs and touches his dead body.
Dissolve to the cemetery. Buffy has tears in her eyes as she
lays a
bouquet of red roses on Ford's grave. She stands up again and
walks back
to Giles.
Buffy: I don't know what
I'm supposed to say.
Giles: You needn't say
anything.
Buffy: It'd be simpler if
I could just hate him. I think he wanted me
to. I think it made it easier for him to be the villain of the
piece.
Really he was just scared.
Giles: Yes, I suppose he
was.
Buffy: Nothing's ever
simple anymore. I'm constantly trying to work it
out. Who to love or hate. Who to trust. It's just, like, the
more I
know, the more confused I get.
Giles: I believe that's
called growing up.
Buffy: I'd like to stop
then, okay?
Giles: I know the
feeling.
Buffy: Does it ever get
easy?
Ford suddenly rises from his grave, a vampire just like he
wanted, and
attacks Buffy. She plunges a stake into his heart with no more
effort
than swatting a fly. He steps back and looks at the stake
protruding
from his chest. He looks back up and bursts into ashes.
Giles: You mean life?
Buffy: Yeah. Does it get
easy?
Giles: What do you want
me to say?
Buffy: (looks up at him)
Lie to me.
Giles: (considers a
moment) Yes, it's terribly simple.
They start walking out of the cemetery.
Giles: The good guys are
always stalwart and true, the bad guys are
easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and,
uh, we
always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies, and
everybody
lives happily ever after.
Buffy: Liar.