"A DEATH-BLOW IS A LIFE-BLOW TO SOME"
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. OFFICE - NIGHT
A YOUNG GIRL (fifteen or sixteen years old) is alone in the
dark office, among many cubicles. She's dressed in nice work
clothes, with her hair pulled back. Currently flipping through
some files at one of the desks.
She can't seem to find what she is looking for, so she opens
a drawer and begins to look through it. Finally, she comes
across the folder she's looking for. She pulls it out, and
opens it. She smiles and closes the file. She picks it up
and walks off with it.
When she's gone, we see a SHADOWY FIGURE dart across the
background.
INT. COPY ROOM - NIGHT
The girl walks into the room and to the copy machine. She
quickly opens the file and begins to make copies.
INT. OFFICE - NIGHT
She's done making copies now, so she walks back into the
office. File in hand, as well as loose copies from the papers
within the folder.
She walks back to the desk and puts the folder back in the
drawer. From the desk, she takes a highlighter and begins to
mark areas of the copied papers.
From behind her, there's a NOISE. She looks up, startled.
She scans the room.
GIRL'S POV
The office. Dark. Nothing seems to be there.
The girl decides that the noise was all in her head, so she
goes back to work.
There's ANOTHER NOISE. The girl looks up again. This time,
she knows it wasn't in her head.
She has what she needs here, so she turns off the light and
begins to walk out of the office. But before she can get to
the end of the row of cubicles, something jumps out at her.
The shadowy figure which we now recognize as one of the robed
men that we've seen attacking girls before.
A word appears on the screen : LONDON
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2.
The girl jumps back in shock, but quickly regains her
composure. She kicks the robed man in the gut, and takes
off in the other direction.
The robed figure quickly begins the chase her as she runs
through the maze of cubicles. She turns around a corner. The
figure follows her. When he does though, he can't seem to
find her. She's vanished.
He slowly makes his way down the row in search of her. As he
walks, he pulls a knife from inside his robe, ready to kill
her.
As he passes the cubes, he looks inside to check them out,
but finds nobody there.
As he nears the last cube in the row, we see the girl, in
the last cube, climbing over the wall into the next row.
The robed figure quickly runs around the office to catch up
to her.
She (way ahead of him) runs down the row. She reaches the
end and turns down the main aisle. A door is within sight.
Hope. But as she nears it, ANOTHER ROBED FIGURE steps out in
front of it, blocking her.
She stops short. She looks around, but the only places to go
are the cubes. She turns back, but the first robed figure is
coming from behind. Again, she looks around for anyplace to
go. Finally, she sees the door to the copy room. She bolts
for it, and rushes inside. The robed figures not far behind.
INT. COPY ROOM - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
She rushes to close the door behind her and manages to get
it locked just in time. The knob jiggles.
The girl backs away, keeping her eye on the door.
There's a POUNDING. The figures outside are trying to break
in the door.
The girl stops in the middle of the dark room. Nowhere to
go. Nowhere to hide. Knowing that he end is probably very
near.
As she keeps her eyes on the door in front of her, she fails
to notice a THIRD ROBED FIGURE exit the shadows behind her.
He slowly gets closer and closer to her, pulling a blade
from his robe. His raises his arms to grab her. And just as
he gets near...
ANGLE : THE COPY MACHINE
The part where the copies come out. We stay on this as we
HEAR A STRUGGLE taking place. Finally, something slams into
the copy machine.
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3.
More struggle, and then the machine comes to life.
The struggle ends. And a moment later, a piece of paper comes
out of the machine. An image of the girl's dead face, pressed
against the machine. It's followed by another copy. And
another.
ANGLE : THE DOOR
The robed figure unlocks the door and walks out. He joins
his friends outside and walks away.
As we see the doorway, another figure walks by it. CASSIE
NEWTON. Walking by the doorway like a ghost.
CASSIE
The hour is near.
INT. BUFFY'S ROOM - NIGHT
BUFFY lays, asleep, in her bed. With a gasp, her eyes shoot
open.
FADE TO BLACK:
END OF TEASER
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. BUFFY'S KITCHEN - DAY
WILLOW and DAWN are sitting at the counter, eating breakfast.
Willow is still dressed in her pajamas, but Dawn is ready
for school.
DAWN
So how's it going? The healing, I
mean?
WILLOW
It's hard. Growing new skin is tricky.
But it hurts less.
DAWN
I actually meant the other healing.
Y'know, from the being evil and trying
to end the world.
WILLOW
Oh.
(then)
It's good. I'm making progress, I
think. Hard, but it's worth it. I
feel like I might actually have a
chance at being a person again.
DAWN
Good. I'm happy for you.
(beat)
But just to be clear, I'm not sure I
totally trust you. Don't get me wrong,
I love you and all, but I'm not sure
I like that you're still using magic.
Willow's not quite sure how to respond.
WILLOW
Oh. Well, if it helps any, I'm right
there with you. If I could, I'd just
get rid of the power inside of me,
but it's not that simple. I messed
up in a big way, and I can't just
make that go away with a charm or a
chant, y'know?
DAWN
I get that.
Dawn gets up to take her plate to the sink.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Still, if you go evil again, I'll
have to put the smackdown on your
ass.
(beat)
Got school. Bye.
With a perky smile, Dawn grabs her bag and walks out the
back door.
As she leaves, Buffy walks in.
BUFFY
Did Dawn leave already? I wanted to
talk to her.
WILLOW
Sorry. Hey, has she been watching
UPN very much recently?
BUFFY
Oh, cause of the scary thing?
Willow nods.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
She really got into the whole training
thing over the summer. Started
watching anything that involved
hitting so she could study the form.
WILLOW
Kinda like Bring It On, but with
more violence and less cheering?
BUFFY
Yup.
WILLOW
Well, it looks like she did a good
job of it.
(then)
What'd you wanna talk to her about?
Buffy's not sure she wants to say.
BUFFY
It's nothing.
WILLOW
Buffy, I know when your holding back.
BUFFY
I don't wanna get you all mixed up
in this stuff too soon. You're still
healing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.
WILLOW
My skin's almost back to normal.
BUFFY
Actually, I meant the mental healing.
WILLOW
Right. I have to stop confusing that.
(beat)
But really, it's okay. You can talk
to me without worrying that I might
skin someone.
BUFFY
You sure?
WILLOW
C'mon.
Buffy sits down next to her.
BUFFY
I've been having these dreams.
WILLOW
Slayer dreams?
BUFFY
Yeah, I think so.
WILLOW
What about?
BUFFY
Girls.
WILLOW
Oh. I started having those dreams a
few years ago too, Buffy. It's not a
slayer thing.
Buffy's suddenly not comfortable with the direction things
have taken.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
I was joking.
BUFFY
Moving on. The girls in my dreams
are always murdered. They're attacked
by these guys in robes who have
knives.
WILLOW
Ouch.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.
BUFFY
I know. And it's always a different
girl. All over the world. Germany...
last night, it was London.
WILLOW
(smiles)
Hey, I was just there.
(off Buffy's look)
Okay, not the point. So how do you
know where they are?
Buffy looks at Willow like she's about to reveal that she's
a nut.
BUFFY
Subtitles.
WILLOW
Subtitles?
BUFFY
Yeah. Not like a whole foreign movie
thing, just the location. When the
girls speak, it's in English... though
she did have a guy voice.
WILLOW
Do you ever have nice, normal dreams?
BUFFY
But the weird part is...
WILLOW
Wait, the subtitles weren't the weird
part?
BUFFY
Uh-uh. The weird part is, last night,
someone else was in the dream.
WILLOW
Who?
BUFFY
Cassie Newton.
WILLOW
The girl who died?
BUFFY
Yeah. She said that the hour was
near. Whatever that means.
WILLOW
Are you sure you weren't just dreaming
of her because she was on your mind?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.
BUFFY
I'm sure.
WILLOW
Okay then. What do you want to do?
Research?
BUFFY
Research what? Guys in robes?
WILLOW
I'll try a few things on the net.
See what I come up with. Maybe I can
track these girls down.
Buffy smiles.
BUFFY
It's good to have you back.
Willow smiles back.
WILLOW
It's good to be back.
BUFFY
Meanwhile, I'll have to be back later.
WILLOW
I thought you had the day off.
BUFFY
Do. But there's something I need to
check out at the school.
WILLOW
Spike?
BUFFY
Actually, no. I left something in my
desk. Wanted to pick it up.
WILLOW
Oh. Sorry.
BUFFY
Anyway, I'm out of here.
She gets up to leave.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Bye.
WILLOW
Bye.
Buffy walks out the back door.
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9.
EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
ANYA walks up to the school, stops and looks at it. She looks
very serious. Still deeply pondering the meaning of her
existence. Finally, she continues walking.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH HALLWAY/CLASSROOM - DAY
Anya now walks through the halls of the high school, looking
through doors, not sure how to find what she's looking for.
She hears something ahead. A VOICE, coming through the open
door of a classroom.
TEACHER (O.S.)
Now, if you read through the chapters
last night- as you were told to do,
but if the blank expressions on your
faces tell me anything, you didn't-
you would have read some very
interesting things about the Cold
War. Can anyone tell me what factors
played the primary roles in the Cold
War?
There's a long pause. Anya walks up to the doorway and looks
in. Observing. The TEACHER is standing in front of the CLASS,
looking like's he's fighting a losing battle.
Finally, a FEMALE STUDENT hesitantly speaks up.
FEMALE STUDENT
Nuclear weapons?
The teacher looks up, thankfully.
TEACHER
Yes. Now, can anyone tell me what
year the Cold War started?
Another long pause. Nobody is answering.
ANYA
1945.
Everyone in the classroom looks at Anya, wondering who she
is and why she's there. Anya looks at the teacher.
ANYA (CONT'D)
Was I not supposed to do that?
TEACHER
The fact that you did gives me a
small amount of hope.
Anya takes a step into the classroom.
ANYA
May I?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.
TEACHER
If you think you could do better.
ANYA
Oh, I'm fairly certain that I could.
TEACHER
Then, by all means.
Anya smiles and walks in front of the class.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - OUTER OFFICE - BUFFY'S CUBICLE - DAY
Buffy walks in and quickly goes to her desk and opens a
drawer. She fishes around for a minute.
PRINCIPAL WOOD walks into the office behind her. He stops
when he sees her.
PRINCIPAL WOOD
Buffy?
Buffy stands up straight and looks at him.
BUFFY
Hi.
PRINCIPAL WOOD
Don't you have the day off?
BUFFY
Oh. Yeah. I just came to =l9/something
from my desk.
She goes back to searching.
PRINCIPAL WOOD
I'm glad I saw you. I wanted to talk
to you about the work you've been
doing.
Buffy finds what she's looking for. A necklace. She pulls it
out of the desk, and closes the drawer with a smile.
BUFFY
Gotcha.
Then what Wood says finally registers. She turns back around
to him.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Huh?
PRINCIPAL WOOD
I said I wanted to talk to you about
your work.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.
BUFFY
Yeah, I heard you. I'm just...
(defensive)
I told you I wasn't even done with
college yet, right? 'Cause I thought
I made it pretty clear that I didn't
know what I was doing.
PRINCIPAL WOOD
It's okay. I wasn't going to say
anything bad.
BUFFY
Oh.
(then)
Really?
PRINCIPAL WOOD
Really. Actually, you seem to be
pretty popular among the students.
BUFFY
Wow. Finally popular in high school
and it's three years after I
graduated.
PRINCIPAL WOOD
Anyway, I wanted to congratulate
you, and thank you. You've made the
opening of the school a lot easier.
A lot of kids were worried about
coming here. Especially the ones
with older siblings. But for some
reason, they didn't seem to mind as
much since you came onboard.
BUFFY
Well thank you and you're welcome.
(beat)
I don't suppose this means I'll be
getting a generous raise?
Wood looks at his watch.
PRINCIPAL WOOD
Sorry.
BUFFY
It was worth a shot.
PRINCIPAL WOOD
(with a smile)
I should be going. I have a call to
make. Looks like I'll be working
late tonight.
BUFFY
On Halloween? Don't you have plans?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.
PRINCIPAL WOOD
Did. But some pranksters tried to
revive the old mischief night
traditions and did a number on my
files.
(then)
I'll see you tomorrow.
BUFFY
Bye.
He walks into his office. Buffy smiles.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Yay, me. Getting good comments from
the principal.
(beat)
If Snyder could see me now.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH HALLWAY/CLASSROOM - DAY
Buffy is walking down the hall, on her way out. She hears
something. A voice from a classroom. Oddly familiar.
She walks toward the room and looks inside. She sees Anya,
and is a little surprised and concerned at the same time.
Anya is standing in front of the class, giving an enthusiastic
lecture.
ANYA
See, it's a common misconception
that everyone who believed in
communism was stupid. Some of them
were actually quite smart, they just
happened to be evil at the time, and
have since seen the beauty of a
capitalist society. It's not at all
unlike the more modern misconceptions
about the recent economic issues.
(to the teacher)
Should I go into that subject?
TEACHER
Maybe another time.
ANYA
Okay.
TEACHER
We only have a few minutes left,
really. But thank you for that...
colorful history lesson.
Anya smiles. Pleased with herself.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.
ANYA
Maybe I could come back sometime and
discuss the fall of the Romanov
empire. You'd be amazed at what I
could tell you about that little
piece of history.
TEACHER
We'll see.
Anya is still smiling big. She turns toward the door and
sees Buffy there.
Buffy gives her a "what the hell?" look. Anya walks to her,
and they continue to walk down the hall.
BUFFY
What was that?
ANYA
Well, I came here to talk to you
about last week, and I happened across
the class in progress. The teacher
was being all boring and the students'
were all confused, as so many
teenagers are these days. So I thought
I might be able to make it more
interesting, since I was there and
all.
BUFFY
So you what? Decided to take over
the class?
ANYA
I was only going to say one or two
things, but the teacher's facts were
all full of holes and his details
were so few and far between that it
was no wonder the students looked
like little deer that were about to
be run over by a large truck.
BUFFY
Well, I guess you do have more of a
first hand take on the subject. Just
don't let this become a regular event,
okay?
ANYA
I enjoyed it very much.
Anya stops Buffy and looks at her very seriously.
ANYA (CONT'D)
You wouldn't happen to know the annual
income of a history teacher, after
taxes, would you?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.
BUFFY
Sorry.
(beat)
So, you came to see me?
Anya remembers why she came.
ANYA
Yes. I nearly forgot.
(beat)
I wanted to apologize for almost
killing you.
BUFFY
Almost killed me? Hardly. I had a
sword through your...
(beat)
I mean- It happens. We all try to
kill each other at some point, right?
ANYA
Thank you for not being angry. With
everything that's been going on in
my life these days, I really don't
want everyone I know to be upset
with me.
BUFFY
I get that. So how's it going? The
whole search for selfness, I mean.
Anya shrugs.
ANYA
I've started a list where I can write
down all of the things that make me
me.
BUFFY
What do you have so far?
ANYA
Well...
Anya pulls out her list and looks at it.
ANYA (CONT'D)
(reading)
My likes are money, Elmer Fudd, and
ginger ale. Dislikes are rabbits,
telemarketers, and communism.
BUFFY
Wow. Add long walks on the beach,
and you're set.
ANYA
Right.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15.
She pulls out a pen and writes on her list.
ANYA (CONT'D)
(writing)
Dislike walks on beach.
She looks back up at Buffy.
ANYA (CONT'D)
The way the sand gets everywhere.
It's not very sanitary at all.
(beat)
As far as my world views go, I think
I've decided that I might be a
republican, but I haven't narrowed
my choices of religions just yet.
Buffy's not sure how to respond.
BUFFY
Good luck with that.
(beat)
Y'know, you don't have to come up
with all of this at once.
ANYA
What do you mean?
BUFFY
I mean, you don't have to make all
these decisions right now in order
to be who you are. You're already
Anya. You're a girl with a big heart,
and an amazing personality- once you
get used to it.
ANYA
When I'm not trying to murder people
good and bloody.
BUFFY
(moving on)
You're smart and funny. What you
really need is more confidence in
yourself. You don't have to become
someone new, and decide on what makes
you who you are. You just have to
get up the nerve to be who you are,
no matter what anyone else says.
ANYA
I...
She's not sure what to say.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16.
ANYA (CONT'D)
Not many people have ever spoken to
me like that. Usually it's "Anya,
you are much too literal and must
alter that aspect of your
personality", or "Anya, you have
many good qualities when you're not
speaking."
(beat)
Thank you.
BUFFY
I only speak the truth.
ANYA
And what your new counselor training
tells you to say?
BUFFY
That too.
They walk through the front doors of the school just as the
BELL RINGS.
EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - CONTINUOUS - DAY
They walk down the front steps. Inside the school students
fill the halls. One of the students from the classroom,
TRACEY, runs out the front door.
TRACEY
Anya!
Buffy and Anya turn back. Tracey catches up.
ANYA
Yes?
TRACEY
I just wanted to thank you for coming
to class today. You really made me
interested in the topic.
ANYA
Oh. Thank you for saying that.
Anya turns and starts to walk away again.
TRACEY
Really.
Anya turns back around.
TRACEY (CONT'D)
The teachers can get kinda stuffy,
and some of them don't really care
if we actually get what they're
saying.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17.
Buffy is listening to Tracey, but then she feels something.
Her Spider-sense is tingling.
She looks at Anya and Tracey, wondering if it's just her.
She looks down to think for a moment, then looks back at the
others, just in time to see Tracey fall over.
Anya catches Tracey's limp body in her arms.
ANYA
Oh, God.
BUFFY
Tracey?
Then something touches Buffy. A slight shove that causes her
shoulder to go back a little. Buffy looks, but nothing is
there.
Anya feels for a pulse on Tracey. She looks back to Buffy, a
sad look on her face.
ANYA
There's no pulse.
Buffy is shocked. What the hell just happened? She looks
around to see if anything is near.
On the other side of the school lawn, Buffy sees a girl
walking away. She can't make out the face clearly, but it
looks very much like Cassie Newton.
FADE TO BLACK:
END OF ACT ONE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. BUFFY'S DINING ROOM - DAY
Buffy, Willow, and Anya are sitting at the table. Willow's
working on her computer.
WILLOW
She just fell over?
BUFFY
Yeah.
ANYA
(slightly shaken)
I was just talking to her and then
she was dead.
WILLOW
And neither of you saw anything else?
Anya shakes her head. Buffy hesitates. Willow notices.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
What?
BUFFY
It's just that, I think I did see
something.
WILLOW
A demon?
BUFFY
No. I don't think so.
WILLOW
Then what was it?
BUFFY
Cassie.
WILLOW
Cassie Newton?
BUFFY
Yeah. I mean, I didn't get a really
good look, and it all happened really
fast, but I could swear it was her.
ANYA
Who's Cassie Newton.
BUFFY
It's a girl I tried to help a couple
weeks ago.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19.
ANYA
Oh.
WILLOW
She died.
ANYA
Well, then her being there isn't at
all normal.
BUFFY
Yeah, I noticed.
WILLOW
Do you think this has something to
do with your dream last night?
BUFFY
I don't know.
ANYA
You had a dream?
BUFFY
(to Anya)
Yeah.
(to Willow)
I mean, I saw her in my dream, and
then at the school. There has to be
a connection, right?
ANYA
Are you two speaking English? I feel
very much out of the loop right now.
Willow hesitates to respond to Buffy.
WILLOW
Buffy, are you sure it was her that
you saw at the school? I mean, she
was on your mind. Maybe it was just
a girl who looked kinda like her.
Buffy doesn't know what to think.
BUFFY
I know. But it looked so much like
her.
WILLOW
Maybe that's just what you wanted to
see.
BUFFY
Maybe. But right before another girl
just falls over, dead? That's how
Cassie died, remember?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20.
WILLOW
But that was from a heart condition.
There weren't any demons involved.
BUFFY
I didn't see any this time either.
WILLOW
But you said you felt something touch
your shoulder.
Buffy doesn't know what's going on. Her mind is racing.
BUFFY
I don't know. I did feel it. But the
girl looked so much like Cassie.
Willow looks back to her computer. She decides to humor Buffy.
WILLOW
I'll see what I can find. But I can't
promise anything.
BUFFY
Thank you.
Buffy stands up.
WILLOW
What are you gonna do?
BUFFY
As soon as it gets dark, I'm gonna
patrol. See what I can see.
(beat)
Or not see, as the case may be.
WILLOW
You gonna take Dawn with you?
BUFFY
Nah. She's still out looking for a
Halloween costume to wear to the
Bronze tonight night.
WILLOW
I'd forgotten all about that. You
going?
BUFFY
Not sure. These Halloween celebrations
tend to get pretty freaky.
ANYA
There's a Halloween party at the
Bronze?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21.
BUFFY
Yup. First annual. It's supposed to
be cool.
WILLOW
You should come, Buffy. It'll be
fun.
(smiles to Anya)
I'm gonna be a scarecrow.
ANYA
Can I go?
WILLOW
Yeah.
(to Buffy)
See, the whole gang'll be there. You
have to go.
BUFFY
I'll think about it.
(beat)
Wow. Only in this house can we go
from talking about dead girls and
demons, to parties and costumes in
under thirty seconds.
INT. COSTUME SHOP - DAY
Dawn is browsing around. Looking for the perfect costume.
XANDER walks up behind her.
XANDER
Hey there, little lady.
She looks back, surprised to see him.
DAWN
Hey. You looking for a costume too?
XANDER
Yup. Not quite sure how I could top
the one from the year before last
though.
DAWN
(smiles)
Oh, I loved that one. When you were
the guy, with that thing.
She gestures at his head as she mentions the "thing".
XANDER
That will be hard to beat.
(beat)
So what're you going as?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22.
DAWN
Undecided at the moment. Looking
for something really cool though.
Just incase we all turn into our
costumes again.
(beat)
Last time, I was stuck as a pumpkin
on some old lady's porch all night.
Talk about boring.
XANDER
Just make sure you don't rent your
costume from Ethan Rayne, and you
should be fine.
Dawn looks away from Xander, unsure how to bring up the next
subject.
DAWN
I just got off the phone with Buffy.
XANDER
Really? Something freaksom going on?
DAWN
Usual. Dead body, much research.
(beat)
But she mentioned that Anya might be
coming to the Halloween party.
Xander looks at her, suddenly not thinking much about
costumes.
XANDER
She is? She said that?
DAWN
Yeah. She's at the house helping
Buffy and Willow. She was there when
the girl died at school today.
(then)
But she didn't do it. Kill the girl.
She was just there with Buffy when
it happened.
Xander thinks about this. Lets it sink in.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Are you okay with this? With her
being around and stuff?
Xander takes a moment to come up with his reply.
XANDER
Yeah. Yeah, I am. She needs to be
around those who love her right now.
She's going through a lot.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23.
DAWN
It's sweet of you to not weird out.
XANDER
I never said I wouldn't weird out.
I'll just save that for the actual
party. It's always best to throw a
fit in front of many people who can
mock you relentlessly.
DAWN
That's the spirit.
Dawn looks back at the racks of costumes.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Now, we should find costumes. I'd
just go as me, but I did that last
year.
(beat)
This is what I get for last minute
shopping.
XANDER
You'd think I'd have learned this
lesson by now.
DAWN
Hey, I think I saw a Don Rickles
mask back there. Maybe you could use
that.
(beat)
I think it was Don Rickles. I guess
it might have been John McCain though.
Dawn looks up and sees something. A huge smile forms on her
face.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Perfect.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT
Buffy walks down the street. The houses all have Halloween
decorations out. Jack-o'-lanterns on the porches.
KIDS and PARENTS go door to door, trick-or-treating. And
Buffy watches them. Remembering the days when she had that
care-free existence.
BUFFY
Those were the days.
She looks ahead. It's then that she sees something.
ANGLE : BUFFY'S POV
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24.
The back of a girl's head. Small. Blond, with touches of
blue.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Cassie?
She begins to walk faster. To catch up with the girl. But as
she gets closer, the girl turns a corner.
Buffy races around the corner, but when she does, the girl
is gone. She looks up and down the street. Confused.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Just for once, it'd be nice if the
dead people were still there when I
turned the corner.
She looks around. The streets are much more crowded than
normal, with the flow of youngsters in costume.
Then Buffy sees her again. Still walking away from her, down
the road.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Cassie!
Buffy runs after her.
EXT. DOWNTOWN SUNNYDALE - NIGHT
It's a short time later. The town is alive with festive
Halloween PEOPLE. Dressed in costumes. Laughing. Eating candy.
Being goofy. And there are a few kids too.
From between two of the buildings, Buffy rushes out. She's
out of breath. She stops and looks around. No sign of Cassie
anywhere.
She gives one final look around and decides to turn back.
She has noplace else to go.
INT. BUFFY'S FOYER/DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Buffy walks into the house and looks around. She sees Willow
sitting at the computer again, but this time, Willow is in
costume. Dressed as a scarecrow, with hay sticking out from
under her hat, and out of her sleeves. Buffy walks over to
her.
BUFFY
Nice hay.
WILLOW
Thank you very much. It's itchy.
(beat)
So any luck on patrol?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25.
BUFFY
Yes and no.
Willow looks at her, a little confused. Buffy explains.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Nothing on our mystery death, but I
did see Cassie again. I think.
WILLOW
Really? Where?
BUFFY
All over. She kinda led me across
town then pulled a vanishing act.
Finally, I just gave up and came
home.
WILLOW
I guess there wasn't much else for
you to do.
From upstairs, Dawn calls down.
DAWN (O.S.)
Buffy? That you?
Buffy looks back toward the stairs.
BUFFY
Yeah.
DAWN (O.S.)
Good. Can I borrow your lipstick?
BUFFY
Which one?
DAWN (O.S.)
Oh. The... hot coral?
BUFFY
Yeah.
DAWN (O.S.)
Thanks!
Buffy turns back to Willow.
BUFFY
How about you? Find anything on the
net?
WILLOW
Well, I did manage to hack into the
coroner's system and pulled up the
info on the girl that died today.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26.
BUFFY
Tracey.
WILLOW
Right.
(beat)
But they haven't had time to do much
looking into the cause yet, so I
don't know. There weren't any marks
or bruises though.
BUFFY
Which tells me she wasn't beaten to
death, which I knew. So this means
that we're pretty much nowhere?
WILLOW
Pretty much. Sorry.
(beat)
While I was getting ready, I did
think of something I wanted to check
out though. Give me a sec.
Buffy waits as Willow goes to work.
The front door opens. Xander walks in. He's dressed in a
tux. The same one he wore on his wedding day, and he doesn't
seem comfortable with it.
Buffy looks back and sees him.
BUFFY
Hey, Xand.
(re: the costume)
James Bonding it again?
XANDER
Yeah, I... The tux was in the closet.
Buffy realizes what tux it is.
BUFFY
Oh.
DAWN (O.S.)
Buffy?
BUFFY
(yelling to Dawn)
What?
DAWN (O.S.)
Can I borrow your black top with
those weird sleeves?
Buffy rolls her eyes, wanting to get back to Xander.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27.
BUFFY
Yes.
DAWN (O.S.)
Thank you!
Buffy's about to say something to Xander when Dawn chimes in
again.
DAWN (O.S.) (CONT'D)
What about those black boots you got
last week?
BUFFY
Fine. Whatever. Take the whole closet!
DAWN (O.S.)
Thank you!
Buffy waits a moment to make sure Dawn's gone. Then she turns
back to Xander.
BUFFY
Dawn told me she bumped into you at
the costume shop.
XANDER
Yeah.
BUFFY
So I guess she told you about Anya
coming tonight?
XANDER
Yeah. But it's cool though. She
shouldn't be shunned because of what's
happened. She's part of the group
too.
BUFFY
That's very mature.
XANDER
(realizing something)
Oh, God.
BUFFY
What?
XANDER
I'm an idiot.
BUFFY
Huh?
XANDER
The tux. It's my wedding tux.
(MORE)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28.
XANDER (CONT'D)
And Anya's gonna be at the party. I
didn't even think... Should I change?
BUFFY
I'm sure it'll be fine.
XANDER
How could I be so stupid?
BUFFY
Maybe she won't notice?
(then)
You could say you're going as you
from the prom. Y'know, your first
date with her. That way it's less
depressing and way happier a memory.
Xander sits down.
XANDER
I'm finally in a good place with her
again, and I'm gonna mess it up.
BUFFY
You won't mess it up.
XANDER
At least all my friends will be there
to watch me totally ruin what's left
of my relationship with her.
He looks at Buffy and how she's dressed.
XANDER (CONT'D)
You are going, right?
BUFFY
Yeah. By costume's easy though. No
fuss or muss to be had.
WILLOW
See how simple it is when you do
your shopping early?
Dawn comes down the stairs, finally. Though, we don't see
her yet.
DAWN (O.S.)
Okay, so what do you think?
Buffy looks over at her. Her face drops.
BUFFY
What the hell is that?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29.
REVEAL Dawn, standing in the doorway, dressed in Buffy's
clothes, with a Buffy-like blond wig, stake in hand, and a
grin on her face.
DAWN
I'm you.
BUFFY
I see that. Why are you me?
DAWN
C'mon. It's just me having fun. By
the time I got to the shop, all that
was left were some wigs.
(beat)
I'd have gone with a black wig and
raided Willow's closet for my costume,
but I didn't think we'd put enough
space between us and those issues
just yet.
Willow would probably make a comment, but she finally finds
what she was looking for.
WILLOW
Uh... guys?
They all look back to her.
BUFFY
You find something?
WILLOW
I think so. It's Cassie's website.
It's been updated.
FADE TO BLACK:
END OF ACT TWO
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30.
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT
Trick-or-treaters are still going from house to house. Parents
still watching them. Fun is being had.
Walking along the sidewalk are two teens. A BOY and a GIRL.
The girl holds a piece of paper in her hands.
Both of them are either very happy campers, or very drunk
ones. They walk and laugh.
There's a NOISE behind them. Like a stick breaking.
The girl turns around.
GIRL
Did you hear something?
BOY
No.
She turns back, still sure she heard something. Suddenly,
the boy next to her falls over. The girl looks down at him.
GIRL
Get up, trippy.
But the boy does not move. The girl grows concerned.
GIRL (CONT'D)
Hey.
She bends down and gives her friend a shove. He's limp. And
she now sees that his eyes are wide open. The look of death
on his face. She GASPS and is about to run when she too falls
to the ground, dead.
Around them, the trick-or-treaters continue to laugh and
play and beg for free candy.
ANGLE : THE GIRL'S HAND
She releases the paper. It blows in the wind, and we now see
that it is a flier for the party at the Bronze.
INT. BUFFY'S DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Where we last saw everyone here. Willow's just told them
about the site.
BUFFY
Updated? How?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31.
WILLOW
There's a new poem.
Buffy goes around and looks at the computer as Willow brings
up the new poem.
BUFFY
(reading)
This is the onset of my eternal
suffering. The sorrow I will feel
until the end of time. It covers me.
Devours me like a monster that has
crossed my path in the woods. It
knows my fear, but does not care. It
knows my sadness, but does not relent.
It is forever.
WILLOW
It's not the best of the bunch, but
it sounds like her.
DAWN
Cassie? She's dead.
(off a look from Xander)
Which really should start to mean
something one of these days.
BUFFY
But how? Why?
WILLOW
Maybe she had some unfinished
business.
XANDER
What, like killing people?
DAWN
You think Cassie killed that girl
today?
BUFFY
No. Cassie would never kill. She
wasn't the type.
Everyone is very confused.
DAWN
So much for the party. I'm gonna go
get changed.
Dawn starts to walk away.
BUFFY
No.
Dawn stops and looks back.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
It's not exactly like we can do
anything here. Besides, Halloween
celebrations can sometimes get a
little weird in this town.
XANDER
You think we should go?
BUFFY
I'm not sure what is going on here,
but if it's going to attack anywhere,
it'll probably be the party we were
planning to go to.
(off their looks)
Well, look at the statistics. Do we
ever go to a party that isn't attacked
by something?
WILLOW
She has a point there.
BUFFY
I'm gonna go get changed. Be ready
to go.
Buffy walks out of the room, upstairs.
Willow closes her laptop.
WILLOW
I wish we had more to go on. Something
to look up somewhere.
XANDER
These things have a way of being
worked out. We just have to gather
more info. Buffy's right.
DAWN
Plus, fun party.
INT. THE BRONZE - NIGHT
The place is decorated with all kinds of different Halloween
decorations. It hardly looks like the same place that we
usually see. Smoke, and multicolored flashing lights give
the place a spookier feel.
SCARY MUSIC PLAYS, and PEOPLE IN COSTUME are dancing to it.
Buffy walks into the club. She's dressed in a tight, black,
Elvira-esque dress, with a black wig and black makeup.
Xander, Willow and Dawn follow her in. They all look around.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33.
DAWN
Everything looks pretty normal.
(beat)
Besides Buffy, I mean.
She grins at her own joke. Buffy gives her a cold look.
DAWN (CONT'D)
I'm gonna go patrol the dance floor.
Dawn holds up her stake, and smiles at Buffy as she walks
off, into the crowd.
Buffy, Xander and Willow walk to the bar. Xander walks to
one side to order drinks while Buffy and Willow talk.
Buffy scans the crowd.
BUFFY
I don't see anything so far.
WILLOW
Maybe nothing will come tonight.
It's not like demons really do attack
everywhere we go, right?
BUFFY
When you were in England, did they
happen to erase your memory?
WILLOW
Okay, so they do attack. But there
has to be a first time for everything.
Plus, if you look at the patterns,
so far, the Halloween baddies tend
to only come out every other year.
BUFFY
There's a first time for everything.
Buffy sees someone in the crowd.
ANGLE : BUFFY'S POV
MIKE, Cassie's friend. He's sitting, alone, on the other
side of the room. Not in costume. Looking depressed.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Hey, Will, I'll be right back. Hold
onto my drink, would you?
WILLOW
'Kay.
Buffy walks over to Mike. He sees her coming and when she
finally gets there, he has the first words.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34.
MIKE
Miss Summers, nice costume.
Buffy looks down at herself, noting that she looks kinda
slutty. She does her best to try to look serious in this
outfit, realizing that this probably isn't the best way to
dress when talking with students.
BUFFY
Miss Summers? Call me Buffy.
MIKE
Okay.
BUFFY
I noticed you sitting over here,
alone.
MIKE
(confused)
Are you gonna ask me to dance?
BUFFY
What? No. I just thought you might
want someone to talk with.
Mike looks at the ground, knowing what Buffy means.
ANGLE : THE BAR
Xander and Willow watch Buffy talk with Mike.
XANDER
Think he knows anything?
WILLOW
Not sure. But I think he could use
someone to talk to either way.
XANDER
Yeah.
Xander turns back to the bar and leans on it. He's
uncomfortable.
XANDER (CONT'D)
I should change. I shouldn't be
wearing this.
WILLOW
It'll be fine.
XANDER
I don't wanna hurt her.
Willow looks toward the entrance. We do not see what she
sees right away, but a small smile forms on her face.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
35.
WILLOW
I don't think you will. Look.
Xander looks at Willow and sees where she is looking. He
looks toward the door.
ANGLE : XANDER'S POV
Anya stands across the room, having just walked in. She looks
uncomfortable. Scanning the crowd, not having seen Willow or
Xander yet. She's dressed in her wedding dress.
Finally, she sees Xander. At once, both of them are relaxed
as their eyes meet. She walks over to him.
ANYA
I didn't have anything else to wear.
The costume shop was sold out of
everything but wigs and Zorro
costumes.
XANDER
Yeah, I know the...
(then)
Zorro?
Damn! Why didn't he see that?
ANYA
I was worried that you would be upset
with me.
XANDER
I was too.
WILLOW
But you both came dressed in your
wedding clothes. Funny how those
things work out, isn't it?
Neither Xander, nor Anya looks at Willow. She takes the hint.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
I'm just gonna go to the bathroom.
Willow leaves. Xander and Anya are left alone.
XANDER
You look beautiful.
ANYA
I know. But thank you for saying it
anyway.
XANDER
You wanna dance?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36.
ANYA
Xander, I...
She doesn't want to hurt him, but she still needs time to
sort things out before getting back into this.
XANDER
I didn't mean that in a relationshipy
way.
THE MONSTER MASH BEGINS TO PLAY.
XANDER (CONT'D)
See? Fast song. Just two friends
dancing to a fast song.
Anya gives in. She nods to him, and they make their way to
the dance floor.
ANGLE : BUFFY
Still talking to Mike.
MIKE
I just don't get it. I don't get why
it happened.
BUFFY
I know. I've felt the same way.
(beat)
I know how hard it is to lose someone.
How you feel like the whole world is
moving on and forgetting them, and
there's nothing you can do.
MIKE
But there is. There is something I
can do.
Buffy looks at him, confused.
BUFFY
What? What did you do?
MIKE
I wanted her to live on. Somehow. I
wanted there to be a way for people
to know her. To remember her.
BUFFY
So you called her? Summoned her soul
to come back from the other side,
not knowing that what you were calling
wasn't her, but some sort of dark
force that would kill everyone it
came into contact with?
He looks at her for a moment. Not following at all.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
37.
MIKE
No. I updated her website. Posted a
poem.
(beat)
I guess it doesn't make much sense,
huh?
BUFFY
Oh. That was you?
MIKE
Yeah. Who did you think...?
BUFFY
So Cassie isn't back?
MIKE
Huh?
INT. THE BRONZE - BATHROOM - NIGHT
Willow walks into the bathroom and goes to the sink. She
splashes some water on her face, and straightens her hay-
like hair.
She turns back to the stalls and sees that they're all closed.
She frowns a little and bends over to look under them, to
see if any are empty. When she does, she sees something
horrifying. We don't see what she sees, but her eyes widen.
INT. THE BRONZE - NIGHT
Buffy is still talking with Mike. Willow rushes up.
WILLOW
Buffy. It's here.
BUFFY
What?
(to Mike)
Excuse me.
Mike nods, and Buffy walks off with Willow.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
What's here?
WILLOW
The thing. Whatever it is. I went in
the bathroom. Buffy, it was full of
dead people.
Buffy's face turns very serious.
BUFFY
See. I told you this would happen.
They both look around the room.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
38.
WILLOW
We have to find it.
BUFFY
I can't see anything. There are too
many people.
Willow looks up.
WILLOW
The balcony.
Both of them race across the room, toward the stairs. Xander
and Anya see them as they pass, and follow. Anya is having
trouble rushing anywhere in her tight dress.
ANYA
Wait for me. This dress was made for
graceful marching, not running across
night clubs.
INT. THE BRONZE - BALCONY - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Buffy, Willow and Xander run up the stairs, onto the balcony,
which is surprisingly empty. They all begin to scan the crowd.
BUFFY
I don't see anything. Do any of you?
(then)
Where's Dawn?
WILLOW
I don't see her.
XANDER
What are we looking for, exactly?
Anya finally catches up to them.
ANYA
Did I miss anything very important?
Willow's eyes widen once again.
WILLOW
Look!
She points to the crowd. The others look.
ANGLE : THE CROWD
As they dance and have fun, something bad begins to happen.
A person near the stage falls to the ground. Followed by
another person. And another. They're falling in a line across
the room. As though something is walking through the crowd,
leaving death in it's path.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
39.
And the path is leading toward Dawn, who is dancing and having
a great time, unaware of what is coming toward her.
BUFFY
Oh, God. Oh, God, no.
Buffy races across the balcony. The others follow.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
(calling out)
Dawn!
But the music is too loud. There is no way Dawn could hear
her.
INT. THE BRONZE - DANCE FLOOR - NIGHT
We see the crowd finally begin to react to the death all
around them. SCREAMS can be heard, though only by those very
near the fallen people. It is Halloween, and most of the
people are unaware of what lurks among them. One expects to
hear screams on Halloween, so others aren't even motivated
to look up at them.
Dawn is one of these unfortunate souls. She dances, having a
good time by herself. But finally, the people near her begin
to fall. She looks at them, confused. She raises her stake,
but it's pointless. There is nothing to attack.
Suddenly, she falls to the ground. Limp. Dead. And after she
does, the path continues to be made. People behind her fall.
It's still spreading.
Buffy rushes to Dawn, crying. She falls to her knees and
holds Dawn in her arms.
BUFFY
Dawn.
(no reply)
Dawn! Wake up. Please, wake up.
But Dawn does not move. Buffy cries, and cradles Dawn. Willow,
Xander and Anya finally catch up. They see what's happened.
XANDER
(a weak, disbelieving
whisper)
No.
Willow begins to cry. Anya grabs onto Xander, not knowing
how else to react. She looks around the club.
More people are starting to realize what's going on. More
and more people are falling over. Dozens of them.
ANYA
What's happening?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40.
PULL OUT to show all of the people in the Bronze. Those on
the ground. Those just now falling over. And those starting
to panic. It looks like a war zone.
FADE TO BLACK:
END OF ACT THREE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41.
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
INT. THE BRONZE - NIGHT
Buffy is still holding Dawn in her arms, not wanting to let
go.
Xander and Anya are taking in the sight of people falling
all around them.
ANYA
We have to get out of here.
Xander looks at Buffy. He knows Anya is right, but Buffy
isn't listening.
XANDER
Buffy.
No reply from her.
ANYA
(seriously)
I hope she hasn't gone out of her
mind again.
Xander goes to Buffy and puts a hand on her shoulder.
BUFFY
I. Can't. Leave.
XANDER
Buffy, we have to. If there's a way
to fix this, we won't be able to
find it if we're dead.
She doesn't reply. She can't. She knows he's right, but she
can't get past the look of her little sister, dead in her
arms.
Willow manages to pull herself together.
WILLOW
He's right. We have to find out what
did this.
Buffy looks up at her friends. Weak. She can't speak.
She looks back at Dawn. Slowly, she puts Dawn's head down on
the floor, pulling the blond wig back as she does. Still
crying, she stands up.
Xander and Anya are already looking for a way out.
XANDER
We can't go out the front door.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42.
ANYA
This way.
Anya leads the way past the bar, heading backstage.
EXT. BRONZE LOADING DOCK - NIGHT
The door swings open and the group exits. Behind them, some
other partiers make their way out.
XANDER
My car is this way.
Xander begins to lead the way. None of them look very good
at all. Buffy pulls her wig off and drops it on the ground.
INT. BUFFY'S FOYER/DINING ROOM - NIGHT
They enter the house, and head right for the dining room.
(NOTE: Xander is the last in and closes the door behind him)
Willow sits at her computer and opens it. She stops.
XANDER
What do you search for?
Nobody knows.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Is it a demon? A ghost? A spell?
Willow stares blankly at her computer. She has no idea what
she can look up.
ANYA
Do we have books? I could look in
books.
BUFFY
(dazed)
I left her.
XANDER
You had no choice.
BUFFY
What's happening?
Buffy's about to start crying again. Anya goes to her and
puts an arm around her. Comforting.
Willow is still looking at the computer. Still not knowing
what to do.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
She's dead. We could all die, and I
have no way of stopping it.
(MORE)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
(beat)
I don't even know what I'm facing.
What killed my...
She can't finish the sentence. Willow sees the pain in her
eyes, and she can't stand it any longer.
BLACKNESS FILLS WILLOW'S EYES. Like clouds moving in before
a storm. Willow turns back to the computer. She speaks evenly
and calmly.
WILLOW
Perdulac. Guide to the hopeless, I
summon thee. Cross into this realm,
and allow me to find the answers
that I seek.
The others watch on. Not liking what they see. Concerned.
Willow's LAPTOP BEGINS TO GLOW. When the GLOWING STOPS,
Willow's EYES RETURN TO NORMAL.
XANDER
What did you do?
WILLOW
(softly)
I didn't have... I had to.
Buffy turns around, not believing that this situation has
gotten more complicated. When she turns, she notices
something. The front door is wide open.
BUFFY
The door.
The others look at her, and the door.
XANDER
I closed it.
ANYA
(realizing)
It's here.
They all turn back to Willow.
BUFFY
What is it?
Willow looks at the computer.
WILLOW
It's called Das Lebentod. It means...
But before she can finish the sentence, she falls over. Dead.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44.
XANDER
Willow!
Anya moves to check on Willow.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Anya, no.
But it's too late. Anya falls over. She too, dead.
Buffy begins to break down.
BUFFY
I can't do this.
Xander turns back to Buffy, looking her in the eyes and
speaking firmly.
XANDER
Buffy, run.
BUFFY
What?
XANDER
Run. Get out of here. You need to
stop this...
Before he can finish his sentence, he falls over.
Buffy looks at the room, seeing her three best friends dead.
Knowing that her sister is across town in the same condition.
She's alone.
Tears fill her eyes. She looks around, trying to see what's
happening, but she can't see anything. Finally, without
anything else to do, she run out the door. Beaten.
We stay in the house. The bodies of Willow, Xander and Anya
on the ground. The front door wide open.
And then, it closes.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT
Buffy runs down the street. Running for her life. She wipes
away tears that are blocking her vision. And as she does,
she finally sees the street around her.
All of the trick-or-treaters and their parents, all of the
teenagers and kindly old people who brought this street to
life a short while ago, all lay dead in their tracks. Some
in the streets. Some on the sidewalks. Some on porches. But
all dead.
Buffy can't take the sight. It's too much for her. She once
again runs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45.
EXT. DOWNTOWN SUNNYDALE - NIGHT
Buffy runs into town. Here, she finds more people, dead. The
whole town. Everyone except for her.
She can't run anymore. It's too much. She falls to the ground,
weak and crying hard. Not a sound is heard except for the
sound of her. Until...
SPIKE (O.S.)
They're all gone. Gone, but still
they remain. Why do they remain,
Buffy?
Buffy stops crying. She looks up and sees SPIKE walking toward
her. He looks at her. Sees that she's crying.
SPIKE (CONT'D)
You're upset. Something's wrong. The
nibblet and your band of warriors
---- and Xander. Are they gone, but still
here too?
Buffy is glad to see a familiar face. Any familiar face.
BUFFY
Spike?
Spike holds out a hand for her. She takes it and he helps
her up.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
They're all dead. I couldn't stop
it.
SPIKE
Never can, right? Death is a game we
all have to play sooner or later, I
reckon.
He brushes her hair out of her face and looks at her.
SPIKE (CONT'D)
But some of us move onto the next
level. It's not right. Not natural,
but we do it anyway. Are we ever the
same after that, Buffy? Can we ever
go back?
He looks past her now. He smiles.
SPIKE (CONT'D)
An ugly beasty, ain't it? All full
of teeth and eyes. Don't get too
near. His hands have needles.
Buffy turns to see what he's talking about, but she sees
nothing. She looks back at Spike.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46.
BUFFY
Do you see something?
He doesn't respond. He just keeps looking past her.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Spike, I need to know what you see.
He looks back at her. He starts to laugh, and throws her to
the street.
SPIKE
I should have known it wasn't you.
(beat)
Now you're two, huh? Split in the
face and coming at me from two angles.
BUFFY
Spike, tell me what's coming!
SPIKE
I won't fall for it. I'm growing
wise to your game. Your faces. Never
trust the ones you love, right? Never
trust the things that endanger them.
It's not real. None of it is. It's
all a trick. Made to make me mad.
Buffy stands and looks Spike in the eyes.
BUFFY
I'm real. I'm flesh and blood.
SPIKE
I don't know that.
Buffy punches Spike in the face. He recovers.
SPIKE (CONT'D)
Right. You're not the tender one.
The tender one is the fake.
He looks past Buffy again.
SPIKE (CONT'D)
Still, it draws near. The evil in
the night. It's coming for you. You're
the one who got away.
(beat)
You ran. You're not the Slayer.
Buffy looks back. Sees nothing.
BUFFY
I don't have time for this. I have
to get out of here.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=l9/ 47.
He looks her in the eyes, trying to peel away the layers in
his mind.
SPIKE
You can't be the Slayer. The Slayer
never runs.
Buffy looks back into his eyes. Her own eyes changing from
weak and tired to the eyes of a fighter. The Slayer.
BUFFY
I have to go.
And she takes off running once again. Not continuing on her
previous path, but heading back the way she came.
SPIKE
I knew you weren't. You can't change
before my eyes and expect me to
believe it's you.
Something bumps into Spike. He is pushed back a few steps.
SPIKE (CONT'D)
Watch it, mate.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT
Buffy rushes in the direction, from whence she came.
INT. BUFFY'S FOYER/DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Buffy rushes into the house. She looks down at the bodies of
her friends. For a moment, she wants to break down again.
She wants to hide. But she knows she can't.
She goes to the laptop and looks at the screen.
BUFFY
(reading)
Das Lebentod. The living death.
She reads a bit more, silently, though her lips are moving.
She only speaks the parts that strike her as interesting.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
...related to Der Kindestod.
She scrolls down a little and continues reading.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Comes to life on Hallow's Eve, in
his wake does death he leave. Bringer
of terror to those he does cross,
for in their death, their souls not
lost.
(MORE)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
48.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Entombed they remain in their bodies
that rot, aware of their peril, with
capable thought. As days go past,
and weeks and years, alone they
remain, with only their fears. Feeling
the worms that crawl on their bones,
unable to make whimpers or moans.
Immortal in mind, though dead in the
grave, from this terror only the
dead are safe. As the bell tolls,
and midnight arrives, his victims
lose hope of regaining their lives.
For in his death the only chance
lies.
She stops reading and processes the information.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
"Only the dead are safe."
(beat)
It touched me.
Buffy is still thinking about what she read.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
It can't kill me.
She looks down at her friends.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Guys, I know you're still in there.
Don't worry, I'm gonna save you. I
have until midnight, and it's only...
She looks at her watch. Oh crap!
BUFFY (CONT'D)
...Eleven thirty-six. I have to go.
Bye!
She runs out of the house.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT
Buffy is walking. Looking for any sign of Das Lebentod. Of
course, she doesn't see it.
BUFFY
Here, demon, demon, demon. Hello?
Nothing.
EXT. DOWNTOWN SUNNYDALE - NIGHT
She walks into the street where Spike was before, still
looking for the demon. Or Spike, for that matter. Nothing
but dead people are to be seen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49.
She stops walking. Tries to figure this thing out.
BUFFY
Where would this thing go? It's killed
everyone.
Then the solution comes to her. She takes off running down
the street.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - HALLWAY - NIGHT
Buffy enters the school and takes a look around. It's dark,
not that she could see what she wants to see anyway. She
makes her way down the hallway.
As she passes a clock, she checks the time: 11:53
BUFFY
Crap.
She begins to walk faster.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Wood is working on his files. They're scattered all over his
office, and he's trying to figure out what goes where. He
rubs his eyes and checks the time.
He picks up his mug and tries to take a sip of coffee, but
it's empty. He takes the mug and walks out of the office.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - OUTER OFFICE - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
He walks to a coffee pot that's set up in the office and
tries to pour a new cup, but the pot is empty. He sighs.
It's too late for this.
He grabs the pot, and walks out of the office.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Buffy sees Wood walk out of the office, and ducks into a
classroom to avoid being seen.
He makes his way down the hall, toward the bathroom. Finally,
he goes into the bathroom and is out of the way.
Buffy makes sure the coast is clear, and then continues
walking down the hall. She reaches the office doorway and
looks inside. Nothing.
She's just about to walk away when she hears something. She
walks into the office.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Buffy walks into Wood's office and looks around. She takes
in the sight of the papers scattered all over the place.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50.
She notices one piece on the ground. But no demon in sight.
She is about to walk away when she hears something again.
PAPER RUSTLING.
She looks back at the piece of paper on the ground. This
time, she notices that it looks like something is on the
paper. A foot pressing the paper into the floor.
BUFFY
Gotcha.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - BATHROOM - NIGHT
Wood is drying off his face. He tosses the paper towel into
the trash and begins to fill the coffee pot with water.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Buffy walks into the office and throws a kick into the air
over the piece of paper. She hits something. A file cabinet
behind the invisible demon is knocked.
Buffy steps forward and throws a punch, again hitting her
target. A moment passes. Buffy's not sure where this thing
is. Then she finds out.
She is picked up into the air, and thrown onto the desk. She
kicks out with her feet, pushing the demon away from her.
She stands up and kicks again.
Das Lebentod can be heard crashing into something in the
outer office.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - BATHROOM - NIGHT
Principal Wood has finished filling the coffee pot. He starts
to walk out of the bathroom when he notices a paper towel on
the floor. He bends over to pick it up and spills some of
the water by mistake.
PRINCIPAL WOOD
See? This wouldn't happen if I had
coffee.
He puts the pot down on the counter, and grabs more towels
to soak up the water.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - OUTER OFFICE - NIGHT
Buffy is once again in the air, being held up by the demon.
She's choking.
Out of the corner of her eye, she sees the clock: 11:58
She's running out of time. She pushes off the invisible demon
and does a backflip. She lands on the ground and kicks the
feet of Das Lebentod out from under it with one of those leg
sweep things.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
51.
We can hear Das Lebentod crash onto the floor. Buffy walks
to where the head would be.
BUFFY
Tell your brother I said hi.
And with that, she feels for the demon's head, grabs it, and
twists it. A loud SNAP is heard. The demon's neck.
Buffy sits back for a moment, catching her breath. Then she
remembers that she has to make sure everything is okay, so
she rushes out of the office.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
Buffy runs out of the office, and down the hall. She goes
through the doors, out of the school.
As the doors close, Principal Wood walks out of the bathroom
holding the pot of coffee. He makes his way back to the office
and goes inside.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - OUTER OFFICE - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
He takes one step inside the office and stops. He looks around
and the new mess that's been made.
He looks back to see if he can see anyone else around, but
nobody is there.
PRINCIPAL WOOD
Teenagers.
And with that, he takes another step. As he does, he trips
over the invisible demon, and falls to the floor. The coffee
pot shatters.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT
Buffy runs as fast as she can through the street. In the
background, we can hear BELLS RINGING. Midnight is upon us.
As she runs down the street, she notices that the people are
starting to stir. A smile forms on her face.
INT. THE BRONZE - NIGHT
The people on the floor begin to sit up. They scratch their
heads, wondering what happened.
Dawn sits up in the middle of this crowd. She blinks her dry
eyes and looks around. She notices that people are asking
questions and starting to freak.
DAWN
(loudly)
That had to be the weirdest gas leak
ever.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
52.
Around the room, people begin to accept that excuse. It gets
repeated and passed on. Dawn smiles. Proud that she pulled
that off.
Buffy runs through the Bronze door and goes straight to Dawn.
They hug.
BUFFY
I was so scared.
DAWN
Yeah, I noticed. It was strange. I
was here, but I was totally dead. I
didn't even feel my heart beating.
You never realize that you feel that
until you don't anymore.
(then)
And I made up a really cool excuse
for what happened. Gas leak.
Buffy smiles at Dawn. She notes the blond wig on the floor.
BUFFY
Good work, mini-me.
They stand and begin to walk across the floor.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Thus ends the first, and last annual
Bronze Halloween bash.
DAWN
Think it's the last?
BUFFY
Everyone died. I wouldn't call that
an amazing success.
INT. BUFFY'S DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Willow, Xander and Anya sit up. They gather themselves and
stand. Xander helps both ladies up.
WILLOW
Weird.
XANDER
Yeah.
ANYA
You'd think Buffy'd at least give us
a blanket or something before she
ran off. That's what I would have
done.
WILLOW
I guess she saved the day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
53.
XANDER
Yeah, but the thing about the demon
that she read didn't really make
sense. I mean, it said "Hallow's
Eve", but the first girl was attacked
during the day, not the eve.
WILLOW
You've been waiting to say that all
night, haven't you?
XANDER
You know it.
ANYA
Those people who write down demon
histories in rhymes are always doing
things like that. They pay very little
attention to detail and focus on the
flow. It's not a very efficient way
of doing things, if you ask me.
WILLOW
So, what do we do now?
XANDER
Well, there weren't many tick-or-
treaters this year. I guess we have
some candy to eat.
WILLOW
Sounds like a plan.
They walk out of the room.
EXT. GRAVEYARD - NIGHT
It's the next night. Buffy and Willow are out on patrol.
Buffy has a stake in hand.
BUFFY
It was totally creepy. Seeing the
whole town dead like that.
WILLOW
I can imagine. Seems Dawn's
explanation is catching on though.
I'm not sure how realistic it is,
but as long as the people accept it.
Buffy is trying to figure out how to say what's on her mind.
BUFFY
Will, I wanted to talk to you. About
what happened last night.
(beat)
The magic part.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
54.
Willow looks down.
WILLOW
I know. I didn't mean to... I didn't
know what else to do.
BUFFY
I'm worried about you.
WILLOW
Honestly, so am I. I'm not sure I
can handle this power. It just has a
way of coming out when it wants to.
BUFFY
At least you realize that. As long
as you let us all help you through
this, I think you can beat it.
WILLOW
Yeah. Me too.
That was easier than Buffy expected.
BUFFY
Okay. Good.
(beat)
So, did you find anything about those
dead girls from my dreams?
WILLOW
Yeah. I looked online and found
newspaper articles. All over the
world, the same deal. Young girls
stabbed to death. Nobody's really
put it together though.
BUFFY
I guess there's no reason they would.
WILLOW
At least you know they're really
real.
BUFFY
I had a feeling.
(beat)
Maybe I'll call Giles and see if the
Council knows anything.
WILLOW
The Council. That's always fun.
BUFFY
Don't I know it?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55.
WILLOW
Sorry I couldn't help more on the
Cassie side of things.
BUFFY
It's okay. I think you were right.
It's just what I wanted to see.
They walk out of frame. As we now look at the graveyard, the
figure of a blond girl walks across the distance.
FADE TO BLACK:
THE END