The Pack
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 Sunnydale Zoo. A sign points to the reptiles, elephants and
the
Hyena House. The camera pans down from the sign to Buffy walking
along
the path by herself. Kyle and his gang, Rhonda, Tor and Heidi,
see her
coming.
Kyle: Oh, look. It's
Buffy and all her friends.
Buffy: That's a witty.
Tor: Do you ever wonder
why nobody cool wants to hang out with you?
Buffy: Just thankful.
Rhonda: Were you this
popular at your old school? Before you got kicked
out?
The group laughs, and they continue on their way, leaving Buffy
standing
there alone.
Tor: (at Buffy as they
leave) Careful! She might beat you up!
Cut to the elephants. Buffy is reading the plaque when Xander
and
come running up.
Xander: Hey! Buffy!
Buffy: Missed what?
Xander: We just saw the
zebras mating! (nods to
exciting...
Buffy: (with mock
disappointment) And I missed it. Yet somehow I'll
find the courage to live on. (begins walking)
Buffy: Uh, I was looking
at the fishes.
Buffy: It was fishes.
Xander: I'm feelin' that
you're not in the field trip spirit here.
Buffy: Well, it would...
It's nothing, I... We do the same zoo trip at
my old school every year. Same old, same old.
Xander: Buffy, this isn't
just about looking at a bunch of animals.
This is about not being in class!
Buffy: (brightens) You
know, you're right! Suddenly the animals look
shiny and new.
Xander: Gotta have
perspective.
Cut to the monkeys. Lance is sketching them into his notebook.
Kyle and
his cronies approach him.
Kyle: Lance! How's it
goin'?
Lance: Hey, Kyle.
Kyle: So, is this like a,
uh, family reunion?
Lance: No.
Kyle: I think it's a
family reunion. It's so... touching. Doesn't
anybody have a camera? (makes a sudden photo-taking gesture)
Whapish!
Rhonda: (behind Lance)
Hey, does your mom still pick out your lice, or
are you old enough to do that yourself now?
Lance: Quit it, huh? (Tor
takes his notebook) Hey! Guys, c'mon! It's
got my notes in there!
Mr. Flutie: (sees the
commotion) What's going on here? I've had it up
to here with you four! What're you doing?
Kyle: Nothing.
Mr. Flutie: Did I ask you
to speak? Okay, I guess I did, but I want the
truth. Lance?
Lance: They weren't doing
anything. Really! (lets out a nervous laugh)
We were just playin' around.
Mr. Flutie: Alright.
(starts away, but turns back) I'll be watching
you. (leaves)
Kyle: (points at Lance)
You! Came through big time.
Rhonda: Way to go, Lance!
(pats his shoulder)
Tor: Flutie's been
looking for a reason to come down on us.
Lance: It's okay.
Kyle: Come on, we're
gonna check out the Hyena House.
Lance: But I think it's
off-limits.
Kyle: And therein, my
friend, lies the fun.
Lance laughs, and they all go off toward the Hyena House.
Cut to the Hyena House. It's closed, but they duck underneath
the yellow
barricade tape. Buffy,
Xander: Oh, playing with
him as a cat plays with a mouse.
Buffy: What is it with
those guys?
Xander: Well, every
school has 'em. So, you start a new school, you get
your desks, some blackboards and some mean kids.
Buffy: Yeah, well, I'd
better extract Lance before...
Xander: (interrupts) I'll
handle it. This job doesn't require actual
slaying. (goes in)
Buffy: You don't think we
should follow?
Buffy: (reconsiders) Why
don't we...
They duck under the tape and start in, but are caught in the act
by a
zookeeper.
Zookeeper: Oh, hold it,
hold it, are you blind, or are you just
illiterate? Because hyenas are very quick to prey on the weak.
Buffy: Oh, w-we were just
gonna take...
Zookeeper: You're not
going in there. Anyone that does is in a world of
trouble.
Buffy: Why is it
off-limits?
Zookeeper: It's a
quarantine. These hyenas just came in from
keep out. (cocks his eyebrow) Even if they call your name.
Buffy: What are you
talking about?
Zookeeper: The Masai
tribesmen told me that hyenas are capable of
understanding human speech. They follow humans around by day,
learning
their names. At night, when the campfire dies, they call out to
a
person. Once they separate him, the pack (snaps his fingers)
devours
them.
Cut inside the Hyena House. Kyle and the others tear through more
tape
blocking the way in and look around.
Kyle: Cool!
He and the girls walk up to the enclosure and look in. Lance
stays back
with Tor behind him.
Lance: I don't see any
hyenas.
One of the hyenas growls and shows itself between some rocks.
Lance: Okay! Now we've
seen it.
He tries to leave, but Tor stops him.
Rhonda: Looks cute.
Kyle: I think it looks
hungry. (moves toward Lance)
He and Tor grab Lance.
Lance: No!
Tor: C'mon, Spot!
Lance: C'mon, stop it!
Tor: Supper time!
They drag him up the steps and lift him up to the bars.
Lance: Guys! Stop! It's
not funny!
They press him into the bars and down on his neck.
Lance: Ow! Stop it! It's
not funny!
Xander comes in, pulls their arms off of him and helps him away.
Xander: (to Kyle) Why
don't you pick on somebody your own species?
Kyle: What, are *you*
gonna get in my face?
The hyenas growl. Xander, Kyle and the others look at them. The
hyena's
eyes flash green, and then two of the kid's eyes do. The hyena's
eyes
flash green again, and two more kid's eyes do. Cut to a shot
from above
of the sacred circle painted on the floor. Cut to Lance. He
makes an
anxious move to get away, but trips on a chair and falls. His
notebook
skids across the floor to the far wall. Kyle and the others turn
and
laugh when they see him. Lance gets up, retrieves his notebook
and
rushes out. Xander turns around now, too, and his eyes flash
green.
Opening credits roll. Buffy's theme plays.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 1
~~~~~~~~~~
The Bronze. Cut inside.
has a Coke and a croissant. They make their way over to an empty
table.
Buffy: Hmm, that'd make
him on time. We couldn't have that!
Buffy: About what?
Buffy: I didn't notice
anything. (they sit) But then again I'm not as
hyperaware of him as, oh, say, for example, you.
Buffy: Well, I'm not
constantly monitoring his health, his moods, his
blood pressure...
Buffy: (amused) You got
it bad, girl!
Buffy: I dimly recall.
Buffy: Not of late.
jacket you're wearing right now?
Buffy: (in mock
annoyance) Goes with the shoes!
Buffy: I suppose some
girls might find him good looking... (gets a look
from
just he's never around, and when he is, all he wants to do is
talk about
vampires, and... I, I just can't have a relationship...
Buffy: Angel?
He walks into the club and checks out a girl on the way. She
stares
after him. He comes up to their table.
Xander: Girls!
Buffy: Boy!
Xander: Sorry I'm late,
I... just forgot that we were gonna be here.
(sees Buffy's croissant) Hungry! (tears a piece off and eats it)
(Xander takes a swig of Buffy's cola) We can work after class...
Xander: (gives
Buffy: Well, it *was* my
buttery croissant.
Xander: Man, I need some
food! Birds live on this!
Buffy and
and forth at them.
Xander: What?
Buffy: What's up with
you?
Xander: (to Willow) What
could you possibly do? That's crazy talk. I'm
just... restless.
Xander: (points to the
table) I like it here.
He looks up and scans the area a bit, and then leans toward
Buffy and
sniffs her hair.
Buffy: Okay, now what?
Xander: You took a bath.
Buffy: Yeah, I-I often
do, I'm actually known for it.
Xander: That's okay.
Buffy: And the weird
behavior award goes to...
Xander sees Kyle and the others come in. Buffy sees them, too.
"Reluctant Man", by Sprung Monkey, starts to play.
Lyrics: Oh, Reluctant Man
Buffy: Oh, great. It's
the winged monkeys.
Kyle and company come over to them.
Lyrics: Who's afraid to
touch the world / Why are you hiding? / What is
the base of all your fears?
Xander stares back at them.
Lyrics: Do you find
yourself in a cold cruel world
Kyle stops at their table, and he and Xander stare each other
down.
Lyrics: Dark and
desperate, scared and lonely?
They go around to another table that's occupied.
Lyrics: Selfish Man / Who
never gave to no one else / What are you
holding? / Is it worth the price you pay?
Kyle: (to the boy at the
table) Y'know, I don't understand why you're
sitting at our table.
Lyrics: 'Cause your eyes
they see just what you want to see
Rhonda: Yeah, shouldn't
you be hovering over the football stadium with
'Goodyear' written on you?
Lyrics: And I hope
they're not staring blindly at me
They all laugh. Xander was watching and laughs also as he turns
back to
Buffy. He stops laughing when he sees she doesn't think it's
funny.
Xander: Kid's fat.
Cut to the school. Cut to the library. Giles is wearing
protective gear
while Buffy trains on him. She does a roundhouse kick followed
by a high
punch and a swinging middle punch to Giles' gloved hands. She
continues,
doing a full spin and finishing with a backhand punch. She does
a full
spinning jumping high wheel kick followed by a right middle
punch, a
high roundhouse kick and a front snap kick. Then she jumps high and
does
a twin straddle kick. She lands back on her feet and moves in to
attack
again, when Giles suddenly jumps back.
Giles: Right! (Buffy
stops short) That's enough training for one day.
Buffy: Well, that last
roundhouse was kinda sloppy. Are you sure you
don't wanna do it again?
Giles: (out of breath)
No! No, no, that's fine. You just... run along
to class. (Buffy goes) (to himself) While I wait for the feeling
to
return to my arms.
Cut to the halls. Herbert the mascot has gotten loose. The students
in
the hall are startled and try to get away. Mr. Flutie chases the
pig.
Mr. Flutie: Look out!
It's gotten loose!
The camera dodges the students' legs from Herbert's point of
view. Buffy
comes around the corner, reacts quickly to catch him and picks
him up.
Mr. Flutie: Lordy,
Herbert! Gave Mr. Flutie quite a scare, didn't he?
Students, I'd like you all to met Herbert, our new mascot for
the
Sunnydale High Razorbacks!
The students all clap.
Buffy: He's so cute!
Mr. Flutie: He's not
cute. No! He's a fierce Razorback! (more clapping)
Buffy: He doesn't look
mean, Mr. Flutie.
Mr. Flutie: He's mean,
he's ready for action! See? (indicates Herbert's
helmet with foam tusks) Here are the tusks... (gestures at a
piece of
serrated green foam tied to Herbert's back) the scary Razorback!
Buffy: You're right. He's
a fine mascot and will engender school
spirit.
Mr. Flutie: Uh, he
better. Costs a fortune to feed him. (to Herbert)
Alright, let's get you back into your cage.
Herbert squeals when Buffy wants to hand him to Mr. Flutie.
Mr. Flutie: (points
behind himself) This way.
Cut outside to
Xander: I'm not getting
this.
that divides the angle at that vertex into two equal parts.'
Xander: It's like a big
blur, all these numbers and angles.
Xander: Why do I need to
learn this?
Xander: Explain the part
where that's bad. (rubs the bridge of his
nose)
up being the guy at the pizza place that sweeps the floor and
says,
'Hey, kids, where's the cool parties this weekend?' We've been
through
this. (Xander rubs his right temple) Do you have a headache?
(reaches up
to him)
Xander: (shakes her off)
Yeah, and I think I know what's causing it.
(throws his geometry book into the trash) Ah! That's better, it
goes
right to the source of the pain.
Xander: (frustrated)
Look, forget it, okay? I don't get it. I won't
ever. (gets up) I don't care.
He throws his math notebook into
Cut to the halls. Buffy follows Mr. Flutie to the faculty room
with
Herbert in her arms. They stop outside.
Mr. Flutie: See, the
problem is you kids today have no school spirit.
Hold on, let me get his outfit off. (removes it) Today it's all
gangs
and drugs and those movies on Showtime with the nudity. (Buffy
gives him
a look) I don't have cable, I only heard. When I was your age we
cared
about the school's reputation and the football team's record,
all that
stuff! Of course, when I was your age I was surrounded by old
guys
telling me how much better things were when they were *my* age.
(goes
into the faculty room)
Buffy: (to Herbert) Yeah!
Xander comes into the hall from outside. Herbert squeals and
reacts to
his presence as he walks by. Buffy looks confused as she watches
Xander
pass, and tries to keep Herbert from jumping out of her arms.
Cut outside. Lightning strikes. Cut to the gym.
Coach Harrold: Alright,
it's raining, all regular gym classes have been
postponed, so you know what that means: (holds up a large rubber
ball)
dodgeball! Now, for those of you that may have forgotten, the
rules are
as follows: you dodge.
He tosses the ball to Buffy. He blows his whistle, and the two
groups
move back from center court. He whistles again and the ball
throwing
commences. Xander nails his first victim. Buffy and the pack
members
easily dodge the balls. The coach enjoys the game from the
sidelines.
Xander nails another victim. The coach continues to watch. Buffy
throws
a ball and hits her mark. Xander throws again and nails
the back. She gives him a hurt and confused look as she walks
off of the
court. Xander catches a ball as he watches
the game.
few seconds later just the pack and Lance are left on one side,
Buffy on
the other. The pack looks at her briefly, then focuses on Lance.
He
falls to the floor and cowers as they each throw their ball at
him hard.
Buffy runs over and helps Lance up. She stares at Xander. He
stares
back. She watches as he and the others leave.
Coach Harrold: God, this
game is brutal. I love it!
Cut to the halls.
he comes from the other hall with the pack.
He looks at the others briefly and pulls
Xander: I guess you've
noticed that I've been different around you
lately.
Xander: I think, um... I
think it's because my feelings for you have
been changing.
Buffy comes around the corner to her locker and sees them. She
works the
combination.
Xander: And, well, we've
been friends for such a long time that I feel
like I need to tell you something.
Xander: I've, um... I've
decided to drop geometry. So I won't be
needing your math help anymore. Which means I won't have to look
at your
pasty face again.
He and the others laugh.
watches her quickly walk by. She slams her locker and approaches
Xander
with her arms crossed. He stops laughing.
Buffy: You gonna say
something to me?
Xander just looks at her and starts laughing again more loudly.
He goes
back to the pack, and they leave. Buffy goes after
Cut outside. The pack walks along. Xander stops and sniffs the
air.
Xander: Dogs!
Kyle: Where?
Xander leads them to a group of three boys sitting at a table.
Boy#1: You're out of your
mind, that's no way to play guitar.
Boy#2: What are you
talking about?
Boy#1: I mean, that's
just hunt and peck!
Boy#2: It's not!
Boy#1: (the pack arrives)
Hey, Xander, you've heard Wretched Refuse
play, what do you think of the guy who plays lead?
Tor reaches for Boy#1's hotdog. Heidi takes Boy#2's hotdog.
Boy#1: Hey. Hey, what are
you guys...
Rhonda: Shut up.
Kyle: You're sharing.
Xander: Friends like to
share. (to Tor and Heidi) Good?
Tor: It's too well-done.
He throws the rest of the hotdog back on Boy#1's lunch, Heidi
back on
Boy#2's.
Boy#1: Hey! That is *not*
cool.
Xander sniffs the air again and looks in the scent's direction.
He leads
them off. Kyle climbs onto the table and stomps the boys'
lunches.
Boy#1: Hey!
Cut to the faculty room. They all come in. Xander inhales deeply
through
his nose. The other two boys go to close the blinds. They all
approach
the cage. Xander bends down to look at Herbert.
Xander: Let's do lunch.
The pig becomes nervous and squeals.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 2
~~~~~~~~~~
Outside at school. Xander and the pack come walking in slow
motion up
the stairs from below the administrative offices to the quad.
Several
students stare at them as they walk by. "Job's Eyes",
by Far, plays as
background music.
Lyrics: I'm sure this
rain won't last / I'm sure its time is up /
Though it's pouring down
Lance walks by and just stops in front of them. They look at him
and
Xander sniffs him, but they keep walking right by.
Lyrics: I'm sure this
rain won't last / And it falls on Job's eyes /
This water of doubt / And I'm wading in lies / It's wearing me
out / But
if you want it, alright / I'll buy it / I'll buy it / I'll buy
it / I'll
buy it / I'll buy it / I'll...
Xander notices Buffy and
above. His hearing has become sensitive and he overhears.
Cut to the girls.
he's never... (exhales)
Buffy: I think
something's wrong with him.
Buffy: What are you
talking about?
don't know, maybe three isn't company anymore.
Buffy: You think this has
something to do with me?
Buffy: No. That still
doesn't explain why he's hanging out with the
dode patrol. (hops off the railing) Something's going on.
Something
weird. (starts to go)
Buffy: Talk to the expert
on weird.
Cut to the library. Giles is going about his work. Buffy follows
him as
they talk.
Giles: Xander's taken to
teasing the less fortunate?
Buffy: Uh-huh.
Giles: And, there's been
a noticeable change in both clothing and
demeanor?
Buffy: Yes.
Giles: And, well,
otherwise all his spare time is spent lounging about
with imbeciles.
Buffy: It's bad, isn't
it.
Giles: It's devastating.
He's turned into a sixteen-year-old boy.
Course, you'll have to kill him.
Buffy: Giles, I'm
serious.
Giles: So am
a great equalizer. It turns all men into morons. He will,
however, get
over it.
Buffy: (exasperated) I
cannot believe that you, of all people, are
trying to Scully me. There is something supernatural at work
here.
(grabs some books) Get your books! Look stuff up!
Giles: (takes the books)
Look under what?
Buffy: I don't know.
(exhales) That's your department.
Giles: The evidence that
you've presented me with is sketchy at best.
Buffy: He scared the pig.
(Giles gives her a look) Well, he did...
Giles: Buffy, boys can be
cruel. They tease, they, they, they prey on
the weak. I-i-it's natural teen behavior pattern.
Buffy: What did you just
say?
Giles: Um, they tease.
Buffy: They prey on the
weak. I've heard that somewhere bef... (it
clicks in her mind) Xander has been acting totally wiggy ever
since we
went to the zoo. Him and Kyle and all those guys, they went into
the
hyena cage. Oh, God, that laugh...
Giles: You're saying
that, uh, Xander's becoming a hyena.
Buffy: I don't know. Or
been possessed by one? Not just Xander, all of
them.
Giles: Well, I-I-I've
cer-certainly never heard of, uh...
Buffy: The pig?
Buffy: (to Giles)
Testosterone, huh?
Giles heads towards his office.
Giles: Get my books. Look
stuff up.
Cut outside. Mr. Flutie is walking angrily. He sees Kyle and the
others.
Xander isn't with them. Mr. Flutie approaches them.
Mr. Flutie: (angry) You
four!
Kyle: What?
Mr. Flutie: Oh, don't
think I don't know. Three kids saw you outside
Herbert's room. You're busted! Yeah! You're goin' down.
Rhonda: How is Herbert?
Heidi: Crunchy!
They all laugh. Mr. Flutie is incensed.
Mr. Flutie: That's it! My
office, right now. (they laugh more) Now!
They stop laughing. Kyle gets off of the table and indicates for
the
others to follow.
Mr. Flutie: You're gonna
have so much detention, your grandchildren'll
be staying after school.
Cut to the library.
stairs behind her with a book.
Buffy: Wow! Apparently
Noah rejected the hyenas from the
thought they were an evil impure mixture of dogs and cats.
Buffy: They do seem to be
the schmoes of the animal kingdom. (comes
over to
Buffy: That's assuming
'possession' is the right word.
Giles: (comes over from
the cage) Oh, I'll say it is. The Masai of the
Serengeti have spoken of animal possession for, for generations.
I... I
should have remembered that.
Buffy: So how does it work?
Giles: Well, apparently
there's a, a sect of animal worshipers known as
Primals. They believe that humanity, uh, consciousness, uh, the
soul, is
a, is a perversion, a dilution of spirit. Uh, to them the animal
state
is holy. They are able, through trans-possession, to, to, um,
draw the
spirit of certain animals into themselves.
Buffy: And then they
started acting like hyenas.
Giles: Well, only the
most predatory of animals are, are of interest to
the Primals, so, uh, yes, yes, that would fit, yes.
Buffy: So, what happens
to the person once the spirit's in them?
Giles: If it goes
unchecked...
He hands Buffy a book open to a certain page. She takes one
look, slams
the book shut and quickly gets up to go.
Buffy: I gotta find
Xander.
of people with limbs bitten off, heads missing and other massive
injuries.
Cut to the faculty room. Herbert's cage has been mangled. Buffy
comes in
and looks around. She inspects the cage.
Buffy: (exhales) They are
strong.
She steps on something that crunches and crouches down to the
floor. She
finds parts of Herbert, some vertebrae and other bones. She
picks up a
rib. Xander comes in and stands behind her. Buffy gets back up
and turns
around, only to be startled by him.
Buffy: Xander.
She tries to evade him, but he's quick to match her movement.
Buffy: (exhales) This is
ridiculous. We need to talk.
She fakes him out and jumps on him, knocking him down with her
on top
holding down his arms.
Xander: (smiles) Been
waitin' for you to jump my bones.
Cut to Mr. Flutie's office. He stands in front of his desk and
lectures
Kyle and his friends.
Mr. Flutie: I have seen
some sick things in my life! Believe me! But
this is beyond the pale! What is it with you people?
The pack starts to whine and stalk him.
Mr. Flutie: Is it drugs?
How could you? A poor defenseless pig?
(notices their behavior) What are you doing?
Cut to the faculty room. Xander growls and rolls Buffy over onto
her
back so he's on top now and has her arms pinned down.
Buffy: Get off of me.
Xander: Is that what you
really want? (Buffy struggles a bit) We both
know what you really want. You want danger, don't cha? You like
your men
dangerous.
Buffy: You're in trouble,
Xander. You are infected with some hyena
thing, it's like a demonic possession!
Xander: Dangerous and
mean, right? Like Angel. Your Mystery Guy. Well,
guess who just got mean.
Cut to Mr. Flutie's office. He goes around behind his desk to
get away
from the pack. They slowly approach.
Mr. Flutie: Now, stop
that! You're only gonna make things worse for
yourselves. I tell you how this is gonna work: I am gonna call
your
parents, and they are gonna take you all home.
He reaches for his phone, but Tor gets his hands on it first and
tries
to stare him down. Mr. Flutie looks at him a moment and then
gestures to
be given the phone. Tor gives it to him.
Mr. Flutie: Thank you.
He starts to pull the phone toward himself to dial, but Rhonda
tears it
away from him and throws it off of the desk.
Rhonda: I'm sorry...
Mr. Flutie: (furiously)
That is it!
He tries to get past them, but Kyle growls at him and he falls
back into
his chair.
Cut to Buffy and Xander. He is still on top of her.
Xander: Do you know how
long... I've waited... until you'd stop
pretending that we aren't attracted...
Buffy throws him off of her and quickly gets up to face him. He
gets up,
too, and begins to approach her as she backs away.
Xander: Until Willow...
stops kidding herself... that I could settle
with anyone but you?
Buffy: Look, Xander, I
don't wanna hurt you...
He grabs her by the shoulders and pushes her against the vending
machine.
Xander: Now do you wanna
hurt me?
Buffy struggles, but the possessed Xander is too strong.
Xander: Come on, Slayer.
I like it when you're scared.
She struggles a bit more.
Xander: The more I scare
you, (sniffs her) the better you smell.
He moves in and kisses her roughly on the neck.
Cut to Mr. Flutie's office. The pack continues to taunt and
sniff him.
Mr. Flutie: You're about
this close to expulsion, people! (gets up) I'm
willing to talk to the school counselor, and we can discuss
options...
He tries to go again, but Heidi stops him. Tor climbs onto his
desk and
growls at him.
Mr. Flutie: (angrily) Get
down from there this instant!
Rhonda gets in his face and scratches his cheek with her nails.
He falls
back into his chair with his hand covering his face. He takes
his hand
away and sees the blood.
Mr. Flutie: (terrified)
Are you insane?!
Tor jumps on him from the desk, and the rest of the pack
descends on him
and begins feeding. The camera closes in on a picture of Mr.
Flutie on
his desk.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 3
~~~~~~~~~~
The library. Willow is watching footage of feeding hyenas on the
PC. She
looks up when she hears the door open and stops the playback.
She sees
Buffy dragging Xander into the library and goes over to them.
Buffy: Hurry up. We gotta
get him locked up somehow before he comes to.
Willow: Oh, my God,
Xander! What happened?
Buffy: I hit him.
Willow: With what?
Buffy: A desk.
Willow opens the cage door, and Buffy drags him in.
Buffy: He tried his hand
at felony sexual assault.
Willow: Oh, Buffy, the
hyena in him didn't...
Buffy: No. (they arrange
him on the floor of the cage) No, but it's
safe to say that in his animal state his idea of wooing doesn't
involve
a Yanni CD and a bottle of Chianti. (locks the cage) There, that
oughtta
hold him. Where's Giles?
Willow: He got called to
some teacher's meeting. What are we gonna do?
I mean... how do we get Xander back?
Giles comes into the library.
Buffy: Right now I'm a
little more worried about what the rest of the
pack are up to.
Giles: The rest of the
pack were spotted outside Herbert the mascot's
cage. They were sent to the principal's office.
Willow: Good! That'll
show 'em. (Giles is silent) Did it show 'em?
Giles exhales but remains silent, searching for what to say.
Buffy: They didn't hurt
him, did they?
Giles: They, uh... ate
him.
Willow has to sit down. She and Buffy can't believe what they
just
heard.
Buffy: They ate Principal
Flutie?
Willow: Ate him up?
Giles: The, uh, official
theory is that wild dogs got into his office
somehow. There was no one at the scene.
Willow: But Xander
didn't. (to Buffy) He, he was with you.
Giles: (sees Xander in
the cage) Oh! Uh, well, that's a small mercy.
Buffy: Giles, how do we
stop this? How do you trans-possess someone?
Giles: I-I'm afraid I
still don't have all the pieces. Um, the accounts
of the Primals and their methods are a bit thin on the ground.
There is
some talk of a-a-a predatory act, but the exact ritual is, is,
um...
(thinks, picks up a book) The Malleus Maleficarum deals in
particulars
of demonic possession, which... may apply... (looks through a
few pages)
Yes, one, one should be able to transfer the spirits to another
human.
Buffy: Oh, that's great.
Any volunteers?
Giles: Oh. Good point.
Buffy: What we need to do
is put the hyena back in the hyena.
Giles: B-but until we
know more, uh...
Buffy: Betcha that
zookeeper could tell us. Maybe he didn't quarantine
those hyenas because they were sick.
Giles: We should talk to
him.
Buffy: Okay. (starts to
go but stops) Oh, wait, somebody's gotta watch
Xander.
Willow: (gets up) I will.
Buffy: Will, are you
sure? If he wakes up...
Willow: (holds her hand
out for the keys) I'll be alright. Go.
After a moment's hesitation Buffy gives Willow the keys to the
cage and
grabs her coat.
Buffy: (to Giles) C'mon.
Willow watches them leave, then looks over at Xander in the
cage. She
slips the keys into her pocket.
Cut outside at night. A young woman with her baby in a backpack
walks
through some bushes and sees the pack lying on the ground,
sleeping
after their meal. The pack wakes and sees the woman. She becomes
panicy
and slowly backs up, almost stepping on Tor. She turns suddenly
when she
hears him growl. He drools heavily. The members of the pack
slowly crawl
toward her. The woman finally turns and runs, and the pack lies
back
down to rest some more.
Cut to the library. Xander wakes up.
Xander: Willow.
She is watching the hyena video again. She stops it and turns to
look at
him.
Willow: How are you
feeling?
Xander: Like somebody hit
me with a desk. (looks around) What am I
doin' here?
Willow: (gets up and goes
toward the cage) You're... resting?
Xander: You guys got me
locked up now. (stands up)
Willow: 'Cause you're
sick. Buffy said...
Xander: (interrupts) Oh,
yeah. Buffy and her all-purpose solution:
punch 'em out 'n' knock 'em down. I'd love to see what she'd do
to
somebody who was *really* sick.
Willow: That's not fair.
Buffy saved both of our lives.
Xander: Before she came
here our lives didn't need that much saving,
did they? Weren't things a lot simpler when it was just you and
me?
Willow: (moves closer)
Maybe...
Xander: When we were
alone together... Willow, I know there's something
wrong with me. I think it's gettin' worse. But I can't just
stand around
waitin' for Buffy to decide it's time to punch me out again.
(exhales)
Look, I want you to help me. I want you.
Willow: I am helping you.
Xander: (exhales) You're
doing what you're told.
Willow: Buffy's trying to
help you, too. You know that. Or Xander does.
Xander: Yeah... Buffy's
so selfless. Always thinking of us. Well, if
I'm so dangerous, how come she left you alone with me?
Willow: I told her to.
Xander: Why?
Willow: 'Cause I know you
better than she does... and I wanted to be
here to see if... you were still you.
Xander: You know I am.
Look at me. (long pause) Looook.
Willow: (moves even closer,
whispers) Xander...
He makes a grab for her through the book return slot in the
cage, but
she jerks back in time.
Willow: Now I know.
Xander: (bangs on the
cage) LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT!
Cut to the zookeeper's office.
Zookeeper: The students
have been possessed by the hyenas?
Giles: Yes.
Zookeeper: Are you sure?
Buffy: We're really,
really sure.
Giles: Y-you don't seem
enormously surprised by this.
Zookeeper: The zoo
imported those hyenas from Africa. There was
something strange about them from day one. I did some
homework... That
particular breed is very rare. Totally vicious. Historically
they were
worshipped by these guys...
Giles: Primals.
Zookeeper: Yeah! Creepy
guys! Now, they had rituals for taking the
hyena spirits, but I-I don't see how that coulda happened to
your kids.
Giles: Uh, we don't know
exactly how the ritual works. We know that it
involves a, um, um... predatory act and some kind of symbol.
Zookeeper: Predatory act?
Of course. That makes sense. Where did you
read that?
Giles: Do you have
Sherman Jeffries' work on, on cults and on...
Buffy: (impatiently)
Boys?
Giles: Sorry.
Zookeeper: Look.
Giles: (raises his hand
slightly) Sorry.
Zookeeper: Look. I think
we may have enough information so that
together we could pull off a reverse trans-possession.
Buffy: What do we do?
Zookeeper: We've gotta
get those possessed students over to the hyena
cage right away. I'll meet you there. We can begin the rituals.
Buffy: W-well, we can
guarantee one of them, but there are four more,
and we have no idea where they are.
Zookeeper: No, I wouldn't
worry about that. After hyenas feed and rest
they will track the missing member of their pack until they find
him.
They should come right to you.
Buffy: (worried) Willow!
Cut to the library. Willow is watching the hyena video again.
Xander
paces in the cage.
Xander: Willow...
Willow: I'm not
listening.
Cut to the small arched windows high up on the wall. Kyle
appears at
one, Heidi at the other.
Kyle: Wiiillooow...
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 4
~~~~~~~~~~
The library. Kyle is looking in through the window.
Kyle: Wiiillooow...
Willow: (turns to the
cage) Xander, shut up!
Kyle: Wiiillooow...
She looks up at the window where the sound is coming from, sees
Kyle and
startles. Kyle and Heidi kick in the windows. Willow gets up and
runs
from the library. The pack comes in as Xander kicks and pounds
at the
cage. Kyle manages to bend over the corner of the door. The
others start
banging at the cage, too.
Cut to the hall. Willow stops at the intersection.
Cut to the library. The pack pulls down the door, freeing
Xander. They
whine and sniff each other.
Cut to the hall. Willow runs to a door and tries it, but finds
it
locked.
Cut to the library. Xander looks toward the library doors and
begins
tracking Willow. The others follow.
Cut to the hall. Willow runs to another door on the other side
of the
hall and finds it open. She goes in and closes the door behind
her. The
pack reaches the hall intersection and sniffs around for
Willow's scent.
Cut inside the classroom. Willow hides under the teacher's desk.
Cut to the hall. The pack splits up and begins searching for
Willow.
Xander and Heidi come down the hall. He keeps sniffing. He looks
at the
door that Willow went through and goes into the classroom with
Heidi.
Willow stays quiet under the desk. Xander looks around and sees
nothing.
He motions with his head for them to leave. When Willow hears
the door
close she comes out from under the desk. She looks toward the
door, sees
Xander and screams as she jumps back against the window blinds.
Xander
growls and leaps over the desk at her. She runs around the desk
to get
away and tips over a student desk to block Xander's way. He
comes after
her and trips over the desk. Willow runs out of the door, but is
met by
Heidi. Buffy comes up behind Heidi and hits her on the back with
a fire
extinguisher, knocking her down and out. Willow comes out of the
room
and goes over to Giles. Xander has gotten up and rushes Buffy.
She kicks
him, and he falls in the hall outside the classroom also. Buffy
discards
the extinguisher. The other three pack members appear at the end
of the
hall.
Giles: Run!
They come running. Giles and Willow run back into the classroom,
and
Buffy follows, closing and locking the door behind her. The pack
pounds
on the door but can't get in and soon leaves.
Buffy: I think they're
going.
Willow: They could be
faking it.
Buffy: No, they're
hungry. They'll be looking for somebody weak. I'm
really sorry, Will. I didn't know they were gonna come after
Xander.
Willow: (shaken) It's okay.
Giles: We must lead them
back to the zoo if we're going to stop this.
Buffy: And before their
next meal. Guess that's my job.
Giles: Well, individually
they're almost as strong as you. As a group
they're...
Buffy: They're tough, but
I think they're getting stupider. You guys go
to the zoo and I will bring them to you. (leaves)
Cut to a house where a family is coming out.
Mr. Anderson: I didn't
say she looks better than you, I said she looks
better.
Mrs. Anderson: I heard
what I heard. (to her son) Joey, chew! You have
to chew or you'll choke!
They get into their Jeep.
Mr. Anderson: I don't see
why we have to have this conversation every
time we see them.
Mrs. Anderson: I didn't
start it. (puts on her seatbelt)
Mr. Anderson: (looks at
the ignition) Damn. Where are the keys?
Mrs. Anderson: Huh?
They hear Joey's name being called from outside and begin to
look
around. Kyle looks down from the Jeep's roof into Joey's window.
The
mother screams. Two others climb onto the hood and slap the
windshield.
Xander is at the window opposite Kyle. They all pound on the
car.
Mr. Anderson: What going
on?! Hey! Get off! Get off of there!
Xander breaks the window with his elbow.
Joey: Get away!
Xander growls and reaches in for Joey. His mother reaches back
to try to
protect him.
Mrs. Anderson: Joey!
Joey! Joey!
Buffy comes running up, grabs Rhonda and throws her off of the
hood to
the ground. She climbs to the roof and does an in-to-out crescent
kick,
knocking Kyle off. She looks down at Xander's feet sticking out
of the
window.
Mrs. Anderson: Joey!
Buffy: Didn't your mom
teach you? (Xander hears her) Don't play with
your food.
Xander crawls out and looks up at her. The pack gathers around
him and
looks up at her. She straightens up and puts her hands on her
hips.
Buffy: C'mon. You know
what you want.
She turns, jumps off of the car and starts running down the
street. The
pack gives chase.
Cut to the Hyena House. Giles and Willow arrive at a run.
Willow: The pathway to
the Hyena House. Where's the zookeeper?
Giles: Uh, he must be
inside. I-I'll go in and prepare things. You just
warn, uh, us when you hear Buffy and the others approaching.
He runs in. Willow turns around to watch and wait.
Cut to Buffy running through a stand of trees. The pack is close
behind.
Cut inside the Hyena House. Giles ducks under the tape and comes
into
the main area.
Giles: Doctor? Uh...
Zookeeper?
He hears a door close and is startled by the zookeeper. He is
all made
up.
Giles: Oh! Oh, of course,
the, uh, Masai ceremonial garb. Yes... Very
good. Are you, uh, otherwise prepared for the trans-possession?
Zookeeper: (nods) Almost.
Giles: (notices the markings
on the floor) Oh, right! The, uh, sacred
circle. Yes, you'd need that to, um... This would be here
when... when
the children first came. Why would you... (figures it out,
exhales) How
terribly frustrating for you, that a bunch of school children
could
accomplish what you could not.
Zookeeper: It bothered
me. But the power will be mine.
Giles tries to get away, but the zookeeper hits him in the gut
with his
staff and again on the back, knocking him out. He tosses the
staff aside
and drags Giles away.
Cut to Buffy, still running through the trees. Cut to outside
the Hyena
House. Willow hears them coming and runs in. Cut inside.
Willow: They're almost
here! Giles! Giles! (sees the zookeeper) Where
are the hyenas for the trans-possession?
Zookeeper: They're right
here in the feeding area.
Willow runs to see the hyenas, but he stops her.
Zookeeper: Stay back!
They haven't been fed.
Willow: Where's Giles?
Zookeeper: He's... laying
in wait.
Willow: They're almost
here. Shouldn't you bring the hyenas out?
Zookeeper: When the time
is right. I'm gonna need your help. (begins
binding her wrists)
Cut outside. Buffy comes running in.
Buffy: They're right
behind me!
Cut inside.
Willow: That's Buffy! Get
ready!
The zookeeper takes Willow and positions her in front of him.
Zookeeper: Here.
Willow: What is this?
Zookeeper: A predatory
act, remember? (holds a knife to her throat)
Willow: Uh, right. You'll
pretend to slash my throat and, and put the
evil in the hyenas?
Zookeeper: Something like
that.
Willow realizes the zookeeper has other intentions. Buffy comes
running
in, but stops short when she sees Willow being held by the
zookeeper.
Willow: Buffy, it's a
trap!
Xander grabs Buffy from behind and they fall to the floor. The
others
come in and get on top of her, too.
Zookeeper: YU BA YA SA
NA!
The pack looks up at him, and their eyes all flash green. Then
the
zookeeper's eyes flash green. He turns to Willow and growls. He
drops
the knife, grabs her head and moves in to bite her.
Xander: Willow!
He gets up and charges the zookeeper, knocking him down and away
from
Willow. The pack gets off of Buffy. The zookeeper gets up and
punches
Xander. Buffy gets up and punches the zookeeper. Kyle and his
gang see
the fight and begin to crawl away on their butts. The zookeeper
charges
Buffy, but she knocks him back down. He charges her again, and
she
tosses him over onto his back. He gets up and tries again. Buffy
gets
under him and throws him up and into the hyena pit. He tries to
climb
out, but is dragged back down by the hyenas. Kyle and company
get up and
scramble away. Buffy runs to the pit to see if she can save the
zookeeper, but she's too late. She looks away as Xander comes
over to
untie Willow. Giles comes out of the back room.
Giles: Uh, did I miss
anything?
Cut to the school the next day. The shot from the balcony shows
Buffy,
Willow and Xander walking across the quad.
Willow: I heard the
vice-principal's taking over till they can find a
replacement.
Buffy: It shouldn't be
too hard to find a new principal. Unless they
ask what happened to the last one.
Xander: Okay, but I had
nothing to do with that, right?
They start to climb the stairs.
Buffy: Oh, right.
Willow: You only ate the
pig.
Xander: I ate a pig? Was
it cooked and called bacon or...
The girls shake their heads.
Xander: (covering his
face) Oh, my God! I ate a pig? I mean, the whole
trichinosis issue aside, yuck!
Buffy: Well, it wasn't
really you.
Xander: Well, I remember
I was goin' on the field trip, and then goin'
down to the Hyena House, and next thing some guy's holding
Willow and
he's got a knife.
Willow: You saved my life.
Xander: Hey! Nobody
messes with my Willow. (gives her a hug)
Buffy looks on and smiles. Willow smiles, too.
Buffy: This is definitely
the superior Xander. Accept no substitutes.
Xander: I didn't do
anything else, did I, around you guys or anything
embarrassing?
The girls smile, and Buffy considers what to tell him.
Buffy: (shakes her head)
Nah!
Willow: Not at all.
Buffy: (to Willow) C'mon.
We're gonna be late. (takes her hand and they
go)
Xander: Cool! Oh, hey,
goin' vegetarian! Huh?
He gives them two thumbs-up.
Buffy. Xander starts to head the other way when he is met by
Giles.
Giles: I've been reading
up on my, uh, animal possession, and I cannot
find anything anywhere about memory loss afterwards.
Xander: Did you tell them
that?
Giles: (leans to Xander's
ear) Your secret dies with me.
Xander: Shoot me, stuff
me, mount me.
Giles pats him on the shoulder as he shakes his head and starts
walking
along the balcony. He leans on the railing and watches Xander
go. Xander
can't believe what has happened to him.