Teachers Pet
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 Bronze. A girl is screaming. A vampire is advancing on Buffy
as she
backs into a pole. She throws a solid right to his face followed
by a
left. The vampire isn't fazed, and he grabs her and throws her
onto a
pool table. He leans over her to bite. Xander comes up behind
the
vampire, grabs him by the shoulders and pulls him off of Buffy.
Xander: May I cut in?
He bashes the vampire's head into the pool table, turns him
around and
punches him in the gut and the face. The vampire falls to the
floor,
unconscious. Buffy is impressed and gives him a big smile.
Xander offers
her his hand to help her off of the pool table.
Xander: You alright?
Buffy: (exhales) Thanks
to you!
She slides off of the table and notices Xander's hand.
Buffy: You hurt your hand!
Will you still be able to...
Xander: ...finish my solo
and kiss you like you've never been kissed
before?
He gives her a wink and starts back to the stage. The vampire
gets back
up and growls at Buffy. Xander sees him, breaks the leg off of a
chair
that's been knocked over and throws the makeshift stake at the
vampire.
Buffy watches the stake fly into the vampire's chest, and he
falls dead.
She turns her gaze back on Xander. He jumps up onto stage and
grabs his
guitar to continue his solo. Buffy looks up at him adoringly and
advances to the stage as he plays.
Buffy: You're drooling.
Xander gives her a confused look.
Cut to science class. It's dark because Dr. Gregory is giving a
slide
show.
Buffy: Xander!
He wakes up from his daydream and shakes his head. Buffy
indicates the
corner of her mouth.
Buffy: You've got a
little...
He picks up on her gesture and quickly wipes the drool off of
his mouth
and chin.
Dr. Gregory: Their
ancestors were here long before we were. Their
progeny will be here long after we are gone. The simple and
ubiquitous
ant.
He turns off the projector, turns the lights on and begins
walking up
the aisle.
Dr. Gregory: Now. If you
read the homework you should know the two ways
that ants communicate.
He stops at Xander's lab table and leans on it to face Buffy.
Dr. Gregory: Miss
Summers.
Buffy: (on the spot) Ways
that ants communicate.
Dr. Gregory: (nodding his
head) Mm.
Buffy: With other ants.
Dr. Gregory: From the
homework.
Behind him
Dr. Gregory: Ants are
communicating...
Buffy: (sees
Buffy: Touch...
Dr. Gregory: (nodding)
Mm-hmm.
Buffy: And, um...
She looks at
Buffy: (confused) B.O.?
Several students laugh.
Blayne: Thank God someone
finally found the courage to mention that!
Dr. Gregory: That would
be 'touch' and 'smell', Miss Summers. Is there
anything else Miss Rosenberg would like to tell you?
starts to move back to the front of the class.
Dr. Gregory: Alright,
chapters six through eight by tomorrow, people.
(stops and looks back at Buffy) Can I see you for a moment?
Buffy nods. Cut to after the other students have left the room.
Buffy
leans against a lab table. Dr. Gregory idly reviews his slides.
Dr. Gregory: I gather you
had a few problems at your last school?
Buffy: Well, what
teenager doesn't?
Dr. Gregory: Cut school,
get in fights, burn down the gymnasium...
Principal Flutie showed me your permanent record.
He walks to the front of the class, and Buffy follows him.
Buffy: Well, that fire, I
mean, there was major extenuating
circumstances. Actually, it's, uh, kinda funny!
Dr. Gregory: Can't wait
to see what you're gonna do *here*.
He goes to the closet, gets his other glasses from his coat and
cleans
them.
Buffy: Destructo Girl.
That's me.
Dr. Gregory: But I
suspect it's gonna be great.
Buffy: You mean, 'great'
in a bad way?
Dr. Gregory: (looks at
her, then back at his glasses) You have a first-
rate mind and you can think on your feet. Imagine what you could
accomplish if you actually did the...
Buffy: ...the homework
thing.
Dr. Gregory: The homework
thing. I understand you probably have a good
excuse for not doing it. (closes the closet and walks back to
his lab
table) Amazingly enough, I don't care. I know you can excel in
this
class, and so I expect no less. Is that clear?
Buffy: Yeah! Sorry.
Dr. Gregory: Don't be
sorry, be smart. (looks at another slide) And
please don't listen to the principal or anyone else's negative
opinion
about you. Let's make 'em eat that permanent record. Whadaya
say?
He looks up at Buffy and gives her a little smile. She smiles
back.
Buffy: Okay! Thanks.
He nods his head. She grabs her bag.
Dr. Gregory: Chapters six
through eight!
Buffy looks back at him with a smile and leaves the classroom.
Dr.
Gregory puts the slide down, goes over to turn off the lights
and comes
back to his slide-viewing plate. While he concentrates on the
slides,
the closet door opens. Cut to a view of Dr. Gregory from the closet.
The
camera advances on him. Cut in front of him. He's concentrating
on the
slides. Cut behind him. A large, green mantis claw goes around
his neck.
Dr. Gregory looks up behind him and screams. The claw drags him
off of
his chair. His glasses hit the floor and break, and an instant
later so
does he.
Opening credits roll. Buffy's theme plays.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 1 ~~~~~~~~~~
The Bronze. The live band is Superfine, playing "Already
Met You".
Xander dances lamely through the crowd.
Lyrics: The first date's
the worst date / It's hard to know just what
to do / And I take you to dinner / You don't eat, you just play
with
your food
Xander is on the dance floor and looks around. He makes his way
to the
stage and gives the singer an acknowledging nod and grin.
Lyrics: And there's
something familiar...
The singer gives him a "get outta here" look.
Lyrics: About every word
you say
Xander is disappointed and moves away from the stage.
Lyrics: It's hard to
believe it's happened again / I already met you /
And I already met you / You're like my last girlfriend / Yes,
and the
girlfriend I had before her
Xander goes over to the bar where Blayne and his friend are
sitting.
Blayne: Seven, including
Cheryl. I'll tell you, though, her sister was
lookin' to make it eight!
Boy: Ooo, Cheryl's
sister? The one in college?
Blayne: (nods) Home for
the holidays and lookin' for love! She's not my
type, though. Girls really gotta have something to go with me.
Xander: (interrupting)
Something like a lobotomy?
The two boys look at him.
Blayne: Xander. How many
times you score?
Xander: Well, uh...
Blayne: It's just a
question.
Xander: Are we talking
today, or the whole week?
The two boys snicker. Xander spots Buffy and
stairs.
Xander: Ooo! Duty calls!
He leaves the bar and approaches the girls as Blayne and his
friend
watch.
Xander: Babes!
The girls look back at him. He comes up to them with his arms
wide open
and grabs them both around the shoulders.
Buffy: What are you
doing?
Xander: (to Buffy) Work
with me here. Blayne had the nerve to question
my manliness. I'm just gonna give him a visual.
Xander looks back at Blayne, gives him a thumbs up and puts his
arm back
around
Buffy: (distracted) I
don't believe it.
Xander: I know, and after
all my conquests.
Buffy sees Angel and goes over to him.
Xander: Who's that?
Xander: That weird guy
that warned her about all the vampires?
Xander: Well, he's buff!
She never said anything about him being buff!
Xander: He's a very
attractive man! How come *that* never came up?
Cut to Angel. Buffy comes up to him.
Buffy: Well! Look who's
here!
Angel: Hi.
Buffy: I'd say it's nice
to see you, but then we both know that's a big
fib.
Angel: I won't be long.
Buffy: No, you'll just
give me a cryptic warning about some exciting
new catastrophe, and then disappear into the night. Right?
Angel: You're cold.
Buffy: You can take it.
Angel: (takes off his
jacket) I mean, you look cold.
He puts his jacket around her shoulders. Cut to Willow and
Xander.
Xander: Oh, right! Give
her your jacket. It's a balmy night, no one
needs to be trading clothing out there!
Cut to Buffy and Angel.
Buffy: A little big on
me. (notices a series of cuts on Angel's arm)
What happened?
Angel: I didn't pay
attention.
Buffy: To somebody with a
big fork?
Angel: He's coming.
Buffy: The Fork Guy?
Angel: Don't let him
corner you. Don't give him a moment's mercy. He'll
rip your throat out.
Buffy: Okay, I'll give
you improved marks for that one. Ripping a
throat out, it's a strong visual, it's not cryptic!
Angel: I have to go.
(leaves)
Buffy: (stares after him)
Sweet dreams to you, too.
Cut to Sunnydale High the next morning. Buffy and Giles are
walking
along in front of the school. Giles is eating an apple.
Giles: That's all he
said? Fork Guy?
Buffy: That's all Cryptic
Guy said: Fork Guy.
Giles: I think there are
too many 'guys' in your life. (laughs)
They meet
Giles: I'll see what I
can find out. (looks up at the sky) God, every
day here is the same.
Buffy: Bright, sunny,
beautiful, how ever can we escape this torment?
her.
Giles: Really.
Xander comes up behind Giles as he turns to leave.
Giles: Good morning.
Xander: Mornin'. (to the
girls) Guess what I just heard in the office?
No Dr. Gregory today. Ergo, those of us who blew off our science
homework aren't as dumb as we look.
He reaches down and flips
sliding off of her lap.
Buffy: What happened, is
he sick?
Xander: They didn't say
anything about sick, something about missing.
Buffy: He's missing?
Xander: Well, let me
think. Um, the cheerleaders were modeling their
new short skirts, that kinda got... Yeah! Yeah, they said
missing.
Xander: Which is bad?
Buffy: If something's
wrong, yeah!
felon.
Xander: I'm really sorry,
I'm sure he'll...
He looks up and sees Miss Natalie French walking toward them.
Xander: I, uh, huh...
The girls look to see what's distracting him.
Xander: Uh, huh... huh...
Cut to a slow motion shot of Natalie walking. She comes right up
to
Xander, who just stares at her.
Natalie: Could you help
me?
Xander: Uuuuuuhhhhhh...
Yes!
Natalie: I'm looking for
Science... 109.
Xander: Oh! It's, um...
He looks around himself, trying to remember the way. He turns
back to
Natalie.
Xander: (smiles) I go
there every day!
Natalie laughs.
Xander: (looks to the
girls for help) Oh, God, where is it?
introduces himself.
Blayne: Hi! Blayne Mall.
I'm going there right now. It's not far from
the varsity field where I took All-City last year. (smiles
smugly)
Natalie: Oh! Thank you,
Blayne!
She and Blayne leave. Xander's gaze follows them for a moment,
and then
he turns back to
Xander: It's funny how
the Earth never opens up and swallows you when
you want it to.
The girls nod their heads and give each other a smile.
Cut to science class. Natalie is writing her name on the board.
Buffy,
floor and picks them up.
Buffy: Dr. Gregory
dropped his glasses... Why wouldn't he pick them up?
She sets the glasses on the lab table and gives Natalie a glance
as she
walks to her stool. Natalie faces the class.
Natalie: My name is
Natalie French, and I will be substituting for Dr.
Gregory.
Buffy: Do you know when
he's coming back?
Natalie: No, I don't, um,
(checks her roster) Buffy. They just call and
tell me where they want me.
Blayne: (in a low voice)
I'll tell you where I want you.
Natalie: Excuse me,
Blayne?
Blayne: Uh, I was just
wondering if you were gonna pick up where Dr.
Gregory left off.
Natalie: (smiles) Yes.
His notes tell me you were right in the middle
of insect life.
She picks up a mantis mounted in a clear plastic box.
Natalie: The praying
mantis is a fascinating creature. Forced to live
alone. Who can tell me why? Buffy?
She puts the mantis back down.
Buffy: Well, the words
'bug-ugly' kinda spring to mind.
There's lots of muffled laughter.
Natalie: There is nothing
ugly about these unique creatures. The reason
they live alone is because they're cannibals!
Buffy: Eww!
Everyone in class looks disgusted.
Natalie: Oh, well, it's
hardly their fault! It's the way nature
designed them: noble, solitary and prolific. Over 1800 species
worldwide, and in nearly all of them the female is larger *and*
more
aggressive than the male.
Blayne: (aside to Buffy)
Nothing wrong with an aggressive female.
Buffy angles her head and gives him a look. Natalie picks up her
notebook and starts to walk around the room.
Natalie: The California
Mantis lays her eggs, and then finds a mate...
She looks at Xander. He stares back.
Natalie: ...to fertilize
them. Once he's played his part, she covers
the eggs in a protective sack and attaches it to a leaf or twig
out of
danger. Now, if she's done her job correctly, in a few months
she'll
have several hundred offspring.
She has made her way back to the front of the class and puts
down her
notebook.
Natalie: You know, we
should make some model egg sacks for the science
fair. Who would like to help me do that after school?
All the boys raise their hands.
Natalie: (pleased) Good!
Cut to the cafeteria. Buffy,
Buffy: Hot dog surprise.
Be still, my heart.
hot dogs.
Xander: I wonder what she
sees in me? It's probably the quiet good
looks coupled with a certain smoky magnetism.
Xander: Miss French. You
two're probably a little young to understand
what an older woman would see in a younger man.
Buffy: Oh, I understand.
Xander: Good!
Buffy: The younger man is
too dumb to wonder why an older woman can't
find someone her own age, and too desperate to care about the
surgical
improvements!
Xander: (taken aback)
What surgical improvements?
Buffy: And so terribly
innocent!
Xander: Hey, those that
can, do. Those that can't *laugh* at those
who... can do.
Blayne comes up next to Xander, getting lots of food.
Blayne: Gotta carb up for
my one-on-one with Miss French today. When's
yours? Oh, right, tomorrow. You came in second, I came in first.
Guess
that's what they call natural selection. (leaves)
Xander: Guess it's what
they call a rehearsal! (to the girls)
Rehearsal... (laughs lamely)
The girls smile. Buffy goes over to get some utensils. As she
walks back
Cordelia comes in through the exit and bumps into her.
Cordelia: (to Buffy)
Excuse you!
She goes behind the counter, showing a piece of paper to the
cafeteria
workers.
Cordelia: Medically
prescribed lunch. My doctor ships it daily... I'll
only be here as long as I can hold my breath.
She opens a refrigerator and screams. Inside is a headless body.
Buffy
and Willow run to see what's wrong. Cordelia backs away from the
fridge.
Cordelia: (hysterically)
His head! His head! Oh, my God, where's his
head?!
Buffy and
Xander is close behind and has to look away when he sees.
squeamish. The name on the body's lab coat is "Dr.
Gregory".
Cut to the library. Giles pours a glass of water. He brings it
over to
Buffy, who is sitting on the steps with
sad looks on their faces. Buffy has been crying.
Giles: (hands the glass
to Buffy) Here. Drink this.
Buffy: (idly takes the
glass) No, thank you. (takes a sip)
Xander: (behind Giles)
I've never seen...
Giles looks back at Xander.
Xander: (shaken) I mean,
I've never seen anything like... That was new.
Giles: Uh, he didn't have
any enemies on the staff that I'm aware of.
He was a civilized man. I liked him.
Buffy: So did I.
We'll find them and we'll stop them.
Buffy: Count on it.
Giles: What do we know?
Buffy: Oh, not a lot,
um... (sniffs and wipes a tear from her nose) He
was killed here on campus. I'm guessing the last day we saw him.
Giles: How do you work
that out?
Buffy: He didn't change
his clothing.
Xander: This is a
question that no one particularly wants to hear,
but... where did they put his head?
Buffy: Angel! (gets up)
He warned me that something was coming.
She takes another sip of water as she walks over to the table.
Giles: Yes. Yes he did,
didn't he? I wish I knew what he meant. I've
been trying to gather more information about the Master, our,
uh, local
vampire king. There was one oblique reference to a, a, a vampire
who
displeased the Master and cut his hand off in penance.
Buffy: Cut off his hand
and replaced it with a fork?
Giles: I don't know what
he replaced it with.
Xander: So, why would he
come after a teacher?
Giles: I'm not certain he
did. There was an incident two nights ago...
He walks over to the counter, picks up a newspaper and returns
with it.
Giles: ...uh, involving a
homeless person in
practically shredded, but, uh, nothing like Dr. Gregory.
Buffy: (looks at the
paper) Fork Guy doesn't do heads.
Giles: Not historically.
Buffy: And Dr. Gregory's
blood wasn't drained.
Xander: So there's
something else out there? Besides Silverwareman? Oh,
this is fun, we're on
Buffy: We're on a
Hellmouth. It's a center of mystical convergence.
Guess it's the same thing. (walks toward Xander)
Giles: Well, unpleasant
things do gravitate here, it's true, but, uh,
we don't know there's anything besides this chap. He's still our
likely
suspect.
Buffy: Where was that guy
killed? Weatherly Park?
Giles: Buffy. (advances
toward her) I know you're upset, but, uh, this
is no time to go hunting, not until we know more. Please promise
me you
won't do anything rash?
Buffy: Cross my heart.
Cut to the park at night. Buffy climbs the fence. She walks
through the
park, carefully looking around. A bum comes up to her, startling
her.
Bum: Shouldn't be out
here at night, little lady. Dangerous.
The bum leaves. She notices another bum on the ground in front
of a
bench, and she checks him out. He's okay, just asleep. Buffy
continues
stalking. Dogs bark in the distance. Buffy finds some shrubbery
covering
a sewer access hole. She moves it aside, and Fork Guy jumps out
at her.
She rushes backward. He swings with his claw, but misses. She
slams her
straight arm into his gut, then again into his back. He swings
again,
but Buffy dodges him. She backhand punches him in the face, does
a
roundhouse kick to his jaw and backhand punches his face again.
He takes
another swing at Buffy, but she evades it. She front kicks him.
He
lunges at her, and she grabs his arm and flips him over onto his
back.
Buffy tries to stake him, but he rolls away and back onto his
feet. She
kicks him again, and he staggers backward and falls. Buffy hears
voices
and turns to see people with flashlights coming over the hill.
Voices: Hold it! Police!
Did you see that? I got nothing here!
Buffy looks back and forth between Fork Guy and the posse. The
vampire
runs off.
Voices: I heard it.
Spread out. Let's go over here. This way, this way.
Alright...
Buffy makes tracks after the vampire.
Cut to the fence at the edge of the park. Natalie is walking
home on the
other side with grocery bags in her arms. The vampire stalks her
and
climbs over the fence. Buffy comes running up. The vampire lands
behind
Natalie. Buffy reaches the fence and watches. Natalie senses the
vampire, stops and turns to face him. Fork Guy hisses and runs
away in
fear. Natalie watches him go. Buffy can't believe what she's
seeing. The
vampire crosses the street, lifts a manhole cover and climbs
down.
Natalie continues her walk home. Fork Guy pulls the manhole
cover back
into place. Buffy came only stare after Natalie, her mouth
agape.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 2 ~~~~~~~~~~
Sunnydale High, the next morning. Cut to the library.
Giles: You went hunting
last night.
Buffy: Yes.
He walks into his office. She follows behind him.
Giles: When you assured
me you wouldn't. (takes a sip from his mug)
Buffy: Yes, I lied, I'm a
bad person, let's move on.
Giles: (opens his file
cabinet) Did you see someone with a fork?
Buffy: More like a jumbo
claw.
Giles: (turns to face
her) Oh. Well, uh, at least you're not hurt.
Buffy: And I saw
something else. Something much more interesting than
your average run-of-the-mill killer vampire.
Giles: Oh?
Buffy: Do you know Miss
French, the teacher that's subbing for Dr.
Gregory?
Giles: (smiles) Yes. Yes,
she's lovely. In a, a common, extremely well
proportioned way. (puts some files away)
Buffy: Well, I'm chasing
Claw Guy last night, and Miss Well
Proportioned is heading home. The Claw Guy takes one look at her
and
runs screaming for cover.
Giles: (confused) He
what? Ran away?
Buffy: He was petrified.
Giles: Of Miss French?
Buffy: Uh-huh! So I'm an
undead monster that can shave with my hand...
How many things am I afraid of?
Giles: Not many. And not
substitute teachers, as a rule.
Buffy: So what's her
deal?
Giles: I think perhaps it
would be a good idea if we kept an eye on
her.
Buffy: Then I better get
to class.
She leaves the office.
Cut to Buffy rushing down the stairs in the halls. She is
stopped by
Principal Flutie.
Mr. Flutie: You were
there. You saw Dr. Gregory, didn't you?
Buffy: Um, you mean
yesterday in the cafeteria when we found him...
Mr. Flutie: Don't say
dead! Or decapitated, or decomposing, I'd stay
away from D-words altogether. But you witnessed the event, so
this way,
please. (starts down the hall)
Buffy: (stops him short)
Well, no, I'm gonna be late for biology...
Mr. Flutie: Extremely
late! (starts down the hall again) You have to
see a counselor. Everyone who saw the body has to see a crisis
counselor.
Buffy: But I really don't
need...
Mr. Flutie: We all need
help with our feelings. Otherwise we bottle
them up, and before you know it, powerful laxatives are
involved. I
really believe if we all reach out to one another we can beat
this
thing. I'm always here if you need a hug, (jumps back) but not a
real
hug! Because there's no touching, this school is sensitive to
wrong
touching.
Buffy: But, I really,
really don't...
Mr. Flutie: No, you have
to talk to a counselor and start the healing.
You have to heal.
Buffy: But Mr. Flutie,
I...
Mr. Flutie: Heal!
He sits her down in a chair outside of the counselor's office
and paces
off. Buffy leans back in the chair and looks bummed. Then she
hears
Cordelia inside the office.
Cordelia: I don't know
what to say, it was really, I mean, one minute
you're in your normal life, and then who's in the fridge? (the
camera
pans over to show her inside) It really gets to you, a thing
like that.
(cut inside) It was... let's just say I haven't been able to eat
a thing
since yesterday. I think I lost, like, seven and a half ounces?
Way
swifter than that so-called diet that quack put me on. Oh, I'm
not
saying that we should kill a teacher every day just so I can
lose
weight, I'm just saying when tragedy strikes, we have to look on
the
bright side. You know?
Cut to Buffy. What she's hearing is just too weird.
Cordelia: Like, how even
used Mercedes still have leather seats!
Cut to science class. Natalie is giving a pop quiz, and is
walking along
the aisle.
Natalie: Keep your eyes
straight ahead on your own test.
She comes up behind Xander.
Natalie: (in a low voice)
I think you meant 'pollination' for number
fourteen. (puts her hand on his shoulder) I'll see you here
after
school.
Cut to the hall. Buffy comes running to class and looks in
through the
door window.
Buffy: Oh, great, a pop
quiz.
Cut inside. Natalie suddenly straightens up. Buffy looks in. She
sees
Natalie turn her head around 180 degrees. Her eyes go wide with
amazement. She quickly rolls away from the window.
Cut to the library. Buffy and
Buffy: No, I'm not saying
she craned her neck. We are talking full-on
Exorcist twist.
Buffy: Which reminds me,
how come Blayne, who worked with her one-on-
one yesterday, isn't here today?
Buffy: (to Giles) Any
luck?
Giles: Um, I've not found
any creature as yet that strikes terror in a
vampire's heart.
Buffy: Try looking under
things that can turn their heads all the way
around.
Giles: Nothing human can
do that.
Buffy: No, nothing human.
There are some insects that can. Whatever she
is, I'm gonna be ready for her.
She turns and hops up the stairs to the stacks. Giles takes off
his
glasses.
Giles: What are you going
to do?
Buffy: (turns back to
answer) My homework.
She continues up into the stacks.
then continues her search. Buffy comes running back.
Buffy: Where are the
books on bugs?
Cut to the science classroom. Natalie is at the desk spreading
butter on
a slice of bread. She's about to open a plastic container when
she hears
Xander come in and looks up.
Xander: Hi!
Natalie: Oh, Hi! I was
just grabbing a snack. Can I fix you something?
Xander: No thanks, I
never... eat when I'm making egg sacks. (sees the
model) Wow, if this were real the bugs would be...
Natalie: ...as big as
you!
Xander: Yeah! So! Where
do we start?
Natalie: Oh, Xander!
(gets up) I've done something really stupid. I
hope you can forgive me.
Xander: Oh, forgiveness
is my middle name! Well, actually it's LaVelle,
and I'd appreciate it if you guard that secret with your life.
(laughs)
Natalie: (laughs) I have
a teacher's conference in half an hour, and I
left the paint and papier-mâché at home. I don't suppose you'd
like to
come to my place tonight to work on it there?
Xander: (swallows) Come
to, uh... your place?
He flashes to his guitar solo for a moment.
Natalie:
Xander can't believe his luck.
Natalie: (hands him her
address) I'll see you tonight?
Xander: (in a high,
squeaky voice) Yeah!
Cut to the hall. Xander comes out of the classroom.
Xander: (pumping his
fists into the air) Ooo, yes!
Cut inside the classroom. Natalie opens the container now. It's
full of
crickets. She dumps them onto the buttered bread and folds the
slice in
half. She takes a bite. Crunchy!
Cut to the library. Buffy comes out of the stacks with a book.
Buffy: Dig this: 'The
praying mantis can rotate its head 180 degrees
while waiting for its next meal to walk by.' (slams the book
shut) Ha!
(silence) Well, c'mon, guys. Ha!
Giles: And she is, by and
large, woman shaped.
Buffy: (makes her way
down to them) Okay. Factoid 1: Only the praying
mantis can rotate its head like that. Factoid 2: A pretty
whacked-out
vampire is scared to death of her. Factoid 3: Her fashion sense
screams
predator.
Buffy: Exactly.
Giles: If you're right,
then she'd have to be a shape shifter or a
perception distorter. On a helpful note, I had a chum at
Carlyle, advanced degrees in entomology mythology.
Buffy: Entoma-who?
Giles: Bugs and fairy
tales.
Buffy: I knew that.
Giles: If I recall
correctly, poor old Carlyle, just before he went
mad, claimed there was some beast...
never came home last night.
Giles: The boy who worked
with Miss French yesterday?
be helping her right now! He's got a crush on a giant insect!
Buffy: Okay, don't panic,
I'll warn him. But I need you to hack onto
the coroner's office for me.
Buffy: Autopsy on Dr.
Gregory. I've been trying to figures out these
marks that I saw on his corpse... I'm thinking they were teeth.
And, uh,
these cuddlies? (points to a picture of a mantis) Should
definitely be
brushing after every meal. (
something about a beast?
Giles: (gets up to go to
his office) Oh, uh, yeah, I just need to make
one transatlantic telephone call. (stops and turns back) Um,
this
computer invasion that
one assumes it is entirely legal?
Buffy: Of course!
Giles: Right. Wasn't
here, didn't see it, couldn't have stopped you.
Buffy: Good idea.
Cut outside. Buffy catches up with Xander.
Buffy: Hey!
Xander: Hey!
Buffy: So, how'd it go
with Miss French?
Xander: Well, it's a bit
demanding being her absolute favorite guy in
the universe, but I'll muddle through.
Buffy: Xander, she's not
what she seems.
Xander: I know, she's so
much more.
Buffy: Okay, um... I'm
gonna have to tell you something about her, and
I'm gonna need you to really listen, okay?
Xander: Okay.
Buffy: I don't think
she's human.
Xander: I see. So if
she's not human she's...?
Buffy: Technically? A big
bug.
Xander laughs.
Buffy: This sounds really
weird, I'm aware of that...
Xander: It doesn't sound
weird at all, I completely understand. I've
met someone, and you're jealous.
Buffy: What?
Xander: Look, there's
nothing I can do about it. Uh, there's just this
certain chemical thing between Miss French and me.
Buffy: I know, I read all
about it, it's call, um, a pheromone. It's a
chemical attractant that insects give off.
Xander: She's not an
insect! She's a woman, okay? And hard as that may
be for you to conceive, an actual woman finds me attractive. I
realize
it's no mystery guy handing out leather jackets, and while we're
on the
subject, what kind of a girlie name is 'Angel' anyway?
Buffy: What does that
have to do with...
Xander: Nothing! It just
kinda bugs me. Look, I really gotta...
He walks off. Buffy turns and watches him go.
Buffy: Wha...?
Cut to Natalie's house that night. She pours two martinis. Her
dress
shows lots of cleavage. The doorbell rings. She smiles and goes
to open
it.
Natalie: Hi! Come on in!
Xander stares at her cleavage as he comes in.
Natalie: Should I change?
Is, is this too... (she closes the door)
Xander: No, no, it's, the
most beautiful chest... dress I've ever seen.
She smiles and goes back into the living room. Xander follows.
Natalie: Thank you.
That's sweet. Martini? (offers him one) Oh, I'm
sorry, would you like something else?
Xander quickly accepts the drink.
Natalie: (laughs) I just
need to relax a little, I'm kinda nervous
around you. (she sits down) You're probably cool as a cucumber!
Xander: (sits down) I
like cucumbers. Like in that Greek salad thing
with the yogurt. Do you like Greek food? I'm exempting Schwarma,
of
course, I mean, what's that all about? It's a big meat hive.
They laugh, he nervously, she playfully. Xander gulps the
martini.
Xander: Hhhhhhho! Hello!
Natalie: Cheers! (clinks
their glasses) Can I ask you a personal
question?
She puts her glass down and gets closer to Xander.
Natalie: Have you ever
been with a woman before?
Xander: You mean, like,
in, uh, the same room?
Natalie: You know what I
mean.
Xander: Oh, that, uh...
Well, let me think. Um...
Natalie runs her fingers though his hair and around his ear.
Xander: Yeah, there was,
uh... several!
She continues her stroke down to Xander's chin.
Xander: I mean, and, uh,
quite a few times... And then there was, uh...
Oh, she was incredibly... No. Uh-uh.
Natalie: I know. I can
tell.
Xander: You can?
Natalie: Oh, I like it.
You might say, I... *need* it.
Xander: Oh! Well, needs
should, uh, y'know... Needs should definitely
be met, as long as it doesn't require ointments the next day,
or...
Muffled yelling can be heard from somewhere.
Xander: Do you hear...
Natalie: No...
Xander: Sounds like
someone crying...
Natalie: I don't hear anything.
(takes his hand) Your hands are so hot!
Xander flashes to his dream.
Buffy: Oh, you hurt your
hand!
Xander comes back. The drink is beginning to affect him. He
leans back
on the couch.
Xander: Buffy. I love
Buffy. Wow! So that's a martini, huh?
Natalie: Mm-hmm.
Xander: (sits back up) Do
you hear...
Natalie: (interrupting)
Would you like to touch me with those hands?
Xander: (looks at
Natalie's hands) Your hands are sss... really... (her
hands morph) serrated! Oh, wow, that martini, I... I really
think I have
to...
Xander falls to the floor unconscious. Two mantis claws drag him
away by
his feet.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 3 ~~~~~~~~~~
Natalie's basement. The camera pans down from the window above
the
stairs to Xander. He's lying unconscious in a cage. There are
squishing
noises. Xander wakes up, looks around, grabs the bars and pulls
himself
up. He sees Natalie as a giant mantis preparing her nest.
Xander: Miss... French?
Natalie: Please, call me
Natalie.
Xander backs away into the cage.
Cut to the library. Giles is on the phone.
Giles: Frankly, madam, I
haven't the faintest idea what time it is, nor
do I care. Now, unlock his cell, unstrap him, and bring him to
the
telephone immediately. This is a matter of life and death!
Cut to Willow typing.
Willow: Got it! Coroner's
report, complete with... Yuk! ...color
pictures.
Buffy: There *are* teeth
marks. Which match perfectly the one insect
that nips off its prey's head.
Willow: Okay, I-I don't
like this.
Buffy: Huh! It's the way
they feed, head first. It's also the way they
mate. The female bites off the male's head while they're...
Willow: No, no, no! See?
Xander's, I like his head! I-it's where you
find his eyes, and his hair, and his adorable smile...
Buffy: Hey, hey, take it
easy, Willow. Xander is not in any immediate
danger. I saw him leave school. He's probably safe at home right
now.
Cut to Natalie's basement. Xander backs up in his cage and is
surprised
by Blayne when he reaches the far corner.
Xander: Ah! Blayne!
Blayne: (terrified) Oh,
God! Oh, God!
Xander: Are you all
right?
Blayne: Oh, God!
(breathes) You gotta get me outta here! You gotta!
She, she, she gets you, and, uh...
Xander: What?
Blayne: ...she, she...
Xander: What does she do?
Blayne: Oh, God! Oh, oh,
no!
Xander: Blayne! What does
she do?
Blayne: She, she... she,
she takes you outta the cage, and she ties you
up, and, and... she... she starts movin', and throbbin', and
these eggs
come shootin' out of her! And then...
Xander: What?
Blayne: And then...
Xander: Then what?
Blayne: She mates with
you!
Xander: Sheeee...
Blayne: That's not the
worst part!
Xander: That's not?
Blayne: You seen her
teeth? Right while she's, you know, right in the
middle of... I saw her do it! I don't wanna die like that!
Xander: Blayne! Blayne!
Chill! It's okay. It's gonna be okay. We'll get
outta this.
Blayne: (hopeful) You
gotta plan? What is it?
Xander: Just, uh, let me
perfect it!
Blayne: (gives up hope)
Oh, God... Oh, God... Oh, God...
Cut to the library. Giles is talking with Carlyle on the phone
in his
office.
Giles: I-I understand,
Carlyle. Yes... I-I'll take every precaution.
Uh, absolutely, i-i-it sounds exactly like the creature you
described.
Y-you were right all along about everything. Well, n-no, you
weren't
right about your mother coming back as a Pekinese, but... uh...
Try to
rest, old man. Yes... Ta! Bye now!
He hangs up and comes out of his office. Willow and Buffy are at
the PC.
Giles: Dr. Ferris Carlyle
spent years transcribing a lost pre-Germanic
language. What he discovered he kept to himself until several
teenage
boys were murdered in the Cotswolds. Then he went hunting for
it.
Buffy: It being...
Giles: Uh, he calls her a
She-Mantis. This type of creature, the
Kleptes-Virgo, or, or virgin-thief, appears in, in many
cultures. The
Greek sirens, the Celtic sea maidens, who, who tore the living
flesh
from the bones of, um...
Buffy: Giles, while we're
young!
Giles: Uh, well,
basically the, uh, the She-Mantis assumes the form of
a beautiful woman and then lures innocent virgins back to her
nest.
Buffy: Virgins? Well,
Xander's not a, uh... I mean, he's probably...
Willow: (quickly gets up,
worried) ...gonna die! (goes to the phone)
Buffy: Okay, okay, (walks
around Giles) so this thing is breeding and
we need to find it and snuff it. (faces Giles) Any tips on the
snuffing
part?
Giles: Uh, Carlyle
recommends cleaving all body parts with a sharp
blade.
Willow is on the phone in the background behind Buffy talking to
Xander's mom.
Buffy: Slice and Dice.
Giles: Well, whatever you
do, it had better be certain and swift. This
beast is extremely dangerous.
Buffy: Well, your buddy
Carlyle faced it, and he's still around.
Giles: Yes, in a
straitjacket, howling his innards out day and night.
Buffy: Okay, Admiral, way
to inspire the troops!
Giles: Sorry...
Willow: (off the phone
now) Xander's not home! He told his mom he was
going to his teacher's house to work on a science project. He
didn't
tell her where.
Buffy: (to Willow) See if
you can get her address off the substitute
rolls. (to Giles) And you need to record bat sonar, and fast!
Giles: Bat sonar, right.
What?
Buffy: Bats eat them.
(leads Giles to the stairs) The mantis hears
sonar, its entire nervous system goes kaplooey.
Giles: Where am I gonna
find the...
Buffy: In the vid
library? There're no books, but it's dark and musty,
you'll feel right at home, go! (exhales) (to herself) I guess
I'll
handle the armory.
Cut to Natalie's basement. Xander and Blayne are in their cages.
Xander
is working on one of the bars.
Blayne: Don't do anything
to make her mad!
Xander pulls the bar out.
Blayne: (brightens) Hey,
alright, now I can get outta my cage! (bummed)
Into yours. What'd you do that for?
Xander: A weapon!
Blayne: (sees Natalie
coming) I think you're gonna need it.
Xander looks up and is startled. He drops the bar.
Cut to the library. Miss French's record is coming out of the
printer.
Buffy comes in the door.
Willow: Getting the
address.
Buffy: Great! Giles?
Giles: (holding a tape
recorder) Recording bat sonar is something
soothingly akin to having one's teeth drilled.
Buffy: (takes the tape
recorder) Let's roll!
They all head for the door.
Willow: According to Miss
French's personnel records, she was born in
1907. She's, like, 90 years old!
Giles: And extremely well
preserved!
Cut to Natalie's basement. She is looking back and forth between
the
boys.
Blayne: Oh, God! (goes
through the hole into Xander's cage) Uh, he did
that, he broke the cage, take him, not me, take him!
Cut to Giles, Buffy and Willow driving up to Miss French's
house. They
get out and run up to the door.
Giles: What now, exactly?
We can't just kick the door down.
Buffy: Yeah, that *would*
be wrong.
She gets ready to kick, but the door opens. An old lady is
there.
Miss French: Hello, dear!
I thought I heard... Are you selling
something? Because I'd like to help you out, but... You see, I'm
on a
fixed income.
Buffy: I'm looking for
Miss French.
Miss French: I'm Miss
French.
Buffy: Natalie French,
the substitute biology teacher?
Miss French: (laughs)
Goodness, that's me! I taught for over thirty
years. I retired in 1972.
Buffy: (to Giles) I can't
believe this! She used Miss French's records
to get into the school. She could be anywhere!
Miss French: No, dear!
I'm right here!
Cut to Natalie's basement.
Xander: What's she doing?
Blayne: I think it's
eeny, meeny, miney...
Xander: Moe?
The camera closes in on Xander's terrified face.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 4 ~~~~~~~~~~
Natalie's basement. She opens the door to the cage. Xander
crawls out on
his butt, bar in hand.
Xander: I'm comin', I'm
comin'.
When he's just out of the cage he swings the bar and hits
Natalie as he
gets up. She staggers. He runs for the stairs. Halfway up
Natalie trips
him with her claw, and he tumbles back down the stairs.
Cut to Miss French's house. Giles, Willow and Buffy are going
back to
the car.
Willow: What do we do
now?
Giles: Abject prayer and
supplication would spring to mind.
Buffy: I saw her walking
past this park with her grocery bags. She
lives in this neighborhood.
Willow: I'm gonna start
banging on doors. (heads for the next house)
Buffy: (stops Willow)
Wait, no, we do *not* have time for that!
Willow: We have to do
something!
Buffy: We will.
Cut to the manhole cover where Buffy saw Claw Guy go in. Buffy
lifts it
off and starts to climb in.
Buffy: I won't be long.
(goes down)
Giles: W... Buffy?
Cut to Natalie's basement. Xander is tied up with leather
straps.
Natalie is in his face.
Blayne: Oh, yeah, here it
comes!
Xander: What? What's
happening?!
Blayne: How do you like
your eggs, bro, over easy or sunny side up?
Xander: Eggs? She's gonna
lay some...
He sees her lay some eggs. He flashes to Natalie's lecture in
science
class.
Natalie: The California
Mantis lays her eggs, and then finds a mate to
fertilize them.
His flashback is over, and he's scared.
Cut to the manhole.
Willow: (into the hole)
Come on, Buffy!
Cut to some bushes. There are sounds of Claw Guy swinging his
arm and
ropes whipping through the air. Buffy pushes Claw Guy out of the
bushes.
His arms are tied behind his back.
Claw Guy: You!
Buffy: Me!
She shoves him down the street. Cut to Natalie's street. Buffy
is
pushing Claw Guy down the sidewalk in front of her. Giles and
Willow
follow.
Buffy: Come on! Come on,
where is she? Which house is it? I know you're
afraid of her, I saw you! Come on!
Claw Guy begins to react to Natalie's presence.
Buffy: Come on. What?
What is it? This is her, isn't it, this is her
house? This is it! Better than radar!
She lets go of him. Claw Guy cuts the ropes with his blades.
Willow: Buffy!
He swings at Buffy, but she leans back in time, only to trip and
fall
backward over the miniature picket fence running along the walk
to the
house. Claw Guy jumps to follow. She crawls backward on her butt
until
she hits the fence on the other side of the lawn. She rips a
picket from
the fence and thrusts it into Claw Guy as he takes another swing
at her.
He falls over dead. Giles breathes a sigh of relief.
Cut to the basement. Natalie advances on Xander.
Natalie: Kiss me!
(laughs) Kiss me!
Xander: Can I just say
one thing? HEEEELLLLP! HEEEELLLLP!
Buffy smashes the basement window and slides in.
Blayne: Uh, hey, o-over
here, hello! In the cage!
She pulls her bag though the window.
Buffy: (to Natalie) Let
him go!
She runs down the stairs and sets the bag down. Willow climbs in
the
window, too. Buffy pulls two cans of insect spray from the bag
and
sprays Natalie in the face. Giles climbs in as Willow runs
behind Buffy
to open the cage. The spray disorients Natalie. Giles comes down
the
stairs now too. Buffy points him at Xander.
Blayne: Help me! Help me!
Buffy: (to Giles) Get
them outta here!
She pulls the tape recorder and a machete from her bag.
Blayne: Hey, help me!
Help me!
Giles undoes the leather straps holding Xander. Natalie retreats
to the
back of her nest. Buffy starts to close in on her.
Buffy: Remember Dr.
Gregory? You scarfed his head? Yeah, well, he
taught me, you do your homework, you learn stuff. Like what
happens to
your nervous system when you hear this!
She plays the tape. It's Giles' voice. Buffy stares at the
machine in
disbelief.
Tape: ...extremely
important to file not simply alphabetically...
Buffy: (back to Giles)
Giles!
Giles: (on the floor
pointing at Natalie) I-it's the wrong side!
Natalie knocks the tape recorder and machete from Buffy's hands.
Giles
watches the recorder fly over him, hit the ground and slide
under a
refrigerator. He scrambles to get it. Buffy turns her attention
back on
Natalie. Natalie tries to trip Buffy, but she jumps over her
claw.
Xander comes up next to her with a can of bug spray and sprays
it into
Natalie's face. Buffy pushes him away from danger, and Natalie
takes the
opportunity to knock her down. Buffy raises herself onto her
hands and
one leg, and with the other does two crouching side kicks to
Natalie's
legs to keep her at bay. Giles searches under the refrigerator.
Buffy
kicks again. She sees the machete on the floor and grabs it.
Giles has
the recorder now, jumps around on the floor with the recorder in
front
of him and plays the tape. The sounds of bat sonar severely hurt
and
disorient Natalie. She flails her claws around.
Buffy: Bat sonar. Makes
your whole nervous system go to Hell. You can
go there with it!
She slashes at Natalie fiercely and repeatedly with the machete,
hacking
her to pieces. She's winded afterward. Giles gets up. Willow
runs over
to Xander. Blayne is out of his cage. They look at the carnage.
Giles: Well, I... I'd say
it's deceased.
Willow: And dissected.
Xander: (to Buffy) You
okay?
Buffy: Yeah.
Xander: Just for the
record, you were right, I'm an idiot, and God
bless you!
Buffy lowers her head.
Xander: (to the others)
And thank you guys, too.
Blayne: Yeah, really!
Giles: Pleasure...
Willow: I'm really glad
you're okay. It's so unfair how she only went
after virgins.
Xander laughs and looks back and forth between the girls.
Xander: (to Willow) What?
Willow: I mean, here you
guys are, doing the right thing, the smart
thing, when a lot of other boys your age...
Blayne: Flag down on that
play, babe. I am *not*...
Giles: (interrupts) Well,
you see, that's the She-Mantis' modus
operandi. Uh, she only preys on the pure.
Xander: Well, isn't this
a perfect ending to a wonderful day!
Blayne: My dad's a
lawyer. Anyone repeats this to anybody, they're
gonna find themselves facing a lawsuit.
Xander: Blayne! Shut up!
Willow: I don't think
it's bad, I think it's really...
Xander holds up the machete.
Willow: ...sweet! It's
certainly nothing I'll ever bring up again.
Xander takes the machete over to Natalie's nest, looks it over
and
starts hacking away at it.
Cut to the Bronze. Buffy is at the bar wearing Angel's jacket.
Angel
comes up behind her. Buffy senses him and looks up at him.
Angel: (smiles) I heard a
rumor there was, uh, one less vampire walking
around making a nuisance of himself.
Buffy: There is. Guess I
should thank you for the tip.
Angel: Pleasure's mine.
Buffy: Course, it would
make things easier if I knew how to get in
touch with you.
Angel: I'll be around.
Buffy: Or who you were?
Angel just smiles and moves around to the other side of her.
Buffy: Well... Anyway,
you can have your jacket back.
Angel: It looks better on
you.
He turns and leaves. Buffy stares after him. Angel gives another
look
back and disappears into the crowd.
Buffy: (to herself) Oh
boy!
Cut to science class the next day. There's a new science
teacher.
Teacher: All midterm
papers will be exactly six pages long. No more, no
less. One third of your grade will be dependent...
The camera closes in on Buffy, daydreaming.
Teacher: ...on those
papers. No more, no less.
The bell rings. Buffy comes back to Earth. Everyone gets up and
leaves.
On the way out Buffy sees Dr. Gregory's glasses still on the lab
bench
where she left them. She picks them up and remembers him. She
sees Dr.
Gregory's jacket still hanging on the hook on the closet door
and goes
over to put the glasses in a pocket. Cut to inside the closet.
As she
closes the door the camera pans down from Buffy to a lower shelf
and
stops on a cluster of She-Mantis eggs attached underneath. One
of the
eggs hatches.