"Chosen" Script
The following script is the original "Chosen" shooting draft, typed by me from a copy of the original script in my possession. Do not repost this on your site under any circumstances, please. This script entirely is © to Twentieth Century Fox Television, nothing here is mine and I'm gaining nothing from it. The only reason I'm putting it up here is for you guys to see and I will probably be requested to take it down as it's not legal. So do me a favor, don't take this script.
"Chosen"
CAST LIST
|
BUFFY SUMMERS..............................Sarah Michelle Gellar
ANGEL...........................................David Boreanaz |
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
"Chosen"
Episode #7ABB22
Story#EO1939
Written and Directed By
Joss Whedon
Shooting Draft
April 03, 2003
| TEASER |
1 INT. CRYPT - NIGHT
BUFFY and ANGEL are still mid-kiss. They break, holding each other.
| ANGEL |
| Well, I guess that qualifies as "happy to see me." |
| BUFFY |
| Angel, what are you doing - no. Don't even. I just wanna bask. |
They look at each other, warm and giddy. The smile is still on Buffy's lips as she says:
| BUFFY (cont'd) |
| Okay. I'm basked. What are you doing here? |
| ANGEL |
| Not saving the damsel in distress, that's for sure. |
| BUFFY |
| You know me. Not big with the damseling. |
| ANGEL |
| (turning away) |
| Got your share of distress, though. |
| BUFFY |
| And then some. You heard? |
| ANGEL retrieves an accordion file from the corner. |
| ANGEL |
| I got coverage on the whole thing. Very gripping, needs a third act. |
| BUFFY |
| You have to leave L.A. |
| ANGEL |
| It's the First. Right? The First Evil, the power that tried to convince me to kill myself. |
| BUFFY |
| Yeah. It's gotten a little more ambition since then. It's raising an army. |
| ANGEL |
| Well, it failed once, and I'm here to tell you that- |
CALEB Babe-Ruths a beam (or torch pole, or whatever) into Angel's head, sending him flying across the room. Angel lands face first, skids to a stop.
Buffy looks at Caleb. His eyes are black, dark blood dripping like tears from them, from his nose and mouth. His voice is otherworldly, coming from everywhere.
| CALEB |
| Ready to finish this, bitch? |
| END OF TEASER |
| ACT ONE |
2 INT. CRYPT – NIGHT
CALEB rushes Buffy, swings at her. She blocks with the scythe. His movements are more halting, but his strength is greater than ever. She stumbles back.
| BUFFY |
| Okay, how many times do I have to kill you? Ballpark figure. |
| CALEB |
| You understand nothing. |
He comes at her again and they engage, parry and blow.
ANGLE: Spike watches, not sure what to do.
Still, they fight, over:
| CALEB (cont'd) |
| You think you have power over me? I am everything. Everywhere. |
| BUFFY |
| Speech getting' old... |
| CALEB |
| Stupid girl. You'll never stop me. You don't have the b-- |
As he is saying it, she arches the blade back and swings it up right between his legs. We don't see it connect, of course, but we sure as hell see his expression when it does.
| BUFFY |
| Well, who does nowadays? |
A moment, and she uses both hands to RIP the blade upwards. We see nothing of the damage, but some dark blood spatters her face as she completes the scythe's arc upward. A moment, and we hear the body fall to one side of her – then hear the other half fall to the other side.
Angel stands, spinning, furious.
| ANGEL |
| Okay, now I'm pissed. Where is he? |
Buffy indicates the floor to her left. Angel looks. Then she indicates the floor to her right. Angel looks, then back at her, impressed. Buffy smiles girlishly.
| BUFFY |
| He had to split. |
She snorts with darkish laughter.
Angel just shakes his head reprovingly. She stops after a moment.
| BUFFY (cont'd) |
| I'm sorry, I just... ahhhh... I haven't had a good pun in a while. |
| ANGEL |
| That would still be the case. |
| BUFFY |
| . Hey! My kill, my wordplay. |
| ANGEL |
| (hands up) |
| I'm out of line. |
| BUFFY |
| Well, I'm still glad you're here. |
ANGLE: Spike and the BUFFY/First.
| BUFFY/FIRST |
| Yeah, she needs you real bad. |
Spike just clenches his jaw.
As Buffy wipes the blood from her face Angel retrieves his folder, pulls out some papers, handing them to Buffy. She scans them.
| BUFFY |
| I'll have the guys run through this, see if there's anything new. Reliable source? |
| ANGEL |
| Not remotely. |
| BUFFY |
| Well, any port in an apocalypse... |
| ANGEL |
| I brought something else as well. |
He pulls the AMULET out of his pocket. She stares at it.
| BUFFY |
| I can already tell you, I don't have anything that goes with this. |
| ANGEL |
| It's not for you. |
| BUFFY |
| Splainy? |
| ANGEL |
| I don't know everything. It's very powerful and probably very dangerous. Has a purifying power... or a cleansing power – or possibly scrubbing bubbles, the translation is... anyway, it bestows strength, worn by the right person. |
| BUFFY |
| And the right person is... |
| ANGEL |
| Someone ensouled, but stronger than human. A champion. As in me. |
| BUFFY |
| Or me. |
| ANGEL |
| No. I don't know nearly enough about this to risk you wearing it. Besides, you've already got that cool axe-thing. |
| BUFFY |
| So you're gonna be with me in this. |
| ANGEL |
| Shoulder to shoulder. I'm yours. |
ANGLE: Spike silently retreats.
Buffy looks at Angel warmly.
| BUFFY |
| No. |
| ANGEL |
| No, what? |
| BUFFY |
| No, you're not gonna be in this fight. |
She starts to leave as he follows, unhappy. Stops her near the entrance.
| ANGEL |
| Why the hell not? |
| BUFFY |
| 'Cause I can't risk you. |
| ANGEL |
| You need me in this. |
| BUFFY |
| No, I need you gone. |
| ANGEL |
| Why? |
She thinks a moment, before:
| BUFFY |
| If I lose... if this gets past Sunnydale, then it's days – or hours – before the rest of the world goes. I need a second front and I need you to run it. |
| ANGEL |
| If I'm here, we have a better shot at capping this thing. I've read the files -- |
| BUFFY |
| Well, I've lived the files, and I... if I can't win this... it's my fight, |
| ANGEL |
| . It might be my last. But it's mine. |
A beat, as he takes it in.
| ANGEL |
| Okay. That's one reason. What's the other? |
| BUFFY |
| There is no other. |
She heads out.
3 EXT. GRAVEYARD – NIGHT
She exits, gets a few yards away before he appears at the entrance, calling after her:
| ANGEL |
| Is it Spike? |
She stops, turns. Not overly anxious to look him in the eye. He approaches.
| ANGEL (cont'd) |
| You're not telling me something. And... his scent. I remember it pretty well. |
| BUFFY |
| You vampires... did anybody ever tell you that the whole smelling everybody thing is a little gross? |
| ANGEL |
| Is he your boyfriend? |
| BUFFY |
| Is that your business? |
| ANGEL |
| Are you in love with him? |
Beat. Buffy can't answer.
| ANGEL (cont'd) |
| Maybe I'm outta line here, but this is kind of a curveball for me. We are talking about Spike here. |
| BUFFY |
| It's different. He's different. He has a soul now. |
| ANGEL |
| Oh. Well. |
| BUFFY |
| What. |
| ANGEL |
| No, no, that's great. |
| (mumbling) |
| Everyone's got a soul now. |
| BUFFY |
| What are you, pissed? |
| ANGEL |
| No, it's great. One for our side. |
| BUFFY |
| He'll make a difference. |
| ANGEL |
| (almost to himself) |
| You know, I started it. |
| (right to her) |
| The whole... having a soul. Before it was all the "cool new thing"... |
| BUFFY |
| Oh my god, are you twelve? |
| ANGEL |
| I'm getting' the brush off for Captain Peroxide, it doesn't bring out the champion in me. |
| BUFFY |
| It's not the brush off. Having both of you here would be... confusing. |
| ANGEL |
| For who? |
| BUFFY |
| Everybody! Why are you so -- are you gonna come and get all Dawson on me every time I have a boyfriend? |
| ANGEL |
| Aha! Boyfriend! |
| BUFFY |
| He's not! But... |
| (thinks about it) |
| He is in my heart. |
| ANGEL |
| That'll end well. |
| BUFFY |
| And what was the highlight of our relationship? The time you broke up with me or the time I killed you? |
He backs down, the fight going out of both of them. She leans against a crypt, placing the file atop it.
| BUFFY (cont'd) |
| I'm well aware of my stellar history with guys, and no, I don't see fat grandchildren in the offering with Spike, but... I don't think that matters right now. |
| (thinks a moment) |
| You know, in the midst of all this... insanity, couple things are actually starting to make sense. And the guy thing... |
He joins her, also leaning on the crypt.
| BUFFY (cont'd) |
| You know I've always figured there was something wrong with me, 'cause I never made it work. But maybe I'm not supposed to. |
| ANGEL |
| Because you're the Slayer. |
| BUFFY |
| Because... okay, I'm cookie dough, okay? |
| ANGEL |
| Yet another curveball... |
| BUFFY |
| I'm not done baking yet. I'm not finished becoming... whoever the hell it is I'm gonna turn out to be. I've been looking for someone to make me feel whole, and maybe I just need to be whole. I make it through this, and the next thing, and the next... maybe one day I turn around and realize I'm ready. I'm cookies. And then if I want someone to eat m -- or, to enjoy warm delicious cookie-me, then that's fine. That'll be then. When I'm done. |
| ANGEL |
| Any thoughts on who might enjoy... do I have to go with the cookie analogy? |
| BUFFY |
| I don't really think that far ahead. That's kind of the point. |
| ANGEL |
| I get it. |
A beat, and he hands her the amulet.
| ANGEL (cont'd) |
| I'll start working on the second front. Make sure I don't have to use it. |
A beat, his hand on hers, and he starts off.
| BUFFY |
| Angel. I do. Sometimes... think that far ahead. |
He stops. Smiles a bit.
| ANGEL |
| Sometimes is something. |
| BUFFY |
| It'd be a long time coming. Years, if ever. |
He walks backwards into the dark, smiling at her.
| ANGEL |
| I ain't getting' any older. |
He disappears into shadow. She watches him go.
4 INT. SUMMERS' HOME - FOYER/LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Buffy enters, contemplative. She closes the door and then looks up to see DAWN glaring at her. She looks over and XANDER is sitting in the dining room, looking pained and sheepish, ANYA rubbing his head. GILES and WILLOW are also there. Buffy looks back at Dawn.
Dawn silently kicks Buffy in the sheen. A beat.
| BUFFY |
| Ow... |
| DAWN |
| Dumbass. |
Buffy looks over at Xander, who just throws up his hands.
| XANDER |
| Don't look at me, this is a Summers' thing. It's all very violent. |
| BUFFY |
| (to Dawn) |
| You get killed, I'm telling. |
| WILLOW |
| Did you find out anything about the scythe? |
| BUFFY |
| I found out it slices, dices and makes julienne preacher. |
| GILES |
| Caleb? |
| BUFFY |
| I cut him in half. I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty neat. |
| WILLOW |
| Well all right! |
| ANYA |
| He had that coming. |
| XANDER |
| Party in my eye-socket and everyone's invited! |
| (beat) |
| Sometimes I shouldn't say words. |
| BUFFY |
| (re: scythe) |
| I did found out some history on this puppy. I'll fill you in --And I got some... |
| (hands over files) |
| ...files, might be helpful, and |
| (produces amulet) |
| This. Supposed to be powerful. Don't know much more. |
| GILES |
| Where'd you get all this? |
| BUFFY |
| Angel. |
| DAWN |
| Angel? |
| GILES |
| He's here. |
| BUFFY |
| I sent him back to L.A. To prepare. |
She heads out toward the basement, turning back to add:
| BUFFY |
| (cont'd) If We fail. |
| XANDER |
| Operative word "If." |
| ANYA |
| Operative word "Fail." |
| DAWN |
| Operative word "Wheeee!" |
| (crickets) |
| Nobody gets me. |
5 INT. SUMMERS' HOME - BASEMENT - NIGHT
Buffy comes down the steps. Spike sits in the moonlight, no shirt, looking off. Sees her.
| SPIKE |
| So where's Tall, Dark and Forehead? |
| BUFFY |
| Let me guess. You can smell him. |
| SPIKE |
| Yeah, that and I also used my advanced vampire eyes to watch you kissing him. |
Busted.
| BUFFY |
| It was a... hello. I was surprised. |
| SPIKE |
| Most people don't use their tongues to say hello. Or, I guess they do, but -- |
| BUFFY |
| There was no tongues. Besides, he's gone. |
| SPIKE |
| Just popped round for a quickie, then? |
| BUFFY |
| Good, good, I haven't had quite enough jealous vampire crap. |
| SPIKE |
| He wears lifts, you know. |
| BUFFY |
| One of these days, I'm gonna put you two in a room and let you rassle it out. |
| SPIKE |
| No problem at this end. |
| BUFFY |
| (warming up to it) |
| There could maybe be oil of some kind involved... |
| SPIKE |
| Where's the trinket? |
| BUFFY |
| The who-ket? |
| SPIKE |
| The pretty necklace your sweetie-bear gave you. The one with all the power. I believe it's mine now. |
| BUFFY |
| How do you figure? |
| SPIKE |
| Someone with a soul, but more than human... Angel meant to wear it, that means I'm the qualified party. |
| BUFFY |
| It's volatile. We don't know... |
| SPIKE |
| You need someone strong to bear it, then. You were planning on giving it to Andrew? |
| BUFFY |
| Angel said... this amulet is meant to be worn by a champion. A beat, as he deflates. Then |
| BUFFY |
| holds it out to him, and he understands her meaning. Slowly takes it. |
| SPIKE |
| Been called a lot of things in my time... |
| BUFFY |
| I want you to be careful. |
| SPIKE |
| You're talking to the wrong guy, love. |
| (feeling it) |
| This is powerful. |
A beat, as he turns it over in his hand.
| BUFFY |
| (quietly) |
| Faith's still got my room. |
| SPIKE |
| (looks up) |
| Well, you're not staying here! Can't buy me off with shiny beads and sweet talk -- you've got Angel breath. |
She looks down, nods quietly.
| SPIKE (cont'd) |
| Won't just let you whack me back and forth like a rubber ball. I've got my pride, you know. |
She starts to go.
| BUFFY |
| I understand. |
| SPIKE |
| (moves to block) |
| Clearly you don't, since that whole "having my pride" thing was just a smokescreen. |
| BUFFY |
| (very relieved) |
| Oh thank god. |
| SPIKE |
| I don't know what I would have done if you'd gone up those stairs. |
She touches his face.
| BUFFY |
| Let's not find out. |
6 INT. SUMMERS' HOME - BASEMENT - NIGHT
It is later, and Buffy is wrapped in Spike's arms, facing away from him. They both wear enough to indicate they did not get sweaty. Spike sleeps, but Buffy cannot. She looks at his hand, resting on the bed in front of her. Runs her hand along it.
After a moment, Spike rolls over, and Buffy takes the opportunity to sit up. She's wearing sweatshorts or something modest and sleepingy. Gets up and crosses to the window, looks out of it, bathed in moonlight.
Caleb emerges from the darkness right next to her.
| CALEB/FIRST |
| Pretty, ain't it? |
She jumps a bit, then recovers.
| BUFFY |
| You're not him. |
| CALEB/FIRST |
| No, you killed him right and proper. Terrible loss. This man was my good right arm. 'Course it doesn't pay me too much. Don't need an arm. Got an army. |
| BUFFY |
| An army of vampires. However will I fight a bunch of -- oh, right, I've been doing that for years! |
| CALEB/FIRST |
| Every day our numbers swell. But then, you do have an army of your own. Some thirty-odd pimply-faced girls don't know the pointy end of a stake, maybe I should call this off! |
| BUFFY |
| Have you ever considered a cool name? Since you're incorporeal and basically powerless you could call yourself "The Taunter." Strikes fear... |
| CALEB/FIRST |
| I will overrun this earth. |
| BUFFY |
| You know how many people have said this to me? |
| CALEB/FIRST |
| I do, since they all had a small part of me in them. Whereas I have all of me in me, so I like my chances somewhat better. And when my army outnumbers the humans on this earth the scales will tip and I will be made flesh. |
| BUFFY |
| Talk on. I'm not afraid of you. |
| CALEB/FIRST |
| Then why aren't you asleep in your dead lover's arms? |
She looks over at Spike, doesn't answer.
| CALEB/FIRST (count'd) |
| 'Cause he can't help you. Nor Faith, nor your friends... certainly not your little wannaslay brigade. Non of those girlies will ever know real power unless you're dead. You know the drill. |
And here he morphs into Buffy herself, coming close to say:
| BUFFY/FIRST |
| Into every generation a slayer is born. One girl in all the world. She alone will have the strength and skill to fight the... well, there's that word again. What you are. How you'll die. Alone. |
| BUFFY |
| takes this in, says nothing. |
| BUFFY/FIRST (cont'd) |
| Where's your snappy comeback? |
| BUFFY |
| (softly) |
| You're right. |
| BUFFY/FIRST |
| Mmm. not your best. |
| SPIKE |
| I'm drowning in footwear. |
Buffy looks over at Spike, who wakes with a start. She looks back to Spike, who shakes it off:
| SPIKE (cont'd) |
| Weird dream. |
She doesn't answer.
| SPIKE (cont'd) |
| Buffy? Is something wrong? |
She takes her time looking back at him, something quietly building in her.
| BUFFY |
| No. Yes. I just realized something. Something that really never occurred to me before. |
He sits up, quizzical.
| BUFFY (cont'd) |
| We're gonna win. |
| END OF ACT ONE |
| ACT TWO |
7 INT. SUMMERS' HOME - BUFFY'S BEDROOM - DAY
Buffy is there with the gang (Dawn, FAITH, Xander, Willow, Giles, Anya). Buffy has the scythe. Faith is out of bed, working out kinks in her neck and arms, testing her strength as she listens.
| BUFFY |
| Well? What do you think? |
A beat.
| XANDER |
| That depends. |
| (sincere question) |
| Are you kidding? |
| BUFFY |
| You don't think it's a good idea? |
| FAITH |
| It's pretty radical, B. |
| GILES |
| It's more than that. Buffy, what you're talking about flies in the face of everything we've ever -- that every generation has ever done in the fight against evil. |
| (smiles) |
| I think it's bloody brilliant. |
| BUFFY |
| You mean that? |
| GILES |
| If you want my opinion. |
| BUFFY |
| I really do. |
| WILLOW |
| Whoa hey, not to poop on the party, but I'm the guy who's gonna have to pull this off. |
| FAITH |
| It is beaucoup d'mojo... |
| DAWN |
| Is it even possible? |
| GILES |
| I believe it is, if what Buffy has told us about the weapon is true. |
| WILLOW |
| Not to careen back to the me subject, but... I'm... this is beyond anything I've ever done. This is total loss of control, and not in a nice, wholesome, my-girl-friend-has-a-pierced-tongue way. |
| BUFFY |
| I wouldn't ask if I didn't think you could do it. |
| WILLOW |
| I'm just not sure I'm stable enough to -- |
| ANYA |
| Oh, sure y'are. You're as stable as the molecules in Mister Fantastic's uniform, am I right? |
| XANDER |
| Oh, you just couldn't have picked a worse example. |
| GILES |
| You're going to do this, Willow. Get the coven on the line, see how they can help. I'll -- |
| DAWN |
| Oh! |
| (off their looks) |
| "pierced tongue." |
| BUFFY (quickly) |
| Dawn should do a research thing. |
| GILES |
| Yes, you -- |
| DAWN |
| It's cool. Watcher Junior to the library. |
| (as she goes to Buffy) |
| You get to save the world, I get more homework. |
| BUFFY |
| You could have been on Oxnard... |
| GILES |
| I'll start digging up my sources. Literally, actually; there's one or two people I need to talk to who are dead. |
| ANYA |
| (to XANDER) |
| Come on. Let's go assemble the cannon fodder. |
| XANDER |
| We're not calling them that, sweetie. |
| ANYA |
| Not to their faces -- what am I, insensitive? |
| BUFFY |
| Willow... |
| WILLOW |
| (re: scythe) |
| I'm gonna need to run an energy scan on that puppy. To start with. |
| FAITH |
| Sure you're ready to give it up? |
Buffy hands the scythe to Willow.
| BUFFY (V.O.) |
| I hate this. |
8 INT. SUMMERS' HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Every single person ever is in the house, packed like th' little fishes. There is just enough room for BUFFY to pace a little, inspirational-seargant-style, as she speaks. The newbies await Buffy's latest proclamation with initial distrust.
| BUFFY |
| I hate being here, I hate that you have to be here. I hate that there's evil, that it's growing, and I hate that I was chosen to fight it. I wish a whole lot of the time that I hadn't been. |
| (smiling wryly) |
| I know a lot of you wish I hadn't been either. |
KENNEDY and VI smile a bit, others look embarrassed.
| BUFFY (cont'd) |
| But this isn't about wishes. This is about choices. I never had one. I was chosen. And I accepted that. I'm not asking you to accept anything. I'm asking you to make your own choice. I believe we can beat this evil -- not when it comes, not after its army is ready, but now. Tomorrow morning I'm opening the seal. I'm going down into the Hellmouth and I'm going to finish it once and for all. |
We see the gang as Buffy continues.
| BUFFY (cont'd) |
| I've got strong allies: warriors, charms, sorcerers, and I'll need them all. But I'll also need you, every single one of you. So now you're asking yourself, "What makes this different? What makes us anything more than a bunch of girls being picked off one by one?" It's true none of you has the power that Faith and I have. I think both of us would have to die for a new Slayer to be called, and we can't even be sure that girl is in this room. That's the rule. So here's the part where you make a choice. |
9 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - BASEMENT - DAY
Faith and WOOD finish moving something big and metal in front of the gate. Sweaty work.
| WOOD |
| It's a hell of a risky idea. |
| FAITH |
| Buffy's wacky that way. |
| WOOD |
| There's one more vent right by the stairs. |
| (they head for it) |
| We block that, they got no sewer access, should drive them up into the school proper. |
| FAITH |
| That's assuming they get past us. |
| WOOD |
| Which, no offence, I am. |
| FAITH |
| Come on, you gotta have a little faith. |
| WOOD |
| (sardonic) |
| Think I've had my share, thanks. |
| FAITH |
| Well, I trundled right into that, didn't I. look, I'm sorry if it seemed like I was blowing you off the other day, I was just trying to, you know... blow you off. |
They start covering the vent by the stairs with stuff.
| WOOD |
| I figured that out, all by myself. |
| FAITH |
| It's nothing personal, it's just... after I get bouncy with a guy, there's not a whole lot more I need to know about him. |
| WOOD |
| That's bleak. |
| FAITH |
| Way of the world. |
| WOOD |
| Good to know. For a second there, I was mistaking it for more defensive, isolationist Slayer crap. |
| FAITH |
| And he comes out swingin'... |
| WOOD |
| There is a whole world you don't even know about, and a lot of the men in it are pretty decent guys. They'd surprise you. |
| FAITH |
| Guy looks at me, let's just say his priorities shift. |
| WOOD |
| 'Cause you're so hot? |
| FAITH |
| Is what it is, yo. |
| WOOD |
| Please. I'm much prettier than you. |
Faith starts in open-mouthed, Victorian shock -- she actually puts a hand to her breast.
| WOOD (cont'd) |
| And for the record, our little encounter didn't exactly change my world. |
| FAITH |
| You're tripping! I was rock 'em sock 'em! |
| WOOD |
| Oh, it was nice enough... you're very... ethuesed... with a little more experience I think you'll really... |
| FAITH |
| Dude, I got mad skills! |
| WOOD |
| No, of course. |
| (re: work) |
| Let's finish up. |
| FAITH |
| Hell with that. We're going again! You're gonna learn a little respect here, pal. |
She starts pulling off her shirt, Wood stopping her with:
| WOOD |
| Faith. Make me a deal. We live through this, you give me the chance to surprise you. |
| FAITH |
| (suspicious) |
| What would be the surprise? |
| WOOD |
| You do know the meaning of the word, right? |
| FAITH |
| Fine. Deal. |
| WOOD |
| Good enough. |
They start moving heavy shit again.
| FAITH |
| No way are you prettier than me. |
| WOOD |
| Little bit. |
10 INT. SUMMERS' HOME - WILOW'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Willow has the scythe on her bed, along with a bunch of books and papers, mystical objects and Kennedy. Willow is scribbling down a mystical equation, looking nervous as a kitten.
| WILLOW |
| I really wish she hadn't said that about me. |
| KENNEDY |
| What, the thing Buffy said? I think it's true. |
| WILLOW |
| (helpless face) |
| Ehheh. |
| KENNEDY |
| I'll be with you. To keep you grounded. |
| WILLOW |
| (spear-jab motion) |
| You may have to keep me stabded... if I go to the bad place. |
| KENNEDY |
| You're saying I might have to kill you. |
| WILLOW |
| I am. |
| KENNEDY |
| Bite me. |
| WILLOW |
| I will. I mean, I do. Mean it. If I go south, you gotta protect the others. |
| KENNEDY |
| It's not gonna happen. |
| WILLOW |
| The darkest place I've ever been -- this is what lies beyond that. This is too important for me to... |
| KENNEDY |
| Buffy believes in you. |
| WILLOW |
| You know, Buffy: Sweet girl, not that bright. |
| KENNEDY |
| Hey, I'm the first to call her out when she's not making sense... in fact this may have escaped your key notice, but I'm kind of a brat. I've sort of always gotten my way. So you're gonna make it through this, no matter how dark it gets. Because now... you're my way. |
And smooch.
| WILLOW |
| I better go over it again. |
11 INT. SUMMERS' HOUSE - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Giles sits at the table with Xander. There is a pile of books and plans before us, so we can't see the map they are referring to. AMANDA looks on, and an AD potential. They are tired, but earnest.
| GILES |
| I've gotten turned around. You're here. |
| XANDER |
| By the pillar, yeah. I'm protecting this area. |
| GILES |
| That puts me here. By the door. Demons around the perimeter... right. So I open the door. |
Widen to find Andrew, reading from an old rule book with some handwritten notes on loose leaf. And, oh, he's wearing a red cloak, hood up.
| ANDREW |
| You go through the door... you are confronted by Trogdor the Burninator. |
| GILES |
| Bugger all. Fight. |
Giles rolls ten-sided dice.
| ANDREW |
| Adios to five hit points. Togdor has badly wounded you. |
| GILES |
| What about my bag of illusions? |
| ANDREW |
| Illusions? Against a burninator? |
| (chuckles) |
| Silly, silly British man. |
| AMANDA |
| I invoke a time flux on Trogdor. |
| ANDREW |
| Step down, girlfriend, you can't just -- |
| AMANDA |
| Ninth level sorcerer, and I carry the emerald chalice. Togdor is frozen in time, deal with it. |
| XANDER |
| Smackdown on red riding hood! This could get ugly. |
| GILES |
| Could it possibly get uglier? I used to be a highly respected Watcher. Now I'm a wounded dwarf with the mystical strength of a doily. |
| (rubs his eyes) |
| I wish I could just sleep. |
| AMANDA |
| What kind of person could sleep on a night like this? |
WIDEN to find Anya, head on the table, snoring away. Xander puts a hand on her head, affectionately.
| XANDER |
| Only the crazy ones. |
12 INT. SUMMERS' HOME - DAWN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
A messload of Potentials are in the room, some with sleeping bags, some just hanging, all more or less sitting at the feet of Dawn, who sits on her bed, in mid-tale.
| DAWN |
| And the Master grabbed Buffy from behind and bit her, she tried to move but he was too strong, he fed on her blood and he tossed her in the water, cackling insanely as the bubbles rose around her and she slowly drowned to death. |
| VI |
| (upset) |
| Do you have any other stories? |
| DAWN |
| She gets up again, it's very romantic. Guys, you gotta stop worrying. It's Buffy. She always saves the day. |
13 EXT. SUMMERS' HOME - NIGHT
Buffy stands on the front porch, worried as hell and very much alone. After a long while, she takes the lantern and heads inside.
14 INT. SUMMERS HOME - BASEMENT - NIGHT
Spike sits, shirted this time, on the bed. He looks at the amulet, thinking.
He stands as Buffy comes down the stairs. They stand on opposite sides of the room, looking at each other.
15 EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - DAY
Tableau: the deserted school. A couple of buses, one of them half way in the road, doors open.
We push in at the school, slowly, until Wood blows past us, girls in tow, and we see the gang headed in.
16 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - DAY
We're still behind Wood as he leads the group, that we now see includes Buffy, stopping at the big space at the bottom of the stairs.
| WOOD |
| Welcome to Sunnydale High. There's no running in the halls, no yelling, and no gum. Apart from that we have only one rule. |
| (stops and turns) |
| If they move, kill 'em. |
| BUFFY |
| Potentials are in the basement, follow Faith and Spike. |
Spike and Faith herd the girls down the hall.
| XANDER |
| If you have to go to the bathroom, it's on the left. If you don't have to go to the bathroom, picture what you're about to face. Better to go NOW. |
The gang clusters around this area as orders and plans continue to rattle out of people:
| WOOD |
| Willow, my office is through there. |
| BUFFY |
| It's right over the Seal. |
| KENNEDY |
| (takes Will's bag) |
| I'll start getting you set up. |
| WILLOW |
| Thanks. |
| WOOD |
| Okay, civilians. The vampires get upstairs we have three areas they could get through to another building and down into the sewers. |
The camera whips around them as he points them out.
| WOOD (cont'd) |
| Down the hall in the atrium, the north hall here, and the primary target, through the lounge to the science building. Odds are, most of them will head there. Easy to find, big, no sunlight. |
| GILES |
| Teams of two then, and I suggest you and I take the lounge. |
| WOOD |
| I concur. |
| BUFFY |
| Xander, I want you with Dawn. |
| XANDER |
| I concur. |
| DAWN |
| We'll take the atrium. |
| ANYA |
| So that leaves me and the dungeon muster in the north hall. |
| ANDREW |
| We will defend it with our very lives. |
| ANYA |
| Yes, we'll defend it with his very life. |
| XANDER |
| Don't be afraid to use him as a human shield. |
| ANYA |
| Good, yes, thanks. |
| ANDREW |
| And I just wanna say how proud I am to die for this very special cause with you guys. |
| (unfolding paper) |
| There's some people I'd like to thank, both good and evil... a shout out to my brother Tucker, who gave me inspiration to summon demons and also -- |
| ANYA |
| Nobody cares, ya little monkey. |
Anya drags Andrew off as Wood also goes off into his corner.
| DAWN |
| I'm gonna check out our field of engagement. |
She starts down the hall. Buffy goes after her.
| BUFFY |
| Dawn... |
| DAWN |
| No. |
Dawn turns back, not waiting for Buffy to speak.
| DAWN (cont'd) |
| Anything you say is gonna sound like goodbye. |
And she turns and goes. Buffy watches her. Turns back and joins the group.
There is a moment, all of them looking at each other, and we realize it's the original four: Buffy, Giles, Willow and Xander. The camera slowly circles around them as they realize it too, look at each other with unspoken feeling. Finally:
| BUFFY |
| So. What do you guys wanna do tomorrow? |
| WILLOW |
| Nothing strenuous... |
| XANDER |
| Mini-golf is always the first thing that comes to mind. |
| GILES |
| Well, I think we can do better than that. |
| BUFFY |
| I'm pretty much thinking about shopping. As usual. |
| WILLOW |
| There's an Agnes B. in the new mall! |
| XANDER |
| I could use a few items. |
| GILES |
| Well, no, aren't we gonna discuss that? We're saving the world to go to the mall? |
| BUFFY |
| I'm having a wicked shoe craving. |
| XANDER |
| Aren't you on the patch? |
| WILLOW |
| Those never work. |
| GILES |
| And I'm just here, invisible to the eye, not getting any vote... |
And the kids are headed off, leaving Giles to watch them.
| XANDER |
| See, I need a new look; it's the eye-patch thing. |
| BUFFY |
| Right, do you go with the full black secret agent look -- |
| WILLOW |
| Or the puffy shirt pirate-slash-poet feel. Sensitive yet manly... |
| XANDER |
| Now you're getting' a little renaissance fair on me. |
| BUFFY |
| It's a fine line. |
Giles turns away from them.
| GILES |
| The earth is definitely doomed. |
He heads off into his corner.
ANGLE: the three of them. They walk together, in slightly slow motion, down the hall. Willow peels off, then Xander, everyone casually talking, any other day, until Buffy is alone. There is no sound save music.
17 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - BASEMENT HALL/SEAL ROOM - DAY
Buffy comes down the stairs and on top of the music, we hear voices, remembered voices, phrases from her past -- her first meeting with her friends, key moments together, it all builds and jumbles in her head as she walks along the hall until she reaches
| SPIKE |
| Time to go to work, love. |
He is standing at the end of the hall. He indicates the Potentials. Some are crowded outside the chamber 'cause there's not enough room for everyone. Buffy is let through, moves to the edge of the seal, next to Faith, who holds out Andrew's knife.
| FAITH |
| You're first, B. |
Buffy takes the knife, cuts her hand, lets it drip onto the Seal. Faith takes the knife --
| FAITH (cont'd) |
| Pucker up, ladies. We're going to Hell. |
-- and slices her own hand with casual aplomb.
Hands over the knife to Amanda, who is much more hesitant...
DISSOLVE TO:
18 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - SEAL ROOM - A BIT LATER
As girls all around the circle, are holding out their hands...
ANGLE: The SEAL -- starts to open.
A moment of watching it, and Buffy starts down.
19 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD'S OFFICE - DAY
Willow sits on the floor, the scythe in front of her and mystical objects arranged. Kennedy watches her from the other side of the room.
| WILLOW |
| They should be in place. Okay. Magic time. You ready to... heh heh... kill me? |
| KENNEDY |
| Starting to be... |
| WILLOW |
| Great. Fun. Right. |
| (takes a breath) |
| Brace yourself. |
She shuts her eyes.
| KENNEDY |
| (quietly) |
| Com on, Red. Make it happen. |
20 INT. CAVERN - DAY
Buffy, Faith and a few girls have climbed down, as more follow. Spike comes abreast of Buffy.
| SPIKE |
| Not to be a buzzkill, luv, but my fabulous accessory isn't exactly tingling with power. |
| BUFFY |
| I'm not worried. |
| SPIKE |
| I'm getting zero juice here. And I look like Elizabeth Taylor. |
| FAITH |
| Cheer up, Liz. Willow's big spell doesn't work, it won't matter what you wear. |
| BUFFY |
| I'm not worried. |
She is looking straight ahead, and the others pay attention as they approach:
ANGLE: THE PRECIPICE, beyond which is an ENDLESS cavern swarming with THOUSANDS of Ubervamps.
ANGLE: OUR GUYS stare down at them.
| BUFFY (cont'd) |
| (catatonic) |
| I'm not worried... |
| RONA |
| (whisper) |
| Really? 'Cause I'm switching back to Xander's whole bathroom speech. |
| AMANDA |
| Buffy? |
| BUFFY | (closes her eyes) |
| Now Willow Now Willow Now.... |
| AMANDA |
| (more worried) |
| Buffy... |
| BUFFY |
| I'm not worried! As long as Willow can work the spell before they -- |
As one, the vamps see the girls and charge, screaming.
| BUFFY (cont'd) |
| -- see us. |
| END OF ACT TWO |
| ACT THREE |
21 INT. CAVERN - CONTINUING
The girls await the really noisy death approaching off camera. They are, hey, terrified.
| BUFFY |
| (quietly) |
| Willow... |
22 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD'S OFFICE - CONTINUING
Willow is mumbling something rapidfire under her breath.
| KENNEDY |
| Willow? |
Willow stabs her a SHUT UP look, her lips still moving.
23 INT. CAVERN - CONTINUING
On Buffy and Faith, starting to think about retreat...
24 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD'S OFFICE - CONTINUING
Willow suddenly tenses up, eyes wide, as light begins to fill the room... We do a series of quick dissolves, moving in at her...
| WILLOW |
| Oh... |
| WILLOW (cont'd) |
| My... |
| WILLOW (cont'd) |
| Goddess. |
Kennedy falls back, slammed by something unseen.
| KENNEDY |
| NNnnhhhhaahhhh.... |
25 INT. SUMMERS' HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY (DAY 2)
We flash back now to the second half of Buffy's speech to the Potentials, picking it up again at:
| BUFFY |
| So here's the part where you make a choice. |
And we lay in a SERIES OF IMAGES to be INTERCUT with the living room scene. Some of Buffy's speech we see, some we just hear over the images. What she has to say is this:
| BUFFY (cont'd) |
| What if you could have that power? Now. All of you. In every generation one Slayer is born because a bunch of guys that died thousands of years ago made up that rule. They were powerful men. |
| (points to Willow) |
| This woman is more powerful than all of them combined. So I say we change the rules. I say my power should be our power. Tomorrow Willow will use the essence of this scythe, that contains the energy and history of so many Slayers, to change our destiny. From now on, every girl in the world who might be a Slayer, will be a Slayer. Every girl who could have the power, will have the power. Who can stand up, will stand up. Every one of you, and girls we've never known, and generations to come... they will have strength they never dreamed of, and more than that, they will have each other. Slayers. Every one of us. Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong? |
And what we see is the present, the moment of the spell's cosummation, in different places:
26 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD'S OFFICE - DAY
Kennedy's head rears into frame, her eyes sparkling with power.
27 INT. CAVERN - DAY
We steadicam along the row of Potentials as they too absorb the power. It's a rushing wind, a hammer blow, it's hard, soft, confusing, a first orgasm, a perfect equation, a fevered dream... it's power.
And it's happening everywhere.
28 INT. INDIA - NIGHT
A girl has fallen to the floor, wide-eyed as the power and knowledge course through her.
29 INT. INNER CITY SCHOOL - DAY
Unnoticed by the throng, an AFRICAN AMERICAN GIRL leans against her locker, breathing hard, looking almost puzzled.
30 INT. TRAILER - DAY
We see the back of a beefy fellow as he is about to strike someone -- and HER hand blocks his blow. She rises into frame, slightly bruised and bleeding, but with a cold fury in her eyes that suggests that won't be happening again.
31 INT. JAPANEESE HOME - NIGHT
The family is having dinner as the DAUGHTER backs away from the table, trying to keep her balance.
32 EXT. BASEBALL DIAMOND - DAY
A twelve year old girl stands uncertainly at the plate as the power hits her: she takes it in, looking down in confusion... then looking back up, slowly, her stance straightening and a wicked grin on her face.
AND FINALLY BACK TO:
33 INT. CAVERN - CONTINUING
As the girls come out of slo-mo into their own.
| AMANDA |
| Sweet fancy moses. |
Buffy and Faith beam at each other.
| FAITH |
| You feel it? |
| BUFFY |
| I really do. |
Faith looks ahead, they all steel themselves, various expressions of readiness and uncertainty on various faces...
| FAITH |
| Everybody, hold the line... |
| BUFFY |
| Only thing between them and the world is us. So hold. |
| VI |
| (dead cool) |
| These guys are dust. |
And the first wave hits, the vamps cresting the edge en masse, swarming over the girls --
Sorry. "Slayers". Who take the horde and beat it back, every single one of them slicing, kicking, twirling, punching, slaying like they've been doing it all their lives.
They are taking out a bunch (Spike keeping his end up just fine, thank you), holding off other -- but the vamps keep coming, endlessly. It's brutal and dark and sweaty and bloody and I love it, I love it.
34 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD'S OFFICE - DAY
Kennedy is giddy, still out there.
| KENNEDY |
| Oh, this is... |
She stops, the smile leaving her face as she sees Willow.
| KENNEDY (cont'd) |
| (small voice) |
| Willow? |
ANGLE: WILLOW
Is blown by a force so powerful, so loving, that she is bathed in pure white wind, her hair is actually white, streaming out behind her, her smile a bowl to catch her tears.
A moment of transcedence, then it ends, the wind sucking out of her and her appearance returning to normal. She is clearly completely spent.
| KENNEDY (cont'd) |
| You are a Goddess. |
| WILLOW |
| And you're a Slayer. |
She tosses Kennedy the scythe.
| WILLOW (cont'd) |
| Get this to Buffy. |
Kennedy looks at her a moment, then runs off. Willow collapses onto her side, giggling like dope.
| WILLOW (cont'd) |
| That was nifty. |
35 INT. CAVERN - DAY
Buffy is near the edge, fighting just about everyone she can touch. She tosses a vamp over the side, stakes another, then takes a couple of brutal hits.
Kennedy jumps down through the Seal opening, calls out:
| KENNEDY |
| Buffy! Catch! |
And she hurls the scythe right at her.
ANGLE: THE SCYTHE twirls through the air.
Buffy is fighting, catches it without even looking back, and dispatches two vamps immediately.
Kennedy is attacked and jumps high, kicks hard -- pummels vamps with newfound power.
| KENNEDY (cont'd) |
| Oh, I could get used to this. |
ANGLE: SPIKE
Doing his thing.
ANGLE: AMANDA AND VI
Doing something surprisingly similar to Spike's thing.
ANGLE: BUFFY
As she flips the axe in her hand for the big swing, we see:
SLO MO TABLEAU:
The war. Buffy in foreground, axe swinging through an already dusting vamp, a war cry bursting through her mouth. Faith beside her, kicking the face of another vamp. In mid air in the background, a vamp and a Slayer LEAP at each other, above the heads of the warring crowd. There is nothing to see here but the sprawling, brawling mob. Everybody's kung fu fighting.
ANGLE: A few vamps get thrown into the back, see the Seal opening and scurry up it. More follow.
36 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - LOUNGE - DAY
Giles and Wood look at each other -- they can hear them. Giles has a hand rolled cigarette. He offers it to Wood, who declines, blowing out a little smoke as Giles stamps out the cigarette. They hoist their swords.
37 INT - SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - ATRIUM - DAY
Xander and Dawn also wait.
| DAWN |
| You were gonna take me to Oxnard? |
| XANDER |
| I know some people there. You're in my blind spot. |
| DAWN |
| Ooh. |
She gingerly and swiftly changes sides with him.
38 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - NORTH HALL - DAY
Andrew and Anya, also in wait mode.
| ANDREW |
| I think they're coming... |
| ANYA |
| Oh God. I'm terrified. I didn't think... I just figured you would be terrified and I would be sarcastic about it. |
| ANDREW |
| (also shit-scared) |
| Picture happy things. A lake. Candy canes. Bunnies. |
Anya's eyes narrow.
| ANYA |
| Bunnies. Floppy, hoppy, bunnies. |
Her sword comes up, all her fear gone.
39 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - LOUNGE - DAY
A group of ubervamps come barreling down the hall towards Giles and Wood, who have blades at ready. They fight the vamps expertly, Giles scoring a beheading, but mostly just hold them off, being driven slowly back.
40 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - NORTH HALL - DAY
A few of them come at Anya -- who's pretty damn good with a sword -- and Andrew, who's Jerry Lewis with a sword, but somehow managing to keep them at bay...
A group of five Bringers appears in the hall behind them, all armed with knives and swords.
41 INT. CAVER - DAY
Spike is fighting, off in the corner, gets momentarily wigged by the amulet on his chest.
| SPIKE |
| Uh, Buffy...? |
But she is in the heat of battle.
| SPIKE (cont'd) |
| Whatever this thing does... I think it's... AHHH! |
He drops to his knees, stunned by pain.
ANGLE: A SLAYER that we don't know is leaped on and bitten by a vamp, goes down.
Buffy sees this, sees the army not getting smaller. Faith comes back to back with her. She is exhausted but game.
| FAITH |
| Think it's too late to talk this thing out? |
| BUFFY |
| (calls out to the girls) |
| Keep the line together! Drive them to the edge, we can't let them -- |
A sword slices through her back, pops out her belly, retracts.
Everything gets quiet. Buffy looks about her, unsteady, as Faith tackles the vamp behind her that's about to finish her off.
Buffy falls slowly to the ground, face first.
| END OF ACT THREE |
| ACT FOUR |
42 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - ATRIUM - DAY
Xander swings his sword, is driven back by vamps -- and Dawn yanks a rope, pulls a trap off the skylight, sunlight pouring in and BURNING the three vamps.
| XANDER |
| We call it the greenhouse effect. Very dangerous -- |
One other leaps on Xander, tackling him, weaponless, as Dawn grabs a sword, swings --
43 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - NORTH HALL - DAY
Wood, being pushed back with Giles, sees three Bringers approaching from behind, hurls a knife into one of their throats with perfect precision.
44 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - NORTH HAL - DAY
The Bringers descend on Andrew and Anya, driving them apart -- Andrew towards the north hall, Anya down the adjacent hall that leads outside. Andrew goes down, holding his sword out pathetically, a Bringer leaping onto him with a knife.
Anya slashes one, drops it -- and another comes from the side, she turns and is gutted, the Bringer stabbing her repeatedly as she drops, dead.
45 INT. CAVERN - DAY
Faith makes her way to Buffy, who still lies on the ground.
| FAITH |
| Buffy? |
| BUFFY |
| (weakly) |
| Hold the line... |
And she holds out her scythe to Faith. A moment, and Faith takes it. Stabs the guy behind her without looking at him. And then goes apeshit on the fuckers.
ANGLE: SPIKE
Searing pain racks his body. He tosses away a vamp, confusion and pain on his face. He clutches his stomach.
ANGLE: FAITH
As a vamp gets her around the neck from behind, they dogpile her, she calls out:
| FAITH |
| Rona! |
And tosses the Scythe to her as she is buried in vamps. Rona grabs it, starts hacking.
Buffy still wheezes, looking at legs and feet, everything a bit blurred, as Amanda drops right in front of her, eyes wide, very dead.
46 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - LOUNGE - DAY
Wood is fighting a Bringer, who slices him badly in the chest. Ubervamps run past him and Giles, free to escape into the next building.
47 INT. CAVERN - DAY
Two more Slayers fall, girls we don't know. KENNEDY is backed against a wall, her weapon knocked from her hand -- trying to steady herself...
Buffy still lies on the ground, looks up to see:
Yep, Buffy, or rather The First. Smiling at her, looking exactly like her, wound and all.
| BUFFY/FIRST |
| Ooh! Ow! Mommy! This mortal wound is all itchy! |
| (leans in) |
| You pulled a nice trick. Hey, you came pretty close to smacking me down. What more do you want? |
Buffy pulls herself up on her hands, fury in her eyes.
| BUFFY |
| I want you... to get out of my face. |
The First looks suddenly worried.
SLO MO: Buffy rises. Sweaty, blooded, hair in her face, but nothing but resolve in her eyes. The First is nowhere in sight as she takes a step forward, two, stumbling, hunched steps...
Rona sees her and throws her the scythe. Buffy catches it. Stands a little straighter.
And SCREAMS, and swings the back of the axe like it's a bat, knocking five vamps back and over the edge in one blow. Sauron himself would be, like, "dude..."
ANGLE: The pile of vamps on Faith flies back as she kicks out -- Faith kips up, also bloodied, also unbroken.
And the girls turn the tide, forcing the vamps back, many of them falling over the edge -- and at least one Slayer going with them.
ANGLE: SPIKE stumbles under the Seal opening.
| SPIKE |
| Oh, bollocks. |
And energy SHOOTS up from him, straight through
48 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - SEAL CHAMBER - CONTINUING
and up into
49 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD'S OFFICE - CONTINUING
bursting through the floor, narrowly missing the still-prone Willow, and continuing through the ceiling, from whence the noon sun pours straight back down.
| WILLOW |
| I didn't do that... |
50 INT. CAVERN - CONTINUING
The sun hits Spike and he is pinned, pain and something else building in him.
| SPIKE |
| Buffy... |
She sees, races to him --
| BUFFY |
| Spike! |
And has to dive out of the way as a prismed ray of pure, soulful sunlight blasts out of the amulet and into the cavern. It wipes out vamps instantly -- and even starts tearing apart the cavern.
| FAITH |
| Everybody out! Now! |
The girls fight their way to the exit. Everything is shaking. Buffy comes to Spike. He is pinned in place, energy still blasting from him.
| SPIKE |
| I can feel it, Buffy. |
| BUFFY |
| What? |
| SPIKE |
| My soul. It's really there. Kinda stings. |
51 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - DAY
As debris falls and everything shakes, the Slayers run out towards the entrance.
52 EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - CONTINUING
Giles is helping Wood toward:
| WOOD |
| The bus! Get 'em on the bus! |
| GILES |
| Everybody! This way! |
53 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - DAY
Kennedy helps Willow out, as Dawn pulls on Xander, who is calling out:
| XANDER |
| Anya! ANYA! |
We see, as he cannot, her corpse, hidden by debris and fallen Bringers.
ANGLE: A BRINGER -- the one that jumped Andrew falls away, Andrew's sword is in his chest. Andrew is bloodied but alive, and completely wigged by the fact.
| ANDREW |
| Why... |
A girl grabs him, hauls him out.
54 INT. CAVERN - CONTINUING
Buffy hasn't left Spike's side.
| SPIKE |
| Go on, then... |
| BUFFY |
| You've done enough, you can still -- |
| SPIKE |
| No. You beat 'em back, it's for me to do the clean up. |
Faith calls from the entrance.
| FAITH |
| Buffy! Come on! |
The falling debris makes her bail.
Stuff is falling around Buffy and Spike as well.
| SPIKE |
| Gotta move, lamb. I think it's fair to say school's out for the bloody summer. |
ANGLE: THE CAVERN
is collapsing at the top and bottom -- the actual school falling in on the vamps.
| BUFFY |
| Spike... |
| SPIKE |
| I mean it. I gotta do this. |
His hand is held up, frozen in his rictus of revelatory pain. Buffy takes her own hand, interlocks it with his. A moment, and both hands burst into flames.
We hold close on the two of them, ignoring the flames, looking at each other.
| BUFFY |
| I love you. |
A moment. He smiles kindly.
| SPIKE |
| No you don't. But thanks for saying it. |
A big quake rocks them, Spike pushes her away.
| SPIKE (cont'd) |
| Now GO! |
She looks at him -- and bolts.
He looks back at the destruction in front of him, smiles wickedly.
| SPIKE (cont'd) |
| I wanna see how it ends. |
55 EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - DAY
Wood shuts the door -- he's at the wheel -- and the bus peels out.
ANGLE: The very back of the bus -- there's Dawn, looking for
| DAWN |
| Buffy... |
56 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - DAY
Buffy tried to head for the door, but is blocked. She has nowhere to go but up the stairs.
57 INT. CAVERN - DAY
Spike is still smiling as he is eaten from the inside by the power, and the world falls away from beneath him as he dies.
58 EXT. SUNNYDALE - DAY
The bus rolls on, just ahead of the cracking earth.
59 INT. BUS - CONTINUING
Faith is by Wood, staunching his wound.
Giles is wrapping a tourniquet around a wounded Rona, who is fading... Vi helps him, all in Rona's face.
| VI |
| Stay awake. Look at me! This is nothing! |
Andrew sits by himself, lost.
| ANDREW |
| Why didn't I die? |
Xander tends a girl, lost in his own thoughts.
Kennedy holds onto the still exhausted Willow.
And Dawn still looks out the back window for any sign of her sister. And then she sees:
60 EXT. ROOFTOPS - DAY
Her sister. Running along the rooftop, jumping off of one just as it collapses, keeping pace with the bus...
The bus pulls out ahead of the last building and Buffy JUMPS an impossible distance, right in front of the collapsing Sun Cinema sign, and lands hard on top of the bus.
ANGLE: ABOVE BUFFY
As she holds on, looking over the back at the cracks chasing them.
ANGLE: SUNNYDALE from way high up -- the whole town is sinking into a smoking black crater, a tiny bus just making its way to the edge of town ahead of the destruction.
61 EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN - DAY
The bus roars along, Buffy still atop it, no longer in danger.
62 INT. BUS - DAY
Faith looks back, tells Wood:
| FAITH |
| Ease off. We're clear. |
The bus screeches to a stop. Buffy jumps off and people start getting out, Dawn opening the back door and jumping out. Buffy and Dawn hug for a long while.
ANGLE: XANDER and ANDREW
Xander knows there's no hope, but presses:
| XANDER |
| Did you see? |
| ANDREW |
| I was scared, I'm sorry... |
| XANDER |
| Did you see what happened, was she... |
Andrew looks at Xander a moment, rises up a bit.
| ANDREW |
| She was incredible. She died saving my life. |
Xander puts a hand on Andrew's shoulder.
| XANDER |
| (welling up) |
| That's my girl. Always doing the stupid thing. |
Andrew nods, sadly.
64 INT. BUS - DAY
Everyone is off as Faith looks at Wood's wound.
| FAITH |
| It's not bad... you just sit here. |
| WOOD |
| That's the plan... |
| FAITH |
| I'll get someone to -- |
| WOOD |
| Did we make it? |
He looks at her. A beat.
| FAITH |
| We made it. We won. |
He smiles a little... and then he is just staring. And still. Faith takes a moment, then moves to cover his eyes.
He coughs, spasming back to life, and she draws back her hand, as startled as he.
| WOOD |
| (whispers) |
| Surprise. |
65 EXT. BUS - CONTINUING
Giles looks out at the crater.
| GILES |
| I don't understand. What did this? |
| BUFFY |
| Spike. |
They walk toward the edge of the crater, smoke in front of her, and we
REVERSE: SUNNYDALE is a smocking black crater. In front of it is a sign: WELCOME TO SUNNYDALE. After a beat, the sign creakingly topples back into the crater.
We see everyone now, the girls milling about, the core group near the crater, and we push through the smoke to see them: Buffy, Dawn, Giles, Xander, Willow, Faith coming up to join them. Keep pushing slowly in as they all look out at the end of Sunnydale...
| FAITH |
| Looks like the Hellmouth is officially closed for business. |
| GILES |
| There is another one in Cleveland. Not to spoil the moment... |
| XANDER |
| We saved the world. |
| WILLOW |
| We changed the world. I can feel them, Buffy. There are Slayers awakening everywhere. |
| DAWN |
| We'll have to find them. |
| WILLOW |
| We will. |
| GILES |
| Yes, because the mall was actually in Sunnydale, so no hope of going there tomorrow. |
| DAWN |
| We destroyed the mall? I fought on the wrong side... |
| XANDER |
| All those stores gone... The Gap, Starbucks, Toys R Us... who will remember these landmarks unless we tell the world of them? |
We're still pushing in, closer and closer to Buffy, as everyone around her continue talking...
| GILES |
| We have a lot of work ahead of us... |
| FAITH |
| Can I push him in? |
| WILLOW |
| You got my vote. |
| FAITH |
| I just wanna sleep, yo. For like a week. |
| DAWN |
| I guess we all could. If we wanted to. |
| WILLOW |
| Yeah, The First is scrunched, so... What do you think we should do, Buffy? |
| FAITH |
| Yeah, you're not the one and only chosen anymore. Just gotta live like a person. How's that feel? |
She looks at Faith.
| DAWN |
| Buffy? What are we gonna do now? |
Buffy looks at them, looks back at the crater, and we are in full close up as she considers the question, a small smile creeping onto her lips as she decides on her answer.
BLACK OUT.
| END OF SHOW |