Reptile Boy
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.
The
Summers house at night. Cut to Xander in Buffy's room. Weird Hindi
music
and singing is coming from the TV.
Xander: Is she dying?
The
camera pans past Willow over to Buffy. She and Xander are lying on
the
bed.
Buffy: I think she's singing.
Xander: To a telephone in Hindi. Now that's
entertainment!
The
Hindi woman on TV dances around the room while singing into the
phone.
Xander: Why is she singing?
then
the wizard cut open the bag of salt, and now the dancing minions
have
nowhere to put their big maypole... fish thing. (takes a sip of her
drink)
Xander: Uh-huh. Why is she singing?
Buffy: Her lover? I thought that was her
chiropractor.
personal.
Xander: Hmm. And we thought just because we didn't
have any money or
anyplace
to go this would be a lackluster evening.
and
ask for hot water. (smiles)
Xander: Hop off the outlaw train, Will, before you
land us all in jail.
Buffy: I, for one, am giddy and up. There's a kinda
hush all over
Sunnydale.
No demons or vampires to slay, I'm here with my friends...
(tilts
her head at the TV) So, how does the water buffalo fit in again?
Xander
shakes his head.
Cut
to the lawn in front of the Delta Zeta Kappa fraternity house. The
camera
pans along the grass and then up to the house.
Cut
to the balcony. A girl crashes through the glass door. She rolls
over
the balcony railing and doesn't hesitate to drop to the ground
below.
A fraternity brother in a dark hooded robe rushes out onto the
balcony
after her. When he sees that she jumped he quickly goes back
inside.
Cut
to the girl on the ground now. She gets up, apparently not hurt in
the
fall, and begins to run as fast as she can. Five brothers, all
wearing
robes, come streaming out of the house after her. She runs into
the
trees, looks around for which way to go and makes tracks for the
wall
to the north. Just as she reaches it she trips and falls, but
quickly
gets up, climbs a low tree branch and jumps over to the wall.
She
shimmies over the top and drops down the other side into the
cemetery.
The fraternity brothers follow her over the wall one by one.
She
runs through the cemetery for all she's worth as the boys give
chase.
One of the brothers is waiting ahead of her, and she runs into
him
and screams.
Richard: Callie! Callie, where're you going? The
party's just getting
started.
She
sobs uncontrollably as he shoves her over to the others, and they
take
her away. He has a look around to make sure no one saw, pulls his
hood
over his head and follows them back to the house.
Opening
credits roll. Buffy's theme plays.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 1
~~~~~~~~~~
Sunnydale
High School. Cut to the hall. Cordelia is demonstrating her
fake
laugh to another girl.
Cordelia: (fake laughter) See? Dr. Debi says when a man
is speaking you
make
serious eye contact, and you really, really listen, and you laugh
at
everything he says. (laughs again)
Cut
to the stairs. Willow and Buffy come down and head down the hall.
Willow: You dreamed about Angel again?
Buffy: Third night in a row.
Willow: What did he do in the dream?
Buffy: Stuff.
Willow: (smiles wide) Oh! Stuff! (Buffy smiles) Was
it one of those
vivid
dreams where you could feel his lips and smell his hair?
Buffy: It had surroundsound. I'm just thinking about
him so much
lately.
Willow: You two are so right for each other. Except
for the, uh...
Buffy: Vampire thing.
Willow: That doesn't make him a bad person.
Necessarily.
Buffy: I'm brainsick. I can't have a relationship
with him.
Willow: Not during the day, but you could ask him for
coffee some
night.
It's the non-relationship drink of choice.
Xander
comes out of a classroom, sees them and hurries to catch up.
Willow: It's not a date, it's a caffeinated beverage.
Okay, sure, it's
hot
and bitter like a relationship that way, but...
Xander: What's like a relationship?
Buffy: Nothing I have. Coffee?
Xander: Huh?
He
stops by Cordelia as Willow and Buffy get a drink at the fountain.
Cordelia: (to the girl) There's really no comparison
between college
men
and high school boys. (looks up at Xander) I mean, look at that.
Xander: So, Cor, you're datin' college guys now.
Cordelia: Well, not that it's any of your business, but
I happen to be
dating
a Delta Zeta Kappa.
Xander: Oh! An extra-terrestrial. So that's how you
get a date after
you
exhausted all the human guys.
Cordelia: You'll go to college someday, Xander. I just
know your pizza
delivery
career will take you so many exciting places.
Xander
has no comeback for that, and joins the girls at the drinking
fountain.
Buffy and Willow have smiles on their faces from overhearing.
The
bell rings.
Buffy: (remembering) Oh! I told Giles I'd meet him
in the library ten
minutes
ago! Aw, he won't be upset. There hasn't been much paranormal
activity
lately.
She
heads for the library.
Cut
to the library. Giles paces while he lectures her.
Giles: Just because the paranormal is more normal
and less... para of
late
is no excuse for tardiness or letting your guard down.
Buffy: I haven't let my guard down.
Giles: Oh, really? You yawned your way through
weapons training last
week,
you, you, you, you skipped hand-to-hand entirely... Are you gonna
be
prepared if a demon springs up behind you and does this?
He
swings his arm over her shoulder from behind, but she grabs it and
pulls
it behind his back, forcing him to bend over and wince in pain.
She
has a bored look on her face.
Giles: (in pain) Yeah, well, I'm, I'm not a demon.
Which is why you
should
let go now.
She
lets him go.
Giles: (quietly) Thank you.
He
straightens up and rubs his wrist.
Giles: When you live on top of a... a mystical
convergence it's only a
matter
of time before a fresh hell breaks loose. Now is the time that
you
should train more strictly, you should hunt and patrol more keenly,
you
should hone your skills day and night.
Buffy: And the little slice of life that still
belongs to me from, I
don't
know, seven to seven-oh-five in the morning, can I do what I want
then?
Giles: Buffy, you think I don't know what it's like
to be sixteen?
Buffy: No. I think you *don't* know what it's like
to be sixteen. And a
girl.
And the Slayer.
Giles: Fair enough, no, no, I-I don't.
Buffy: Or what it's like to have to stake vampires
while you're having
fuzzy
feelings towards one?
Giles: Uh...
Buffy: Digging on the undead doesn't exactly do
wonders for your social
life.
Giles: That's exactly where, where being...
different, uh, comes in
handy.
Buffy: Right! Who needs a social life when you've
got your very own
Hellmouth?
Giles: Yes! Y-you, you, you have a duty, a-a-a purpose,
y-y-you have a
commitment
in life. Now how many people your age can say that?
Buffy: We talkin' foreign or domestic? How 'bout
none?
Giles: (he's had enough) Well, here's a hard fact of
life: we all have
to
do things we don't like! And you have hand-to-hand this afternoon and
patrol
tonight. So I, I suggest you come straight here at the end of, of
period
six a-and you get your homework done. And don't dawdle with your
friends.
(Buffy pouts) And, and don't think sitting there pouting is
gonna
get to me, because it won't.
She
gives him her best pouty look.
Giles: (looks away) It's not getting to me.
Cut
to the front of the building after school. Buffy is sitting on the
railing
of the stairs to the street. Xander and Willow are walking
toward
her.
Xander: Boy, what a long day.
Willow: And you skipped three classes.
Xander: Yeah, and, of course, *they* flew by. (they
reach Buffy) Buffy!
Willow: Aren't you supposed to be doing your homework
in the library?
Buffy: I'm dawdling (takes Xander's arm) with my
friends.
Cordelia
comes walking by and bumps into Willow. She continues down the
stairs
without so much as an acknowledgment.
Xander: Works for me.
A
black BMW pulls up to the curb. The windows are all darkly tinted.
Buffy: (to Willow) You okay?
Willow: Jeez.
They
all watch Cordelia. Cut to her reflection in the car window. She
pushes
her sunglasses on top of her head as the driver's window lowers.
Richard: Cordelia.
Cordelia: Hi, Richard. Nice car.
Tom
in the passenger's seat notices Buffy sitting on the railing and
points
her out to Richard.
Richard: So, uh, we're having a little get-together
tomorrow night at
the
house, and it's gonna be a really special evening.
Cordelia
does her fake laugh. Richard and Tom don't get it.
Richard: Excuse me?
Cordelia: Oh! I would, I would love, *love* to go!
Richard: So, who's your friend? (indicates Buffy)
Cordelia: (looks) Her? Oh, she's not my friend.
Tom: She's amazing!
Cordelia: She's more like a sister, really! We're that
close.
Richard: Well, why don't you introduce us?
Cordelia: (realizes she's trapped herself) Okay. (goes
to get Buffy)
Cut
to Buffy, Xander and Willow.
Xander: Okay, so tonight, channel fifty-nine, Indian
TV, sex, lies,
incomprehensible
story lines. I'll bring the betel nuts.
Cordelia: (reaches for Buffy's hand) Come on. Richard
and his
fraternity
brother wanna meet you.
Buffy: Well, I don't really wanna meet any
fraternity boys.
Cordelia: (pulls her) And if there was a God, don't you
think he'd keep
it
that way?
Willow
and Xander watch as Cordelia drags Buffy away.
Xander: Uh, I-I believe we were dawdling here!
Cordelia
brings Buffy up to Richard.
Richard: Hi, sweetheart. I'm Richard. And you are?
Buffy: *So* not interested. (tries to leave)
Cordelia: (grabs Buffy's hand) Heh, she's such a little
comedienne.
Richard: What, she likes to play hard to get?
Tom: No, Richard. I think you're playing easy to
resist.
Buffy
starts to leave again. Tom paces her.
Tom: Ah, feel free to ignore him. I do all the
time. (she stops) I'm
Tom
Warner. I'm a senior at Crestwood College, and I... and I just feel
like
a complete dolt meeting you this way, so... (crosses his arms) here
I
stand in all my doltishness.
Willow
and Xander are within earshot of Tom and Buffy and overhear the
conversation.
Xander: Huh-huh-huh, right. Like she's gonna fall for
that.
Buffy: I'm Buffy Summers.
Tom: Oh, nice to meet you. Are you a senior here?
Buffy: Junior.
Tom: Oh, me, too. Except that I'm a senior and I'm
in college. So we
have
that in common, and... I major in history.
Buffy: Mm. History stumps me. I have a hard enough
time remembering
what
happened last week.
Tom: No, nothin' happened last week, don't worry,
I was there.
Xander: She's gonna walk away. (pauses) Now.
Tom: So, uh, my friend invited your friend to a
party we're having this
weekend.
Cordelia
does her fake laugh loudly for Richard.
Tom: You know, actually he's not even really my
friend. I only joined
the
fraternity because my father and grandpa were in it before me.
Y'know,
it meant a lot to them.
Xander: Okay, boots, start a-walking.
Tom: Oh, I know, I talk too much anyway. They're
really dull parties
full
of really dull people, so... would you like to come and save me
from
a really dull fate?
Buffy: Oh, I wish I could, but I'm sort of involved.
Tom: Well, sure, of course you are. Well, thanks
for letting me ramble.
Buffy: Y'know, people underestimate the value of a
good ramble.
Giles
spots her talking to Tom and calls out to her.
Giles: Buffy!
She
turns to look and sees him pointing at his watch and walk off to the
library.
Buffy: Oh, I gotta go. (turns to go but stops and
smiles) It was nice
to
meet you.
Tom: Oh. Same here.
Buffy
hops up the stairs. Xander hands her bag to her, and she runs off
to
the library. Tom watches her go.
Xander: I hate these guys. Whatever they want just
falls into their
laps.
Don't you hate these guys?
Willow: Yeah, with their charmed lives and their
movie star good looks
and
more money than you can count? I'm hating.
Cut
to the library. Giles comes out of the cage holding a sword in one
hand
and a stick in the other.
Giles: I'm going to attack you. A word of warning:
for your own good, I
won't
be pulling any punches. (adopts a fighting stance)
Buffy: Please don't.
She
kicks the sword out of his left hand. He looks at her a bit
dismayed,
but quickly swings the stick at her. She sidesteps him, and
the
end of the stick hits the floor. She pins his arm down and stomps on
the
stick, breaking it. He tries to lunge at her, but she sidesteps
again,
and he runs into the table and slides across the top.
Giles: Good. So, um, you're on patrol and, uh, I'll
see you in the
morning.
Cut
to the cemetery at night. Buffy strolls through, keeping a careful
watch.
She spots a bracelet on the ground and bends down to pick it up.
Angel
suddenly appears behind her.
Angel: There's blood on it.
Buffy: (gets up startled and faces him) Hi. It's
nice to... Blood?
Angel: I can smell it.
Buffy: Oh. (looks at the bracelet) It's pretty thin.
It probably
belonged
to a girl.
Angel: Probably.
Buffy: (exhales) I-I was... just thinking, wouldn't
it be funny some
time
to see each other when it wasn't a blood thing. (smiles briefly)
Not
funny ha, ha.
Angel: What are you sayin', you wanna have a date?
Buffy: No.
Angel: You don't wanna have a date?
Buffy: Who said 'date'? I-I-I never said 'date'.
Angel: Right. You just wanna have coffee or
somethin'.
Buffy: (hopefully) Coffee?
Angel: I knew this was gonna happen.
Buffy: What? What do you think is happening?
Angel: You're sixteen years old. I'm two hundred and
forty-one.
Buffy: I've done the math.
Angel: You don't know what you're doing, you don't
know what you
want...
Buffy: Oh. No, I, I think I do. I want out of this
conversation.
(starts
to walk past him)
Angel: (bumps into her) Listen, if we date you and I
both know one
thing's
gonna lead to another.
Buffy: One thing already has led to another. You
think it's a little
late
to be reading me a warning label?
Angel: I'm just tryin' to protect you. This could
get outta control.
Buffy: Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?
He
grabs her by the shoulders and pulls her closer. She draws a startled
breath.
Angel: This isn't some fairy tale. When I kiss you,
you don't wake up
from
a deep sleep and live happily ever after.
Buffy: No. When you kiss me I wanna die.
She
pulls herself free and runs off.
Cut
to school the next morning. Cut to a classroom. Class is over and
the
students are leaving. Buffy slowly gets up from her desk and gathers
her
things. Cordelia comes into the room.
Cordelia: Buffy! Did you lose weight? And your hair...
Alright, I
respect
you too much to be dishonest. The hair's a little... (smiles
widely)
Well, that really isn't the point here, is it? The Zeta Kappas
have
to have a certain balance at their party, and Richard explained it
all
to me, but I was so busy really listening that I didn't hear much.
Anyway,
the deal is they need you to go. And if you don't go, I can't.
And
I'm talking about Richard Anderson, okay? As in Anderson Farms,
Anderson
Aeronautics (becomes emotional) and Anderson Cosmetics. (sobs)
Well,
you see why I *have* to go. Buffy, these men are rich. And I am
*not*
being shallow. Think of all the poor people I could help with all
my
money!
Buffy: (off in her own world) I'll go.
Cordelia: (surprised) You'll go? (huge smile) Great!
I'll drive. Oh,
Buffy,
it's like we're sisters! With really different hair.
She
turns to leave and can't believe she just said what she did. Buffy
can't
believe it either.
Cut
to the fraternity house basement. A pledge is taking the oath of
brotherhood.
Richard: I pledge my life and my death...
Pledge: I pledge my life and my death...
Richard: To the Delta Zeta Kappas, and to Machida whom
we serve...
Pledge: To the Delta Zeta Kappas, and to Machida whom
we serve...
Richard: On my oath before my assembled brethren...
He
starts to carve a symbol into the pledge's chest with the tip of a
sword.
Pledge: (ignores the pain) On my oath before my
assembled brethren...
Richard: I promise to keep our secret from this day
until my death.
Pledge: I promise to keep our secret from this day
until my death.
Richard
is finished carving and lowers the sword.
Richard: In blood I was baptized. In blood I shall
reign. In his name.
Pledge: In blood I was baptized, and in blood I shall
reign. In his
name.
Richard: You are now one of us.
Pledge: In his name!
Brothers: In his name.
Richard
puts the sword aside and shakes the pledge's hand.
Richard: Brewski time!
A
brother tosses him a beer. As he opens it he walks over to Callie, who
is
shackled to the wall.
Richard: So what's a girl like you doing in a place
like this?
Callie: (begs) Let me go.
Richard: Let you go? Okay, let me think. Um, no!
(laughs) God, I love
high
school girls. Mm!
He
walks off to join the party. Callie lowers her head and weeps.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 2
~~~~~~~~~~
The
lounge. Willow gathers her things to go to class.
Willow: You're going to the fraternity party? What
made you change your
mind?
Buffy: Angel.
Willow: He's going with you? (to Xander) She's got a date
with Angel!
Isn't
that exciting?
Xander: I'm elated. (gets up from the couch)
Buffy: I-I'm not going with Angel. I'm going with --
ye gods --
Cordelia.
(starts out of the lounge)
Willow: Cordelia?! (to Xander) Did I sound a little
jealous just then,
'cause
I'm not really... (runs after Buffy) Cordelia?!
Xander: Cordelia's much better for you than Angel.
(hurries after them)
Willow: (catches up) What happened with Angel?
Buffy: Nothing, as usual. A whole lotta nothing with
Angel.
Xander: Bummer.
They
head down the hall.
Willow: I don't understand. I mean, he likes you.
More than likes.
Buffy: Angel barely says two words to me.
Xander: Don't you hate that?
Buffy: And when he does, he treats me like I'm a
child.
Xander: That bastard!
Buffy: You know, at least Tom can carry on a
conversation.
Xander: Yeah! Tom? Who's Tom?
Willow: The frat guy.
Xander: Oh, Buffy, I don't think so. Frying pan,
fire? You know what
I'm
sayin'.
Cut
to the library. Giles comes out of his office carrying a sword
behind
his back and looks around. Seeing there's no one there he starts
practicing
a few thrusts to his front and back. He spins around and
thrusts
again.
Giles: Will you be ready if a vampire's behind you?
He
thrusts the sword behind him, pretending he just jabbed one. He
raises
the sword above his head to stab his pretend fallen victim.
Buffy,
Willow and Xander come in through the door and see him. He hears
the
door and looks back. When he sees it's them he tries to make like
nothing's
going on.
Giles: I didn't see you three... creeping about.
He
tosses the sword through the open cage door and kicks the door shut.
Giles: Um, how did it go last night?
Buffy: Found this. (gives him the bracelet)
Giles: (reads the inscription) E-N-T.
Willow: I've seen something like that before.
Buffy: It's broken in two. I don't know what the
rest of the letters
might
have spelled. And there's blood on it.
Giles: Uh, I didn't see any.
Buffy: Angel showed up. He could smell it.
Xander: The blood? There's a guy you wanna party
with.
Giles: Blood.
Willow: In Sunnydale. What a surprise.
Xander: Okay, here's what we're gonna do: she should
probably make the
rounds
again tonight, and we should try to figure out who that bracelet
belongs
to.
Giles: Yes, good idea, yes. She'll patrol, and, and
we'll reconvene...
Buffy: (interrupting) Uh, hello? She's standing
right here? And she's
not
available.
Giles: Why not?
Xander: Buffy, this is a little more important
than...
Buffy: I've got a mountain of homework to do, and,
um... my mom's not
really
feeling well, and she could probably use my help, and, um, to be
truthful
I'm not really feeling all that well myself.
Willow
can't believe what she's hearing and stares at Buffy.
Giles: Oh, w-w-well, um, sorry, of course. If-if-if
you're not well.
Buffy: Oh, I'll take an early pass this evening,
and, um, one later on,
but
for the bulk of the evening...
Giles: Oh, you should stay home with your mother.
Cut
to the halls. The three of them come out of the library. Xander
gives
Buffy a stern look.
Buffy: Well, say it.
Xander: I'm not gonna say it.
Willow: You lied to Giles.
Xander: 'Cause she will.
Buffy: Look, I wasn't lying. I was just...
protecting him from
information
that he wouldn't be able to... digest properly.
Xander: Like a corn dog.
Willow: Like you don't have a sick mother, but you'd
rather go to a
frat
party where there's gonna be drinking and older guys and probably
an
orgy.
Xander: Whoa! Whoa-ho-ho, rewind. Since when do they
have orgies, and
why
aren't I on the mailing list?
Buffy: There's no orgies!
Willow: I heard a lot of wild things go on at frat
parties.
Buffy: Okay, you know what? Look, seven days a week
I am busy saving
the
world. Once in a great while I wanna have some fun. And that's what
I'm
gonna have tonight. Fun!
Cut
to later in the lounge. Buffy and Cordelia are sitting at a table.
Cordelia:
This isn't about fun. This is about
duty, your duty, to help
me
achieve permanent prosperity. Okay? Do's and dont's: don't wear
black,
silk, chiffon or spandex. These are my trademarks. And don't do
that
weird thing with your hair.
Buffy: What weird thing with my...
Cordelia: Don't interrupt. Do be interested if someone
should speak to
you.
It may or may not happen, but do be polite. And laugh at the
appropriate
intervals. (demonstrates) Do lie to your mom about where
we're
going. It's a fraternity, and there will be drinking.
Xander
and Willow come over to the table. Xander is munching on a power
bar.
Willow has a Coke.
Xander: So, Cor, you printing up business cards with
your pager number
and
hours of operation, or just going with a halter top tonight?
Cordelia: Oh, are we feeling a little envious? You
could belong to a
fraternity
of rich and powerful men. In the Bizarro world.
Xander
has no comeback again.
Buffy: Do you guys wanna join us?
Xander: Nah, I gotta... digest and all.
He
and Willow go up to the couches and sit down.
Cordelia: Makeup, makeup... Well, give it your all, and
keep to the
shadows.
We're gonna have a blast! (smiles)
Buffy
lets her head fall to the table. Cut to Xander and Willow on the
couch.
Willow: I can't believe she lied to Giles. My world
is all askew.
Xander: Buffy's lying, Buffy's going to frat
parties... That's not
askew,
that's cockeyed.
Willow: Askew means cockeyed.
Xander: Oh.
He
grabs her Coke and takes a swig. She grabs his bar and breaks off a
piece.
Willow: Well, there's nothing we can do about it.
We'll help Giles.
Xander: I'm goin' to the party.
Willow: What?
Xander: I gotta keep an eye on Buffy. Those frat guys
creep me.
Willow: You wanna protect her?
Xander: Mm-hm.
Willow: And prove that you're just as good as those
rich, snotty guys?
Xander: Mm-hm.
Willow: Maybe catch an orgy?
Xander: If it's on early.
Willow
nods her head and pops the piece of power bar into her mouth.
Xander
takes another swig of her Coke.
Cut
to the street in front of the fraternity house that night. Cordelia
comes
screeching in to park and smacks the car in front of her. Cut
inside
the car.
Cordelia: Ohh! Why do they park so darn close to you?
Are you ready for
this?
(checks her hair)
Buffy: I dunno. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
Cordelia: Me, too. Let's go!
She
gets out of the car and closes the door.
Cordelia: C'mon!
Cut
inside the fraternity house. Two girls come in through the door and
walk
through the room. A couple of fraternity brothers watch them walk
by.
Tackle: Beaucoup babes!
Linebacker: Ooo, yeah!
The
camera slowly pans across the room to Buffy and Cordelia.
Cordelia: You know what's so cool about college? The
diversity. You've
got
all the rich people, and all the other people. (spots Richard)
Richard!
Richard: Welcome, ladies. (hands them drinks)
Cordelia: Thank you.
Buffy: Oh, i-is there alcohol in this?
Richard: Just a smidge.
Cordelia: C'mon, Buffy, it's just a smidge.
Buffy: I'll just... (sets the drink down)
Richard: I understand. When I was your age I wasn't
into grownup things
either.
Have you seen our multi-media room?
Cordelia: Oh, the one with the cherry walnut paneling
and the two
forty-eight-inch
televisions on satellite feed? No. Wanna show me?
(smiles)
Richard: What about...
Cordelia: Oh, her? She's happiest by herself.
They
go off and leave Buffy standing there by herself.
Cut
to a side window. Xander pokes his head in, looks around and climbs
in.
"Wolves", by Shawn K. Clement and Sean W. Murray, plays on the
stereo.
Lyrics: Her name is Alexandra / She walks into the
room
He
loses his balance and falls through the window onto the floor.
Lyrics: All the eyes, eyes, are upon her
He
hops back up and takes a drink from a tray that's being passed around
by
a half-naked pledge.
Xander: Cheers!
Lyrics: Well the girl / I think she's got her hungry
eyes on you
Xander
walks into the room and has a look around.
Lyrics: Yeah, on you, you
He
looks at a girl as she walks by. He continues through the room.
Lyrics: She says she runs with the wolves
He
comes into the next room, but doesn't notice Buffy behind him. She's
looking
the other way and doesn't see him either. He looks at another
girl
passing by, but is distracted by a tray of hors-d'oeuvres being
carried
around by another pledge in drag. He reaches for the tray and
follows
it away.
Lyrics: She thinks she runs with the wolves
Buffy
turns around. She's bored and lonely and fidgets with her hands.
She
looks down at her drink and picks it up again.
Lyrics: Love is in the air
She
stirs it idly for a moment, then realizes she really doesn't want it
and
puts it back down. She looks around the room at the people dancing.
A
new song starts, "She", by Louie Says.
Lyrics: Bend and I'll break you
The
dance crowd separates for a moment and a handsome Young Man on the
other
side of the room looks at her. He raises his drink to her. Tackle
and
Linebacker are standing behind him, watching.
Lyrics: Leave and I'll take you back again
She
notices him, picks up her drink again and raises it to him. She
takes
a small sip as he raises his drink for a sip also. Tackle is
drunk.
He notices Buffy and starts to stagger toward her.
Tackle: New girl!
He
grabs the Young Man for balance and pulls him away before he even
gets
his drink to his lips.
Young
Man: Easy, man!
Tackle: Dance!
Lyrics: So bend and I'll break you
Buffy
looks up from putting her drink back down and stares at him in
wide-eyed
surprise when she sees him coming for her.
Tackle: (laughs and staggers over to her) C'mon,
sweetheart, ha, ha,
yeah!
Lyrics: Leave and I'll take you back again
Tom
appears in the nick of time and takes her arm.
Tom: Can I have this dance?
Tackle: C'mon!
Tom
pulls her away to the dance area just as Tackle is about to crash
into
her. He looks up surprised at her disappearance. He sees another
girl
walk by and follows her instead.
Lyrics: If she bends, then she breaks
Buffy: Thanks.
Lyrics: She loves you, but then she takes it away
Tom: No. We're not all a bunch of drunken louts.
Some of us are sober
louts.
Lyrics: She bends and she bows
Tom: I'm really glad that you decided to come.
Lyrics: She's cold, but she melts like snow
Buffy
looks down.
Tom: And you're not.
Buffy: No, it's... I shouldn't be here.
Lyrics: Bend and I'll break you
Tom: Because you're seeing someone.
Buffy: No.
Tom: You're not seeing someone?
Lyrics: Sleep and I'll wake you tonight
Buffy: Someone's not seeing me.
Tom: So, why shouldn't you be here?
Lyrics: Hey, don't you want to understand /
Understand that
Buffy: Because I have obligations. People that I'm
responsible for, or
to,
or... (Tom laughs and so does she) with, or... It's complicated.
Lyrics: If she bends, then she breaks
Tom: You're big on responsibility. I like that.
But there's such a
thing
as being too mature.
Lyrics: She loves you, but then she takes it away
Tom: You should relax. Enjoy yourself once in a
while.
Lyrics: She bends and she bows
Buffy: You think I'm too mature?
Tom: (chuckles) I talk too much. Have you picked
up on that yet?
Lyrics: She's cold, but she melts like snow
Tom: Anyway, the, uh, the Hulk is gone, so you
don't have to dance with
me.
Lyrics: She bends, she breaks
Buffy: He might come back.
Lyrics: She hates you, but then she makes a mistake
She
continues dancing with Tom. Cut to Xander talking to two girls.
Another
hors-d'oeuvre tray passes by, and he grabs another one.
Lyrics: Confused and a lot to take / And where to
fall out and when
Xander: (playing with his hors-d'oeuvres) Godzilla's
attacking downtown
Tokyo!
Argh! Argh!
Richard
is watching Xander. Tackle and Linebacker join him.
Lyrics: Hey, yes
Tackle: Who's this dork?
Lyrics: She won't be good to you
Richard: Never seen him before in my life.
Lyrics: And I hate the way that I am
Linebacker: We got us a crasher!
The
three of them come up to Xander.
Lyrics: I hate the way I am
Xander: (to the girls) So, have either of you seen a
pair of girls
here?
One's about so high... (notices the guys) Hey, guys!
Tackle: New pledge.
Linebacker: New pledge!
Tackle: (grabs Xander and yells) New pledge!
Together: (dragging him off) New pledge! New pledge!
New pledge! New
pledge!
New pledge!
Cut
outside to the patio. Buffy strolls out of the house alone. It's
chilly,
and she rubs her arms a bit and crosses them. She steps on a
piece
of glass and looks down. There are several small pieces there and
she
crouches to pick one up. She looks up above her and notices the door
to
the balcony has been boarded up. Tom is outside now, too, and notices
her
as she stands back up.
Tom: You okay?
Buffy: (drops the piece of glass and exhales) Yeah.
I was... just
thinking.
Richard
finds them there, too, and hands them both drinks.
Richard: To my Argentinean junk bonds that just
matured into double
digits!
Tom: Uh, to maturity.
Buffy: What the hell. I'm tired of being mature.
She
gulps the drink. The two boys raise their eyebrows and drink theirs
also.
Cut
to the library. Willow and Giles are playing word games, trying to
figure
out what the word on the bracelet might be. Willow types the
words
as they think of them.
Willow: Bent.
Giles: Sent.
Willow: Rent.
Giles: Uh, Lent. Dent.
Willow: Went. Kent. Kent! That's it!
Giles: Her boyfriend's name was Kent?
Willow: No! Kent Preparatory School. Just outside of
town. That's where
I've
seen these bracelets.
Giles: Wh-what are you doing?
Willow: Pulling up their school newsletter for the
past few months. See
if
there's anything about...
Giles: A missing girl.
The
most recent issue of the newsletter has a picture of Callie on the
front
page. The title of the article reads 'Callie Our Hearts & Prayers
Are
With You'.
Cut
to the fraternity house. Xander is being hazed. Linebacker grabs his
cheeks
to pucker his lips and smears lipstick on them. Everyone is
laughing
hysterically. "Bring Me On", by Act of Faith, is playing on the
sound
system.
Lyrics: Say what you say when you say what you've
gotta say / Do you
fear
what you hear are you gonna fear / Do you know what you know when
you
gotta know / No, No, No
Tackle: C'mon, dance, pretty boy!
The
camera pulls back from Xander's face. They've put a skirt and a huge
bra
on him. He does his usual lame dancing while the party guests cheer
him
on.
Tackle: Keep it movin'! (laughs) C'mon! Shake it,
don't break it! Wrap
it
up and I'll take it!
Xander: (nervous) Okay, big fun guys. Uhhh, who's
next?
Tackle
puts a blonde wig on his head.
Tackle: You are, doll face! Keep on dancin'! Ah,
alright!
Cut
to Buffy at the front door. She's woozy from the drink and steadies
herself
against the wall.
Tackle: Oh! Keep it up! Yes! C'mon! Keep it goin'!
Ah, ha!
Buffy
makes her way over to the stairs. She knocks down a drink, but
can't
react fast enough to catch it. She looks up at the commotion in
the
next room.
Buffy: Tom?
Through
hazy eyes and a wobbly head she sees Xander dancing with his
back
to her. Slowly she starts to make her way up the stairs to find a
place
to rest. In the other room Tackle and Linebacker continue to goad
Xander
on. Cut upstairs to a bedroom. Buffy pushes open the door, comes
in
and bumps into a sculpture.
Buffy: Ooo! Ooo, sorry...
She
steadies herself and heads for the bed.
Buffy: Okay. (crawls onto the bed) Nice bed. Just
need to stop spinning
for
at least...
She
lies down and falls asleep. Richard shows up at the door. He pushes
it
open and peeks in. He comes in when he sees Buffy asleep on the bed.
He
rolls her over onto her back and smiles as he brushes his hand along
her
neck. He's suddenly pulled away from her and shoved against the
wall.
Tom: Get away from her!
Richard: I wasn't doing anything!
Tom: I saw what you were doing.
Richard: I was just having a little fun.
Tom: Well, she's not here for your fun, you
pervert. She's here for the
pleasure
of the one we serve.
Richard: (ashamed) In his name.
Tom: And that goes for the other one, too.
The
camera pans from Tom down to Buffy on the bed and continues to
Cordelia
on the floor.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 3
~~~~~~~~~~
The
library. Giles picks up the printout of the Newsletter's front page.
Giles: Callie Megan Anderson. Missing for over a
week. No one's seen
her,
no one knows what happened to her.
Willow: This being Sunnydale and all I guess we can
rule out something
good.
Giles: I'm calling Buffy.
Willow: No!
Giles: Why not?
Willow: (nervous) Because Buffy... a-a-and her
mother...
Giles: Are sick. No, you're quite right. No, there's
no point in
disturbing
them until we know more.
Willow
turns her attention back to the PC. Some more information comes
up.
Willow: You mean, like, if there're others? Brittany
Oswald, junior at
St.
Michael's, disappeared a year ago. So did Kelly Percell, sophomore
at
Grant.
Giles: A year.
Willow: Almost to the day.
Giles: An anniversary or perhaps some other event
significant to the
killer.
Willow: Killer? Now there's a killer? We don't know
that there's a...
Giles: No, but this being Sunnydale and all.
Willow: Gulp.
Giles: (exhales) We need to know where Buffy found
that bracelet, and
then
we can begin our search there. (reaches for the phone)
Willow: Good idea. Call Angel. (gets a confused look
from Giles) Uh, he
was
there when Buffy found it. We're gonna need all the help we can get.
Giles
agrees with her logic.
Cut
to the fraternity house front door. The party is over. Tackle shoves
Xander
out of the house. Linebacker throws him his clothes.
Linebacker: Party's over, jerkwater.
Xander: Wait, a friend of mine was here.
Tackle: Y'know, in that light, with that wig on and
all... you're still
butt-ugly!
They
laugh and close the door in Xander's face. He drops his clothes,
pulls
off the wig, and throws it down. He undoes the bra, takes it off
and
throws it down, too.
Cut
to the basement. Richard takes a sword and walks behind a kneeling
Tom.
Tom has a series of symbols carved onto his chest. Richard begins
to
carve another one on Tom's back. The camera pans over to the three
girls
shackled to the wall.
Cordelia: Buffy? Where are we?
Buffy: In the basement, far as I can tell.
Cordelia: What's happening? What did they do to us?
Buffy: They drugged us.
Cordelia: Why? What are they gonna do to us?
Buffy: I don't know.
Cordelia: (whines) I wanna go home.
Callie: No one's going home. Ever. Look, one of
them's different than
the
others. (looks at Tom) Nicer.
Buffy: (whispers) Tom.
Richard
is finished carving Tom's new symbol. He gets up and turns to
the
girls. Two brothers help him on with his robe.
Callie: He's the one to watch out for.
Buffy
shakes her chain a bit and looks up where it's anchored. Tom looks
at
her.
Tom: She's last.
Cordelia: Last? For what?
Tom
walks over to the well and picks up a bag.
Cordelia: Who's first?! Answer me! Who's first?!
Tom
lets three stones drop out of the bag and into his hand.
Buffy: Three stones. (looks at Cordelia and Callie)
Three of us.
Cordelia: (beginning to panic) Buffy...
Buffy: Stay calm. We'll get outta this.
Tom
pours water over the stones.
Cordelia: Why'd I ever let you talk me into coming
here?
Buffy
can't believe her ears. Tom is done with his stone-cleansing
ritual
and faces the girls. He stares at Buffy.
Cut
to the library.
Angel: She found the bracelet in the cemetery. Near
the south wall.
Giles: South wall.
Willow
stares at the window in fascination. Angel casts no reflection in
it.
Giles: (to Willow) What are you doing?
Willow: Oh! Sorry. The reflection thing that you
don't have. Angel, how
do
you shave? (the men exchange a look) South wall. That's near the
college
and... the fraternity house!
Giles: A fraternity?
Willow
nods nervously.
Angel: Could they be taking these girls? (Willow
nods again) Let's get
out
there!
Giles
and Angel start to go. Willow holds back.
Willow: Buffy!
Giles: Wwwe don't know that it's concrete. Uh, let's
not disturb her
until...
Willow: Is there! With Cordelia. They went to a party
at the Zeta Kappa
house.
Giles: She lied to me?
Willow: (nervous) Well...
Angel: Did... she have a date?
Willow: Well... (Angel huffs) Well, why do you think
she went to that
party?
Because you gave her the brush-off! (to Giles) And you never let
her
do anything except work and patrol! And I know she's the Chosen One,
but
you're killing her with the pressure! I mean, she's sixteen going on
forty!
(to Angel) And you! I mean, you're gonna live forever! You don't
have
time for a cup of coffee?!
Angel
and Giles are speechless.
Willow: Okay, I don't feel better now, and we've
gotta help Buffy.
She
hurries out of the library. Giles and Angel follow shortly behind.
Cut
to the street in front of the fraternity house. Xander walks past a
few
cars. He's still wearing the skirt and carries his clothes in a
bundle.
Xander: One day I'll have money. Prestige. Power. And
on that day
they'll
still have more.
He
walks past Cordelia's car, and it looks familiar to him. He checks
the
license plate and it reads 'QUEEN C'. It's Cordelia's car, alright.
He
looks back up at the house a moment, and then makes his way back to
it.
Cut
to the basement. The ritual is continuing. Tom is standing on the
basement
stairs holding the sword.
Tom: Machida. (starts down)
Brothers: In his name.
Tom: We who serve you, we who receive all that you
bestow, call upon
you
in this holy hour.
Brothers: In this holy hour.
He
turns to walk toward Richard, holding the sword horizontally in both
hands.
Tom: We have no wealth, no possession... except
that which you give us.
Brothers: Except that which you give us.
He
places the sword on Richard's arms.
Tom: We have no power, no place in the world...
except that which you
give
us.
Brothers: Except that which you give us.
Richard
hugs the sword to his chest, crossing his hands over his heart.
Cordelia: What are they, some kind of cult or
something?
Buffy: Yeah, a psycho cult.
Cordelia: You've gotta do something.
Tom: It's been a year since our last offering.
Richard
lowers the sword and rests the tip on the floor.
Tom: A year in which our bounty overflowed. We
come before you with
fresh
offerings.
Cordelia: Offerings? He's talking about us?
Callie: Do you see anyone else chained up in here?
Tom: Accept our offering, Dark Lord, and bless us
with your power.
Machida!
Brothers: Machida!
Tom
tosses the stones into the well at the center of the basement one at
a
time.
Cordelia: (frightened) What's down there?
Tom: Come forth, and let your terrible countenance
look upon your
servants,
and their humble offering. We call you, Machida.
Brothers: In his name. Machida.
Cordelia: There's something down there and he's gonna
throw us down
there
with it.
Buffy: I don't think so.
Cordelia: No? Well, that's good! That, that's...
Buffy: I don't think we go to it. I think it comes
to us.
Cordelia: (terrified) Ooohhhhhhh! No!
Tom
looks up, awaiting Machida's arrival. The camera closes in on the
well,
and suddenly Machida rises out of it.
Cordelia: Oh, my God! (screams)
It's
a half-man, half-snake, green and scaly. He growls as he looks at
the
girls. Cordelia keeps screaming at the top of her lungs. Buffy
stares
at Machida in wide-eyed horror.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 4
~~~~~~~~~~
The
basement. Buffy tries to yank her chains from the ceiling.
Cordelia: C'mon, Buffy! Oh, my God! Oh, c'mon! Oh!
Machida
remains stationary and spreads his arms.
Tom: For he shall rise from the depths, and we
shall tremble before
him.
The
camera pans down and over to Tom.
Tom: He who is the source of all we inherit and
all we possess.
Machida.
Brothers: Machida.
Tom: And if he is pleased with our offerings, then
our fortune shall
increase.
Brothers: Machida. Let our fortunes increase.
Tom: And on the tenth day of the tenth month he
shall be enhungered.
And
we shall feed him.
Machida
gazes over at the girls.
Cordelia: Feed him?
Machida
rises before her.
Cordelia: Feed him?!
Buffy
renews her efforts to break the chains from the ceiling.
Cordelia: Oh, no!
Cut
outside. Angel, Willow and Giles walk through the bushes from the
street
to the lawn.
Willow:
Looks like everyone's gone.
They
look up at the house as a robed figure comes up behind them. The
figure
steps on some foliage, and Angel instantly spins around to
confront
him.
Angel: Hey!
Xander: Hey! (lifts the hood from his eyes) What are
you guys doing
here?
Willow: A bunch of girls are missing, and the Zeta
Kappas may be
involved,
and Buffy. Are you wearing makeup?
Xander
smears the lipstick off with his fingers.
Xander: No. I think Buffy's still inside somewhere
with Cordelia. Her
car's
still here.
Giles: Why are you wearing that? (indicates the
robe)
Xander: Oh, I found it in their trash. I saw them
through the window.
They
were wearing robes and went down to the basement. I was gonna use
it
to sneak in.
Giles: They may be involved in some kind of ritual.
Willow: With the missing girls.
Angel: (growls, vamped out) With Buffy!
Xander: Okay, that *is* the guy you wanna party with.
Cut
to the basement. Machida closes in on Cordelia and she screams.
Buffy: Hey, reptile boy! (gets his attention)
Tom: No woman speaks to him!
Buffy: You don't want her. Look at her. She's all
skin and bones. Half
an
hour later you'll be hungry.
Tom: (comes over to Buffy) I told you to shut up!
He
backhand punches her and holds up his sword.
Tom: You speak again and I'll cut your throat.
Cut
upstairs. Xander steps up to the door holding his head down and
knocks.
Tackle comes to the door to answer.
Xander: Got locked out dumping the trash. Let me in.
I don't wanna miss
the,
uh...
Tackle
opens the door and waves him in.
Tackle: Come on.
Xander: ...you know what. (throws back his hood)
Where are they?!
He
punches Tackle in the face and knocks him down, but has really hurt
his
hand doing it. Angel comes in behind him and punches out Linebacker.
Willow
and Giles follow them in.
Cut
to the basement. Two brothers unchain Cordelia and hold her. Tom
hears
the commotion upstairs.
Tom: Something's going on upstairs. (to the
brothers) Go. Go!
Several
of them rush upstairs to see what's going on. Buffy looks up at
her
chains again, then back at Machida.
Tom: Feed, Dark Lord!
Machida
rises above Cordelia, then moves in to take her from the
brothers'
grip. She screams loudly and struggles. Buffy yanks hard at
her
chains again, and they finally break loose from the ceiling. She
quickly
steps over to Machida and punches him in the face. He pulls back
away
from them, holding the side of his face. Buffy starts fighting the
brothers.
Tom takes a swing at her with his sword.
Cut
upstairs. Angel throws a brother to the floor. Willow jumps over
him,
runs to the basement door and goes in. Xander is on Tackle's back,
punching
him.
Xander: That's for the wig! (punches again) That's
for the bra!
Giles
struggles with a door. A brother tries to grab him from behind,
but
he elbow-punches him and knocks him out. Willow comes back out of
the
basement door.
Willow: Some guy's attacking Buffy with a sword! Also
there's a really
big
snake!
Angel
punches another brother and sends him reeling into the sill of an
opening
in the wall. Willow screams and backs off as the brother falls
to
the floor. Xander keeps punching Tackle.
Xander: That's for the makeup! (punches again,
knocking him out) And
that's
for the last sixteen and a half years!
Willow: Guys! Buffy! Snake! Basement! Now!
She
heads back into the basement as the others jump to follow. Angel
punches
out a brother who is giving chase. Cut to the basement.
Tom: You bitch! I'll serve you to him in pieces.
He
attacks her with the sword, but she catches the blade in her chains,
throws
a loop of it around his neck and pulls him in.
Buffy: Tom, you talk too much.
She
shoves him away, and he rolls over a table, knocking everything off
of
it. Machida grabs Cordelia and starts to drag her away as the others
come
down the stairs. Buffy picks up the sword and jumps up onto the
edge
of the well. She holds the sword above her head, ready to strike.
Buffy: Let her go, wormy!
Machida
doesn't heed her warning and continues to hold on to Cordelia,
so
Buffy wields back the sword and slashes it into him. He drops
Cordelia
and rears back, screaming in pain. A moment later he drops to
the
floor dead. Buffy makes a face at the grossness of it. Willow comes
down
the rest of the steps and goes over to free Callie. Buffy comes
down
to look at what's left of Machida. Angel is behind her. Giles helps
Cordelia
up.
Cordelia: You did it! You saved us! (grabs Angel in a
tight hug) I've
never
been so happy to see anyone in my whole... (lets go) You guys.
(cries)
I just... hate you guys! The weirdest things always happen when
you're
around!
Angel
brings Tom over. Cordelia grabs him by the shirt.
Cordelia: And you! You're going to jail for fifteen
thousand years!
She
lets go of him and starts up the stairs. Angel shoves Tom up the
stairs
ahead of him. Giles puts his fists on his hips and gives Buffy a
stern
look. She looks down in shame.
Buffy: I told one lie, I had one drink.
Giles: Yes, and you were very nearly devoured by a
giant demon snake.
The
words 'let that be a lesson' are a tad redundant at this juncture.
Buffy: I'm sorry. (looks at him for forgiveness)
Giles: So am I. I... I drive you too hard because
I-I know what you
have
to face. From now on no, no more pushing, no more prodding. Just,
uh,
an inordinate amount of nudging.
Buffy
smiles up at him and then starts up the stairs. Giles takes her
arm
and goes up with her.
Cut
to the Bronze. Jonathon is at the bar anxiously waiting for a large
cup
of cappuccino.
Jonathon: C'mon, hurry!
Barmaid: Here you go.
She
hands him the large cup and saucer and he takes it and a plate with
a
muffin over to Cordelia.
Cordelia: Thank you, Jonathon. (looks at the
cappuccino) Did we forget
something?
Jonathon: Um... Cinnamon, chocolate, half-caf, nonfat.
Cordelia
just looks at him. He realizes his mistake.
Jonathon: Extra foam!
Cordelia
grabs the muffin and waves the cappuccino away. She steps over
to
Xander, Willow and Buffy at their table. Xander is reading the
Sunnydale
Press.
Cordelia: Young men are the only way to go. (leaves)
Xander: Says here that they've all been sentenced to
consecutive life
sentences.
Investigators found the bones of missing girls in a huge
cavern
beneath the frat house. And older bones dating back fifty years.
Buffy
and Willow exchange a grossed-out look.
Xander: A surprising number of corporations whose
chairmen and founders
are
former Delta Zeta Kappas are suffering from falling profits, IRS
raids...
Ooo, and suicides in the boardroom. Hmm. Starve a snake, lose a
fortune.
Boy, I guess the rich really are different, huh?
Willow: (to Buffy) Have you heard from Angel? When he
got so mad about
you
being in danger, and changed into a (makes a face) grr, it was the
most
amazing thing I ever saw. I mean, how many guys can...
Angel
comes down the stairs and over to stand behind Xander.
Xander: Angel, Angel, Angel. Does every conversation
we have have to
come
around to that freak? (notices Angel) Hey, man, how you doin'?
Angel: Buffy.
Buffy: Angel.
Xander: (in a deep voice) Xander! (shakes his head)
Angel: I hear this place, uh, serves coffee. (Xander
looks up at him) I
thought
maybe you and I should get some. Sometime. If you want.
Buffy
permits herself a bit of a smile.
Buffy: Yeah. Sometime. I'll let you know.
Angel
eyes her suspiciously. Buffy gets up and leaves with a smile on
her
face.