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Wrecked (October 29, 2001) Written by: Marti Noxon Directed by: David Solomon | ||||||
| Teaser | ||||||
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INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE -LIVING ROOM - DAY
It's early morning. DAWN and TARA, who fell asleep on the couch in
front of the TV, wake. Look around groggily. A happy cartoon plays on the
television.
What time is it? Tara checks her watch
Almost seven. God, I just closed my eyes for a minute- DAWN TARA DAWN TARA INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - DAY Dawn and Tara peer through the doorway into Buffy's room. See her made bed. Then Dawn moves to the open door of Willow's room. Tara, uncomfortable, hangs back. Dawn pokes her head into Willow's room - sees that it, too, is empty and the bed is made.
Willow didn't come home either. (anxious) They were out all night. Where are they? Tara moves to Dawn. Puts a reassuring hand on her, trying to hide her own concern.
I'm sure they're fine, Dawny. I'm sure they just... lost track of time. INT./EXT. BASEMENT OF WRECKED BUILDING - DAY We MOVE ACROSS a heap of rubble that lies in the basement of the abandoned building where we last saw Spike and Buffy. The floor and much of the house collapsed into the basement, allowing patches of sunlight to stream into the wreckage... Now BUFFY sits up out of the debris, awake. Her hair is a "morning after" mess and her torn top barely covers her enough to be TV safe... She's got a few serious scratches and bruises, and she looks dazed, disoriented. A beat, and SPIKE also sits up. His lower half is hidden by debris, his upper half most definitely naked. He also looks out-of-it, spun. And he also has his fair share of battle scars.
When... When did the building fall down? SPIKE Spike tries to remember how many times, exactly. Buffy's eyes widen. It's all coming back to her.
Oh. (then) Oh my God.
BLACK OUT.
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| Act One | ||||||
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INT./EXT. WRECKAGE OF BUILDING - DAY
Back in the down and dirty with Buffy and Spike. Buffy, blouse buttoned
and skirt now on, searches the debris anxiously. She moves like she's been
through the fight of her life, stiff and sore. Spike, still appearing
quite naked, stays reclined in the rubble, watching her in that way he
does. He's in deep. Deeper, now.
Shoe. I need my shoe. SPIKE BUFFY SPIKE Buffy takes this in, freaking. Last night. SO wrong. And SO completely, mind-numbingly wild. Everything she's needed. Escape. Release. Ecstasy. With Spike.
Can we - not? Talk? Spike can't hide his disappointment at her attitude.
I just don't see why you have to run off so quick. I thought we could... BUFFY,br> Not gonna happen. Last night was the Spike's expression hardens and he sits up and catches Buffy by the wrists, yanking her toward his naked self. She holds herself away from him.
Don't say that. BUFFY Spike's hand disappears below frame, starts caressing her. She looks affected, despite herself.
Not exactly what I had in mind. Buffy weakens for a beat. Then she finds her resolve, HITS HIS hand away.
Stop- SPIKE He moves to touch her again, she hits him away again. They end up in a tussle, sexual tension building until they can't take it. They kiss - it heats up faster than a microwave. Goddamn. She lies on top of him - feels him respond - which SHOCKS her back to herself. She pulls away.
No. No. I have to... SPIKE They're both drunk with it. Hot, pressing against each other. They kiss again.
Oh, God... Spike whispers-
I knew. I knew - the only thing better than killing a slayer would be fuc- Buffy, alarmed, cuts him off - jerks away from him.
What? That's what this was about? "Doing" a slayer? SPIKE Infuriated, Buffy pushes off him.
Shut up- SPIKE BUFFY This hits Spike like a slap in the face. His expression goes cold. Unembarrassed, he stands up.
Before you go voicing any more of your theories, you might do well to remember that I can hurt you now. BUFFY Spike, furious, finds his own pants, steps into them. (We'll use cuts to Buffy and such to make all this tasteful, I'm sure.)
So, what? You go back to treating me like dirt until the next time you get an itch you can't scratch? Buffy ignores him, still searching for her other shoe
Well, forget it. Things changed last night. I'm done being your whipping boy. BUFFY SPIKE BUFFY Buffy sees her shoe, moves to it, but Spike is on her - his tone dead certain.
Hardly. Wouldn't be nearly as interesting, would it? He's right again. They're locked on to one another now. The energy between them buzzing.
Let me go- SPIKE Buffy takes this in, shaken. It's true. She shakes him off.
You're bent- SPIKE Buffy, freaked, backs away from him. Her tone deadly.
I swear, if you ever tell anyone about this, I will kill you. Spike sobers, getting the seriousness of her threat.
Right. A beat. Then he lifts her lacy panties.
You gonna want these too?-- SMASH. Buffy' s hand comes into frame and clocks him. She moves out into the light, leaving him stranded. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY Tara and Dawn, both worried, prepare breakfast - trying for some normalcy.
Pancakes? DAWN TARA The back door opens and WILLOW AND AMY come rolling in, looking worse for their night out. They are in mid-talk.
...that last guy, I couldn't believe what you did. How's he going to eat? WILLOW Willow stops. Sees Tara at the stove. The air is immediately thick with tension.
(to Tara) Hey. TARA Tara glances at Amy, devastated at the sight of this chick Willow brought home. She has no idea who she is. Willow picks up on it.
Oh. Hey! This is Amy. Amy, Tara. Tara, Amy. AMY TARA WILLOW AMY Tara looks at Amy with amazement. Then to Willow.
When... Willow's about to answer, but Amy beats her to the punch, talking fast, a little hyper...
Last night. It's nuts. Everything's so different. I mean, the Bronze for one thing... And Willow! She's a freakin' amazing witch now. I couldn't keep up with her last night- Tara's expression hardens. Will sees this.
Amy- AMY TARA Upset, Tara heads for the front door, via the dining room.
Tara, wait, you left some clothes and stuff. I saved them for- TARA Tara keeps going. Bumps into BUFFY who is just corning in. Buffy looks pretty wrecked, bruised and limping.
Tara- But she's gone, leaving Will upset. Before Buffy can comment, Dawn is all over her.
Buffy! Where were you? Are you okay? Buffy can barely look at them.
I'm fine- DAWN Buffy looks both alarmed and guilty at this.
I'm not. Sore. I just had a... fight, all-nighter kind of deal. DAWN BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY DAWN Now they notice some smoke coming from the grill. Willow moves to the stove. Shuts it off. Stares at Tara's handywork for a beat too long.
Tara was making... WILLOW BUFFY AMY WILLOW AMY Amy leaves.
(to Dawn) You sure you're alright? I'm sorry. About everything. DAWN Buffy tries not to dwell on the unintentional entendre.
Right. Thanks. She gives Dawny a weak smile and heads out. Willow follows.
Yeah. I'm going to crash too. Night Dawny. Both Buffy and Willow exit, leaving Dawn alone with her burnt breakfast. Dawn looks a little lost.
No problem. I'll just... go find some awake people. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - WILLOW'S ROOM - DAY Willow, exhausted and sad, enters the room and lies down. It's too light - so she sits up and raises a hand toward the curtains.
Nothing happens. She tries again
Nothing. Finally, Willow gets up and draws the curtains herself. Then she lies back down, looking a little concerned. Why isn't her magic working? INT. MAGIC BOX - DAY It's later. Buffy, XANDER and ANYA are researching. Buffy's at the counter, trying to lose herself in work. While Xander and Anya are at the table, surrounded by books. Xandertosses one into the pile, frustrated.
These demons are all starting to look alike. Reptile, reptile with horn, reptile with gills... ANYA XANDER Anya's too engrossed to hear him. She doesn't budge
Great. We're not even married yet and you've already stopped listening to me... Xander leans across the table and pulls the book to him. A BRIDAL MAGAZINE falls out of it. Anya looks up from behind her book, sheepish. Xander SNATCHES the tome out of her hand - she's got another BRIDAL MAGAZINE hidden behind her book.
Anya! ANYA Now Buffy wanders over, drawn by their squabbling.
What's up? XANDER ANYA Don't be ridiculous! Martha Stewart XANDER ANYA BUFFY ANYA XANDER ANYA BUFFY ANYA & XANDER ANYA BUFFY XANDER Buffy reacts a little too strongly to this suggestion.
No. No Spike. And we don't need to hit streets. We just need to stay put, away from... distractions. We'll figure it out. ANYA BUFFY XANDER BUFFY ANYA BUFFY XANDER BUFFY XANDER BUFFY Buffy, agitated, continues - and as she works herself up, it becomes clear that she's talking as much about herself as she is about Willow.
I just think we should stop talking about Willow this way. Okay, she's going through something. But we're not her, you know? I mean, maybe she has reasons she's acting this way... And what if she has crossed a line? We all do stuff. Stupid stuff. And, then we learn. We learn and we don't do it again. I mean, really, who are we to be all judgey? Buffy stops - realizing that she's been in monologue mode. Anya and Xander watching her, a little perplexed at her outburst.
Not judgey, Buff. Just observey. ANYA EXT. STREET - NIGHT Willow, dressed a little edgier than we're used to seeing her, is heading out for another night with Amy. They move down Sunnydale's main drag, turning heads.
God, I'm so glad you called. I had to get out of the house. WILLOW AMY WILLOW AMY WILLOW Amy's eyes flash angrily. We see a hint of the anarchy that's boiling under her skin.
I want to have fun, Willow. I've been in a cage. WILLOW AMY Willow takes this in, relating.
Well, I do. Get it. Totally. AMY WILLOW AMY WILLOW AMY Willow takes this in, intrigued
Really? He's a warlock? AMY WILLOW Amy grins.
Would that stop you? EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT Now Amy and Willow are walking in a bad part of town. Definitely creepy. Amy senses something, stops in front of a dirty alley.
This is it. WILLOW AMY WILLOW Amy takes Willow's hand and raises it.
Here. Willow starts at something she feels, unseen by us.
It's... hot. AMY With that, Amy STEPS THROUGH AN INVISIBLE PORTAL and disappears. Scared and excited, Willow takes a deep breath and follows suit. INT. DEALER'S PLACE - OUTER ROOM - NIGHT Willow and Amy EMERGE THROUGH THE PORTAL into a dingy two room apartment. The first room functions as a waiting room, with tattered couches and a couple of old chairs. A few strung-out looking folks hang on the couches, eyeing the fresh-faced girls suspiciously as they enter.
Isn't that cool? His place is cloaked. WILLOW AMY WILLOW She stops as the door to the second room opens and RACK, A SCARY-LOOKING WARLOCK, steps into the room. He has fucked-up eyes and dark magical energy crackles from the ends of his fingers. He's simultaneously repulsive and seductive. Physically, he's no looker. But his vibe is nasty and powerful. As soon as he steps into the room, the jonesing folks start pleading with him-
Rack, it's my turn- JONESING GUY JONESING GIRL He raises a hand and the jonesing pair falls silent. Rack is locked onto Willow and Amy. He moves toward them, leering.
I believe these two were next. Off Willow, trembling, eyes wide...
BLACK OUT.
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| Act Two | ||||||
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INT. DEALER'S PLACE - INNER ROOM - NIGHT
Now we're in Rack's inner sanctum. It's a trip room. Wild paintings on
the walls and soft pillows allover the floor. This is a place to get high
and stay high. Rack is totally focused on an anxious Willow, even when
he's talking to Amy, his eyes barely leave her...
Thanks, Rack, for taking us. I know it's been a while. You'll never believe- RACK AMY Rack stops her with a look. How does he know anything?
Hope it taught you not to mess with spells you can't handle. You should leave that in the hands of a professional. He rubs his hands together thoughtfully. Energy crackles. He looks back to Willow.
This one is giving off vibes. Willow responds anxiously
I don't mean to. Vibe at you. If it's in a negative way- RACK WILLOW RACK WILLOW RACK Now Rack starts to move closer to her, his energy both sexual and menacing...
No. I have money, a little, but- RACK WILLOW Rack reaches a hand toward her - Willow flinches. Moves back.
Relax. I'm not going to hurt you. But you have to give a little to get a little, right? Willow glances at Amy, who nods and whispers-
It's okay. It's over fast. Willow's terrified - but she submits as Rack reaches toward her again...
That's right. I'm just going to take a little tour. Rack places his hand on Willow's upper chest. As soon as he makes contact, there is a magical BURST OF WHITE LIGHT AND SOUND, and WILLOW goes RIGID. Rack closes his eyes - drinks her in. Delicious... After a long beat, he lets her go. Willow looks HIGH. Freaked out. Rack smiles, still savoring the experience. He leans close to her ear, whispers.
You taste like strawberries. Off WILLOW, shaking. INT. DEALER'S PLACE - INNER ROOM - NIGHT It's later. Music is playing. Willow is nowhere in sight. Wasted on magic, Amy dances in the center of the room. Rack is watching, occasionally moving a hand - doing subtle spells... Amy spins to the music, faster and faster - until she is just a whirling BLUR. We PAN UP and find WILLOW ON THE CEILING. She's wasted, lolling there, pinned to it, then moving, crawling across it... CLOSE ON WILLOW'S EYES WHAT SHE SEES The room beneath her becomes organic. Rack and Amy are not in sight as chairs and tables grow into trees - very "WhereThe Wild Things Are." It's stunning. ON WILLOW Eyes closed, a small SMILE playing across her lips... WHAT SHE SEES The room is A LIVING, BREATHING FOREST. It's incredibly beautiful - until we see, in the very corner of the frame, almost unnoticed, something move. We look closer. A pair of LIMP NAKED FEMALE LEGS are dragged behind a tree. We look closer. A nightmarish DEMON, with slick black fur, blood stained teeth and red-eyes, SPRINGS AT CAMERA. ON WILLOW Who STARTS and falls off the ceiling. She lands with a thud. Breath knocked out of her. Closes her eyes. We move closer. Then, suddenly, in a morphy effect, Willow MOVES INCREDIBLY FAST and we MOVE WITH HER. She's just a blur. Then she STOPS ON A DIME. Looks around. INT. BRONZE - NIGHT Willow, breathless, is now standing in the Bronze. WHOOSH! It happens again. She's RACING, a blur. EXT. MAGIC BOX - NIGHT Now she STOPS again. She's standing on the street in front of the Magic Box, looking FREAKED. WHOOSH! She SPEEDS again. INT. BUrry'S HOUSE - WILLOW'S ROOM - DAY Willow STOPS ON A DIME AGAIN. Opens her eyes and she's in the exact same position she was in on the floor of Rack's place. Except now she's home. In the same clothes. She sits up, dizzy, disoriented, feeling like hell. It's now eleven in the morning. A beat as Willow remembers the night before. She looks shaken. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - BATHROOM - DAY The shower runs hot, smoking the mirrors and glass. Willow stands under the water, hands against the wall, holding her shaking body steady... She starts to cry. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - WILLOW'S ROOM - DAY Willow, red-eyed, wrapped in a bathrobe, steps gingerly from the bathroom into the bedroom - moves to the bed. Stops. By the bed is a BOX FULL OF CLOTHES LABELLED "TARA." Willow's expression shifts. Grief. She lifts the clothes. Smells them. Buries her face in them. Then she lays them on the bed. Willow lies down next to the clothes and waves a hand. Slowly the clothes take on form and life of their own, as if Tara is in them but not seen. Willow embraces them - and they embrace her back.
FADE TO:
EXT. SUNNYDALE - EVENING Dusk falls in Sunnydale. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT Dawn stands at the stove in front a hot frying pan. She flips a folded tortilla with her fingers.
Ow, ow, ow- WILLOW (O.C.) Dawn turns to see Willow, now dressed, but still looking sad and shaky, entering the kitchen.
Spatulas are for wimps. (then) I'm making peanut butter and banana quesadillas. You want? Willow pours herself a glass of water.
No thanks. I'm more in water mode. Dawn flips the tortilla onto a plate. Again with the fingers.
Ow, ow... You sure? It's my own brand new invention. WILLOW DAWN WILLOW DAWN WILLOW Dawn tries to play it off, the grown up
Right. Assume and make "u" an "ASS" out of "ME". Or... something. (quickly) Anyway. Please. It's cool. I mean, it's not like I even needed Tara to stay with me. I'm so totally fine being here on my own. (then/smaller) But you are going to be around tonight, right? Willow brightens a little. Liking the idea of some wholesome hanging out.
Right. Totally. We could do something if you want. A movie maybe. DAWN WILLOW Dawn happily ditches her quesadilla.
Thank God. Remind me to never invent that again WILLOW DAWN They move off, full of their evening plans.
FADE TO:
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - FOYER - NIGHT It's later. Buffy comes home to an empty house. A single light burns in the foyer.
Hello? Nothing. Buffy starts toward the kitchen, but stops when she hears something BUMP upstairs. Senses alerted, Buffy moves cautiously up the stairs. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - NIGHT Buffy moves quietly down the dark hall. There is more noise coming from Willow's room. Bumping, scraping...
Willow? Dawn? There's no answer. Just sudden quiet. Buffy enters Willow's room. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - WILLOW'S ROOM - NIGHT Buffy walks into the room, which is lit by a lone lamp. On the floor she finds Willow's MAGIC TRUNK, where she keeps all her spells, potions and herbs... The trunk is open, and the contents are spilled - as if someone has just rifled through it. Buffy catches sight of something moving out of the corner of the room, making for the door. Buffy swings around and SLAMS the intruder into the wall. Is surprised to find that it's AMY, looking strung-out and pale.
What are you doing here- Amy laughs nervously. She's clearly wasted, out of it
Uh oh. Busted. BUFFY AMY Buffy sees a bag of green herb in Amy's hand. Snatches it away.
What is this? Amy tries to snatch it back, defensive. But Buffy keeps it.
It's not what you think it is. It's sage. BUFFY AMY BUFFY AMY BUFFY AMY Buffy SLAMS Amy against the wall again.
Ow! That- BUFFY Buffy reaches into Amy's pockets, starts pulling out all manner of spell materials. Amy grows desperate, pathetic-
Please, please... I need this stuff. Willow wants me to have it. She understands- BUFFY AMY Buffy shoots Amy a chilling look. Talk.
Rack's. AMY BUFFY Amy laughs nervously again. She's starting to look kind of green.
Don't shake me again, super strength. I think I'm going to boot. BUFFY AMY BUFFY AMY BUFFY AMY Amy starts to look like she's going to be ill.
I'm gonna... Buffy tosses Amy aside, toward the bathroom. Then she takes off. EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - NIGHT Willow leads Dawn down a dark Sunnydale street. Warehouses, that kind of thing. In the time that has passed since we last saw them, Willow has grown jittery, anxious. She looks a little pale and clammy... But she's doing her best to conceal it from Dawn.
So the burger was okay? You liked it? DAWN WILLOW Willow awkwardly changes the subject to something she's been wanting to ask all night. She knows it's loaded.
And what about the other day, did you have fun? DAWN WILLOW Dawn sees another opportunity to play peace-maker here. Takes it.
Oh. Yeah. I mean, it was nice - but it wasn't a laugh riot. She's sad and everything. WILLOW DAWN Willow takes this in. Feels the grief for a moment. Pushes it away.
Of course. You can't be close to someone like that and not be... But it was all for the best, I think. DAWN WILLOW DAWN WILLOW Willow shudders. A wave of withdrawl-related discomfort coming over her.
Are you sure you're okay? You look a little... WILLOW DAWN Dawn looks around. Realizes she's on unfamiliar turf.
Is this right? Is this the way to the movies? WILLOW Now we see that they are stopped in front of ANOTHER DIRTY ALLEYWAY.
I just have to make one quick stop first. OFF WILLOW Guilty, jonesing.
BLACK OUT.
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| Act Three | ||||||
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INT. DEALER'S PLACE - OUTER ROOM - NIGHT
Willow and Dawn emerge through another portal into Rack's outer room,
which again has a few strung-out folks in it. Dawn looks more than a
little freaked out.
What is this place? Why is it hidden? But Willow tries to play it off.
I don't know. But it's cool, isn't it? (quickly) Now, you just hang here for a minute and I'll be right back. You want me to conjure you a magazine or something? DAWN Dawn glances at a clock on the wall. It's quarter to nine
We'll make it. I mean, it doesn't matter if we miss the trailers. With that, Willow slips into Rack's inner sanctum, to the meek protests of the other people waiting for Rack. OFF DAWN Scared.
I like the trailers. INT. DEALER'S PLACE - OUTER ROOM - NIGHT It's later. An anxious Dawn still sits in the waiting room. A CREEPY GUY slides into the seat next to her. A beat. Then Dawn moves away. She looks at the clock. ON THE CLOCK It reads 10:00. ON DAWN Sweating it. She's been waiting an hour. INT. DEALER'S PLACE - INNER ROOM - NIGHT ON RACK Who hangs out on a sofa, light playing across his face as he enjoys the spell he's cast.
What do you think, Strawberry? Can you handle some more? Rack raises his hand and THE LIGHT IN THE ROOM INCREASES. ON WILLOW Who HANGS, suspended, mid-air, in the middle of criss-crossing BURSTS of mystical energy. It's almost like a cage made out of small bolts of lightning. CLOSE ON WILLOW Eyes closed, mouth agape. WHAT WILLOW SEES Her POV as she floats through SPACE. An inky, star-filled landscape... It's very quiet and peaceful. (maybe we see her hands and feet float into frame... she's in zero gravity...) Then, violently, something tears through the tranquil image, like a claw ripping through a movie screen. HARSH RED LIGHT POURS THROUGH THE RIP in the black sky. Now a shadowy image moves through the light, holding a limp female body. It's all in silhouette... ON WILLOW Still floating with her eyes closed, but disturbed now, scared... WHAT WILLOW SEES Now we can make out the figure that came through the rip. It's the monster we saw before. The limp female body he holds is less distinct, but it looks something like Willow... ON RACK As we hear Willow's scream. He smiles. INT. SPIKE'S LAIR - LOWER CRYPT - NIGHT Spike sleeps in his bed, naked under a single sheet. He gets hit in the chest by a heavy candle. He starts, sits up, ready to fight. He stops when he sees Buffy standing some distance away, ready to pitch another candle at him.
God. Do you sleep through anything? I was, like, yelling, and nothing- Spike swings his legs over the bed, still partly covered by the sheet. He's a little groggy. Pleased to see her, if a bit confused...
(pointed) I'm a bit knackered. Had a long night. (touches his chest) Someone should teach you how to use candles in foreplay, luv- Buffy throws him his pants. Ignores the comment.
Get dressed. Dawn's missing. Spike's expression hardens. She's being a bitch to him. Again. And Dawn is missing...
Again? You ever think of a Lojack for the girl? (then) What's the story? BUFFY SPIKE BUFFY Spike grows concerned at this. Suddenly he's all business.
Rack? BUFFY SPIKE BUFFY SPIKE BUFFY Spike stands, again unconcerned about his nakedness. Buffy turns her back so she can't see. Spike looks at her, incredulous.
That's right. Hide your blushing eyes. INT. DEALER'S PLACE - OUTER ROOM - NIGHT Dawn, still waiting for Willow, looks at the clock. ON THE CLOCK It's almost eleven now. ON DAWN She makes a decision. Gets up and moves toward the door of Rack's room. THE CREEPY GUY protests-
Hey! Wait your turn. Dawn ignores him, reaches for the door, when WILLOW opens it suddenly and steps into the room.
Hey, Dawny! Come on, it's movie time- DAWN Dawn stops, alarmed. WILLOW'S EYES ARE COMPLETELY BLACK. She's tripping.
Are you - are you okay? WILLOW Willow heads for the door. Dawn follows. EXT. STREET - NIGHT Willow leads a seriously spooked Dawn down the dark street.
So what do you want to do, cutey? DAWN WILLOW ANOTHER ANGLE Something moves in the shadows behind them. Raspy, choking breathing in the dark. It's following them. BACK ON WILLOW AND DAWN Dawn senses something. But Willow's oblivious.
I'm serious. I think we should get out of here. WILLOW Dawn's now officially terrified.
Why are you acting this way? WILLOW Willow moves off down the street. Dawn has no choice but to follow. ANOTHER ANGLE More shmuck bait. Then we see what's following them. It's THE MONSTER FROM WILLOW'S HALLUCINATIONS. Only now it's no fantasy. It's real and it's stalking them. EXT. ANOTHER STREET - NIGHT Spike and Buffy move down another dark street. Spike's peering in dark corners and alleys, concentrating. Buffy watches him anxiously.
Anything? SPIKE BUFFY Spike stops. Pissed. Hurt.
What? So I can linger near your precious self? Get a grip- BUFFY SPIKE BUFFY Spike can't help himself. He remembers. Smiles.
Yeah. Me too. BUFFY SPIKE Buffy looks shaken by this. Spike continues, sincere.
Now, I admit, you've had me by the short hairs. I love you. You know it. (then) But I got my rocks back. You felt something last night- BUFFY SPIKE Buffy's deeply upset. He's gotten to her.
I want you out of my life, Spike. Out of my work, my house- SPIKE BUFFY SPIKE This stops Buffy. Of course she isn't
Didn't think so. Now come on. He starts down the alley. A long beat. Then Buffy moves after him. EXT. STREET - NIGHT Willow and Dawn move down the alley, deeper into the bad part of town. Dawn's freaking.
Willow, I'm serious, I'm going home. WILLOW DAWN Willow stops. Realizes she can't do that.
I don't know. Maybe I could just... pop you back? DAWN There is a NOISE. Something moving in the shadows.
What's that? WILLOW Another noise. Dawn turns and starts off at a fast clip. Almost a run.
Ilm getting out of here. Willow follows, smiling, not taking it seriously.
Dawny. Don't. It's a cat or a- SCARY FUCKING MONSTER That they practically run right into. Willow immediately recognizes him from her hallucinations. Blanches. She grabs Dawn.
It's okay. It isn't real- The monster, we'll call him MANDRAZ, advances. Comes forward with his raspy breathing and hot, putrid breath...
(terrified) Seems real. Very, very- Now Mandraz speaks, and his voice is eerie, otherworldly.
(to Willow) You summon me, witch? WILLOW MANDRAZ He lifts a hand with razor sharp claws to DAWN. Draws it across her cheek, raising a thin line of blood. Savors the word-
Freshhhhhh... Willow tries to get in front of Dawn
Don't. Don't hurt her. She has nothing to do with this. It was me- Mandraz grins. Black teeth. Blood stained.
Yes. But I pick who dies. Mandraz moves closer yet to Dawn. But DAWN LASHES OUT, KICKING MANDRAZ BACK and taking off in a run. Willow sprints after her. They race down the alley, with the monster on their heels EXT. ANOTHER PART OF THE ALLEY - NIGHT Willow and Dawn round a corner, just one step ahead of MANDRAZ.
He's coming! He's too fast! Willow spies something and grabs Dawn, yanking her toward A PARKED CAR. She shouts-
The driver and passenger doors FLY OPEN.
(to Dawn) Get in! Willow dives behind the wheel and Dawn leaps into the passenger seat. INT./EXT. CAR - STREET - NIGHT
The car doors SLAM SHUT just,as MANDRAZ reaches it-
The car comes to life and PEELS away from the curb, knocking Mandraz back into the street. Hard. Willow sees this.
Yes! She turns to Dawn, triumphant. But Dawn is wide-eyed, paralyzed. THE CAR IS DRIVING ITSELF. The wheel spins magically as it careens around corners, etc. ON MANDRAZ Who is back on his feet, giving chase. Moving fast, in a loping, ape-like gait... ON WILLOW AND DAWN As the car speeds faster and faster, staying ahead of the monster. Dawn is petrified, but Willow can't help it - being high like she is - she's getting off on the rush of it. She WHOOPS with excitement as the car takes another corner.
Whoooo! Eat our dust, skuz- At which point the car skids and PLOWS INTO A BRIDGE.
BLACK OUT.
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| Act Four | ||||||
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INT./EXT. CAR - TREET - NIGHT
At the crash site. The front end of the car is crumpled against the
tree, steam billowing from the radiator. It's chillingly quiet as we MOVE
ACROSS THE CAR to the front seat area...
WILLOW is slumped against the wheel, uninjured but passed out. Dawn,
dazed, stirs. She has blood coming from some place on her head. And when
she moves she cries out, holds her arm-
Oh! God... It's sprained or broken. Either way it hurts like hell. She moves painfully out of the car, in shock, finding her feet... And finding herself face to face with MANDRAZ. Dawn SCREAMS and backs away. Mandraz advances, swipes at her. Thinking fast, Dawn DROPS and ROLLS UNDER THE CAR to escape him. Oil leaks from the car, on Dawn, nearly gets in her eyes... Mandraz tries to grab her and pull her back - Dawn SCREAMS AGAIN. EXT. STREET - NIGHT Buffy and Spike, still searching for them, hear Dawn's distant cry. Start running. EXT./INT. CAR - STREET - NIGHT Mandraz grabs at Dawn's leg. She shakes him off, but he grabs her again and PULLS her out from under the car. He yanks her toward him, but Dawn uses her good arm to HIT HIM IN THE FACE WITH A FIST-FULL OF DIRT AND OIL - which temporarily blinds him. Mandraz yells with rage and THROWS DAWN INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR. She hits the ground, hard. Mandraz advances. Dawn cowers, completely terrorized. Then Buffy arrives at the scene, Spike just behind her.
Dawn! With that, Buffy runs FULL TILT toward the monster and TACKLES HIM WITH ALL HER MIGHT. They go flying, slam into the ground. Buffy starts to wail on him.
Did you ever pick the wrong girl. Mandraz throws her off him, hard. He's strong. Spike moves to help Dawn as the fight continues, with Buffy taking a few brutal hits. Still, she makes slow headway. Then Mandraz tosses her and she lands hard. Buffy's momentarily dazed. Mandraz advances. But just before he hits her again he starts to SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY AND WHIMPER.
Now you're scared? Better late than- But now MYSTICAL ENERGY MOVES AROUND HIM. He SCREECHES horribly as his SKIN STARTS TO SMOLDER. Then he BURNS UP, from the INSIDE OUT. A nightmarish case of internal combustion. Fire licks from his black eye sockets, the whole deal... When it's over, he's reduced to a black pile of smoking ash. Now we see, behind where Mandraz was, WILLOW. Her eyes are black and the same magical energy that killed Mandraz still crackles around her. She clearly did it. The energy dissipates and Willow slumps to the ground, exhausted. ON BUFFY Spooked by Willow's grim use of her power. Then she hears DAWN MOAN. It brings her back to herself, and she rushes to Dawn and Spike.
Are you okay? What happened? DAWN Buffy notices Dawn holding her arm in pain.
Your arm. Let me see- DAWN She's interrupted by WILLOW, stumbling toward them. Looking disoriented, horrified. Aside from a few scratches, it's clear that she's uninjured.
Oh God, Dawn, there's blood- Buffy, coldly furious, can barely look at Willow. She and Spike gently help Dawn up.
Okay. Come on, let's get you to a doctor- WILLOW Spike and Buffy start to move with Dawn.
Back off, Will. We've got her- Willow scrambles to step in front of Dawn, freaking.
No, you're okay - right Dawn? I mean- BUFFY But Willow is locked onto Dawn. Desperate to get a connection.
Dawny, Dawny - I'm so sorry. It was an accident. I just - I didn't see. I'm so, so sorry... Dawn looks, makes eye contact with her. Finally. Then she SLAPS her with her good arm. A stunned beat. Willow touches her face... Then Spike and Buffy, too angry and shocked to deal with Willow now, start to help Dawn away. Willow starts after them, trips and falls. Starts to cry.
It was an accident. Don't... Oh my God... Buffy looks back. Torn. She and Spike meet eyes. He understands, moves away with Dawn. Buffy moves back to Willow. Who holds the ground, her body shaking with sobs.
I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Buffy takes Willow's arm, moves to lift her.
Get up. WILLOW Buffy roughly pulls Willow to a standing position, her anger finally getting the better of her.
Yeah, you screwed up! You could have killed her! You almost did- WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW Willow falls into her arms, holding on to her for dear life. Buffy responds, moved by Willow's pain despite her anger.
Please, please... OFF BUFFY AND WILLOW On the ground. The wrecked car in the distance. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - WILLOW'S ROOM - NIGHT It's much later. Willow is wet from the shower and wrapped in a blanket. She sits on tpe bed, looking more sober in every sense of the word... Shaken to her core. Buffy comes in from the hall.
Is she okay? BUFFY Willow takes this in. Trying not to fall apart all over again.
But she's going to be alright? BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW Buffy takes this in. Relating to every word she says, even though she can't admit it.
I get that. More than you... But it's wrong. People get hurt. WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW Buffy does know. Completely. Willow continues, finding her resolve.
But it's not going to happen again. I promise. No more spells. I'm finished. Buffy nods. Agreeing as much for herself, as for Willow.
Good. I think it's right. To give it up. No matter how great it feels- WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY They both smile a little shakily. Trying to have faith.
FADE TO:
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - WILLOW'S ROOM - NIGHT Willow lies in bed, wide awake, sweating and SHAKING. Going through some magical version of the D.T.'s. INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - BUFFY'S ROOM - NIGHT CLOSE: ON WINDOW Where a bunch of fresh garlic is now nailed. WIDEN To find that there is garlic nailed up at all the windows. Buffy sits up in bed, looking small and scared, holding a cross.
BLACK OUT.
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