THE SUMMER OF AUGHT ONE
"The Social Worker"
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. DAWN'S FOYER -- DAY
Where we left off in the last episode. TARA is standing at
the door, the social worker, DORA, is standing outside the
door, holding her files.
TARA
You're here to take Dawn.
It's not a question, as was stated in the last script. It's
Tara saying this, stunned. She stands there, shocked for a
moment.
In the living room, WILLOW and DAWN here this and look at
each other. What do they do. Tara turns to Dawn.
TARA (CONT'D)
Dawn, RUN!
Dora pushes her way through the door.
DORA
I have a warrant and a police escort.
You can't keep her here.
But it's too late. Dawn's already running into the kitchen.
Dora and her TWO POLICE MEN escorts push Tara aside roughly.
WILLOW
Tara!
EXT. DAWN'S BACKYARD -- DAY
The door opens and Dawn runs out. She doesn't know which way
to turn. Finally, she decides on left and runs.
INT. DAWN'S FOYER -- DAY
Still with the cops and Dora bursting in. Much confusion on
Willow and Tara's parts.
OFFICER ONE
(to partner)
I'll take care of these girls. You
get the kid.
While his partner and Dora begin to move toward the kitchen,
the cop who is staying takes out his cuffs and grabs Tara.
Willow won't stand for this.
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2.
WILLOW
(with a soft, level
voice)
Thicken.
With that word, an invisible force field forms around the
cops and Dora. They can't move at all. Unlike when Willow
did the spell on Glory, these humans are totally frozen in
place, unable to move.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
Tara, come on!
Willow grabs Tara and they run the same direction that Dawn
did. We stay on the cops and social worker for a few moments
after Willow and Tara are gone. After some time, they
unfreeze. All three look around, not knowing what happened.
FADE OUT:
END OF TEASER
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3.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. THE MAGIC BOX -- DAY
A normal, quiet day at the store. A few CUSTOMERS scattered
around, and GILES and ANYA taking care of them. Suddenly,
Dawn runs in. She's out of breath and scared. Giles goes to
her right away. Anya soon is finished with her customer and
goes to her too.
GILES
Dawn, are you alright?
Dawn is too out of breath to talk. She just shakes her head.
GILES (CONT'D)
What's wrong?
He looks around.
GILES (CONT'D)
Dawn, where are Willow and Tara?
Dawn tries to catch her breath, and her fear shows through.
Tears are in her eyes.
DAWN
I--I don't know. They told me to run
and I did. I ran as fast as I could
and I couldn't look back.
ANYA
What happened?
Willow and Tara rush into the store. They too are out of
breath. They see Dawn there.
TARA
(relieved)
Dawn.
GILES
Would someone please tell us what is
going on?
WILLOW
A social worker showed up at the
house.
(beat)
Giles, they wanted to take Dawn away
from us.
Giles takes a moment to let this sink in.
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4.
ANYA
Take her away? Where?
WILLOW
I don't know... a foster home, I
guess?
DAWN
I can't go there.
(to Tara)
I can't lose any more people in my
life.
TARA
We'll think of something.
(then, to Giles)
Won't we?
Giles looks at the girls.
GILES
What did you do? How did you get
away?
WILLOW
A spell. I held them in place while
we ran.
ANYA
Are they still stuck there?
WILLOW
(slight beat... good
question)
I don't know. I didn't think about
it.
GILES
I don't think that was such a wise
thing to do, Willow. There are laws.
WILLOW
To Hell with their laws, Giles. They
were going to take Dawn away from
us.
GILES
Yes, well... we must think of a way
out of this mess. Legally.
Everyone takes a moment to think this through.
TARA
What about the Council? Can they do
something?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.
GILES
I suppose it's possible. But since
Buffy's death, they've not been in
contact with me, or returned my calls.
ANYA
I don't like the idea of them coming
back here and mucking up our lives
and killing our ex-demons either.
WILLOW
Maybe there's something I can do. A
spell, maybe? Y'know, to make them
go away.
GILES
Casting spells on people is dangerous,
Willow. You'd have to be very careful.
WILLOW
Careful is my middle name, mister.
People are always calling me Willow
Careful Rosenberg. Aren't they, Tara?
TARA
Um... I'm not sure how to contribute
to that.
GILES
I suppose it wouldn't hurt to look
into the idea. However, I'd also
like to research the legal side of
all this. Perhaps there is some other
way.
WILLOW
We can look it up on the computer.
GILES
Right then. Let's get to work.
INT. XANDER'S APARTMENT -- DAY
ANGEL, WES and CORDELIA are getting ready to leave town.
XANDER is seeing them off.
XANDER
Do you need anything to eat for the
drive home? Sandwiches? Cookies? O-
Negative?
ANGEL
We're good.
Cordy sits down on the couch. She is acting strange. Looking
at the ground. While Xander and Angel talk, Wes goes to her.
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6.
WESLEY
Are you feeling alright?
CORDELIA
Fine. I just... I don't know what I
just. It's strange.
Xander and Angel turn to Cordy and Wes. They see something
is up.
XANDER
What's goin' on? You okay, Cor?
CORDELIA
I'm fine. Really. Enough with the
twenty questions.
XANDER
Just checking. You have that weird
look on your face. The one you usually
save for when you really want a new
outfit, but can't find your credit
card.
CORDELIA
I just don't know what I want anymore.
I thought I knew, but being back
here... it made everything confusing.
ANGEL
Confusing?
CORDELIA
I don't know what that means. I just
feel like I never really left here.
XANDER
I can see where that would be
confusing.
WESLEY
I know that feeling.
(beat)
You need closure. When you left here,
did you have that.
CORDELIA
I packed a bag and left. I couldn't
stand being here anymore. I was a
joke.
XANDER
A joke? Cordy, you were never a joke.
CORDELIA
I couldn't be here and be poor.
(MORE)
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7.
CORDELIA (CONT'D)
I'd see people I knew on the street
and they'd give me that look. Y'know,
the one you give to someone right
before dropping a dollar in their
hat.
ANGEL
You ran away.
CORDELIA
I ran away.
Angel looks around, trying to decide what Cordelia needs.
Finally, he decides.
ANGEL
So you need closure. You need to
prove that you can be here. You need
to be able to go back to L.A. and
say that you stopped running.
WESLEY
You need to stay here. You can't
come home with us.
Cordelia realizes. That's exactly what she needs.
CORDELIA
I need to stay here.
ANGEL
And you call us when you're ready to
come home.
Cordelia stands up and looks at Wes and Angel.
CORDELIA
I will. I'll call you tonight, okay?
WESLEY
I'll tell Dennis you'll be away for
a while.
She smiles at him. A "thank you" smile. Angel and Wes walk
to the door, grabbing their bags. Angel's hands are full, so
he turns to Xander.
ANGEL
(to Xander)
You mind? The blanket.
XANDER
Oh, you got it.
Xander grabs a blanket and throws it over Angel, protecting
him from the sun.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.
ANGEL
Thanks.
They get to the door. Cordy hugs them both and sees them
out. Xander and Cordy are left alone.
XANDER
So where does closure start?
CORDELIA
I'm not sure.
The PHONE RINGS. Xander picks it up.
XANDER
(into phone)
Hello... What?... I'll be there in a
minute.
He hangs up.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Trouble at the magic shop.
CORDELIA
Serious?
XANDER
Nobody's bleeding, but it's not too
great.
CORDELIA
Need me to go?
Xander would normally say yes, but knows that she has things
to do.
XANDER
Nah. You can just meet us there later.
Do what you have to do.
INT. THE MAGIC BOX -- DAY
Giles is keeping busy at the counter. Anya and Xander walk
into the shop together, trying to look natural.
XANDER
Cop car coming.
Giles looks off-camera toward the training room and nods.
There's a slight WHOOSHING SOUND, but we don't see anything.
Xander sits down at the table, looking casual and pretending
to read a book. Anya walks to a shelf and looks at some of
the merchandise. Moments later, Dora and her police men walk
into the store. She is still holding the file and eyes the
shop. She rolls her eyes at the silliness of a magic shop.
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9.
GILES
Welcome to the Magic Box. Can I help
you with something?
Dora looks at Xander and Anya who try to make it look like
they're not looking back at her. She walks to the counter.
DORA
Hello. My name is Dora Yunn. I'm
with Social Services. Child and family
services department. I'm looking for
a girl by the name of Dawn Summers.
I'm told you know her.
GILES
Dawn? Yes, she's a friend of mine.
Dora eyes Giles. Friends with a fourteen-year-old girl?
DORA
Has the child been in here today?
GILES
No. I'm sorry. I haven't seen her
since yesterday.
Dora walks around the store, looking around. She looks up at
the second level, and at the book cases. It's now that we
see that there is a book case where the door to the training
room usually is. Dora passes right by it without a second
look.
She turns back to Giles and hands him a card.
DORA
You'll call me if you see her.
GILES
Of course.
With the same serious look on her face, she eyes Xander and
Anya one last time as she walks out of the store. Her officers
follow.
ANYA
Thank you, please come again!
Xander and Giles both give Anya a look.
ANYA (CONT'D)
What? She has money too.
Giles goes to the book case that is in the place of the
training room door and taps on it. IT VANISHES. Now the door
to the training room is clear again. Willow and Dawn walk
out of it. Dawn looks worried.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.
DAWN
I'm scared.
Willow puts an arm around her. Dawn puts her head on Willow's
shoulder and closes her eyes.
WILLOW
It'll be okay. I promise.
But Willow and Giles share a look that says that she can't
be sure of what she just promised.
EXT. MAIN STREET -- DAY
Cordelia makes her way down the street. She's walking slowly,
just taking things in. She passes the coffee shop and the
dress shop that she used to work at. She's trying to feel
something. Anything.
EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH -- DAY
Cordelia walks up to the remains of the school. She looks at
them for a few seconds. She's then joined by Xander, who
hands her a drink. She accepts it with a "thanks" look.
XANDER
I thought you might come back here.
CORDELIA
Is everything okay at the shop?
XANDER
Yeah. Don't worry about it right
now. Maybe worry later, but not right
now.
CORDELIA
So this is what becomes of Cordelia
Chase.
XANDER
I think you're doing pretty well for
yourself.
Cordy motions toward the school.
CORDELIA
I mean this.
XANDER
I'm not following.
CORDELIA
This is who I was. High school. Most
popular. Homecoming queen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.
XANDER
Actually...
CORDELIA
Shut up.
Xander does. He plays along with the delusion.
CORDELIA (CONT'D)
What am I now? Pretty much an
answering machine with fashion sense.
She feels her hair.
CORDELIA (CONT'D)
And even that is questionable.
XANDER
You're more than that. You're a smart,
sassy young lady who helps save the
world.
CORDELIA
From lawyers.
XANDER
A force greater than anything I've
ever seen. And I've fought a god.
With that comment, Xander remembers that Buffy is gone. Cordy
picks up on it.
CORDELIA
It's stupid. It's so stupid.
(beat)
All the visions I get. All the people
I help, and when something like this
happens to someone I care about, I
get nothing but a vacation to the
land of the freaky green people. I
should have been able to do something.
XANDER
It's not your fault.
CORDELIA
Oh, I know that. It's the fault of
the stupid Powers That Be. They zap
my head with the mystical pain visions
and send us out on missions like
we're their hired help, but they
can't bother to give us a ring when
someone close to us is in danger?
Sometimes, I wish I could zap them
right back. See how they like it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.
XANDER
The visions... they hurt you?
CORDELIA
Yeah. A lot.
(beat)
And they keep getting worse and worse.
My head is throbbing pretty much all
day, every day.
XANDER
And you can't stop them?
CORDELIA
I had a chance once. But I couldn't
do it. This is Angel's only chance.
I can't let him down. His mission is
who I am now, I guess. It's all that
I am anymore.
XANDER
And when the mission is over?
CORDELIA
Who knows? Maybe they'll let me out
of this. I mean, it'd be nice if
they gave me a vision of the lotto
numbers first, but I'll settle for a
normal, pain free life.
XANDER
I'm sure you'll get it.
They share a look. Just being there with each other. Friends.
Not a "I want to kiss you now" look.
EXT. MAIN STREET -- NIGHT
Dora is off duty now. She's walking down the empty street
alone. She's holding a grocery bag, and talking on her cell
phone.
DORA
(into phone)
I will find her. Bet on it... I am
not obsessed with my work... Uh-huh.
But I'm not obsessed... Okay, I'll
be home in a few minutes. Bye.
She hangs up the phone and keeps walking. After a beat, she
feels someone watching her. She stops and turns around, but
nobody is there. She still feels it, but she continues walking
anyway. The SOUND OF A GARBAGE CAN FALLING OVER is heard.
She turns around again, not stopping though. Still, she sees
nothing. She faces forward again just in time to see the
VAMPIRE that she bumps into. She looks at it's face. It's
all vamped out. She drops the bag, but can't move.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.
She's too scared. The vampire grins and grabs her. It sinks
it's teeth into her. Her eyes are wide as the life drains
from them.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
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14.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. THE MAGIC BOX -- DAY
Willow is at the table with a few books opened in front of
her. She's hard at work. She picks up the book she's reading.
It's called : "THE SPELLS OF ACARNIS"
Anya is at the counter, one book in front of her. She picks
up her book. It's called : "IT" (By Stephen King)
Giles walks into the shop from the training room and goes to
where Willow is.
GILES
Find anything?
WILLOW
Nope. Not unless you wanna turn the
lady into a shovel.
(beat)
Let's call that, Plan B.
GILES
And she hasn't been back?
WILLOW
Not a peep from her since yesterday.
GILES
That's good.
ANYA
Unless she's getting a warrant to
search all our homes and get us
arrested.
WILLOW
Arrested? For what?
GILES
You did assault those police officers.
WILLOW
What are they gonna do, arrest me
for saying the word "Thicken"?
Willow waves her hand playfully when she says the word.
Without meaning to, she causes an invisible force field around
Anya's hands and book.
ANYA
Hey!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15.
WILLOW
Sorry.
INT. DAWN'S LIVING ROOM -- DAY
It's close to getting dark. That orange sunlight that comes
with dusk is shining through the windows.
Dawn, Cordelia and Tara are sitting in the room quietly.
Each of them in their own world. After a moment, Cordelia
looks up at the others and notices that they're being distant
too.
CORDELIA
Well, aren't we all just a big ball
of sunshine.
TARA
Huh?
CORDELIA
Look at us. Sitting here all quiet.
DAWN
I was just thinking.
CORDELIA
I think we all have issues that we
need to deal with. Otherwise, this
could turn into a very boring day.
TARA
What do you mean?
CORDELIA
I mean, we can't sit around and brood
all day. Believe me, broody people
get annoying very fast. We need to
vent.
DAWN
Vent? How?
CORDELIA
Talk. We need to talk about our
issues. Get them out there.
DAWN
Well, my issues are pretty out there
already.
CORDELIA
But nobody is helping you deal with
them. Everyone is busy with their
own lives and issues.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16.
DAWN
So what do want us to do?
CORDELIA
We can help each other.
TARA
Help each other?
DAWN
Like a support group?
CORDELIA
Uh-huh.
TARA
I tried a support group after my mom
died.
CORDELIA
And?
TARA
I didn't like it.
DAWN
What are we supposed to do? Just,
like, start blurting out the first
thing that comes to our heads?
CORDELIA
Exactly.
They fall silent. Dawn and Tara aren't sure if they like the
idea. Finally...
TARA
I don't know what to say. I mean,
people seem to forget that a woman
had her hands inside my brain and
turned me into a an insane person.
Not just insane. I mean, that place
I was in... it was Hell. Dark and
cold. I could feel things on my skin
and no matter how hard I tried to
scream, I couldn't. When I tried to
talk, my words wouldn't come out.
Instead, it was something else. I
wasn't even in control of my own
mind anymore and I still have
nightmares about it.
(beat)
I don't mean that people should be
all over me or anything. I know
everyone has their own problems and
I'm okay with that.
(MORE)
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17.
TARA (CONT'D)
But sometimes I just wish someone
would ask me if I was okay.
CORDELIA
See, don't you feel better now?
TARA
Not really.
INT. THE MAGIC BOX -- DAY
Still dusk. More books are piled on the table now. Willow is
still reading them. Xander's there and helping her now. Willow
finishes her book and closes it. She rubs her eyes.
WILLOW
Damn.
She's worn out and tired.
XANDER
Nothing?
WILLOW
If it's possible, I think I know
less now than I did before.
XANDER
Nothing in this one either.
He closes his book too.
WILLOW
Xander, what if we never find a spell?
XANDER
Don't say that. We will.
WILLOW
But what if we don't?
Willow gets up and starts pacing.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
Dawn has nobody anymore. Buffy was
the only family she had and now she's
gone. She'd want us to take care of
Dawn, but how are we supposed to do
that if they take her away?
XANDER
We'll think of something.
WILLOW
Like what, Xander? Saying that we'll
think of something isn't an answer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18.
XANDER
I don't know what to say, Willow.
Xander gets up and stands near her. Old friends, comforting
each other.
XANDER (CONT'D)
I don't know what we're going to do,
but I have to believe that something
will happen and this will be okay.
If I stop thinking that, even for a
second... If I let the thought that
Dawn might be taken away from us
pass my mind, I'll go crazy. She
isn't just Buffy's kid sister to us
anymore, is she? She's part of us.
Part of our family.
WILLOW
We can't let them take her, Xander.
Willow is really scared. Xander hugs her. He's scared to.
XANDER
I'm pretty sure I just said that.
WILLOW
I wish Buffy was here.
XANDER
Me too.
They just stand there for a moment, comforting each other.
Then Willow's head pops up.
WILLOW
I think I have an idea.
XANDER
What?
Willow goes behind the counter and pulls out some of Giles'
notes.
XANDER (CONT'D)
What are they?
WILLOW
Giles' notes on the Key.
INT. DAWN'S LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT
And it's finally not dusk anymore. It's all dark outside.
The gals are still chatting. Cordelia is up.
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19.
CORDELIA
I guess my big issue is that I have
no clue who I am anymore. I mean, in
high school, I was...
(and she uses air
quotes when she says)
Cordelia Chase.
(end air quotes)
DAWN
And you're not Cordelia Chase anymore?
CORDELIA
Not the same one I was back then.
But I don't think I'm really the
person that I pretend to be either.
I don't know why. I mean, last year,
this demon gave me a vision attack.
I saw so much pain and stuff and it
really made me think. I started
thinking that I didn't have the right
to act the way I did because people
were suffering. So I put on this
total Mrs. Brady face and became all
nice and stuff.
TARA
But you don't wanna be nice?
CORDELIA
Well, I don't want to be mean, but I
never get to say what I think anymore.
It's like I'm filtering out who I am
just so I can seem like the good guy
that I'm supposed to be. You never
see Wonder Woman telling the victim
that she's saving that she's in dire
need of a good eyebrow plucking, but
sometimes it's just true.
TARA
I think you can have some sass without
being too mean.
DAWN
You have to be who you are, I say.
That's what you always told me when
I was a kid.
CORDELIA
But if I open those flood gates, can
I control what comes out?
INT. THE MAGIC BOX -- NIGHT
Willow and Xander are reading through Giles' notes and the
Book of Tarnis.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20.
Anya is now back behind the counter, not paying much attention
to them. She's working on the shop's books and counting money.
XANDER
Okay, so what exactly am I looking
for?
WILLOW
Anything that has information on the
spell that the monks used to create
Dawn.
XANDER
Right.
WILLOW
If I can get my hands on that
information, I might be able to figure
something out.
They scan through the books more. Willow finally comes across
what she needs.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
I think this is it.
XANDER
What's it say?
WILLOW
Hold on a sec.
Willow reads the information from the notes.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
It says here that the monks used a
Blackwater Deceptiolarus spell.
XANDER
I see... Oh wait, no I don't.
Willow runs up to the second level... the place where all
the more powerful and dangerous spell books are located. She
scans the books for one in particular and finally comes across
it. She comes back down and puts it on the table. It's an
old, leather bound book that is falling apart. The cover of
the book has the title written on it : "NOCENS BLACKWATER"
Seeing that Willow went up to the dangerous section, Anya
walks out to the table, concerned.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Will, should you be doing this without
Giles?
WILLOW
It's fine. I know what I'm doing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21.
XANDER
I know. It's just that you tend to...
nevermind.
Willow might press on if she was paying attention to him.
But she's not. She is flipping through the pages of the book.
ANYA
(to Xander)
What is she doing?
XANDER
Looking for a spell.
ANYA
From up there?
WILLOW
Shhh!
Anya doesn't like this, but she does stay quiet. Willow finds
what she needs.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
I got it!
XANDER
What is it?
Willow looks up and tries to think of how to explain this.
WILLOW
When the monks created Dawn, they
had to put her into all of our
memories and all of the places that
would have records of Dawn. That
took effort and the spell is still
working on keeping that information
where it needs to be, since it's not
supposed to be there.
XANDER
So?
WILLOW
So, I think I can do a spell that
can take her out of the minds of the
people that are trying to take her
away and get rid of their records.
ANYA
And how will this backfire?
WILLOW
What?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22.
ANYA
Your spells always backfire.
WILLOW
They do not.
XANDER
Wait... so this will get them off
our backs?
WILLOW
It should. At least for a while. The
spell that the monks used was really
powerful. It's like a battery that
keeps recharging itself. I'm not
sure how long my spell can hold back
their spell.
ANYA
It could make it so none of us
remember her.
WILLOW
It won't do that. I know what I'm
doing.
ANYA
Like when you turned Xander into a
demon magnet? Or when you let Olaf
out?
WILLOW
That wasn't my fault.
XANDER
Ladies. Calm down.
(beat)
I don't think we have much choice.
They'll take Dawn if we don't try
this.
(then, to Willow)
How long will this take?
WILLOW
It'll take a while to set up
everything I need. We'll need to get
Dawn over here, I think.
XANDER
I'll go pick her up. I can get Cordy
and Tara while I'm there.
ANYA
Yes. Maybe Tara can make sure this
doesn't go horribly wrong and kill
us all.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23.
EXT. PARK -- NIGHT
The park is empty. There are bushes nearby.
ANGLE : THE BUSHES
In the bushes rests the body of Dora. She's all dirty and
messed up. Her face has some cuts on it, but they BEGIN TO
HEAL. And within seconds, they're gone. Her eyes shoot open.
Her face MORPHS INTO A VAMPIRE FACE.
She looks around, a little dazed. Slowly, she stands up. She
straightens her clothes and dusts herself off. Then something
grabs her attention. She hears something.
A JOGGER comes into site. He stops when he sees her. At first,
he is concerned. She looks bad and he wants to help. Then he
sees her face and is too scared to run. She grabs him and
bites him. When he's drained, she drops him to the ground
and wiped some blood off of her mouth. Still dazed, she looks
at the blood on her hand. She's not exactly sure what she is
yet.
EXT. MAIN STREET -- NIGHT
Dora walks down the street, taking in the sight as though
it's the first time she's ever seen it. PEOPLE pass her on
the street. She eyes them, but doesn't attack. Some people
look back at her, not sure if they should help her or not,
since she looks like she's been living in a dumpster, but
they just pass by when they see her eyes.
Finally, she comes to the spot where she was attacked. She
stops for a moment, remembering what happened. She looks
around the area. On the ground, near a wall, she finds a
piece of paper. She picks it up.
ANGLE : THE PAPER
It has some of Dawn's information on it. Name, address...
just some information, not her whole file.
INT. DAWN'S HOUSE -- NIGHT
The three girls are still talking. Laughing and having fun
now.
CORDELIA
And he was all...
(with funny voice)
"Be my deputy."
Dawn and Tara laugh.
CORDELIA (CONT'D)
I was about to die.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24.
TARA
Dawny, your turn. What's up with
you?
Dawn suddenly goes into sadness mode.
DAWN
I'd rather just keep talking about
Cordy's past. It's way more fun.
Really.
CORDELIA
No fair. You have to spill.
DAWN
Fine. I...
There's a KNOCK AT THE DOOR. The girls look at each other.
Who could that be?
TARA
(to Dawn)
Go in the kitchen.
Dawn obeys and goes into the kitchen. Tara and Cordelia go
to the door and open it. It's Dora. But she's not a mess
anymore. She looks very alive and professional. Tara's not
happy to see her.
TARA (CONT'D)
C--Can I help you?
DORA
Yes. I'm still looking for Dawn. I
know she's in there.
CORDELIA
Nope. Sorry. Please feel free to
come again.
Cordelia starts to close the door in Dora's face. Dora turns
around, acting like something startled her.
DORA
Did you hear that?
Cordy stops closing the door.
TARA
I didn't hear anything.
DORA
I heard something. It sounded like
someone in the bushes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25.
Dora takes a step back off the porch, onto the steps. Tara
looks at Cordelia, not knowing what's going on, and steps
outside to see if she can see anything.
TARA
I still don't see anything.
Dora turns around at break-neck speed and grabs Tara.
DORA
Me neither.
Tara struggles to get free, but can't.
CORDELIA
Tara!
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26.
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
EXT. DAWN'S FRONT YARD -- NIGHT
Dora throws Tara to the ground in the front yard. Cordelia
runs back into the house, and comes back a moment later with
a stake. She runs out and attacks Dora, but she's not powerful
enough.
Dawn runs to the door and sees what's going on.
DAWN
Cordelia!
TARA
Dawn, stay in the house!
But Dawn doesn't listen she runs out and tries to help
Cordelia. Dora throws Cordelia off of her. Cordy drops the
stake. Dora grabs Dawn.
TARA (CONT'D)
No.
Tara thinks. She tries to think of what to do. Cordelia get
up and tries getting at Dawn, but Dora is holding her by the
head, like she is about to snap her neck.
CORDELIA
Put her down.
DORA
I can't do that. She's coming with
me.
Tara, still on the ground, holds her hands up.
TARA
Sensus confundantur et aer oppleatur.
Caligo absorbeat mentem obscuratam.
(translation)
Confound the senses and charge the
air. Mist engulfs. Mind is fogged.
As it did in "Superstar", mist comes from her hands. Dora
can't see a thing. Dawn manages to get herself free and runs
out of the mist, running into Cordy and sending them both to
the ground.
DAWN
Sorry. And... ouch.
The mist eventually clears and Dora sets her eyes on Dawn
again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27.
CORDELIA
What is she, like the Entergizer
vampire?
As Dora is about to grab Dawn again, a dark FIGURE comes
from nowhere and dives on the vampire. As they hit the ground
and struggle, we see that it's SPIKE!
DAWN
(almost shocked, but
not totally)
Spike.
Spike and Dora struggle a bit. Eventually, she works some
basic self defense moves and Spike ends up on the ground,
having been kneed in his place where no man should ever be
kneed.
SPIKE
(in very bad pain)
Bloody...
Dora knows she's outnumbered. She decides to take off. She
turns around to say something, but Cordelia cuts her off.
CORDELIA
Wait, don't say it...
(then)
You'll be back and you'll kill us
all, right?
Dora is annoyed. She turns and runs.
CORDELIA (CONT'D)
(to Dawn)
They always say that. They should
just have shirts made with that
printed on the back.
Everyone gets to their feed.
DAWN
Spike, you're back.
Cordelia stands in front of Dawn, protecting her from Spike.
CORDELIA
Now feel free to get lost again.
SPIKE
Calm down, prom queen. I just saved
your life.
DAWN
He has a chip now. He's a good guy.
Spike gives Cordelia a "told you so" look.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28.
CORDELIA
A chip?
TARA
A computer chip in his brain.
DAWN
He can't hurt people anymore. He
helps us now.
CORDELIA
But he doesn't have a soul?
DAWN
Not technically.
CORDELIA
So he's still bad. He just can't
hurt us.
SPIKE
If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't
have saved you from that vampire.
Try to think about that for a
second... if that's possible.
CORDELIA
Yeah, and you could try thinking
about updating your hairstyle once
or twice a decade.
SPIKE
Yeah, it looks like you've had great
luck in that department.
DAWN
Guys! Hello, stop the fighting. Same
team, remember?
Spike and Cordy stop the fighting.
TARA
We should get to the magic shop.
Report this.
They start to walk, but luckily, Xander's car pulls up. Xander
opens the passenger window and yells out to them.
XANDER
Somebody call for a taxi?
Then he sees Spike.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Check out the return of the living
dead.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29.
SPIKE
Yeah. We're all very happy to see
me. Can we get on with this now?
INT. THE MAGIC BOX -- NIGHT
Willow is gathering supplies for the spell from shelves and
putting them on the table. Giles is sitting at the table,
looking at the book that Willow got from the upper level.
Anya is helping Willow with supplies.
WILLOW
(to Anya)
Rose root.
ANYA
Right.
Anya looks at the shelves for the rose root.
GILES
Willow, are you sure you can do this?
This book contains spells that are
very dangerous. Perhaps it would be
best not to tamper with the spell
that the monks used.
WILLOW
Giles, it's fine. I know what I'm
doing.
GILES
I know that. But still...
WILLOW
Look, I know this could go all sorts
of wrong, and I'm going to be careful
to make sure that doesn't happen.
Willow finds one of the supplies that she's looking for on a
shelf and puts it on the table, taking the time to talk to
Giles.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
We can't not do this spell. We could
lose her.
GILES
And none of us wants that, but the
Blackwater books are among the most
dangerous. They unlock doors to great
power that I'm not sure you're ready
for.
WILLOW
I've already used the darkest magic.
(MORE)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
How much darker can this get? 'Sides,
the monks weren't evil and they used
the spells.
GILES
They were also trained for them their
entire lives.
WILLOW
And I've been doing this for years.
I'm at the top of my wicca class.
(beat)
Okay, there's no actual class, and
if there were, me and Tara are pretty
much all of the students. Still, I'm
at the top of my game.
GILES
Which is exactly what I thought while
I was summoning Eyghon when I was
your age.
WILLOW
No offense Giles, but you were a big
freak when you were my age.
ANYA
Ah-ha!
Anya grabs a glass container filled with the rose root from
a shelf and holds it up happily.
ANYA (CONT'D)
I found it.
She puts the rose root on the table.
ANYA (CONT'D)
What else do you need?
WILLOW
Um... A hair from a virgin.
Anya looks around the store, totally not knowing how to go
about this.
ANYA
Damn.
WILLOW
(to Giles)
And anyway, like I said, this is our
only chance.
The door to the shop opens. Xander, Dawn, Cordy, Tara and
Spike walk in.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
Spike. You're back.
SPIKE
Why is everyone so bloody shocked to
see me all the sudden?
ANYA
We thought you went crazy and left
town.
SPIKE
I took time off.
(beat)
Besides, I had a promise to keep.
XANDER
How's the spell prep going?
WILLOW
Still prepping.
Anya walks up to Dawn and smiles at her.
ANYA
Hello.
Dawn doesn't know what's up with Anya. She just smiles
politely and says...
DAWN
Hi.
Anya stands for a moment, smiling at Dawn before quickly
pulling a strand of hair from her head.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Ow!
Anya returns to the table and hands the hair to Willow.
ANYA
Hair from a virgin. Next item?
CORDELIA
Okay, so is anyone gonna mention
that we were attacked by a vampire?
GILES
A vampire? Is everyone alright?
DAWN
We're fine.
TARA
It was that social worker.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32.
WILLOW
The social worker is a vampire?
Tara nods.
CORDELIA
Killed, vamped and still after Dawn.
That's what I call job commitment.
GILES
Did you stake her?
TARA
Got away.
CORDELIA
But she said she'd be back.
WILLOW
They always say that.
TARA
What spell are you working on?
WILLOW
A spell to help us with the Dawn
situation. I think we might be able
to undo some of the work that the
monks did and erase her form the
minds and records of the social
services people.
Giles hands Tara the Blackwater book. Tara looks at it.
TARA
B--Blackwater? Willow, are you
sure...?
WILLOW
Why does everyone keep asking if I'm
sure? Yes. I am sure.
Tara and Giles share a concerned look. Dawn's a little
uncomfortable with the thought of them messing around the
spell that creates her existence, but doesn't want to stir
things up. She already has enough problems.
DAWN
So, how long is this gonna take to
set up?
Willow's getting to work already. She grabs a bowl from a
shelf and starts putting ingredients into it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33.
WILLOW
Well, I have to mix a bunch of this
stuff and then chat a while to get
it all good and mystical.
(beat)
'Bout a half hour. Maybe an hour if
the corners don't answer my calls.
DAWN
Call me when it's done, okay?
WILLOW
Sure thing.
Dawn walks off, into the training room. Giles and Xander
share a look of concern.
GILES
She must be worn out.
XANDER
She's been through a lot. I'll give
her a minute alone, then I'll check
on her.
Spike settles sits on the cushions in the front corner of
the store. Cordelia and Anya walk back to the counter, out
of the way.
CORDELIA
(to Anya)
So... How's the being human treating
you?
ANYA
I'm getting used to it. I am still a
little upset about not being able to
sleep on my side without my arm
falling asleep. That is one design
flaw that must be taken up with the
manufacturer.
CORDELIA
It really would help if arms were
detachable or something.
ANYA
I used to know a demon who could do
that.
CORDELIA
Neat.
EXT. THE MAGIC BOX -- NIGHT
Dora is standing at the window, looking in on all that is
happening.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34.
She's just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
INT. TRAINING ROOM -- NIGHT
Dawn is walking around the dark room. The punching bag is
still on the floor where Buffy left it. Dawn is taking in
all of the things that used to belong to her sister. She
walks to the counter type thing in the back of the room.
There she finds one of Buffy's scarves. She picks it up. She
feels the fabric as though it were a memory that had somehow
taken solid form and connected her to her sister again. She
smells it... and coughs. Okay, not the best smelling thing
in the world.
Xander walks into the room. Dawn doesn't see him at first.
XANDER
Hey.
Dawn turns and sees him now. She doesn't let go of the scarf.
DAWN
Hi.
(beat)
So is this the part where you comfort
me and I cry?
XANDER
I think so. I mean, it's either that
or the part where one of us makes a
shocking confession and pulls off a
mask or something.
He walks to her and puts his hand on her shoulder.
XANDER (CONT'D)
You okay?
Dawn doesn't really know how to react to the question.
DAWN
Will I ever be?
(then)
Okay, that was a lame line. Could I
possibly get any more Dr. Phil?
XANDER
I know you hurt. You can let it out.
DAWN
No. No, I can't.
XANDER
Why not?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
35.
DAWN
I have to be strong. She told me to
be.
Dawn goes to the punching bag on the floor and sits on it.
Xander sits next to her.
XANDER
Who? Buffy?
(beat)
Look, Dawn, I don't think she meant
that you had to hold everything in.
DAWN
Why not? She did. She knew how to
take the blows and get right back
up.
XANDER
What, are you kidding me? That might
have been the face that she put on
for you and your mom so you didn't
worry, but there were times when
Buffy almost lost it.
DAWN
Like when?
XANDER
Like when Glory took you. Didn't
anyone tell you what happened to
Buffy? She fell apart. She couldn't
take the pain.
DAWN
But she was always so strong.
XANDER
Yeah. She was. But holding things
like this inside isn't strong. It
makes you weaker. 'Cause something
like this only eats at you until you
have a total meltdown. If you don't
deal with the pain, it just gets all
infected and turns into a big green
goo-filled bigger pain. Remember
Adam?
Dawn nods.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Big trauma there. All hacked apart
and sewn together. And see how well
he dealt with it? Big freaky killer
guy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36.
DAWN
Which had nothing to do with his
programming.
XANDER
You get the point.
Dawn's eyes tear up.
DAWN
I just wish she was here.
XANDER
I know.
DAWN
I don't know how to live without
her. I mean, when mom died, she took
care of me. She always took care of
me. She shouldn't have died. She
shouldn't have had to sacrifice
herself for me. It wasn't right.
Buffy wasn't supposed to die. I was.
XANDER
Hey. You know that Buffy couldn't
have lived with that any more than
you can live without her. She did
what she did because she loved you.
You were her world.
DAWN
But I'm a nobody.
(beat)
Buffy... she meant something to the
whole world. She saved it. The world
needs her. I'm a nothing. I don't
matter. It should have been me.
XANDER
(dead serious)
I don't want you talking like that.
Dawn, you do matter.
DAWN
What? Bringer of death and chaos?
Key to the end of the world?
XANDER
No. Dawn, you're a bright, young
girl with a future ahead of her. You
have people who love you and care
about you.
DAWN
But Buffy was the world's hero. I'll
never be that.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
37.
XANDER
Maybe not. But you don't have to be.
You just have to be Dawn Summers.
Normal girl who can fit two twinkies
in her mouth at the same time.
DAWN
Yeah, there's a trick that'll put an
end to all evil in the world.
Dawn's eyes tear up again.
DAWN (CONT'D)
I just don't know who will take care
of me.
INT. THE MAGIC BOX -- NIGHT
Willow and Tara are sitting at the table. Willow's eyes are
closed and she's chanting silently. Her lips are moving, but
we don't hear her. Tara is watching her, concerned.
Giles is standing back near Spike now. He's looking at some
merchandise on the shelves as he talks with Spike.
GILES
Why did you come back here, Spike?
SPIKE
I told you. I have a promise to keep.
GILES
To who? Buffy?
SPIKE
I promised the slayer I'd watch out
for her sister.
GILES
Is that the only reason?
Spike looks up at him.
SPIKE
Did you expect more?
GILES
No. I suppose not.
SPIKE
What do you want me to say? That I'm
fond of the nibblet and was worried
about her? This is a big bad world,
filled with lurkies, and all that?
(MORE)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
38.
SPIKE (CONT'D)
(and he lies when he
says)
Fact is, I couldn't care less. I
just wanted to keep my promise.
GILES
Sometimes it's hard for me to tell
when you're being genuine and when
you are building emotional barriers.
SPIKE
Oh, don't give me all that psycho-
babble. Frankly, I couldn't care
less what happened to the whole lot
of you.
Giles knows Spike is just holding back his feelings.
GILES
Of course.
ANGLE : CORDY AND ANYA
Still sitting and chatting.
CORDELIA
And you don't mind being like this?
ANYA
Nope.
CORDELIA
And Xander doesn't mind at all?
ANYA
Xander once told me, tact is just
not saying true things. He likes me
like this. I like me like this. Willow
doesn't like me like this, but I
tend not to care very much about
what she thinks.
Cordy smiles at the line. It is her own line. The idea that
Xander used this doesn't bother her. She might even like it.
ANGLE : WILLOW AND TARA
Tara is watching Willow work still. Willow's eyes are still
closed. Her mouth is still moving. We can hear a faint whisper
of what she's saying now.
WILLOW
Powers of Blackwater, fill mine body
with your energy. Take of me and
bless this which I require. I beg of
ye and honor ye with my breath.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
39.
Tara is watching her silently.
Tara looks at the bowl that has the ingredients in it.
ANGLE : THE BOWL
Inside the bowl, the ingredients are moving as though there's
an unseen hands moving them around. The light in the table
flickers and BLOOD BEGINS TO APPEAR in the bowl. Just a few
drops, as though the bowl itself is bleeding.
ANGLE : TARA
She doesn't like the looks of this. This is not right. She's
about to say something when, from the training room, we hear
a CRASH and a THUD. Tara looks up.
ANGLE : WILLOW
Willow's eyes open. Not in a mystical way, she just heard
the crash. But when she opens her eyes, they are red with
blood. It's only noticeable for a second before THE BLOOD
VANISHES.
Everyone in the shop goes back to the training room to see
what happened.
INT. TRAINING ROOM -- CONTINUOUS -- NIGHT
Everyone from the shop enters the training room. They look
around. Cordelia sees the back door open and goes to it to
look out.
Anya sees Xander, laying on the ground.
ANYA
Xander.
She goes to him. He's awake, but rubbing his head.
XANDER
She took Dawn.
Everyone takes in this information as we...
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT THREE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40.
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
INT. TRAINING ROOM -- NIGHT
Right where we left off. Everyone is still taking in the
news that Dora has taken Dawn.
CORDELIA
She took her?
(beat)
But for ice cream, right? Not death?
WILLOW
Because vampires so often do that.
SPIKE
We have to find her, let's go.
And Spike leads the way out of the building.
EXT. PARK -- NIGHT
Dora pulls Dawn roughly into the park. Dawn is struggling to
get free, but can't. Dora is hurting her arm.
DAWN
(in pain)
Let me go. Please.
Dora stops walking. This spot will do.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Why are you doing this?
DORA
(thinks for a moment,
then)
It's my job.
DAWN
You're dead. Pretty much off the
payroll.
Dora thinks again. She is confused still. She doesn't compute
that there is another way to act. Dawn is scared, but toughens
up. She can handle this.
DAWN (CONT'D)
I don't suppose you'll be taking me
to a nice house with a warm bed?
DORA
Shut up. I need to think.
(MORE)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41.
DORA (CONT'D)
(beat)
No. No, I kill you and drink your
blood.
DAWN
That the new procedure? 'Cause I
like the foster care a little more.
DORA
I'm not the same as I was.
DAWN
Yeah, I figured.
DORA
Shut up. I told you to shut up.
DAWN
And you'll what? Kill me more if I
don't than you would if I did?
(then)
Say that five times fast.
Dora pulls Dawn closer. Her face VAMPS OUT... Dora's, not
Dawn's. That would just be weird.
DORA
I kill you now.
Dawn is scared. She is trying to act tough, but isn't used
to being her own defense.
DAWN
(shaky voice)
I'd like to see you try.
Dawn begins to struggle hard. She uses her leg to push Dora
away from her, and is freed. Dora GROWLS.
Dawn runs. Dora follows. It's not a long chase. Dawn knows
she can't get away. She picks up a trash can and throws it
at Dora.
EXT. MAIN STREET -- NIGHT
Xander, Anya, and Giles are looking for Dawn.
XANDER
(calling out)
Dawn?
ANYA
I don't think she's around here.
GILES
Where would she be taken?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42.
ANYA
If we knew that, I highly doubt we'd
be looking here.
EXT. ALLEY -- NIGHT
Willow, Spike, Tara and Cordelia are looking around the alley.
Inside dumpsters and stuff like that. Cordelia steps in
something gross and looks at the bottom of her shoe.
CORDELIA
Could this place get grosser?
She continues looking.
SPIKE
It's not a fancy ballroom, bint.
Deal with it and look for the girl.
CORDELIA
I am looking. Unlike you, I am capable
of walking, talking and looking, all
at the same time.
WILLOW
Enough. We have work to do.
As they continue looking, Tara walks closer to Cordy and
leans over to her.
TARA
(whispered)
Nice sass.
Cordy is a little weird. She think that Tara said "Nice ass".
CORDELIA
Huh?
Tara gets the confusion.
TARA
Sass. I said sass. Nice... sass.
Your attitude. You're using it.
CORDELIA
Oh. Thanks.
EXT. PARK -- NIGHT
Dawn has a bench between her and Dora now. She's scared, but
trying to hide it.
DAWN
I wish Buffy was here.
(beat)
I wish anyone was here.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43.
DORA
But nobody is. It's just you and me.
DAWN
I don't suppose there's any way we
could talk this through?
(off Dora's look)
No? Didn't think so. In that case...
(loud as she can)
HELP!!!
Dawn takes off running. Dora follows.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Spike! Tara! Please!
EXT. MAIN STREET -- DAY
Xander, Anya and Giles are joined by Willow, Tara, Cordy and
Spike. Nobody has a clue.
XANDER
(to Willow)
No luck?
WILLOW
Nothing.
CORDELIA
So where would this vampire take
her? Is there a lair of some sort?
GILES
She was just turned. I don't think
she'd have time to find a lair.
CORDELIA
So where would she go?
GILES
Someplace comfortable. Familiar.
CORDELIA
And since we don't know her, that's
just not a big help.
SPIKE
We better hurry the bloody hell up
or we can say goodbye to the last of
the Summers clan.
They think for a moment. Then Tara gets an idea.
TARA
The park. We should check the park.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44.
WILLOW
Right. It's close, and there won't
be many people around this time of
night.
EXT. PARK -- NIGHT
Dora tackles Dawn. Dawn struggles and eventually breaks free
and tries to crawl away from Dora. Dora grabs her leg. Dawn
tries to shake it free, but can't. She's scared.
DAWN
Please. Let me go.
DORA
I can't.
DAWN
Why?
Dora thinks for a moment. She doesn't know how to reply.
DORA
I'm not sure why. I just have to
kill you.
DAWN
(Huh?)
You don't know what's going on, do
you? You don't know what you are.
DORA
And you do?
DAWN
You're a vampire.
DORA
Vampire?
Dora takes his in for a moment. It all clicks.
DORA (CONT'D)
That makes sense.
DAWN
I don't suppose it's the kind of
sense that'll make you want to let
me go.
DORA
I can't. I'm a vampire. It's not my
nature to let you go.
DAWN
Well, in that case...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45.
Dawn kicks Dora in the face and breaks free. She struggles
to get to her feet and tries to run. Dora cuts her off.
Dawn can't move in any direction. A tear runs down her cheek.
DAWN (CONT'D)
(whispered)
Buffy. Help me.
DORA
She's dead.
(beat)
Then again, that doesn't seem to
have stopped me. Still, it looks
like you're all alone here, sweetie.
Nobody here to save you. It's just
you and me.
Dawn is about to break down, but she refuses to give in. She
stiffens up, and holds back the tears.
DAWN
(weakly)
Just you and me. I've almost been
killed by a lot of things. A god, a
weird space demon, my sister's evil
vampire ex-boyfriend, and you think
you're gonna get the job done?
While saying this, Dawn is inching her hand toward a garbage
can at her side.
DORA
Looks that way.
DAWN
You know what, lady?
Dawn grabs the garbage can and hits Dora over the head with
it. It's only a minor hit against Dora, but she stumbles
back.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Looks can be deceiving.
Dawn takes this chance, while Dora's defenses are down, to
tackle her. They hit the ground. Dawn isn't nearly as strong
as Dora, but she manages to keep the fangs away from her
neck by using the ancient arts of hair pulling and nail
digging.
ANGLE : OTHERWHERE IN THE PARK
The rest of the gang shows up. Dawn is nowhere to be seen.
XANDER
Let's get looking.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46.
WILLOW
It's a big park. Maybe we should...
She's cut off by an OFF-SCREEN SCREAM FROM DAWN.
XANDER
Let's go!
They take off running.
ANGLE : DAWN AND DORA
Still wrestling on the ground. Dawn is losing quickly.
The others run into the area. Spike pulls out a stake, but
he can't get a clear shot. Dawn is in the way. Xander moves
to pull Dora off of Dawn, but Dawn takes care of it herself.
She manages to get her feet onto Dora's stomach and pushes
her off of her, and right into Spike's stake. DORA EXPLODES
INTO DUST.
Dawn checks out her vamp slaying skills for a sec before
Xander helps her up.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Fancy foot action. You okay?
DAWN
(faking it)
Yeah. Frankly, I don't see what the
big deal was all these years, I
thought Buffy was serious when she
said it was hard.
Xander puts her arm around her and she rests her head on his
shoulder. She's tired.
INT. THE MAGIC BOX -- DAY
Willow is back at the table, chanting like before. Cordy,
Giles and Tara are sitting at the table watching Willow.
Cordy is bored by this. Xander, Anya and Dawn are standing
at the counter.
DAWN
So I was there, in the moment. I was
either going to die, or defend myself.
I had to make the choice.
ANYA
Did you choose death? Because when
we got there, it looked like you
chose death.
DAWN
No. I dove on her. Kicking vampire
butt...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
47.
ANYA
And pulling her hair.
XANDER
But in the end, you staked that baddie
good.
ANYA
With Spike's help.
DAWN
It's just... Buffy's not here. I'm
not always gonna have someone around
me to watch me and take care of me.
XANDER
You have us.
DAWN
You know what I mean. I needed to be
strong. It's like the world keeps
closing in on me and I'm about to
die every minute of every day. But I
have to find a way to live. I can't
always depend on other people.
ANGLE : WILLOW
Her eyes open. Normal eyes, no blood this time since the
spell is done.
TARA
Are you okay?
WILLOW
Fine. And look... magic spell soup.
GILES
(to Dawn)
I believe we're ready.
DAWN
Let's do this.
INT. TRAINING ROOM -- DAY
Dawn is standing in the middle of a circle made of chicken
bones. Four black candles burn in front of her. Xander, Giles,
Cordy, and Anya watch from the back wall. Tara stands nearby,
watching Willow carefully.
Willow is wearing a black robe, and is holding the spell
book. She is walking in a circle around Dawn. She's holding
a glass of water.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
48.
WILLOW
Dawn, close your eyes and clear your
mind.
Dawn does as she's told.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
I need to focus my energy. This might
take a minute.
(to Tara)
Okay.
The atmosphere goes all tranquil. Silence. Tara speaks with
a calm, even voice as Willow looks down at the water in her
hands. Willow continues walking around Dawn.
TARA
Watch the water. It's ripples. It's
life. Feel your mind become liquid.
Soft and...
She doesn't know what to say next. She's making this all up.
TARA (CONT'D)
... ripplie.
(then)
The world is dissolving around you.
The only sound is that of my voice.
There is no danger. No risk...
With that line, Tara and Giles share another look. They know
it's not true.
TARA (CONT'D)
Your mind is one with the universe.
Focused. Clear. You are at total
peace. You have no fear.
Willow is now walking in what almost looks like a trance.
ANGLE : XANDER
Also listening to Tara's soothing voice. He is nodding off.
As his head begins to fall, he snaps back to reality.
Willow and Tara continue, not noticing him at all.
TARA (CONT'D)
Now focus your mind on Dawn. Not her
face, but her energy. Her essence.
DAWN BEGINS TO GLOW GREEN.
TARA (CONT'D)
Now focus on the task. Dawn's energy
is open to you.
(MORE)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49.
TARA (CONT'D)
Feel your way into it. Find the...
(um...)
files for which you seek. Suppress
them. Bind them.
A GREEN FLASH FILLS THE ROOM. Willow falls to the floor,
sweating. Tara goes to her. Giles, Xander, Cordy and Anya
walk to them.
XANDER
Is she okay?
TARA
Yeah, I think so.
WILLOW
(weak)
I'm fine.
Dawn is still standing in the middle of the circle with her
eyes closed.
DAWN
Um... can I open my eyes yet.
Tara looks back at her.
TARA
Oh. Sorry. Yeah.
Dawn opens her eyes and looks around.
DAWN
Did it work?
TARA
I... I guess it did. How do we know?
GILES
I suppose we just wait and see.
WILLOW
It think it worked. I felt it.
DAWN
I don't feel any different.
Xander looks over to Dawn, looking confused.
XANDER
Who are you?
Dawn looks scared. She looks to Willow. Willow looks worried
too, she looks to Xander.
Xander smiles.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Kidding.
DAWN
So not funny.
INT. SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICE -- DAY
A SOCIAL WORKER is looking at Dawn's file on the computer.
He picks up the phone and hits the intercom button.
SOCIAL WORKER
Earl, get Patty, over at the police
department, on the phone for me,
would you? I have to make a pick-up.
EARL (V.O.)
Sure. Which case is it? Dora's?
SOCIAL WORKER
(somber)
Yeah.
A GREEN FLASH.
ANGLE : DAWN'S FILE
The files has all of Dawn's information on it. However, when
the flash hits, the FILE CHANGES. The information is now
that of another girl, Betty Russell.
SOCIAL WORKER (CONT'D)
Some girl named Betty Russell. It
was Dora's last case before she
disappeared.
FADE OUT:
END OF SHOW