Written
by: Joss Whedon
Directed by: Joss Whedon
This
episode was originally broadcast on July
13, 1999. Transcribed
by: Psyche
Disclaimer
~~~~~~~~~~
Prologue ~~~~~~~~~~
Previously on Buffy, the Vampire Slayer:
Oz is kissing Willow. Willow: "What are you doing?" Oz: "Panicking."
Oz and Willow in bed after Oz is done panicking.
In the library the Mayor throws the rapier back to Giles, who catches
it. Mayor: "See you at the Graduation."
Buffy and Angel in the sewers. Buffy: "I want my life to be
with you." Angel: "I don't." Buffy: "I can't
believe you're breaking up with me."
On the street in front of the Professor's place Angel gets shot and
collapses.
In the library Buffy pulls out the arrow, Giles smells it. Voice
over by Angel: "It's poison. I can feel it."
Angel collapses on the floor.
Oz looking up from a book: "The only way to cure this thing
is to drain the blood of a Slayer."
Buffy and Faith fighting in her apartment. Buffy voice over: "If
Angel needs to drain the blood of a Slayer then I'll bring him one."
Buffy and Faith fall through the window. Buffy stabs Faith. Faith
voice over: "You killed me." Faith falls and lands on the
bed of a truck driving by.
Buffy lays down the knife looking shocked then walks over to a ladder
and climbs down the outside of the building.
Pan over and up to the Mayor looking out through the broken window.
The Mayor turns around as a vampire comes up behind him and says: "There
is no one here, Sir."
Mayor: "No. No, she took the fight outside. My Faith doesn't
like to be cooped up." Walks over to the vampire. "We have
to find them. Put everyone on it. Do it now." Turns away from
the vampire.
Vampire: "But Sir, the ascension…"
Mayor spins back around and screams at the vampire: "Find them!" The
vampire leaves.
The Mayor starts pacing around, clearly very worried, talking to
himself: "Faith's a good girl. She can take anything they'll
throw at her. She's going to be all right. She'll be all right. She'll
be all right."
Part 2
Library: Giles comes out of his office massaging his right shoulder,
while Xander walks in carrying a Styrofoam cup.
Xander: "Any word from Buffy?"
Giles sits down at the table: "Not yet."
Xander: "Here is your cup of coffee. Brewed from the finest
Colombian lighter fluid" Sits down across form Giles.
Giles: "Thank you." Takes a sip. "Horrible." Takes
another sip.
Xander: "Aren't you supposed to be drinking tea anyway?"
Giles: "Tea is soothing. I wish to be tense."
Xander: "Okay. But you are destroying a perfectly good cultural
stereotype here." Grins.
Giles puts down his cup: "Look through the, ah… Kepler
(?) volumes." Xander picks up a book. "Any reference to
the demon Olvukan." Xander opens the book. "Powers, weaknesses,
hat size, anything. There's got to be something."
Xander: "Still batting zero?" Giles looks at him. "But
I mean, ah… in cricket?"
Cordelia walks into the library looking upset.
Xander looks up from flipping pages: "Cordy! What's up?"
Cordelia: "I demand an explanation."
Xander: "For what?"
Cordelia: "Wesley."
Xander: "Uh - inbreeding?"
Cordelia: "So very funny. Any minute I am sure to laugh. I just
got off the phone with him. He could hardly speak he was so upset.
He said there was something about a fight? And he is leaving the
country."
Giles: "Should I assay remorse?"
Cordelia: "Just tell me what's going on."
Giles: "Buffy has quit the council. She'll not be working with
Wesley from now on."
Cordelia puzzled: "But he is her Watcher."
Giles: "Buffy no longer needs a Watcher."
Cordelia: "Well, does he have to leave the country? I mean,
you got fired, and you still hang around like a big loser. Why can't
he?"
Xander: "Cordelia. We are trying to stop a massacre here. Want
to give us a hand?"
Cordelia hesitates a moment then walks over to a chair taking off
her jacket. "Sure. - This is just *such* a Buffy thing to do." Sits
down. "She is *always* thinking of herself."
Cut to the mansion. Angel is laying in bed. The arrow wound looks
red and inflamed. He is twisting restlessly, clearly in pain, and
moaning softly. Willow dabs at his sweaty forehead with a wet rag.
Angel opens his eyes.
Willow: "You're awake."
Angel reaches for her hand: "You've been watching over me?" Willow
nods. Angel takes her hand and starts kissing it. He lays his other
hand on Willows right arm.
Willow taken aback and slightly worried: "Well, - we've been
taking turns."
Angel: "I thought… - I thought I'd never see you again" Willow
looks at him surprised and confused. Angel shakes his head "I
can't leave you. I was wrong. I need you."
Willow pulls her hand out of his: "Oh!" she pats his hand "You
mean you need Buffy!"
Angel lifts his head squinting his eyes at her. "Willow?'
Willow relieved: "Yes, - right!" She points at herself
smiling "Willow!"
Angel trying to sit up: "Where is she?"
Willow pushes him back down worried: "She'll be back soon." Angel
sinks back and closes his eyes.
Willow gets up and walks out into the main room where Oz is waiting
for her.
Oz: "Any change?"
Willow: "He's delirious. He thought I was Buffy."
Oz: "You too, huh?"
Willow: "I hope she gets here soon. She better if… "
Oz sighs: "Yeah."
Willow: "I feel so… I feel so guilty."
Oz: "Guilty?"
Willow: "Well, things are so terrible, and things are coming
apart, - but in some ways, this is the best night of my life."
Oz blinks and reaches for her hand with a half smile: "Us."
Willow smiles, nods and moves closer to him: "Us." They
kiss. The door opens, Buffy walks in slowly, staring at the ground.
Willow and Oz break apart guiltily.
Willow: "I just checked on him, just now. We're watching."
Buffy walks up to then, looking unhappy. The left corner of her bottom
lip is busted.
Oz: "Did you find Faith?" Buffy just looks at them saying
nothing.
Willow: "You didn't… She's not here?"
Buffy shakes her head slightly: "How is he?"
Oz: "He comes in and out. I think the - pain is - less. Now."
Buffy frowns slightly: "Would you guys… - I'd like to
be alone with him."
Oz and Willow look at each other. Oz nods: "Of course." As
they walk past Buffy Willow turns to her and says: "We'll try
to find another cure."
Buffy quietly as they leave the house: "Thanks."
Cut to Angel lying on his bed. Buffy sits down and takes his hand.
Angel: "Buffy." Buffy lays her right hand against the side
of his face "Is that you?"
Buffy gives him a slight smile: "It's me."
Angel tries to smile in return: "I didn't want to go, without
seeing you." Buffy puts a finger on his lips to stop him from
talking.
Buffy: "Angel, I can cure you."
Angel: "It's okay. - I'm ready."
Buffy: "Angel listen to me." Takes a hold of his shoulders. "Sit
up." Angel scoots up a little higher, but he is weak and moving
clearly hurts a great deal.
Buffy: "You're gonna live. You have to live."
Angel frowns: "What way?"
Buffy: "Drink…" Angel frowns at her. Buffy takes
off her jacket, a determined expression on her face. "Drink
me."
Angel stares at her in shock, he shakes his head rejecting the idea: "No."
Buffy: "It's the only way."
Angel keeps shaking his head and forces himself up out of the bed,
pushing Buffy aside: "No. - Get away."
Buffy takes a hold of his right arm as he stands up, looking up at
him: "It'll save you."
Angel is looking down at the floor: "It'll kill you."
Buffy: "Maybe not. -. Not if you don't take it all."
Angel keeps shaking his head, still not looking at her: "You
can't ask me to do that."
Buffy: "I won't let you die. I can't." He still won't look
at her. "Angel the blood of a Slayer is the only cure."
Angel finally glances at Buffy: "Faith…"
Buffy swallows and answers quietly: "I tired. - I killed her."
Angel shakes his head and lurches away from Buffy: "Then it's
over." Angel stumbles into the main room. He has trouble walking
straight. Bumps into the wall, then stumbles and catches himself
on the sofa table, spilling a pewter pitcher and plate onto the floor.
Buffy grabs him by the arms and pulls him up to face her.
Buffy: "It is never over! I won't let you die. Drink!"
Angel glances up at her swaying in her grip: "Please…"
Buffy looks at him, then pulls back her right fist and hits his left
temple. His head snaps around but he stays on his feet. He turns
back to look at Buffy and she hits him again. He still doesn't go
down, but it takes him a little longer to come back up. Buffy hits
him a third time and this time Angel spins back with a growl vamped
out. He just stands there, staring at her, while Buffy pulls down
the shoulder strap of her shirt, then grabs him by the hair at the
back of his head. She looks at him for a moment then firmly pulls
his head down against her neck and holds him there. For a moment
they remain like this. Then we see a close-up of his yellow eye looking
down and he suddenly bites down. Buffy gasps with the pain but holds
still. Angel is holding on to her now and you get to hear all those
sucking and drinking noises. Close-up of his mouth on Buffy's neck:
Some blood is running out beneath his lips and running down her shoulder.
Buffy's face scrunches up, she mouths what looks like 'Oh Lord' and
slowly sinks backwards to the floor. With Angel lying on top still
drinking, Buffy's left hand reaches out and finds the pewter pitcher.
She crushes it in her hand. The camera keeps jerking around the whole
time, and Buffy is clearly not enjoying the experience. She puts
her hands against his sides as if she was going to push him off,
but kicks out with her left leg instead, breaking the sofa table
in half. She stares up into the camera a tear in the corner of her
left eye. Then her eyes drift shut and her head sinks to the side
just as Angel finally rolls off her, panting. His face morphs back
to human and he pushes himself up looking over at Buffy. The redness
around the arrow wound is gone.
Angel worried: "Buffy?" She lies motionless eyes closed.
Angel bending over her: "Buffy!"
Part 3
Angel runs into the hospital carrying a limp Buffy in his arms.
Angel: "I need some help! She lost a lot of blood."
Nurse: "What happened?"
Angel runs into the ER: "She needs blood."
Nurse: "Try to stay calm. We're going to take care of her."
Angel lays Buffy down on a bed: "Something bit her. She needs
a transfusion."
Doctor: "You found her?" Angel: "Yes." Doctor: "Was
she conscious?"
Angel: "Yes." Doctor: "Are you *sure*?" Angel: "I'm
sure."
Doctor: "Okay." To the nurse: "I need a type, I need
cross-match. Get her on two lines of Wringer's lactate, and watch
for hypovolemic shock." To Angel: "Tell me: What - happened?"
Angel: "Something bit her. I don't know what."
Doctor (to nurse): "Okay. I need a rabies shot treatment. (to
Angel) Any allergies?"
Angel: "None." He rips the handle of the door without really
noticing what he's doing. The doctor jumps back surprised. Angel
(clearly upset and at the end of his patience): "*Just* help
her."
Doctor after a beat: "You two been doing drugs? (Angel just
looks at him) You want her to live, you have to be straight with
me."
Angel: "She's clean."
Doctor: "All right. Wait outside. Let us work."
Angel: "A phone."
Doctor: "Right out there."
With a last look at Buffy laying on the bed Angel leaves the room
and goes over to a payphone digging some change out of his pocket.
There is a police officer standing in the hall. While Angel dials
we hear a different doctor: "The bones are set, and the damage
to the kidneys is repairable." Camera pans through a nearby
door to show a doctor talking to a distraught looking Mayor. "But
the head trauma, its… well its simply to severe. You know,
it’s a wonder she's alive at all, with the blood loss. - I… I'm
sorry Sir, there is almost no chance at all that she is ever going
to regain consciousness."
Camera pans over to show Faith laying in a hospital bed. She looks
badly bruised. She is wearing an oxygen tube, an IV, and several
monitoring devices. You can hear a heart monitor beeping. The Mayor
reaches down and gently brushes her hair from her forehead and strokes
her cheek.
Mayor: "It's your day." Camera pans to show a nurse coming
up to the doctor behind him.
Nurse: "We have another girl with severe blood loss. Doctor
Pal wants you to prep this on an anti cubal cut down (??)."
Doctor: "I'll be right there."
Camera pans back to the Mayor, who realizes just who that other girl
must be. He leaves the room and walks over to Buffy's bed. He puts
his left hand over her mouth, also blocking her nose. Buffy starts
to move her head with a soft protest.
A nurse comes in and tries to pull his hand away, but is unable to
budge him. :"Oh, my God. Sir! No!" She turns and runs out
of the room shouting: "Somebody call security!"
Close up on Buffy struggling harder. A pair of hands grab the Mayor
and push him away from the bed.
Angel: "Don't do that!"
The Mayor stumbles back, then gets right into Angel's face: "I
will. I do that and *worse*. (looks over Angel's shoulder at Buffy)
Murderous little fiend! Did you see what she did to my Faith?"
Angel: "Hadn't any plans to weep over that one."
Mayor seriously upset: "Well, I'd get set for some weeping if
I were you. I'd get set for a *world* of pain! Misery loves company,
young man, and I'm looking to share that with you and your *whore*!"
Angel's hands shoot forward and he throws him clear across the room.
The Mayor impacts with a window looking onto the corridor, breaking
it, then drops to the floor overturning a small metal hospital table
holding various implements. The noise brings two nurses to see what's
going on. The Mayor looks up at a mad Angel and picks himself up
laughing.
Mayor brushing off his suit and gesturing towards Angel: "Looks
like somebody has been eating his spinach. (looking over to the two
nurses) No, its okay, folks. It's all right. The show's not over,
but there will be a short intermission. (looks back at Angel) Don't
want to miss the second act. (walks by Angel and out the door) All
kinds of excitement!"
Angel breathing deeply: "I'll be there." Swallowing hard
he looks back at Buffy laying still on the bed.
Cut to the hallway: Angel is crouched down next to the door to Buffy's
room, his back against the wall. The door at the end of the hallway
opens. Giles, Willow, Oz and Xander come in. Angel gets up.
Giles: "How is she?"
Angel: "She's fine. She's asleep."
Oz with a puzzled frown: "Well, you seem all right, too."
Angel looks down and wraps his arms around himself: "Yeah."
Xander looks him up and down: "What happened?"
Willow: "When we left her she was fine. Did Faith…"
Angel interrupts her still not looking at any of them: "Faith's
out of the picture. Buffy put her into a coma."
Xander takes a deep breath and stares at Angel: "And?"
Angel shaken and still not meeting their eyes: "Buffy cured
me. - Made me…" trails off.
Giles: "You fed off her."
Angel looks up at him, takes a deep breath and nods his head once: "Yes."
Giles rather stern: "How much?" Xander swallows hard and
looks away.
Angel: "She's gonna be fine."
Willow: "She won't be a vampire?"
Angel looking down again: "No. - She didn't feed off me."
Xander shakes his head: "Well, its just good to know that when
the chips are down and things look grim you'll feed off the girl
who *loves* you to save your own *ass*!"
Angel says nothing. Willow and Oz just look at him.
Giles curtly: "You better go, Angel. We'll watch over her."
Angel shakes is head: "I don't want to…"
Giles interrupts in a hard voice: "The sun will be up soon."
Angel hesitates, clearly reluctant to leave, glances up at Giles.
Swallows hard and nods looking down, half looks towards Buffy's room,
then slowly walks away.
Xander shakes his head: "Gosh, I'm really going to miss him
when he leaves town."
Giles: "Let's go find out how Buffy's doing." They walk
out of the picture as Angel leaves through the door at the end of
the hallway.
Cut to Buffy walking through Faith's apartment her arms crossed
in front of her. There are cardboard boxes stacked everywhere. Buffy
stops and sees a cat jump up on Faith's bed.
Buffy: "Who's going to look after him?"
Faith: "It's a she. And aren't these things supposed to take
care of themselves?" walks up behind Buffy and stops next to
her.
Buffy: "A higher power guiding us?"
Faith looks at her then turns away and keeps walking towards the
camera: "I'm pretty sure that's not what I meant."
Buffy looking down: "There's something I'm supposed to be doing."
Faith: "Oh yeah. - Miles to go - Little Ms. Muffet counting
down from 7-3-0."
Buffy grimaces: "Great. - Riddles."
Faith standing in front of the broken window looking out: "Sorry,
it's my head. A lot of new stuff."
Buffy looks at her with a half smile. The cat on the bed turns for
a split second into the image of a girl (Faith?) laying on the bed
in white gown at the same time as Faith still looking out the broken
window says: "They are never going to fix this, are they?"
Buffy concerned: "What about you?"
Faith turns around and gestures at her head: "Scar tissue. It
fades. It all fades."
Buffy looks down with a frown. For a split second Faith's bloody
knife appears in the palm of her hand.
Faith as Buffy looks back up: "You want to know the deal? Human
weakness - never goes away. Not even his."
Buffy with a half smile: "Is this your mind or mine?"
Faith with a short laugh: "Beats me." Buffy gives a little
laugh in return and looks down. Faith walks towards her: "Getting
towards that time."
Buffy looks at all the boxes and the weapons laid out on the table
beside her: "How are you going to fit all this stuff?"
Faith: "Not gonna. It's yours."
Buffy: "I can't use all of this!"
Faith: "Just take what you need. (reaches her right hand up
to touch Buffy's cheek) "You're ready?"
Flash to white and to Buffy waking up in the hospital. She gets out
of bed and slowly walks over to where Faith lies. She looks down
at her then softly kisses her forehead.
Cut to Buffy, fully dressed, walking down the corridor where Xander
is pacing while the others are sitting on a bench. They see her and
get up to greet her.
Willow: "Buffy!"
Xander: "Are you okay?"
Giles: "How do you feel?"
Buffy looks around: "Is Angel here?"
Oz: "He had to go. It got kinda sunny."
Buffy: "Get him. Get everyone."
Xander: "What exactly is up?"
Giles: "Buffy, are you sure you're all right?"
Buffy: "I'm ready."
Willow: "Ready for what?"
Buffy: "War."
Part 4
In front of Sunnydale High: there are benches set up for the graduation
and a podium for the speaker. Snyder stands at a table holding a
box full of diplomas, tapping one of them in his hands and looking
around, then sticking it into the box with the others.
Cut to the library: Buffy is sitting on a chair with her back to
the door, facing the others. Giles and Xander on the right side of
the table, Willow and Oz on the left, Cordelia standing just left
of the steps, while Angel is over against the wall on the right side
of the steps in the shadows.
Buffy: "So, am I crazy?"
Willow: "Well, 'crazy' is such a *strong* word."
Giles chewing on his glasses: "Let's not rule it out though."
Buffy: "You don't think it can be done?"
Giles: "I didn't say that. I might, - but not yet."
Cordelia: "I personally don't think it's impossible to come
up with a crazier plan."
Oz: "We attack the Mayor with humus." Everyone looks at
him.
Cordelia: "I stand corrected."
Oz: "Just trying to keep things in perspective."
Cordelia sarcastic: "Thank you. - My point however is, crazy
or not, it's pretty much the only plan. - Besides, it's Buffy's,
- and she's slay gal, - you know, Ms little Likes-to-fight. So.."
Xander interrupts her: "I think there was a 'yea' vote buried
in there somewhere."
Buffy: "Well, I'm going to need every single one of you on board.
Especially you Xander. You're sort of the key figure here."
Xander: "Key? - Me? (takes a deep breath) Okay, - pride, - humility,
- and here is the mind numbing fear. (sighs) What do I have to do?"
Buffy: "Do you remember any of your military training from when
you became soldier guy?"
Xander points at her: "Uh, rocket launcher?"
Buffy regretfully: "Rocket launcher not going to get it done.
I mean, it took a volcano to kill one of these things last time."
Giles gets up and walks towards her: "Um, Buffy, all of this
is rather depended on your being able to control the Mayor."
Buffy: "Faith told me to play on his human weakness."
Willow: "Faith told you? Was that before or after you put her
into a coma?"
Buffy: "After." Willow: "Oh." Then looks confused
over at Oz.
Giles: "His weakness." Buffy: "Right." Giles: "Which
is…?"
Buffy: "You know I do all this planing. I'm in charge here,
even though I am really not at my best…"
Giles puts his glasses back on: "Well, let's… let's…ah,
let's think."
Oz: "Well, Angel, you hung with him the most. Is there something
that he's afraid of?" Buffy's looking down uncomfortably.
Angel: "Well, he's not crazy about germs."
Cordelia: "Of course, that's it. We attack him with germs!"
Buffy: "Great! We'll corner him and then you can sneeze on him."
Cordelia gesturing excitedly: "No! No, we'll get a box with
the Ebola virus and… and…. Or it doesn't even have to
be real, we can just get a box that says Ebola on it and… uhm
(snaps her fingers) chase him… (Oz frowns and no one else says
anything) with the box…"
Xander: "I'm starting to lean towards the humus offensive."
Oz: "He'll never see it coming."
Angel: "Faith." Buffy glances over at him and asks: "Faith?"
Angel: "At the hospital he was grieving. Seriously crazed, and
not just in a homicidal I want to be a demon way. (Wesley comes in
the door behind Buffy) She is his weak link."
Buffy: "Faith. (looks up at Giles) I can work that."
Wesley coming up behind her: "You haven't an enormous amount
of time."
Xander: "Hey it's Mr. States-the-Obvious."
Buffy without turning around: "The council is not welcome here.
I have no time for orders. If I need someone to scream like a woman
I'll give you a call."
Wesley comes to stand next to her: "I'm not here for the council.
Just tell me how I can help." Buffy looks up at him.
Cordelia: "That is so classy! (looks around at the others) Isn't
he just so classy?"
Buffy: "It's a start."
Wesley: "So there is something I can do… besides scream
like a woman."
Buffy: "There is plenty. There is chores for everyone. (Get
up off her chair) Okay, this is…"
Cut to the Mayor speaking to his hench-vamps: "…how it's
going to lay out. The transformation should begin at exactly 3:28.
I'll just be finishing my speech - you know, it's too bad you fellows
have to miss that, because I think it speaks to everyone of us. I
mean, heck, I've been working on it for a hundred years. It better
be good. (laughs) They'll try to run, of course, and this is when
I'll need you boys in flanking position."
Vampire: "But Sir, the sun!"
Mayor: "Not a problem." Blends into the library and Wesley
reading: "Darkness will follow and day becomes night."
Buffy stands next to him with her arms crossed: "An eclipse."
Wesley: "Standard procedure for an ascension?"
Angel steps up to them: "That puts me back into the game."
Buffy: "Yea, it does. You and Xander are going to have to work
together now. Can you guys handle that?"
Neither one of them looks precisely overjoyed at the prospect.
Xander: "But I'm still key-guy, right?" Buffy: "Right." Xander: "Then
Angel, - in his non key-guy capacity, - can work with me."
Angel sarcastic: "What fun."
Xander to Angel: "Hey! Key-guy is still talking…"
Buffy: "Oh, that's good! Start bickering. That's going to look
great for us. (walks past them towards the steps) You guys are like
little old ladies!"
Cut to the Mayor pointing at a map: "You come up through the
sewers here. The important thing is containment. I'll need to feed.
It's crucial in the first few minutes to sustain the change. What
does that mean? (shakes his finger at them) No snacking. I see blood
on your lips, it's a visit to the wood shed for you boys. Kill. Don't
feed."
Cut to Buffy coming to look over Oz' and Willow's shoulders as they
are looking through some books on the table of the library. Buffy: "So,
how are we coming on vulcano detail?"
Oz: "I think we can work it out."
Willow: "Fun with chemistry."
Buffy: "Xander said he should be able to get the materials."
Oz: "Who's going to stoke it up?"
Buffy turns to Giles coming up beside them: "You feel up to
it?"
Giles taking off his glasses: "Ah, I suppose it should be I.
It's strangely fitting in a grotesque fashion."
Buffy: "Okay guys, start reaching out. Giles: weapons, weapons,
weapons." Starts walking out.
Giles: "Ah, what about you?"
Buffy: "There is something I have to get."
Cut to the Mayor: "Remember: fast and brutal. It's going to
be a whole new world come nightfall, don't want to weaken now. (the
vampires start leaving his office) And boys? - Let's watch the swearing."
Cut to Xander walking into a classroom where Harmony is talking with
two other girls.
Xander takes her by the arm: "Harmony, listen, I need to talk
to you for a second."
Harmony: "You mean in front of other people?" Xander grimaces
and pulls her out of the room.
Cut to Percy wearing his graduation gown: "Are they serious?
I'm going to look stupid in this!"
Willow comes up behind him: "Percy!"
Percy turns to her: "Do I look stupid in this? Be honest."
Willow: "You look great. You got a sec?"
Cut to Wesley and Cordelia putting books into boxes in the library.
The glance at each other a couple of times when the other isn't looking,
but continue packing.
Wesley straightens up and says firmly: "Cordelia."
Cordelia spins around to face him: "Yes."
Wesley: "You know that… when this is over…" Cordelia: "Yes." Wesley: "uhm,
well, should we prevail… I'll be going back to England."
Cordelia turns back to the shelf and take down another book: "I
know."
Wesley shifting awkwardly: "With Buffy no longer working for
the council, there really is… no place for me here."
Cordelia turns back around and steps closer to him: "I guess
not."
Wesley takes a step towards her clasping his hands in front of him: "No… reason
to stay." Cordelia inches closer: "No." Wesley inches
close as well: "No. No… cause to hope that…(takes
off his glasses while Cordy looks down) I might be needed?" Cordy
looks up at him: "Needed?" Wesley: "Or… wanted…" Cordelia: "Wanted…"
Wesley takes a deep breath and leans down to kiss Cordy putting his
hands behind his back. Cordy puts a on his shoulder and tries to
kiss him. They bump noses and juggle awkwardly. Wesley waves his
hand s around in the air beside Cordy. Cordy tries to wrap her arms
around his back to pull him (unsuccessfully) closer. They maneuver
around a bit more then pull back to look at each other breaking apart.
Cordy looks to the side and wipes her mouth. They try again but with
about as much success. They break back apart and Cordy sighs in frustration
and disappointment. She wipes her mouth again and looks back up at
him taking a deep breath: "Good look in England."
Wesley nods and puts his glasses back on: "Yes, uhm, I'll drop
you a line some time."
Cordy smiles at him: "That'll be neat."
Wesley smiles back at her: "Yes, hmm…" Wesley wipes
his mouth as they turn away from each other and go back to packing
up the books.
Cut to Larry and Jonathon taking sacks of fertilizer (?) from Oz
and Willow out of Oz' black van and putting them into a shopping
cart.
Oz: "Okay, put these with the others. Don't touch anything."
Jonathon: "Uh, wha… what do we do then?"
Oz: "Nothing."
Willow: "Just relax. Have a good time."
Jonathon: "O… Okay."
Larry: "Okay, it's clear. Lets move." Starts moving off
with the shopping cart while Jonathon shuts the van's sliding door.
Cut inside the van.
Willow: "I guess that's it. Won't be long now."
Oz (concerned): "You nervous?"
Willow swallows: "Only in a… terrified way."
Oz takes her hand: "We'll make it through this."
Willow: "Are you sure?"
Oz considers: "I sound pretty sure, don't I?"
Willow smiles: "Yeah."
Oz half smiles: "Then I must be sure."
Willow frowns at him: "Is that just a comforting way of not
answering the question?"
Oz blinks and almost shrugs. Willow and Oz lean forward and they
kiss softly. Oz puts his hand up to caress the side of her head.
They kiss some more.
Willow pulls away just a little and slowly opens her eyes: "How
long till graduation?"
Oz: "A little while."
Willow moves to kiss him again.
Cut to Buffy walking into Giles office where Angel is sorting through
weapons. When she sees Angel she hesitates for a moment, then continues
in.
Angel with out turning around to see who came in: "Did you get
what you needed?"
Buffy coming up next to him: "Yeah, I did. (looks at the weapons)
This isn't going to be enough."
Angel still looking down at the stuff on the table: "Giles is
on it. (as Buffy turns and starts to leave he turns and asks quickly)
How are you?"
Buffy stops and slowly turns towards him avoiding his eyes she says
quietly: "I heal fast. Like you." then louder: "So,
are we sure that everyone knows what their position…"
Angel interrupts her looking down at the table, quietly: "I'm
not going to say good-bye." Buffy looks up at him with a frown,
which slowly dissolves. Angel glances up at her, looks back down,
swallows then looks back up: "If we get through this… I'm
just going to go." Buffy slowly looks down.
Angel: "You understand? (Buffy nods slightly and swallows hard)
There is just too much to…" Buffy puts up a hand to stop
him. Angel hesitates a moment then puts down the crossbow bolt he
has been playing with and turns to leave quietly. Buffy takes a slow
breath then looks down at her hands and unwraps the white cloth in
her hand to reveal Faith's knife with some dried blood still coloring
the blade.
Cut to the quad and the student taking their seats. The music stops
and the students sit down.
Snyder at the podium: "Congratulations to the class of 1999.
You all proved more or less adequate. This is a time of celebration,
so: sit still and be quiet. (Surveys the students) Spit out that
gum. - Please welcome our distinguished guest speaker: Richard Wilkins
the 3rd. (to one of the students) I saw that gesture. You see me
after graduation." Turns and claps.
Cut to the students clapping and Willow and Oz running to take their
places. Willow sits down next to Buffy.
Willow: "Am I late? To the fight? (?)"
The Mayor shakes Snyder's hand and steps up to the podium. Smiles
and takes out some cue cards.
Mayor clears his throat and surveys the students: "Well. What
a day this is! - Special day. Today is our centennial the one hundreds
anniversary of the founding of Sunnydale, and I know what that means
to all you kids: not - a darn thing. Because today something much
more important happens: today you all graduate from high school.
Today all the pain, all the work, all the excitement is finally over.
And what's a hundred years of history compared to that? You know
what kids? …"
Buffy: "Oh my God. He's going to do the entire speech."
Willow: "Man, just ascend already."
Buffy: "Evol!"
Mayor: "… for all of you it may be that there is a place
in Sunnydale's history, whether you like it or not. It's been a long
road getting here. For you… for Sunnydale. There has been achievement,
joy, good times,… and there has been grief. There's been loss.
Some people who should be here today… aren't. (close-up on
Buffy listening) But we are. - Journey's end. And what is a journey?
Is it just… distance traveled? Time spent? (shakes his head)
No. It's what happens on the way, it the things that happen to you.
At the end of the journey you're not the same. Today is about change.
(close-up on Willow) Graduation doesn't just mean your circumstances
change, it means you do. You ascend… to a higher level. (Pan
across Xander and Cordy) Nothing will ever be the same. (a shadow
falls across the Mayor) Nothing." He looks up. Buffy and the
other students look up to see the sun being totally blocked. The
Mayor flinches in pain. Then swallows and continues his speech: "And
so as we look back on… (Pain hits him again and he turns half
to the side groaning) on the events that brought us to this day (another
wave of pain) "
Buffy with her hat off: "Come on."
Mayor: "We… (stops in pain again all the students are
watching tensely) we must all…(screams) (the students and the
faculty look at each other uneasily) It has begun. My destiny. (smiles)
It's a little sooner then I expected I had this whole section on
civic pride… (shuffles cue cards) But I guess we'll just skip
to the big finish!"
Buffy and Willow look at each other as the Mayor starts to grimace
and stretch and grow. His suit splits around him and Snyder is leaning
back in his seat looking taken aback. The Mayor suddenly transforms
into a big snake-like demon with clawed mandibles surrounding its
mouth. It keeps growing, stretching higher as the faculty abandons
their seats. The students get up but stay in place staring up at
the Mayor, who seems to stretch up above the roof of the school.
Part 5
The Students stare up as the parents in the back to panic and leave.
A group of vampires comes up the steps behind the students.
Buffy: "Now!"
All the students take off their gowns revealing crosses, axes, and
other assorted weaponry.
Buffy: "Flame units." (Several students (including Larry
point flame throwers at the Mayor and start flaming him. The Mayor
sways above the students screaming. Buffy nods at Xander.
Xander: "First wave! (a group of students including Willow aim
cross bows loaded with lance points at the Mayor) Fire!"
The Mayor screams and sways then lunges down and swallows a student
in the first row. Buffy stares in shock, as some of the students
start milling around.
Snyder upset: "This… this is simply unacceptable!"
Three up the students break and run right into the group of vampires
waiting on the steps. Oz looks over as they are quickly killed by
the vampires.
Oz turns back around: "Xander?"
Xander: "Arm bow men (Oz and some others pick up long bows and
arrows. The vampires slowly move up the steps as the kids lit their
arrows on fire and take aim) Fire!"
The students let fly a mass and several vampires are hit and turn
into flaming dust. Xander looks back at the students in front of
the Mayor. Jonathan comes flying through the air and lands on top
some students knocking them down.
Buffy to the students around her: "Fall back!"
Xander to the bow men: "Fire!"
The students let fly with the fire arrows again and several more
vampires get hit. The vampires turn to leave only to find themselves
confronted by another group of students led by Angel who is flanked
by Percy and Wesley. They look at each other for a moment then Angel's
group attacks. Angel starts beat up some vampires. Wesley runs up
and right into a vampires fist, falls on his back (ala clothes line
trick). Angel fights two or three vampires at once easily holding
his own. The flame units once more shoot fire at the Mayor. Larry's
flame thrower cuts out or jams and after a moment he put is down
and takes up a lance. The Mayor's tail whips around, throwing Larry
up in the air. He lands hard in front of the podium.
Cut to Angel throwing some vampires around. Cut to Buffy getting
up on a chair and looking up at the Mayor. Cut to Snyder looking
up: "This is not orderly. This is not discipline!" Cut
to the Mayor's snake head whipping around. Cut to Snyder talking
to the Mayor: "You're on my campus buddy!"
Cut to view point of the Mayor looking down at Snyder. Snyder: "And
when I say I want quiet, I want…"
Cut to the Mayor's head coming down and swallowing Snyder. Buffy
and Xander look on in horror.
Buffy to the students around her: "Fall Back! Get back! (She
gets down from her chair and turns to Willow) Go!" Willow says: "Good
luck!" then leaves.
Buffy: "Xander take 'em down."
Xander pulls a stake out of his back pocket: "Everyone: hand
to hand! (Buffy reaches into her jacket) Everyone! Lets go! Move!
Move!"
Cut to Angel sending a vampire flying, then taking care of two others.
His group is driving the vampires back up the steps. One of them
turns around and yells: "Get the kids!" The other vampires
turn to follow his lead only to find themselves confronted with a
mass of armed and angry teenagers with baseball bats, crosses and
stakes. Harmony gets bit, but another girl starts whaling on her
attacker with a bat. Jonathon jumps a vampire and falls down the
steps with him.
Xander struggling with another vampire: "Right flank close in.
Close!(pushes the vampire off) Jason and Paul(?) you guys are right
flank!"
Cut to Angel punching another two vampires. Cut to Cordy staking
a vampire coming at her in good form. Cut to Oz moving down the steps.
Cut to Wesley still laying on his back lifting a hand and looking
around.
Wesley groaning: "How about some help here…" We see
feet rushing past him. Cut to students fighting.
Cut to the Mayor's head swing in the air.
Mayor's PoV: Buffy: "Hey! (holds Faith's knife in her right
hand) You remember this? (Close on Buffy looking up at the Mayor)
I took it from Faith. Stuck it in her gut. (Looks at the knife then
back up at the Mayor) Just slid in her like she was butter." Cut
to the Mayor gnashing his teeth and growling.
Mayor's PoV: Buffy: "You want to get it back from me (close
up on Buffy) Dick?"
Camera from Mayor's PoV: Buffy turns and runs into the school with
the Mayor in pursuit.
Cut to the hall: Buffy opens the door and runs in. The Mayor barrels
down the door and some of the surrounding wall as he pursues her.
Buffy keeps running towards the library while the Mayor tears through
the school like a freight train. Buffy runs into the library, vaults
a banister looking back at the Mayor. The Mayor looks around the
library and sees the barrels of diesel fuel and bags of fertilizer
stacked everywhere. Buffy keeps running and jumps out of a window.
Cut to the Mayor looking around and growling.
Mayor (in his own voice that sounds like it is coming from the bottom
of a rain barrel): "Well, gosh."
Cut to Buffy crouching down next to Giles who pushes down the plunger.
Cut to a fire cloud erupting from the top of the school. Cut to Xander
and Angel looking up at the explosion. Cut to some more explosions
erupting from the school. Cut to Percy laying on the steps looking
up at them. Cut to Jonathon protectively wrapping his arms around
a girl as he looks at another explosion. Cut to more explosions erupting
all along the school. Cut to Buffy and Giles nest to the plunger.
Close on Buffy staring then looking over at Giles.
Cut to police cars and fire trucks parked in front of the school.
The air is dark and smoky. We see two fire men wheeling a gurney
with a groaning Wesley over towards an ambulance.
Wesley: "If I could… could just get something for the
pain. It's rather a lot of pain, actually. Aspirin? If you would… uh… ah…(The
fire men start sliding the gurney into the ambulance) Perhaps I could
just be knocked unconscious." More groaning as they slide him
into the ambulance. Pan to Xander and Buffy walking by. Xander watches
Wesley being put in the ambulance. Buffy keeps looking around her.
Xander: "We got off pretty cheap… considering."
Buffy still looking around: "Seems like we did."
They walk a few more steps then Buffy stops still looking around.
Xander stops beside her his hands buried in his pockets.
Xander: "He made it through the fight. (Buffy whips around to
look at him) Guess maybe he (take a deep breath) he took off after." Buffy
blinks and looks down. Xander makes a grimace then turns and walks
away. Buffy stand there, again looking around, and Giles comes up
to her.
Giles puts a hand on her shoulder: "Are you all right?"
Buffy lays her head to one side: "I'm tired."
Giles smiles: "I should imagine so. It's been quite a couple
of days."
Buffy tiredly: "I haven't processed everything yet. (with a
small laugh) My brain isn't really functioning on the higher levels.
(takes a deep breath) It's pretty much: fire bad; tree pretty."
Giles shakes his head: "Understandable. Well, when it's working
again congratulate it on a good campaign. You did very well."
Buffy nods: "Thank you. I will."
Giles puts his glasses on: "I ah… I managed to ferret
this out of the wreckage. Now, it may not interest you, but… (reaches
into his jacket and pulls out a high school diploma) I'd say you
earned it." Hands it to Buffy who looks at it and takes it.
Giles taking a deep breath and looking around: "There is a certain
(takes off his glasses) dramatic irony that's attached to all this.
A Synchronicity that borders on… on predestination, one might
say."
Buffy looks at him: "Fire bad; tree pretty.'
Giles looks at her: "Yes, s…sorry. (puts his glasses back
on) I'm going to see to Wesley, see if he's… is still… (suppressing
a laugh) whimpering." Walks off and Buffy looks after him. Suddenly
she turns around a slight frown on her face. Her eyes lock on something
and her face clears. Cut to Angel standing beside a fire truck looking
at her. Close on Angel's face. Close on Buffy's face. Both just staring
at each other. Buffy blinks and her face falls. She hugs herself
a little closer. Close on Angel, first obscured by some firemen walking
by, then by a cloud of smoke. The smoke blows by and he steps back,
slowly turns around and walks off. Cut to Buffy watching him leave.
Cut to Angel disappearing into the smoke.
Cut to Willow sitting on a stone bench in front of the school, Xander
sitting beside her on the ground and Oz standing behind her. Cordelia
come walking up to them.
Cordelia: "Well, that’s the most fun you can have without
having any fun."
Willow smiling: "How about the part where we kicked some demon
ass. (Oz strokes her hair from behind) I didn't hate that."
Xander: "Hear, hear!"
Buffy come walking up: "You guys want to take off? I think we've
done pretty much all we can."
Cordelia raises her eyebrows and nods: "I'm for it."
Willow looks up at Buffy: "Are you okay?"
Buffy nods and says in a small voice: "Yeah… I'm okay.
- I could use a little sleep though."
Willow nods and agrees emphatically: "Yeah."
Buffy sits down on the bench next to her: "If someone could
just wake me when it's time to go to college, that'd be great." Willow
smiles at her.
Oz his hands in his pockets: "Guys take a moment to deal with
this: - we survived." Xander nods.
Buffy: "It was a hell of a battle!"
Oz: "Not the battle (Cordy looks at him) high school."
They all look quietly at the school and listen to the crickets chirping.
Oz: "We're taking a moment (Willow and Buffy get up from the
bench. Oz looks at Cordy) and we're done."
Xander get up and walks off next to Cordelia: "Well, School's
done."
Oz puts an arm around Willow as they all walk off together. Xander: "It's
ssso… Cool!"
Willow: "Why do demons even come here any more? I mean, don't
they know…"
Camera pans down to show a maroon Sunnydale High 99 yearbook with
the word 'The Future Is Ours' on it.
Fade out.