School Hard
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.
Sunnydale High.
Snyder: A lot of
educators tell students, 'Think of your principal as
your pal.'
Cut to Snyder's office. He's lecturing Buffy and Sheila.
Snyder: I say, 'Think of
me as your judge, jury, and executioner.' Tell
me, who do you think is the most troublesome student in this
school?
The camera pans from Sheila, looking blase', over to Buffy,
looking
apprehensive.
Snyder: Well, it is quite
a match between you two. On the one hand,
Buffy hasn't stabbed a horticulture teacher with a trowel.
Sheila: I didn't stab
anyone with a trowel. They were pruning shears.
Snyder: On the other
hand, Sheila has never burned down a school
building.
Buffy: W-well, that was
never proven. The Fire Marshall said i-it
coulda been mice.
Snyder: Mice.
Buffy: M-mice that were
smoking?
Snyder: The two of you
seem to be tied in the class-cutting and fight-
starting events. You really are neck and neck here. It's quite
exciting.
Sheila: What does the
winner get?
Snyder: Expelled. (Buffy
looks at him in shock) Thursday is Parent-
Teacher night. Your parents, assuming you have any, will meet
your
teachers, assuming you have any left. I've decided to put the
two of you
in charge of this event. You have three days to prepare the
refreshments, make the banners and transform the school lounge
into a
habitable place for adults. This will incur my good will. And
may affect
what I tell your parents when I meet them. Are we clear?
Buffy: I'm clear. (to
Sheila) Don't you feel clear? (Sheila just looks
back) We're very clear.
Snyder: Good. Because you
mess up this time, and your parents will be
coming to clean out your lockers.
Cut to the school's main entrance. The bell rings. Buffy and
Sheila come
walking out of the building.
Buffy: Well, it shouldn't
be that hard. We can work on the banners at
lunch tomorrow and figure out refreshments then?
Sheila: Yeah, sure,
whatever. (yells) Hey, meatpie! (walks off)
Xander and
Xander: Snyder's got you
guys making party favors, huh?
Buffy: His two worst
students. That's what mom sees when she looks at
me. A Sheila.
Sheila kisses an older boy with long, blonde hair.
Xander: Well, Sheila's
definitely intense. That guy with her? That's
the guy she *can* bring home to mother.
her.
Xander: (to Willow)
You're bad to the bone.
Buffy: It's not fair. I'm
the Slayer. That requires a certain amount of
cutting and fighting. What's Sheila's excuse?
Xander: Homework. She
won't do it. And most teachers respect that now.
Oh, you might wanna keep away any sharp implements when you're
working
with her.
Buffy: Do you think any
other Slayers ever had to go to high school?
Xander: It's no biggie.
You'll have a nice soire'e. The parents will
love it. As long as nothing really bad happens between now and
then,
you'll be fine.
Buffy: Are you crazy?
What did you say that for? Now something bad is
gonna happen!
Xander: Whadaya mean?
Nothing's gonna happen.
Buffy: It's the ultimate
jinx!
The girls give Xander looks of exasperation and walk off.
Xander: Well, you guys
don't know. (hugs his satchel) Maybe this time
it'll be different.
Cut to a small park and playground that night. A classic 1958
Dodge
Desoto FireFlite crashes through the 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign
and
screeches to a halt. Spike gets out and strolls over to the
curb. He
takes a deep breath and lights a cigarette.
Spike: Home, sweet home.
Opening credits roll. Buffy's theme plays.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 1 ~~~~~~~~~~
Inside Collin's warehouse.
Vampire#1: The Master is
dead. Someone has to take his place.
Vampire#2: As long as the
Slayer's alive, whoever takes his place will
be sharing his grave.
Vampire#1: Then let the
soul who kills her wear his mantle.
Collin: Can you do it?
Vampire#1: Yes. This
weekend, the night of St. Vigeous, our power shall
be at its peak. When I kill her, it'll be the greatest event
since the
crucifixion. And I should know. I was there.
Spike: (appears behind
them) *You* were *there*? (chuckles) Oh, please!
If every vampire who said he was at the crucifixion was actually
there,
it would have been like
Vampire#1: I oughta rip
your throat out.
Spike: (turns his back to
him and strolls away) I was actually at
the next six hours watchin' my hand move.
Vampire#1 rushes him from behind, and Spike swings his fist up
without
even looking, hitting him in the face and knocking him down and
out.
Spike: So. Who do you
kill for fun around here?
Collin: Who are you?
Spike: Spike. You're that
Anointed guy. I read about you. (growls at
vampire#2) You've got Slayer problems. That's a bad piece of
luck. Do
you know what I find works real good with Slayers? Killing them.
Collin: Can you?
Spike: A lot faster than
Nancy-boy there. Yeah, I did a couple Slayers
in my time. I don't like to brag. (can't keep a straight face)
Who am I
kidding? I *love* to brag! There was this one Slayer during the
Boxer
Rebellion, and...
He senses someone behind him and turns his head to look as he
morphs
into his human guise.
Spike: Drusilla. (goes to
her) You shouldn't be walking around. You're
weak.
Drusilla: Look at all the
people. Are these nice people?
Spike: We're getting
along.
Drusilla: (stares at
Collin) This one has power. I could feel it from
the outside.
Spike: Yeah. He's the big
noise in these parts. Anointed, and all that.
Drusilla: (to Collin) Do
you like daisies? Hmm? I plant them, but they
always die. Everything I put in the ground withers and dies.
(looks up
and off into space) Spike? I'm cold.
Spike: (puts his jacket
around her) I've got you.
Drusilla: I'm a princess.
Spike: That's what you
are.
She pricks Spike on the cheek with her fingernail, and a bead of
blood
flows out. She reaches up and licks it off. They move close to
kiss but
don't, and instead look over at Collin.
Spike: Me and Dru, we're
movin' in. (they separate) Now. Any of you
want to test who's got the biggest wrinklies 'round here... step
on up.
(to Collin) I'll do your Slayer for you. But you keep your
flunkies from
tryin' anything behind my back. Deal?
Collin nods. Drusilla bows her head down and puts her hands to
her
temples.
Drusilla: I can't see
her. The Slayer. I can't see. (looks back up)
It's dark where she is. Kill her. Kill her, Spike. Kill her for
me?
Spike: It's done, baby.
Drusilla: Kill her for
princess?
Spike: I'll chop her into
messes.
Drusilla: You are my
sweet... my little Spike.
Spike: (to Collin) So.
How 'bout this Slayer? Is she tough?
Cut to Buffy's room. She's standing at her mirror, trying to
brush her
hair.
Buffy: Ow!
Joyce: What's wrong?
Buffy: I spent a good
part of my allowance on this new cream rinse, and
it's neither creamy nor rinsey.
Joyce: Life is hard,
dear.
Buffy: Don't I know it.
Is that a split end?
Joyce: I got the mail.
Buffy: Good.
Joyce: Which included a
reminder notice about Parent-Teacher night.
Thursday.
Buffy: That's good.
Joyce: Which you were
planning on telling me about?
Buffy: Oh, for... (faces
her mom) the last two weeks.
Joyce: Uh-huh. So, what
do you think your teachers are gonna tell me
about?
Buffy: Well, I think
they'll all agree that I always bring a pen to
class, ready to absorb the knowledge. (sits on her bed)
Joyce: And, uh, this
absorption rate? How is it reflected in your
homework and test scores?
Buffy: What can you
really tell about a person from a test score?
Joyce: Whether or not
she's ever going out with her friends again.
Buffy: Oh, that.
Joyce: Well, I look
forward to meeting your principal.
Buffy: Won't that be
something.
Joyce: (comes over to the
bed) Look, sweetheart. Life is more than
grades and homework and not getting kicked out of school. (sits
next to
Buffy)
Buffy: I know.
Joyce: But we moved once
because of you getting in trouble. And I had
to start a new business, not to mention a new life in a whole
new town.
Buffy: And you don't
wanna do it again.
Joyce: What I don't want
is to be disappointed in you again.
Buffy: Mom, that's the
last thing that I want, too. (exhales) I'm
trying, I really am. I just... I have a lot of pressure on me
right now.
Joyce: Wait till you get
a job. Sleep tight. (gets up and leaves)
Buffy gets up from her bed and walks over to her desk. She pulls
open
the top left drawer. In it is a jar of holy water, a cross, a
few
stakes, a set of brass knuckles. She looks up at her reflection
in the
mirror.
Buffy: I have a job.
Cut to the school. Cut to the lounge. Buffy and
banner.
Tank? Sometimes they have raids and other stuff that can make
you tardy.
Buffy: D'you think you
can help me cram some French tonight? I don't
want Mr. DeJean telling my mother I'm an imbecile.
you thought Angel might show?
Xander: If he does he'll
meet some other nice girl? Studying comes
first.
Buffy: We're going to the
Bronze. I can study and party and do Parent-
Teacher night and make my mother proud as long as I don't have
to...
Giles and Jenny come walking in.
Giles: Buffy!
Buffy: ...fight vampires.
Giles: (to Jenny) There
is nothing in the chronicles about a-an
extraneous lunar cycle.
Jenny: The Order never
accurately calculated the Mesopotamian Calendar.
Rupert, you have *got* to read something that was published
after 1066.
Giles: Very funny.
Xander: What's the up,
guys?
Giles: W-um, Ms. Calendar
has been researching, well, uh, surfing on
her computer, a-and she's... Well, according to her
calculations, this
Saturday is the night of St. Vigeous.
Buffy: Let me guess: he
didn't make balloon animals.
Giles: No, he led a
crusade, of, of, uh, vampires. They swept through
Jenny: And they didn't
leave much behind.
Buffy: Well, if I survive
Parent-Teacher night tomorrow, I'll see what
I can do about Saturday.
Giles: You're being a tad
flip, don't you think? This is serious.
Buffy: And getting kicked
out of school is laughs aplenty?
Giles: You know what
happens when you, you let your life interfere with
your slaying.
Buffy: Okay, well, if my
slaying doesn't get me expelled, then I
promise my banner making won't get me killed, okay? Just please
let me
get through this week.
Giles: This Saturday's
going to need a great deal of preparation.
Xander: Yeah, I'll
whittle stakes.
Xander: And while I'm
whittling, I plan to whistle a jaunty tune.
Giles: Yes, your help
will be greatly appreciated, but when it comes to
battle, Buffy must fight alone. You are, after all, the Slay...
(sees
Snyder in the hall) ...slay-ve. Slaves. You're, you're all
slaves to
the, uh, television.
Jenny: Yes.
Giles: Young people
nowadays. (to Jenny) Shall we go?
Jenny: Mm, let's. (they
leave)
Snyder comes over.
Snyder: (to
Sheila's place, would you?
Xander: (laughs
nervously) No.
Snyder: She ditched.
(takes a deep breath) Mm. I feel an expulsion
coming on.
Buffy: No. No, actually,
Sheila's been helping us for hours. Um, she
just went to get some more paint.
Sheila comes in the door behind Buffy and takes off her glasses.
Buffy
notices Snyder looking behind her, turns around and sees her.
Buffy: Oh! Oh, is there
no more teal in the art room? (goes over to
Sheila) I know you wanted everything to be perfect, but let's
just go
with what we have.
Snyder: Just make sure
everything is perfect on Thursday. (turns and
leaves)
Sheila: Thanks for
covering. Guy's a serious rodent.
Buffy: No problem.
Sheila: Did you really
burn down a school building one time?
Buffy: Well, not actually
one time.
Sheila: Cool.
Cut to the Bronze. Nickel is the band tonight. They're in the
middle of
playing "1000 Nights". Xander dances lamely by himself
as
Buffy with her French at a table.
Lyrics: A drink you can't
resist / And in your head a voice you'll
always miss
Buffy: La vache... doit
me... touche... de la... jeudi. (looks at
Buffy: Maybe that's what
I was feeling.
Buffy: Oh, je stink.
Buffy: Well, he didn't
say for sure. It was a 'maybe see ya there'
kinda deal.
Xander: Guys, I'm all
alone out there. Somebody has to dance with me.
Xander: C'mon, one dance.
You've been studying nearly twelve minutes.
Buffy: No wonder my
brain's fried.
She gets up.
along with them.
Buffy: Come on.
Spike walks up to their table and watches them dance as the band
starts
a new song, "Stupid Thing".
Lyrics: I did a stupid
thing last night / I called you / A moment of
weakness / No, not a moment / More like three months of weakness
Spike walks along the edge of the dance floor and studies Buffy
intently. Xander and Buffy dance lively. Willow doesn't move
much, but
smiles widely, enjoying herself.
Lyrics: I'm one step away
from crashing to my knees / One step away
from spilling my guts to you
Spike goes over to vampire#1 at the bar.
Spike: Go get something
to eat.
Lyrics: I'm doing all
right / No, don't feel sorry for me / Really I'm
all right / I'm one step away from crashing to my knees
He comes back to some people near where Buffy, Willow and Xander
are
dancing and speaks loudly so that Buffy is sure to overhear.
Spike: Where's the phone?
I need to call the police. There's some big
guy out there trying to bite somebody.
Buffy runs from the dance floor. Spike watches her go.
Cut outside to the alley. Vampire#1 has found a young woman. She
trembles with fear as he grabs her neck and moves in for the
bite. Buffy
grabs him by the shoulder and pulls him off of her. He
somersaults and
rolls up to his feet.
Vampire#1: Slayer!
Buffy: Slayee!
She does a roundhouse kick to his face. He only flinches a bit.
He
swings at her, but she sidesteps the blow. She swings back, and
he grabs
her arm, swings her around and throws her into a metal roll-up
door. She
hits it high and hard and falls to the ground, but quickly gets
up
again. He swings again and hits the metal door with his fist
when she
ducks the punch. Xander and Willow arrive. Buffy blocks the
vampire's
punch and holds on to his arm. She looks behind her at the
others.
Buffy: Get her out of
here!
She turns her attention to punching the vampire repeatedly in
the face.
Willow grabs the woman and pulls her away and out of danger.
Buffy: (to the rhythm of
her punches) And a *stake* would be *nice*!
Xander runs to find a stake. Spike looks on from the side.
Cut inside to the table. Xander goes though Buffy's purse. He
pulls out
a yo-yo and sets it aside. He pulls out a tampon and quickly
drops it
like a hot potato. He finds a stake, and rushes back out.
Cut to the alley. Buffy punches the vampire's face again and
then his
chest. He gets loose from her and lands a punch on her face. She
goes
spinning down to the ground and lies there, momentarily stunned.
The
vampire looms over her.
Vampire#1: I don't need
to wait for St. Vigeous. You're mine.
He bends down to get her, and she kicks him in the face. He
staggers
backward as she maneuvers to he feet.
Vampire#1: Spike! Gimme a
hand!
Buffy looks over at Spike in the shadows. Xander is back with
the stake.
Xander: Buffy!
She turns to him and he throws her the stake. She catches it out
of the
air, and in a smooth, swift motion plunges it home into the
vampire's
chest. He doesn't even have time to fall before he crumbles to
ashes.
Spike comes out of the shadows slowly clapping his hands. Buffy
looks at
him with a confused expression on her face. Willow and Xander
see him,
too.
Spike: Nice work, love.
Buffy: Who are you?
Spike: You'll find out on
Saturday.
Buffy: What happens on
Saturday?
Spike: I kill you.
Buffy is speechless and just watches him leave.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 2 ~~~~~~~~~~
The alley outside the Bronze. Sheila comes out with two guys and
they
walk along the alley.
Sheila: Alright. Which
one's Dwayne and which one's Dell? (hic) Don't
tell me. Dell's the one with the tattoos. You guys weren't lyin'
about
havin' a Cadillac, were you? 'Cause I'm crazy about a Cad. Just
the feel
of the leather makes me wanna...
She's gotten a bit ahead of Dwayne and stops to look back at
him. She
sees he's gone.
Sheila: Where'd you go?
She looks the other way at Dell, and he's gone, too.
Sheila: What's going on?
(starts walking slowly, looking around) Where
are you guys? Not funny!
She turns around and is startled by Spike.
Sheila: Who are you?
Spike: Who do you want me
to be?
Sheila: Did you see...
Spike: ...those two
losers who thought they were good enough for you?
Sheila: What happened to
'em?
Spike: They got sleepy.
Sheila: Huh?
Spike: And you got
something a whole lot better.
He slowly walks past her and down the alley. She follows him
with her
gaze.
Sheila: Hey, wait up!
What's your name?
She starts after him. The camera follows her, but then pans down
to
Dwayne and Dell, dead in a pile of trash.
Cut to the library. The table is full of books, and Xander,
Willow and
Jenny are looking through them doing research.
Giles: Spike. That's what
the other vampire called him? That's a little
unorthodox, isn't it?
Buffy: Maybe he's
reformed.
Giles: Perhaps he went by
another name in... times past.
Jenny: Well, whoever he
is, we'll need all the help we can get come
this Saturday.
Xander: So, this night of
St. Vigeous deal. If they're gonna attack in
force, aren't we thinkin' vacation?
Willow: We can't run,
that would be wrong. Could we hide? I mean, if
that Spike guy is leading the attack, (shudders) yeeehehehe.
Giles: Well, he can't be
any worse than any other creature you've
faced.
Angel: (suddenly appears)
He's worse. (they all look at him) Once he
starts something he doesn't stop until everything in his path is
dead.
Xander: Hmm. So, he's
thorough, goal-oriented.
Buffy: We were at the
Bronze before. Thought you said you might show.
Angel: You said you
weren't sure if you were going.
Buffy: I was being cool.
C'mon, you've been dating for, what, like, two
hundred years? You don't know what a girl means when she says
maybe
she'll show?
Willow: Wow, two
centuries of dating. If you only had two a year,
that's still, like, four hundred (Buffy gives her a look) dates
with
four hundred different... (looks at the mace on the table) Why
do they
call it a mace?
Giles: Uh, we do have
slightly more urgent matters to discuss.
Buffy: Yeah, like keeping
my mom away from Principal Snyder tomorrow
night?
Jenny: And not dying
Saturday.
Giles: Angel, do you know
if this Spike fellow goes under any other
name?
They all look where he was, but he has disappeared. The library
doors
finish shutting.
Xander: Okay, that's it.
I'm puttin' a collar with a little bell on
that guy.
Cut to Drusilla's room. There is chanting going on elsewhere.
The camera
pans from her bed past her TV and lamp and over to her
collection of
dolls. She lifts one and turns it to face away.
Drusilla: Miss Edith
speaks out of turn. She's a bad example, and will
have no cakes today. Shhhh.
Spike: (comes up behind
her) Darling, are you going to eat something?
Drusilla: I'm not hungry.
I miss Prague.
Spike: You nearly died in
Prague. Idiot mob. This is the place for us.
(leads her to the bed) The Hellmouth will restore you, put color
in your
cheeks, metaphorically speaking, and in a few week's time...
Drusilla: (lies back on
the bed) The stars will align, and smile down
on us.
Spike: (leans over her)
And then, God, this town will burn.
Drusilla: (giggles) A
pretty fire!
He rolls over her and lies down next to her.
Drusilla: (hears the
chanting) They're preparing.
Spike: St. Vigeous is
coming up. Should be a party.
Sheila is tied up and gagged with her hands hanging from a hook
above
her.
Drusilla: You should go
up with them and cleanse.
Spike: Dru...
Drusilla: The boy doesn't
trust you. They follow him. (sits up) I think
sometimes that all my hair will fall out and I'll be bald.
Spike: (sits up) Never
happen. Alright. (gets off of the bed) I'll go
up and get chanty with the fellas, but *you* (goes to Sheila)
got to do
me one favor. (takes Sheila off of the hook) Eat something.
(hands
Sheila to Drusilla and leaves)
Drusilla: (turns Sheila
to the dolls) You see, Miss Edith? (cut to the
doll facing away) If you'd been good you could (cut to Drusilla
in her
game face) watch with the rest.
Sheila looks at Drusilla, but can't scream because of her gag.
Drusilla
roars and moves in for a quick, violent bite.
Cut to the school the next day. Willow checks the crossbow.
Jenny walks
behind her with extra pieces of wood to make stakes and sets
them on the
table between Cordelia and Xander, who are whittling away. Jenny
continues walking over behind Buffy. Buffy holds up a large
sharp
machete, then starts chopping something with it. The camera pans
down to
show that it's a cucumber. She's preparing a vegetable tray.
Giles: For three nights
the unholy ones scourge themselves into a fury,
um, culminating in a savage attack on the night of St. Vigeous.
Xander: Does anybody
remember when Saturday night meant date night?
Cordelia: You sure don't.
Buffy: Ooo! Parents start
arriving in an hour. Okay, so, um, banners
are in place, the lounge is comfy... What am I forgetting?
Willow: Punch?
Buffy: Punch. I need, I
need punch!
Cordelia: My fingers are
cramping. How long have I been doing this?
Xander: Three minutes.
Cordelia: So, can I go
now? She doesn't need this many stakes. I mean,
if this guy Spike is as mean as you all said, it should be over
pretty
quickly. (Buffy looks up at her) We're still all rooting for you
on
Saturday. I'd be there for you myself if I didn't have a leg
wax.
Buffy: You guys hold down
the fort. I'm punch bound.
She leaves the library. As soon as she's gone Xander and
Cordelia both
reach over and grab something off of the vegetable tray. Buffy
sticks
her head back in the door.
Buffy: No!
Cut to later at Parent-Teacher night. Buffy is doling out the
punch into
cups. Willow comes over.
Willow: What kinda punch
did you make?
Buffy: Uh, lemonade.
(hands her a cup) I made it fresh and everything.
Willow: How much sugar
did you use? (takes a sip)
Buffy: Sugar?
Willow grimaces at the incredibly sour taste, and puts the cup
down.
Willow: It's very good.
Buffy: Okay, now all I
have to do is keep my mother and Snyder from
crossing paths for the rest of the night.
Willow: (sees Joyce) Hi,
Mrs. Summers.
Joyce: Hi, Willow. Hi,
honey. Did you, uh, do all this?
Buffy: Yeah! Um, (picks
up a cup) here, have some lemonade. (sees
Snyder) Right after Willow shows you the library. I have to stay
here
and hostess. (puts the cup back down)
Willow: Great, the
library. (puts her arm around Joyce's shoulder) Uh,
um, ooo, no, G-Giles and everyone...
Buffy: ...is locked in
there studying. Right. French class it is!
Willow leads Joyce away. Snyder comes up to Buffy.
Snyder: Was that your
mother?
She grabs a cup and a ladle full of lemonade and turns toward
him.
Buffy: Here. (fakes a
spill) Oh! Oh, sorry! Um, yeah! Yeah, I was gonna
introduce you, but, um, she wouldn't have said much. Y'know, she
doesn't
speak a word of English.
Snyder doesn't believe a word of it, and makes tracks to follow
Joyce
and Willow. Buffy lets out a worried moan and looks up at the
clock.
6:15. Dissolve to 8:45. Cordelia comes walking in.
Cordelia: Giles has us
locked up in that library working on *your*
weapons. Even slaves get minimum wage.
She stares at Buffy's face.
Buffy: What?
Cordelia: You're starting
to look a little slagged. What, are you just
skipping foundation entirely now?
Buffy: Cordelia, I have
at least three lives to contend with, none of
which really mesh. It's kind of like oil and water and a...
third
unmeshable thing.
Cordelia: Yeah, and I can
see the oil. (sees Joyce talking to Willow)
Is that your mom? (Buffy looks) Now that is a woman that knows
how to
moisturize. Did it, like, skip a generation?
Joyce: (comes over) Well,
I believe that I have seen every classroom on
campus, and just as I get there all your teachers miraculously
have
stepped out.
Willow smiles over Joyce's shoulder, proud of herself.
Buffy: Oh! (notices
Snyder coming back into the room) Oh. Um, but you
haven't seen the boiler room yet. And, you know, that's really
interesting, what with the boiler being in the room and all.
(laughs
nervously)
Snyder comes up to the group. Joyce offers her hand to him.
Joyce: Hi. I'm Joyce
Summers. I'm Buffy's mother.
Snyder: (ignores her
hand) Principal Snyder. I'm afraid we need to
talk. My office is down here.
Joyce follows Snyder to his office. Cordelia watches them go
with a huge
smile on her face.
Buffy: (worried) He
didn't look very happy.
Willow: But you did such
a good job.
Cordelia: When they're
done talking...
Buffy: What?
Cordelia: My guess? Tenth
high school reunion, you'll still be
grounded.
Buffy gives her a look.
Willow: Cordelia, have
some lemonade.
Cordelia heads over to the punch table.
Cut to the library. Giles and Jenny continue their research
while Xander
keeps whittling.
Giles: Oh, there you are.
Jenny: There who is?
Giles: Our new friend
Spike. He's known as 'William the Bloody'. Earned
his nickname by torturing his victims with railroad spikes. Very
pleasant. Well, here's some good news: he's barely two hundred.
He's not
even as old as Angel is. (frowns) Oh.
Xander: That's a bad
look, right?
Giles: I think your
suggestion of running away this Saturday might've
been a good one. Spike has fought two Slayers in the last
century,
and... he's killed them both.
Cut to the lounge. Buffy and Willow see Snyder come back in with
Joyce.
She comes up to her daughter.
Joyce: In the car, now.
Buffy and Willow exchange a concerned look. Buffy starts to
follow her
mom out. She turns her head to look back at Snyder, who's going
around
turning off the lights. Joyce waits for Buffy to join her, and
they walk
out of the room. Snyder goes to another switch by the back wall
next to
a large window and turns it off. Two vampires suddenly come
crashing
through the window. Buffy looks back into the room. Several more
vampires follow, and they storm into the room. The people panic
and
begin to run around. Buffy comes back into the room. The
vampires have
lined themselves up.
Spike: What can I say? I
couldn't wait.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 3 ~~~~~~~~~~
The lounge. Spike attacks. Buffy grabs a chair and throws it at
him,
tripping him up. She runs back out of the room and grabs her
mother's
hand. She turns down the hall to the right, but more vampires
come in
that way, so she goes the other way. In the lounge Spike grabs
hold of a
man.
Spike: Nobody gets out!
Especially the girl!
Cut to the hall. Another vampire is guarding an exit. Buffy
heads in
another direction.
Buffy: Everybody, this
way! C'mon! C'mon!
Snyder and several others run past her as she shoves a cleaning
cart
into the two vampires chasing them. Willow and Cordelia come
running out
of the lounge and nearly trip over them. They head to their
right, but a
vampire grabs Cordelia and she screams. Willow grabs a bust from
a
display pedestal and wields it back for a swing.
Willow: Hey!
The vampire looks up and Willow swings the bust hard into his
face,
knocking him off of Cordelia. Willow grabs her hand and pulls
her into a
closet.
Cut to the hall outside the library. Giles, Jenny and Xander
come
running out.
Giles: What the hell...?!
They see Buffy's group running toward them.
Buffy: Spike and an army!
Look out!
They look behind them and see a vampire. Jenny screams.
Giles: Back!
They run back into the library and hold the door shut as the
vampire
slams into it. Buffy opens the door to the science classroom.
Buffy: In here! Now!
The people all run into the room. Buffy follows them in last and
closes
the door as the two vampires come running into the hall and
begin
banging on the door. Cut inside the classroom. Snyder and
another man
maneuver a storage cabinet in front of the door. Buffy runs over
to the
other door and closes and locks it. The power goes out.
Cut to the library. Giles, Jenny and Xander look up from
barricading the
doors as the lights go off and the emergency lights come on.
Cut to the hall outside the lounge. Spike is still holding on to
the
man.
Vampire#2: We cut the
power. Nobody got out.
Spike: And the Slayer?
Vampire#2: She either
went that way (points to his right) or that way.
(points to his left) I saw two others.
Spike: You don't know?!
(lets go of the man) I'm a veal kind of guy.
You're too old to eat. (grabs his head and snaps his neck) But
not to
kill. (looks at vampire#2) I feel better.
Cut to the library. Giles tries the phone, but it's dead.
Giles: They've cut the
phones. (has an idea) Wait a minute. There's an
old boarded up-cellar behind the stacks. You can get out that
way. (to
Xander) Find Angel. He knows about Spike. We need him.
Xander: No, I'm not going
anywhere until I know that Buffy and Willow
are alright.
Giles: No one will be
alright unless we get some help!
Xander gives in and goes. Cut to the classroom.
Man: Who are those
people, and what do they want?
Joyce: I didn't get much
of a look, but is there something wrong with
their faces? I...
Snyder: Yes! PCP! It's a
gang on PCP! We've gotta get out of here.
He grabs a desk, sets it in front of a window and starts
climbing.
Buffy: You can't go
outside! They'll kill you!
Snyder: You don't tell
me! I tell you!
Buffy: (pulls him down)
They will kill everybody in this room. Nobody
goes out, nobody comes in until *I* say so. Do you hear me?
Snyder: Who do you think
you are?
Buffy: I'm the one that knows
how to stop them.
She looks up and walks across the room, trying to find a way
into the
ceiling. Joyce grabs her by the shoulders.
Joyce: Buffy, are you
crazy? Look, I know you've been accused of
fighting and other things, but those guys are serious. You can't
go out
there.
Buffy: I know. That's why
I'm going up there.
She grabs a stool, sets it on a lab table, climbs up and pushes
a
ceiling panel aside. She looks down at her mom.
Buffy: Don't worry, Mom.
She lifts herself up into the ceiling.
Cut to the halls. Spike is looking for Buffy.
Spike: Slaaayer! Here,
kitty, kittyyy. I find one of your friends
first, I'm gonna suck 'em dry. And use their bones to bash your
head in.
(kicks a door open)
The camera closes on the closet where Willow and Cordelia are
hiding.
Cut inside. Cordelia is holding a broom for defense.
Spike: Are you getting a
word picture here?
Cordelia: (whispers) Oh,
God, oh, God!
Willow clasps her hand around Cordelia's mouth to keep her
quiet. Cut to
the hall. Spike is about to kick the closet door open when he's
distracted.
Vampire#2: Spike!
Listen...
They listen and hear activity in the ceiling. Cut to Buffy
crawling
through the ceiling space. Cut to the hall.
Spike: (sing-song)
Someone's in the ceeeeeiling!
Cut to the library. Giles stuffs several stakes into his jacket
pockets,
grabs a battle-ax from the table and heads toward the door.
Jenny: Hey-hey-hey-hey!
What are you doing?
Giles starts to push his way through the barricade they
constructed.
Jenny: There are at least
three vampires in that hall! God only knows
how many others in the building!
Giles: (looks at Jenny)
Listen! I am the Watcher! I am responsible for
her, and I have, I have to go!
He starts pushing things aside again.
Jenny: Rupert!
He looks back at her again.
Jenny: Be careful.
Giles: Push these back as
soon as I...
Buffy breaks through the ceiling and drops to the floor. Jenny
steps
back in surprise. Giles lifts his ax.
Giles: Buffy! (lowers the
ax) You're all right!
Buffy takes off her outer sweater.
Jenny: How are the
others?
Buffy: Principal Snyder,
my mother and four others are locked in the
science room across the hall. Willow and Cordelia ran the other
way.
(puts on Xander's bag) I don't know if they're... Where's
Xander?
Giles: He got out through
the stacks. He's getting Angel.
Jenny helps Buffy put crosses and stakes into the bag.
Buffy: Good. Okay, I'm
gonna take the vamps out in the hall. After that
you get my mother and the others out the same way.
Giles: Let me help you.
Buffy: Giles, my mother's
in that room. If I don't make it out of here,
I know you'll make sure she does.
Giles: Bloody right, I
will. Fair enough. What's your plan?
Buffy: Well, they split
up to hold us here, so I'm gonna take 'em one
on one. Set 'em up and knock 'em down.
She grabs a stool and positions it under the hole in the
ceiling. She
gets up on the stool and lifts herself back up.
Giles: Watch your back!
Cut to the science classroom. Snyder is pacing.
Joyce: Why don't you sit
down?
Snyder: This is my
school. What I say goes, and I say this is *not*
happening.
Joyce: Well, then I guess
the danger's over!
Man: I'm not waiting for
them to open the doors. I'm gettin' out!
Joyce: Don't be an idiot!
Snyder: I'm beginning to
see a certain mother-daughter resemblance.
The man climbs up to the window and lifts the sash.
Joyce: No! Look, you
heard what Buffy said!
Snyder: She's a student.
What does she know?
He takes off his jacket and goes to help the man. The two of
them begin
bending back the metal slats blocking the window.
Cut to the hall. A vampire throws himself against the science
classroom
door. It doesn't budge. He sees Spike looking at him.
Vampire: Yeah. Door's
solid.
Spike: Use your head.
He grabs the vampire by the shoulder and shoves his head into a
fire
emergency case containing an ax. He pulls the ax out, thrusts it
into
the vampire's hands and continues down the hall. He passes two
others
pounding on another door.
Spike: You! Come with me!
One of the vampires follows him.
Cut to the science classroom. The vampire begins swinging the ax
at the
door. Joyce casts a worried look at Snyder and the other man.
They get
two slats bent aside.
Snyder: (grunts) I did
it!
The man starts to pull himself through the opening. Snyder
helps, but
lets go when the man begins to kick and scream while struggling
with
something outside. Snyder watches as the man is pulled through
the
window and then steps down. Joyce quickly climbs up, bends the
slats
back and closes the sash.
Cut to the hall. Spike is listening for activity in the ceiling.
He
pinpoints her sound. Cut to the ceiling space. Buffy is making
her way
through it.
Cut outside. The man lies dead on the grass. Xander and Angel
see him.
Xander: You know a lot
about this Spike guy, so, um... you got a plan?
Angel grabs Xander by the throat.
Xander: Good plan.
Angel drags him into the building.
Cut to the closet.
Cordelia: (whispers) I
think he's gone. (reaches for the door)
Willow: (whispers) He
could come back!
Cordelia: (looks at
Willow) What are we gonna do?
Willow: Pray.
Cut to the ceiling space. Buffy keeps crawling. Cut to the
lounge. Spike
finds two metal poles and throws one to the other vampire as he
goes
back into the hall. He listens for a moment and then shoves the
pole up
into the ceiling. The other vampire follows suit. Cut to the
ceiling
space. Buffy sees a pole poke through right in front of her. She
begins
backing up.
Cut to the hall. The vampire has almost chopped through the door
to the
science classroom. He steps around the corner to warn the other
vampire.
Vampire: Hey! Guard the
door! I'm almost finished!
He goes back to chopping when Buffy breaks through the ceiling
behind
him. She pulls him down with her as she drops from the ceiling
and
quickly dispatches him with a stake. Joyce is looking through
the hole
in the door, but can't see much of anything. Buffy gets up and
looks
through the hole.
Joyce: Buffy! Are you
okay?
Buffy: I'm fine, mom.
Joyce: Buffy, look, uh,
get out of here, okay? We'll be alright!
Buffy: Look, just hang on
for one more minute until I tell you to open
the door.
She quietly makes her way to the other hall, stake in hand. She
peeks
around the corner and see the other vampire standing there with
his back
to her. She hears a noise behind her and looks.
Buffy: Sheila! Where've
you been?
Sheila: Sorry I'm late.
There's some really weird guys outside.
Buffy: Shh! Yeah, I know.
They're trying to kill us.
Sheila: (picks up the ax
and smiles) This should be fun.
Buffy slowly heads back to the other hall.
Cut to Spike still poking the poles into the ceiling. Angel
comes into
the hall with Xander. Spike sees him.
Spike: Angelus!
Angel wraps his arm around Xander's neck.
Angel: Spike!
Spike: I'll be damned!
He tosses his pole aside and they greet each other with a hug
and a
laugh.
Angel: I taught you to
always guard your perimeter. Tsk, tsk, tsk. You
should have someone out there.
Spike: I did. I'm
surrounded by idiots. What's new with you?
Angel: Everything.
Spike: Yeah. Come up
against this Slayer yet?
Angel: She's cute. Not
too bright, though. Gave the puppy dog 'I'm all
tortured' act. Keeps her off my back when I feed! (laughs)
Spike: (laughing) People
still fall for that Anne Rice routine. What a
world!
Xander: I knew you were
lying.
Angel gives Xander a squeeze to shut him up.
Xander: Undead liar guy.
Angel grabs him by the hair and shirt and holds up his exposed
neck.
Angel: Wanna bite before
we kill her?
Cut to Buffy. She and Sheila are about to round the corner.
Buffy: (whispers) Stay
behind me.
She goes into the other hall and quietly makes her way to the
vampire,
holding her stake up and ready. Behind her Sheila vamps out and
raises
the ax.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 4 ~~~~~~~~~~
The halls. Sheila raises her ax. Giles sees through the round
library
door window behind her and yells out a warning.
Giles: Buffy! Look out!
She spins around and grabs the ax from Sheila in mid-swing. She
swings
it around and hits Sheila in the jaw with the butt of the
handle. The
other vampire attacks and ducks as Buffy swings the ax at him.
The ax
gets buried in the wall. The vampire smiles as he straightens
back up,
thinking he avoided her blow, but then looks down at the stake
protruding from his chest. He collapses to the floor and bursts
into
ashes. Buffy looks over at Sheila and watches her run from the
hall,
then rushes back to the classroom door.
Buffy: Mom, now!
Joyce: (opens the door)
Okay, come on, let's go!
Everyone rushes out of the classroom and into the library.
Joyce: C'mon! Hurry!
Buffy: (to Giles) Get
them out!
Joyce: You're coming too!
Buffy: In a minute! Go!
(rushes off)
Joyce: (watching her go)
Buffy!
Cut to Spike and Angel.
Spike: I haven't seen you
in the killing fields for an age.
Angel: I'm not much for
company.
Spike: No, you never
were. So, why're you so scared of this Slayer?
Angel: Scared?
Spike: Yeah. Time was you
would've taken her out in a heartbeat. Now
look at you. I bet this, uh, tortured thing is an act, right?
You're
not... housebroken?
Angel: I saw her kill the
Master. Hey, you think you can take her
alone? Be my guest. I'll just feed and run. (roars and bends to
Xander's
neck)
Spike: (holds up his
hand) Don't be silly! We're all friends. We'll do
it together. Let's drink to it.
They both slowly lean in to Xander's neck. At the last moment
Spike
punches Angel in the face, making him stagger back.
Spike: You think you can
fool me?! You were my sire, man! You were
my... Yoda!
Angel: Things change.
Spike: Not us! Not
demons! Man, I can't believe this. You Uncle Tom!
(grabs his pole from the floor) Come on, people! This isn't a
spectator
sport!
The vampires roar and attack. Xander barges out the door behind
him and
runs. Angel follows as the other vampires give chase. Spike
senses
someone behind him and looks up.
Spike: Fe, fi, fo fum. I
smell the blood of a nice ripe (turns to face
Buffy) girl.
Buffy: (holding the ax)
Do we really need weapons for this?
Spike: I just like them.
They make me feel all manly.
He drops the pole and slowly steps toward Buffy. She drops the
ax.
Spike: The last Slayer I
killed... she begged for her life.
Buffy slowly walks to the middle of the hall, watching him
intently.
Spike: You don't strike
me as the begging kind.
Buffy: You shouldn'ta
come here.
Spike: No. I've messed up
your doilies and stuff. But I just got so
bored. (smirks) I'll tell you what. As a personal favor from me
to you
I'll make it quick. It won't hurt a bit.
Buffy: No, Spike. It's
gonna hurt a lot.
They start to fight. Cut outside. Angel and Xander fight the
other
vampires. Cut to the hall. Buffy and Spike exchange several
blows. He
throws her into the wall. Cut to the library. Joyce is following
everyone out through the stacks when she stops and wonders what
happened
to her daughter.
Giles: Come on, everyone.
This way!
Cut outside. Xander avoids several punches and kicks. His own
punch
misses, and he gets kicked to the ground from behind. Cut to the
hall.
Buffy and Spike keep fighting. Cut outside. A vampire has Xander
by the
neck. Angel punches her off of him. The others get up again and
run from
the fight. Cut to the hall. Buffy ducks a punch and lands four
of her
own in a row. Spike grabs her arm and shoves her into the wall.
She
slides down it quickly, and Spike's next punch goes through the
wall.
She gets behind him and kicks him high and hard in the neck.
Spike: Now, that hurt!
He pulls his arm out of the wall, ripping a stud out with it,
and swings
it into Buffy's face. She flies back and lands on the floor,
stunned.
Spike: But not as much as
this will.
He stands over her and wields back the stud to slam it into her,
but he
gets hit in the head with the ax. He goes sprawling to the floor
and
looks up at his attacker. Joyce stands above him with the ax in
her
hands, ready to swing again.
Joyce: You get the hell
away from my daughter!
Spike holds the stud above himself to protect against any blows.
Buffy
gets to her feet.
Spike: Women!
He gets up and runs through the lounge and out the broken
window.
Joyce: (exhales and drops
the ax) Nobody lays a hand on my little girl.
They embrace. Buffy looks out the window.
Cut to later outside. The police are everywhere. The camera pans
down to
the Police Chief talking to an officer.
Chief: Take care of this.
The officer nods and leaves. The Chief walks over to his car.
Snyder
comes up to him.
Snyder: Hello, Bob.
Chief: It's over. They
all got away. I got a body inside, and I got
another one on the south lawn. And it looks like he was pulled
right
through the window.
Snyder: I told him not to
go through that window.
Cut to Giles and Jenny coming out of the building.
Jenny: Well, another
wonderful fun-filled evening.
Giles: Uh, yes. You know,
um, I will understand if you decide to start
avoiding me.
Jenny takes Giles' arm, and they walk off together.
Cut to Angel and Xander.
Xander: So, when you gave
him my neck to chew on, why didn't you clock
him before he had a chance to clock you?
Angel: I told you. I
couldn't make the first move. I had to see if he
was buying it or not.
Xander: A-and if he bit
me, what then?
Angel: We would've known
he bought it.
Xander stops as Angel continues on.
Xander: Hey, what's the
deal with you being Spike's sire? What's a
sire?
Cut to Snyder and the Chief.
Chief: I need to say
something to the media people.
Snyder: So?
Chief: So? You want the
usual story? Gang-related? PCP?
Snyder: What'd you have
in mind? The truth?
Chief: (considers) Right.
Gang-related. PCP.
Cut to Buffy and Joyce.
Buffy: So, what did you
and Principal Snyder talk about anyway?
Joyce: Principal Snyder
said you were a troublemaker.
Buffy looks down in shame.
Joyce: And I could care
less.
Buffy looks back up.
Joyce: I have a daughter
who can take care of herself. Who's brave and
resourceful and thinks of others in a crisis. No matter who you
hang out
with or what dumb teenage stuff you think you need to do, I'm
gonna
sleep better knowing all that.
Buffy: About how long
till this wears off and you start ragging on me
again?
Joyce: Oh, at least a
week and a half.
Buffy: Very cool!
Cut to later. The last Police car leaves the school. Cut to the
hall.
The camera pans over to the utility closet. Cut inside. Cordelia
is
kneeling in prayer. Willow stares at her in disbelief.
Cordelia: And if you get
me out of this, I swear I'll never be mean to
anyone ever again. Unless they *really* deserve it. Or if it's
that time
of the month, in which case I don't think you or anyone else can
hold me
responsible...
Willow: Ask for some
aspirin.
Cordelia: And can you
please send some asp... Hey!
Cut to morning. The sun comes up over the complex where the
vampires
gather. The camera pans over to their warehouse. Cut inside.
Sunlight is
streaming through a high window. Spike is standing by a cage.
Drusilla
walks around the cage to him.
Drusilla: Spike, did she
hurt you?
Spike: It was close,
baby, but...
Drusilla: Oh, come here.
She pulls his head down onto her shoulder and strokes his cheek
and
neck.
Spike: A Slayer with
family and friends. That sure as hell wasn't in
the brochure.
Drusilla: You'll kill
her, and then we'll have a nice celebration.
Spike: Yeah, a party.
Drusilla: Yeah. With
streamers... and songs.
Spike: (lifts his head
from her shoulder) How's the annoying one?
Drusilla: He doesn't
wanna play.
Spike: Figures. Well,
suppose I better go make nice.
He walks over to Collin and kneels before him.
Collin: You failed.
Spike: I, uh... I offer
penance.
Vampire#2: Penance?! You
should lay down your life! Our numbers are
depleted, the feast of St. Vigeous has been *ruined* by your
impatience!
Spike: I was rash, and if
I had to do it all over again... (breaks out
in laughter) Who am I kidding? (stands up) I would do it exactly
the
same, only I'd do this... (grabs Collin)
Collin: No!
Spike: ...first!
He carries Collin over to the cage. Vampire#2 tries to stop him,
but
Spike kicks back and knocks him out. He sticks Collin in the
cage and
closes and locks the door. Drusilla watches as Spike starts
pulling a
chain, lifting the cage up from the floor.
Spike: From now on, we're
gonna have a little less ritual... (stops
pulling the chain) ...and a little more fun around here.
He gives the chain a final strong pull, and the cage is lifted
into the
sunlight. Collin screams. Drusilla smiles at Spike. He smiles
back. They
step closer together and hold hands.
Spike: Let's see what's
on TV.
The camera pans up to the cage as they go. The last residue of
Collin is
still steaming.