All commentary will be red text inside of a light gray box... kinda like this one.
I shouldn't have to say this, but... Beware of spoilers for all
of the Season 8 scripts!
|
TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT
BUFFY and WILLOW are sitting on a blanket in the graveyard.
Buffy's playing with a stake in her hands.
BUFFY
I don't know why. I just never liked
it.
WILLOW
How can you not love that movie?
BUFFY
I just said I didn't know why, so
how would I know how?
WILLOW
But there's singing and dancing, and
a cute dog and everything.
BUFFY
The bald guy always kinda freaked me
out.
WILLOW
Daddy Warbucks?
BUFFY
Yeah. He was always so mean.
WILLOW
But he came around. He's like the
Grinch. You know, with the heart
growing three sizes.
BUFFY
Don't get me started on the Grinch.
That's one fur ball that I'd have
slayed the second I saw him.
WILLOW
Okay. Fine. You don't like Daddy
Warbucks. So what about the rest of
the movie? All the orphan girls
singing and dancing. And- oh- "We
love you Miss Hannigan." I love that
part.
|
"We love you Miss Hannigan", of course, has a double meaning in this script.
Seeing Aly Hannigan deliver that line would have been funny. It does have a
purpose to the script though. This episode plays a lot into Willow's new
personality and her cool factor. It makes sense that she's like the idea of
having a ton of weak little girls (not unlike her old self) saying how much
they love you. It wasn't just the cheap thrill of using the line because of
Alyson.
|
BUFFY
Why?
2.
WILLOW
I'm not quite sure. It's always just
struck a cord with me.
BUFFY
You're very strange sometimes.
WILLOW
C'mon. We could rent the movie and
have popcorn. You know Xander could
use the distraction. He's been scared
to leave the house for the last week.
Buffy thinks about it for a second.
BUFFY
Fine, but we're renting The Breakfast
Club too.
Willow smiles. She stands up.
WILLOW
Come on.
BUFFY
I'm coming.
Buffy stands up and grabs the blanket. The girls start to
walk out of the cemetery.
WILLOW
You know, I never got why they called
it the Breakfast Club. Did they even
eat breakfast there?
BUFFY
It's one of life's big mysteries.
WILLOW
Ah.
(beat)
You know who always freaked me out
in that movie?
BUFFY
The mean teacher guy?
WILLOW
Nope.
BUFFY
The grunge guy who was ahead of his
time?
WILLOW
Nuh-uh.
3.
BUFFY
Okay, I give up. Who?
WILLOW
Anthony Michael-Hall's character.
BUFFY
The geek?
WILLOW
Yup.
BUFFY
Why would you be freaked out by that
guy?
WILLOW
I'm not exactly sure. Just creeps me
out.
|
See? Willow's freaked out by the geek in "The Breakfast Club". The character
who was most like her old self.
|
BUFFY
Weird.
(beat)
You know what I'm wondering?
WILLOW
What?
BUFFY
Why were we sitting in the cemetery?
Have we even seen a vampire since we
moved here?
Both of them contemplate that question as they walk off.
As they leave, we PUSH IN on the shadows behind them. From
the shadows, a HOODED FIGURE (not Bringer-y) steps out and
begins to follow them.
FADE TO BLACK:
END OF TEASER
4.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. MOVIE STORE - NIGHT
DAWN and RYAN are standing behind the counter. Ryan is
building a house out of DVD cases. Dawn is staring at the
door.
DAWN
I get paid by the hour, right? This
isn't a commission gig?
RYAN
Right.
DAWN
Good. In that case, I don't really
care that there hasn't been a customer
in here all night.
RYAN
We go through slumps. In a couple
weeks, we might have a run on movie
rentals. And when winter comes, people
are gonna want to stay inside.
DAWN
Until then, what are we supposed to
do to pass the time?
RYAN
Well...
Ryan puts the finishing touches on his house. He smiles and
stands back.
RYAN (CONT'D)
There's always the exciting option
of building things out of DVD cases.
Oh, and sometimes, I use the cases
like dominos and set them up all
over the store.
He really seems interested in those things. Dawn tries not
to be too sarcastic when she replies.
DAWN
That sounds like... fun.
Dawn walks out from behind the counter. She wanders around
the store.
RYAN
So has Kirsty given you the speech
about not standing behind the counter?
5.
DAWN
Speech?
RYAN
You know. "Be approachable", blah
blah blah.
DAWN
I haven't gotten that one yet, but
she did give me a nice sit-down talk
about the evils of gas powered cars.
RYAN
Ouch. What did you say back?
DAWN
I just tried to smile and nod. I'm
really not into the political thing.
RYAN
She's like a caged lion. It's best
not to provoke her. The last guy
that worked here always got into
debates with her.
His story ends there. Dawn is curious.
DAWN
What happened to him?
RYAN
Not sure. She told him about this
cool place to hike in the woods and
we never heard from him again.
Dawn's eyes widen, but she doesn't want to say anything about
what she's thinking.
DAWN
So how's the football team around
here?
RYAN
Looks good this year. I'll probably
be out for a few games though.
DAWN
You play?
RYAN
Usually, yeah. I kinda twisted my
knee funny a few weeks back, so the
doctor wants me to sit out for part
of the season.
Ryan looks through his DVD cases and starts to sort them for
re-shelving. He picks one up and smiles.
6.
RYAN (CONT'D)
Check it out. Best movie ever.
Dawn looks at the case.
DAWN
Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes?
The look on her face tells us that she is not amazingly
impressed by his taste in movies.
RYAN
Ever seen it?
DAWN
Can't say that I have.
RYAN
Totally underrated.
DAWN
I saw the cartoon a couple times
when I was a kid though.
RYAN
Agh. They totally didn't get the
point of the movie when they made
that show.
Dawn continues her wandering.
RYAN (CONT'D)
So what's your favorite movie?
DAWN
Not sure. Probably...
She looks out the front door and freaks out.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Crap!
RYAN
Never heard of it.
She rushes back to Ryan.
DAWN
I have to do something in the back
room. Be right back.
She rushes into the back room just as the store's front door
opens. Buffy and Willow come in. Ryan looks at them, and
then back to the back room. He puts the pieces together.
RYAN
Can I help you ladies find something?
7.
Buffy and Willow are already picking up their movies.
BUFFY
We got it, thanks.
After Buffy picks up her movie, she turns around and sees
the snack rack.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Ooh, yummies.
She grabs a package of popcorn and some candy, then she meets
up with Willow on the way to the counter.
RYAN
That all for you?
BUFFY
Yeah.
WILLOW
We don't have a membership though.
RYAN
No problem. Everyone pretty much
knows everyone here. You're in the
old Acker place, right?
BUFFY
Give the boy a prize.
Ryan starts to ring them up.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
So what, exactly, are they saying
about us?
RYAN
Not much about you two. Haven't seen
you around much. But they say your
guy roommate caused a little scene
at the ice cream shop last week.
WILLOW
He's just...
BUFFY
Yeah, he was having a bad reaction
to some...
WILLOW
Laundry detergent.
BUFFY
Right. Laundry detergent.
8.
WILLOW
He's better now.
BUFFY
Much better.
RYAN
Good to hear.
(then)
That's eight dollars, fifty cents.
BUFFY
Wow. Cheap here.
Willow pays. Ryan bags the movies and the food, then hands
the bag to Willow.
WILLOW
Thanks.
RYAN
You ladies have a good night.
WILLOW
You too.
Buffy and Willow leave. Once they're gone, Ryan looks back
toward the back room.
RYAN
It's safe to come out now.
Dawn walks out.
DAWN
Hmm?
RYAN
Your sister and her friend are gone.
DAWN
Oh, I wasn't...
RYAN
You haven't told them about your job
yet.
DAWN
Yeah.
Ryan looks at Dawn, then smiles.
RYAN
Wanna set the cases up like dominos?
9.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Buffy and Willow walk in. XANDER is already sitting on the
couch, watching tv. The girls sit and look at him.
XANDER
How'd it go? Kill anything?
BUFFY
Nope. I'm starting to think there
aren't any vampires in this town.
WILLOW
Knock on wood.
BUFFY
Yeah.
WILLOW
No, seriously, knock on wood. Now.
Buffy knocks on the coffee table. Willow smiles.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
Don't wanna take any chances.
XANDER
Given the choice between vampires or
the things we've had to deal with
since we got here, I think I'd take
the vampires.
BUFFY
I kinda miss the way they'd go poof
when I staked them.
WILLOW
Okay, when did memory lane become
that weird little street that nobody
wants to go down?
Xander notices the bag.
XANDER
What's in the bag?
BUFFY
Oh. We got ourselves a bag full of
fun that's bound to take your mind
off your problems.
XANDER
If The Crawling Eye is in there, I'm
going to bed.
BUFFY
Nope.
10.
Buffy opens the bag and pulls out the movies. She hands them
to Xander. He looks at them.
XANDER
The Breakfast Club and Annie? You do
realize that I'm a guy, right?
BUFFY
You can only watch Apocalypse Now
Redux so many times before you go
insane.
WILLOW
Plus, popcorn.
XANDER
Okay, things are looking up.
BUFFY
I got candy too.
XANDER
Tell me you have soda in there, and
I'll kiss you like you've never been
kissed before.
Buffy and Willow look at each other. Oops.
BUFFY
Soda?
XANDER
We're out. I told you to get some
before you went out.
WILLOW
Right. And we were going to, but the
very important slaying duties got in
the way.
XANDER
You said you didn't kill anything.
WILLOW
We didn't. But that doesn't mean
that we weren't patrolling like there
was no tomorrow.
XANDER
Fine. I guess I can settle for water
if I must. I'll just have to tell my
poor ailing eye that it'll have to
do without it's sugar rush.
Xander makes a puppy dog face. Buffy and Willow crumble.
11.
BUFFY
We'll get soda.
XANDER
You sure? You don't have to.
BUFFY
Right. As though we had a choice.
You know, once this whole eye thing
is worked out, you're gonna be in
for some serious karmic payback.
The girls stand up.
WILLOW
(to Buffy)
There's no reason we should both go
back out.
BUFFY
What do you mean?
WILLOW
I mean, I'll go. You can stay here
and tend to the patient.
BUFFY
Are you sure?
WILLOW
Yeah, it's no problem. I'll be back
before you can say "The sun'll come
out tomorrow."
BUFFY
If you say so.
Buffy sits back down.
WILLOW
Be right back.
Willow walks out of the house. Once she's gone, Buffy grabs
the tv remote from Xander.
BUFFY
I don't wanna watch this. Let's see
what's on Food TV.
EXT. BEAR RIVER - MAIN STREET - NIGHT
Willow walks out of the food store with her bag of soda and
starts to make her way down the street. As she passes the
movie store, she glances inside. She stops and smiles.
WILLOW'S POV
12.
Dawn is inside, talking to Ryan.
Willow is about to go into the store to say hi to Dawn, but
she stops.
She sees Ryan hand Dawn a stack of movies and Dawn starts to
put the movies onto shelves.
Willow is confused. She watches for a moment, and then sees
Dawn look directly at her. She tries to pretend she didn't
see Dawn, but Dawn knows she's been spotted. She runs out of
the store and right to Willow.
DAWN
Willow!
Willow knows she's been caught, but still wants to try getting
out of it. She turns around.
WILLOW
Dawn? What are you doing here?
(re: the movies)
Say, that's a lot of movies you have
there. Browsing?
DAWN
I know you know.
WILLOW
Know? Me? What would I know?
DAWN
That I got a job at the movie store.
WILLOW
You did?
DAWN
I did.
WILLOW
But Buffy told you not to get a job.
She wants you to focus on school.
DAWN
I know. Which is why you're not going
to tell her.
WILLOW
I'm not?
DAWN
You're not. Because you know how
important it is for me to have a
life outside of school and demon
killing.
13.
WILLOW
I do?
DAWN
And you also know that it's good for
a kid my age to learn what it's like
to make their own money. And this
way, we'll have a little extra around
the house.
WILLOW
Those are all valid points, but...
DAWN
I know. You're thinking that Buffy
told me not to, and she's in charge.
And it's wrong for me to keep secrets
like this from her and go behind her
back.
WILLOW
I'm making some good points here
too.
DAWN
I'll tell her. I promise. But you
have to let me tell her in my own
time, okay?
WILLOW
You know I'm not good with secrets.
I get all crazy. She'll know.
DAWN
It's not for long. Just until I get
paid and I can show her how good
this is.
WILLOW
What if she asks where you are?
DAWN
Just tell her that I'm out. That's
not a lie.
Willow's not sure about this. Finally, she gives in.
WILLOW
Fine. But only for a little while.
Dawn smiles.
DAWN
Thank you.
They stand there for a second, not saying anything else.
14.
WILLOW
Dawn?
DAWN
Hmm?
WILLOW
You should probably get the
merchandise back into the store.
DAWN
Right. Thanks again. See ya at home.
Dawn starts to walk away.
WILLOW
Oh, one more thing.
Dawn stops and turns around.
DAWN
Yeah?
WILLOW
See about getting reasonable hours.
I don't want you working late on
school nights.
DAWN
Don't worry. They close at nine-
thirty.
WILLOW
Oh. Okay.
DAWN
Bye.
WILLOW
Bye.
Dawn goes back into the store. Willow takes a deep breath,
not liking this. She starts to walk home again.
EXT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Willow walks up the front yard, carrying her bag of soda.
Just before she walks up the porch steps, there's a NOISE on
the side of the house. She stops and looks over there.
WILLOW
Hello? Buffy, is that you?
HOODED FIGURE (O.S.)
(whispered)
Willow.
15.
Willow starts to walk toward the side of the house.
WILLOW
Who's there?
Willow finally reaches the side of the house and looks around.
Nobody is there. She turns and starts to walk back toward
the steps. Before she can get too far, the hooded figure
steps out of the shadows and puts it's hands on Willow's
head.
HOODED FIGURE
(still whispering)
Hands of time, hear my plea. Take
this soul in front of me...
THUNDER ROARS. The hooded figure's HANDS GLOW.
Willow's face fills with shock. She drops the bag.
In a FLASH, Willow and the hooded figure VANISH. The soda
drops to the ground.
The night is left dark and quiet.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT
ANOTHER FLASH. WILLOW APPEARS on the sidewalk and falls to
her knees. She gasps for air. Finally, she struggles to her
feet, and groggily starts to walk down the street. She looks
around.
WILLOW
Where...?
She doesn't finish the sentence because she's busy looking
around. Something about this place is weird.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
Wait a minute.
She continues to walk down the street, and finally sees
something. She stops short. Her jaw drops.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
Oh my God.
REVEAL what Willow is looking at.
Sunnydale High (the old version) is standing in front of
her.
Going back to Sunnydale works in two ways with this story. First, it is an
important story to tell with Willow. It just had to be done.
Also, it works with my mission to write this as though it were an actual
season of the tv series. While I'd decided that budget cuts made the show
move to Canada to shoot, I realized that the actors wouldn't want to be
stuck there for very long. Because of this, I planned episodes that could
be filmed in California, or where certain actors didn't appear at all, allowing
them to go home for a while. I'm not entirely sure that a real tv show would
go back to film in California, but in my mind it works because the overall
budget for the season could still be lower than before.
|
FADE TO BLACK:
END OF ACT ONE
16.
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Buffy and Xander are still lounging in front of the TV.
They're bored.
BUFFY
How long does it take to buy soda?
XANDER
Maybe she bumped into someone.
BUFFY
Who? We don't know anyone here.
Dawn walks in. Buffy and Xander look up to see if it's Willow.
DAWN
Hey.
BUFFY
Have you seen Willow anywhere?
DAWN
What? No. I didn't... Why?
BUFFY
She went out a couple hours ago, for
soda, and hasn't come home yet.
DAWN
Did she call?
BUFFY
We haven't heard a thing.
Dawn struggles with herself for a moment and then finally
decides to come clean.
DAWN
I did see her.
XANDER
But you just said--
DAWN
I know what I said. I forgot. I was
on main street a while ago and saw
her walking with a bag. I guess it
was the soda. I thought she was coming
right home.
Buffy starts to get more concerned.
17.
BUFFY
So what happened to her?
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT
Willow is walking down the street, taking everything in.
She's trying to figure this all out.
WILLOW
Okay, self. Think.
(beat)
It looks like home, but we know it
can't be. Can it?
She stops walking and turns around. She looks back in the
direction she came.
|
Obviously, this is not the happiest place for Willow to find herself. A lot of issues. Some of which will be handled in this episode, but they will also come into play later in the season. This episode set up more of the overall arc for the year than I think people realized at the time.
|
WILLOW (CONT'D)
I could go to the library. I could
see if anyone is there.
(beat)
And then they could cut me to pieces
with sharp things because I'm a weird
version of Willow.
She turns back around and starts to walk again. After a few
steps, she stops again. She turns around. She's trying to
think of another way, but can't. Finally she decides to go
for it. She starts walking back the way she came.
EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Willow walks up to the school and stops. She looks at the
school, taking it all in. She's not exactly thrilled to be
back here.
EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - COURTYARD - NIGHT
Willow walks through the courtyard. She runs her hand along
the stairway as she walks past it. Memories flood into her
mind.
CORDELIA (V.O.)
Willow. Nice dress. Good to know
you've seen the sofer side of Sears.
XANDER (V.O.)
Which means I won't have to look at
your pasty face again.
Willow closes her eyes as though to tell the voices to shut
up. When she opens them again, she's more determined to get
this situation resolved. She heads for one of the school's
doors.
When she reaches the door, she reaches for the handle. Before
she can grab it, the door swings open.
18.
Willow suddenly finds herself face to face with... Willow
(early season 2 version).
We see our Willow's startled reaction.
EXT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Buffy, Xander and Dawn walk out of the house, each holding a
flashlight. They start looking for Willow right away.
BUFFY
Willow!
When they don't see Willow, they look at each other.
Xander points down the road.
XANDER
I'll go that way.
Buffy and Dawn nod to him. He starts to walk off. Buffy heads
in the opposite direction. Dawn shines her flashlight around,
trying to figure out where to go. This is when she sees
something on the side of the house.
DAWN
Guys!
Dawn rushes to the side of the house. Buffy and Xander rush
to catch up.
Dawn leans down and inspects the bag of soda that Willow
dropped. She looks up to Buffy and Xander.
DAWN (CONT'D)
She was here.
Buffy shines her flashlight around the area. She notices
that there is a ring of burned grass around where Willow
stood.
BUFFY
What happened here?
XANDER
D'Hoffryn? He leaves burn marks like
this, right?
BUFFY
It doesn't make sense for him to be
here.
XANDER
Maybe he wanted Willow to go all
demony.
19.
BUFFY
He wouldn't risk it. He knows Willow's
too powerful for him.
DAWN
Then what is it?
Buffy looks around some more. She looks in some nearby bushes
and notices something. She bends down and picks it up.
ANGLE ON BUFFY'S HAND
She holds a mystical charm.
BUFFY
It's a spell.
EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - COURTYARD - NIGHT
Willow is now sitting on the edge of the fountain with her
past self (known as Past Willow from now on). There's an
awkward silence. Neither one of them knows what to say.
Finally, Past Willow speaks up.
PAST WILLOW
So you're me?
Willow nods.
PAST WILLOW (CONT'D)
But you're not evil, right?
WILLOW
Right.
(beat)
But you shouldn't always assume that
other yous aren't evil.
PAST WILLOW
Is there gonna be an evil me?
WILLOW
That's a loaded question.
PAST WILLOW
Maybe we should talk to Giles.
WILLOW
Is Giles here?
PAST WILLOW
Well, no. But we could go to his
house. He'd know what to do. He's
smart like that.
WILLOW
Okay.
20.
They stand up. Finally, Willow starts to walk, and Past Willow
follows her.
PAST WILLOW
So, you're from the future?
WILLOW
Yeah.
PAST WILLOW
So that's what I'm gonna look like
in the future then?
Willow looks down at her clothes.
WILLOW
What's wrong with how I look?
PAST WILLOW
Oh. No, I didn't... It's just that
you look different. Not like me.
You're hair's all... And your clothes
are all... And your makeup is--
WILLOW
Let me guess. "All..."
PAST WILLOW
Well, it's weird being around me- or
you- or whatever the correct phrasing
would be. It's very much not the
norm.
WILLOW
Tell me about it.
PAST WILLOW
I guess hanging out with Buffy
eventually makes me a snazzier
dresser.
WILLOW
It's not Buffy that did it. It's me.
PAST WILLOW
Well, yeah. I just mean that Buffy
probably...
WILLOW
She didn't. I just got tired of
dressing like a five year old.
Past Willow is a little offended. She stops walking.
PAST WILLOW
Hey.
21.
Willow keeps walking until she's out of frame. Past Willow
looks down at her shirt.
PAST WILLOW (CONT'D)
I like the way I dress.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Buffy is holding onto the charm while talking into the phone
and pacing. Xander and Dawn are sitting on the couch, watching
her.
BUFFY
(into phone)
It's kinda silver-y, and has these
weird markings on it.
(beat)
I don't know. One's kinda like this
arrow looking thing, but not.
DAWN
Let me talk.
Buffy doesn't hear Dawn, she's too busy listening to Giles.
BUFFY
(into phone still)
I'm not a demonologist, Giles. Give
me some slack.
As Buffy paces her way past Dawn and Xander, Dawn puts out a
hand for the phone, but Buffy doesn't give it to her. Dawn
rolls her eyes.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Yes, I know I'm a Slayer.
(beat)
Since when? I thought it was the
Watcher's job to do all the homework.
Buffy looks at the charm again.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Okay... there are these markings
that kinda look like they might be
some weird letters from another place.
Dawn sighs and stands up. She walks to Buffy and grabs both
the charm and the phone.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Hey, Dawn...!
Dawn ignores her. She puts the phone to her ear and looks at
the charm.
22.
DAWN
(into phone)
Hey, Giles, it's me.
(beat)
Yeah. What I'm looking at is kinda
like those Damroth charms you sold
in the Magic Box, but silver. The
markings kinda look like a demon
language, but I think they've got
Egyptian leanings too.
(beat)
A sub-language? Okay.
(beat)
Umm...
She looks closer at the charm. Buffy and Xander exchange
looks. Buffy shrugs at him, defensively.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Yeah. An hourglass and two snakes.
(beat)
Hold on a sec.
(to Buffy and Xander)
Giles says that the charm is from
Egypt, from a subculture that lived
there about six thousand years ago.
They were big into the past.
XANDER
So where's Willow?
Dawn listens to Giles for a minute, then looks back to the
other two.
DAWN
They used the charm to propel
themselves into the past as a way of
expanding their self knowledge or
something like that.
(to Giles)
Slow down, I can only talk so fast.
BUFFY
So Willow went into the past? That
doesn't make sense. The place looked
like a crime scene.
DAWN
Someone might have sent her there.
XANDER
Who?
Dawn listens to Giles for a moment. She's getting bad news.
DAWN
Oh, that's not good.
23.
BUFFY
What?
DAWN
Giles says that the spell has a side-
effect.
BUFFY
Demonic?
Dawn nods.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Figures. So how do we get Willow
back? Kill the demon?
DAWN
(into phone)
How do we get Willow back?
(beat, then to Buffy)
Yeah. Only the demon isn't going to
be here with us. It's in the past
with Willow.
XANDER
That helps.
BUFFY
So how do we stop this? We need to
do something.
Dawn listens to Giles for a long moment. She's very intrigued
by what he's saying.
DAWN
(to Buffy)
He has an idea.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
The gang has set up some candles for a spell. Buffy and Xander
are sitting on the couch, waiting.
XANDER
Are we sure about this?
BUFFY
Are we ever?
XANDER
Good point.
Dawn walks in from the kitchen, holding a few herbs and spices
in her hands. She's still on the phone.
24.
DAWN
(into phone)
It's not like there's a magic shop
anywhere in town. We pretty much
have a few things that Willow brought
with her, and a spice rack that came
with the house. And by that, I mean
originally.
Dawn puts the jars down on the table. Buffy looks up at her.
BUFFY
Let me talk to Giles.
Dawn puts up a finger.
DAWN
(to Giles)
Yeah, I get it. Hey, Buffy wants to
talk to you, hold on.
Dawn hands the phone to Buffy.
XANDER
Man, we need speaker phone.
BUFFY
(into phone)
Hey. So explain this to me again.
Why aren't we just doing the same
spell that sent Willow back?
(beat)
Yeah, but I have to kill one of them
anyway, right?
(beat)
Fine. Fine. Did you give Dawn all
the info she needs.
Dawn nods at Buffy as she goes to a nearby shelf and grabs a
notebook that she's taken notes in.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
(beat)
Okay. We will.
(beat)
You too. Bye.
(then)
Oh. Wait. Giles?
(beat)
You are paying this phone bill, right?
(beat)
Bye.
Buffy hangs up the phone.
XANDER
So are we really gonna do this?
25.
DAWN
Got no choice. It'll take a few
minutes for me to get everything
organized, then me and Buffy will
have to do the spell together.
XANDER
Right. What's my job again?
DAWN
Make sure we don't burst into flames
and die.
XANDER
Oh yeah.
Dawn yawns.
BUFFY
Tired?
Dawn's busy reading her notes. She's not paying too much
attention to Buffy's question, or her reply.
DAWN
I'm fine. Just been restocking movies
all night at work.
After it's out, Dawn finally catches herself. Buffy is a
little confused.
BUFFY
Work?
DAWN
Working on homework.
BUFFY
And you needed to restock movies for
homework?
DAWN
Crazy small town we live in.
BUFFY
(not buying it)
Dawn, I told you that I didn't want
you getting a job.
DAWN
Buffy, do we really have to talk
about this now? I'm trying to get
everything organized.
(beat)
I have to get something from Willow's
room.
26.
Dawn walks off. Buffy is left to think about this whole
situation. She shakes her head and looks at Xander.
BUFFY
I can't do this. I can't keep going
through this with her. I tell her
something and she just doesn't listen
to me. Ever.
XANDER
She's a teenager.
BUFFY
That's not an excuse. She can't focus
on school, and work, and the reason
we're in this town, all at the same
time.
Buffy puts her head in her hands. She's exhausted. Xander
puts a hand on her shoulder.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
It's just always a struggle. I'm 22
years old, and I'm trying to raise a
teenager. On top of everything else
I have to do. How am I qualified for
this?
XANDER
You've always made it work.
BUFFY
Have I? I have enough trouble
balancing my own life. How am I
supposed to balance hers when she
won't even listen to me?
(beat)
Sometimes, I just wish...
She stops herself.
XANDER
What?
BUFFY
Nothing. It's not important.
Dawn comes back with a jar of sand. She puts it on the table.
Buffy watches her, not saying anything. Dawn avoids looking
at Buffy, fearing the dreaded conversation. Buffy doesn't
have the luxury of ignoring it.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Dawn.
27.
DAWN
We'll talk about it after Willow's
home, okay?
BUFFY
Fine. Let's do this.
Dawn looks at her notes. On the table in front of the couch,
she pours four mounds of sand. One in each corner.
DAWN
Giles says this spell is kinda like
an astral projection in some ways.
Your body will stay here, but your
mind will be projected back to
wherever Willow is.
XANDER
How's she supposed to fight a demon
when she's all ghostly?
DAWN
She won't be. That's the tricky part.
XANDER
Okay. I don't get it.
DAWN
Giles explained it to me. It's
complicated.
XANDER
(to Buffy)
I think that's fancy Dawn-talk for
"I don't get it either."
Dawn looks up at Xander and shrugs.
DAWN
The way I see it, I don't have to
get it. We just have to do what Giles
said.
Dawn reads over her notes again. She grabs a spice jar and
pours some of it's contents in the center of the table.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Cinnamon. For those who don't have
Morogram powder.
She pours a little bit of another bottle's contents on top
of the cinnamon.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Oregano.
(MORE)
28.
DAWN (CONT'D)
(to Xander)
That one was actually in the spell,
so I didn't have to substitute.
She pours a little bit of her last jar's contents out.
DAWN (CONT'D)
And a little bit of anise. Mix well
and bake at 350 for about an hour.
She smiles at her own joke, but sees that nobody else is, so
she goes back to work. She takes a votive candle and places
it on top of the spices. She lights it.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Okay, ready. Buffy, sit on the other
side of the table, and put your hands
out. Palms up.
Buffy sits across from Dawn and puts out her hands..
DAWN (CONT'D)
Close your eyes and focus on Willow.
Buffy does as she's told. Dawn reads from her notes again,
memorizing her words, and then closes her eyes. With her
hands, she pulls the sand from each corner, into the center
of the table where the candle is.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Sands of time and those held dear,
draw us close and bring them near.
Through the flame, connect them.
Erase the walls that separate and
pull them together. Let this body be
your passage. Let these words be
your command.
Dawn puts her hands on top of Buffy's.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Ayala, propel her.
A GREEN ENERGY surges through Buffy, into Dawn. Dawn's eyes
shoot open and CRACKLE with the energy. A SURGE shoots back
into Buffy. Buffy falls backwards, but Dawn is still. Her
eyes continue to crackle with the energy. Her lips move
quickly, as though she is speaking some unheard chant.
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT
The two Willows are walking down the street. Neither one is
comfortable with the other.
Past Willow tries to break the tension.
29.
PAST WILLOW
So... I guess you have all kinds of
neat things to talk about. Do we
have a boyfriend in the future?
WILLOW
That's a big "no".
PAST WILLOW
Oh.
(beat)
But we have had... I mean, we're not
still a...?
WILLOW
(quickly)
No.
PAST WILLOW
Oh. Good.
There's another long pause. Past Willow is very curious,
while normal Willow is all business. She wants to get out
of here.
PAST WILLOW (CONT'D)
Tell me something.
WILLOW
Like what?
PAST WILLOW
I don't know. Something about the
future. Where I go to school, or
hey, I've been thinking of changing
dentists. You could tell me if that's
a good idea.
Willow doesn't respond. There's another long pause. Past
Willow looks at her future self with all kinds of questions
in her head. One of them seems to be the most important.
PAST WILLOW (CONT'D)
Is something the matter? I mean, did
I do something to make you upset?
WILLOW
I'm just trying to think.
PAST WILLOW
About what? Maybe I can help.
WILLOW
You can't.
30.
PAST WILLOW
But, I know things. I've read through
a lot of Giles' books. Even some of
the ones he keeps hidden in his
office. Maybe I've read something
about a demon...
WILLOW
You haven't.
Willow looks at Past Willow.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
This is beyond you.
Past Willow doesn't know what she's done to deserve this
kind of behavior, but she decides to just stop trying. They
continue to walk.
After a few seconds of tense silence, a car pulls up near
them. We can't see who is driving it.
FEMALE VOICE (O.S.)
Willow?
Both Willow's look over. Past Willow waves and smiles a
relieved smile.
PAST WILLOW
Hey.
Future Willow's eyes lock onto the driver of the car. She
can't take her eyes off of this person.
REVEAL the driver. It's JENNY CALENDAR.
JENNY
Who's your friend?
Why Jenny Calendar? Well, besides the cool chance to bring back a beloved character, I couldn't put Giles in there. That old thing about Anthony Stewart Head living in England. Jenny was the next most logical person.
Of course, she doesn't recognize the future Willow at first. Just because she is so different than the old Willow.
|
FADE TO BLACK:
END OF ACT TWO
31.
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
EXT. SUNNYDALE CEMETERY - NIGHT
The night is quiet and still. That is, until PAST BUFFY flies
through the air and crashes to the ground. She is from the
same time as Past Willow. (Somewhere around the time of
"Where's My Line") She wears a very short skirt, and a tank
top.
She quickly recovers and gets back to her feet. She raises a
stake.
PAST BUFFY
Okay, so you got one good hit.
REVEAL a VAMPIRE standing nearby in full vamp face. He GROWLS.
PAST BUFFY (CONT'D)
Which, by the way, I'd have blocked
with an impressive kick if I'd planned
on spending my night in the cemetery
instead of at the Bronze, dancing
with my honey, wearing my sexy dancing
clothes.
|
Old Buffy was interesting to write. Old Willow was too. They are the same people, but with slight differences in how they act. Younger, and different speech patterns. And of course, past Buffy is just a little less dressed than her future self.
|
The vampire charges at her. She punches him and gets ready
to stake him, but he swings at her and knocks the stake out
of her hand. They continue to exchange hits for a few seconds
before she swings a leg around and kicks his legs out from
under him. He goes down.
Past Buffy quickly picks up her stake and moves to stake
him, but he returns the kicking and she falls on top of him.
While she is trying to gather her senses, he rolls on top of
her and pins her arms down.
PAST BUFFY (CONT'D)
You're gonna make me resort to some
very unladylike moves here, aren't
you?
He moves in to bite her. As he does, she moves her legs up,
and uses them to push him off of her. He stumbles back.
She kicks off her shoes and flips up to her feet. She rushes
at him, and kicks him in the chest. He returns with a punch.
He tries to hit her again, but she blocks. She punches him
in the face, sending him stumbling back.
At this moment, a jolt of GREEN ENERGY shoots through her.
She's dazed and a little disoriented for a second.
(NOTE: Until further notice, this Buffy will be known as
Buffy, even though she looks like Past Buffy)
32.
The vampire looks up at her and smiles, seeing that she's
out of it. He starts to walk toward her, teeth ready to bite.
He gets closer and closer to the dazed Buffy. She's looking
around, trying to figure out where and when she is.
The vampire is just about to grab her now. Still confused
and asking herself a lot of questions, she looks up and stakes
the vampire effortlessly. He TURNS TO DUST.
Buffy drops the stake and goes to where her shoes are. She
picks them up and walks out of the cemetery.
|
I wanted to show how much Buffy has grown as a Slayer here. In season 2, a vampire was still a challenge. Since then, Buffy has faced a lot of more powerful enemies. Her effortless staking of the vampire shows this growth.
|
EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - NIGHT
The Willows are looking at Jenny in the car. Only a few
moments have passed since we last saw them.
PAST WILLOW
You don't know her?
Jenny looks a little closer.
JENNY
Should I?
WILLOW
I'm Willow.
Jenny puts her car in park.
JENNY
Did I just hear you right?
PAST WILLOW
If what you heard was that she's me,
and I'm her and we're... us, then
yeah.
JENNY
How?
WILLOW
That's what we're trying to figure
out.
PAST WILLOW
She's from the future.
JENNY
The future?
(beat)
And she's you?
Past Willow nods. Jenny takes a second to let this sink in.
33.
JENNY (CONT'D)
Okay, get in. I'm guessing there's
research to do.
Past Willow opens the passenger door and looks at her future
self.
PAST WILLOW
You wanna sit up front?
Willow nods. Past Willow gets into the back seat.
As they get in, we see a SHADOW move along the ground behind
them.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Dawn is still in her trance. Xander is watching her.
XANDER
Dawn? You okay?
We can see Buffy's body resting on the floor. Her eyes
suddenly shoot open and she sits up. This is Past Buffy in
our Buffy's body. She looks around, freaked out.
PAST BUFFY
Where am I?
She sees Xander. She notices how different he looks.
PAST BUFFY (CONT'D)
Xander?
XANDER
You don't know where you are?
PAST BUFFY
Should I?
XANDER
Is this an amnesia thing? 'Cause
we've kinda already been there.
PAST BUFFY
Xander, just tell me where I am. In
detail, and maybe with pop-up
pictures.
XANDER
You're in our house. Remember, the
spell?
PAST BUFFY
Our house?
34.
Buffy looks down at herself, touches her hair, and looks
back to Xander.
PAST BUFFY (CONT'D)
What year is this?
XANDER
2003.
Her eyes widen.
PAST BUFFY
Oh, God. I'm in the future.
Xander's eyes widen.
XANDER
You're past Buffy!
PAST BUFFY
You think?
(then)
How did this happen?
(re: Dawn)
And who is she?
XANDER
We did a spell. She's Dawn.
PAST BUFFY
Is she a witch?
XANDER
No, she's a junior.
PAST BUFFY
So I'm here because of a spell that
she performed?
XANDER
Yeah. I guess you're probably freaked
to see your little sister in the
Scooby game, huh?
Buffy's eyes widen again.
PAST BUFFY
Sister?!
EXT. BUFFY'S OLD HOUSE - NIGHT
Buffy walks up to her old Sunnydale home and looks at it.
She never thought she'd see this place again.
She starts to walk away when the front door opens. JOYCE
walks out. She sees Buffy.
35.
JOYCE
Buffy?
Buffy looks back and is shocked to see her mother standing
there, looking back at her.
BUFFY
(softly)
Mom?
Buffy fights to keep tears away.
JOYCE
Where are you going? It's a little
late to be going back out, don't you
think?
Buffy doesn't answer for a moment. Finally, she remembers
her cover.
BUFFY
Yeah. I was just on my way to
Willow's. I forgot a book.
JOYCE
Can't you pick it up tomorrow?
BUFFY
I really need it. Homework.
Joyce looks at her watch.
JOYCE
Fine. But just to Willow's and back.
You still have a half-hour before
curfew. I have to go to the gallery
for a while. I forgot to file some
papers before I left. Can I trust
you to come straight home?
Buffy nods.
JOYCE (CONT'D)
Okay.
Joyce starts to walk to her car. She stops and turns around.
JOYCE (CONT'D)
Oh, Buffy. One more thing. I might
have to go to LA for a few days on
business. Think you can manage alone
while I'm gone?
BUFFY
Yeah. I'll be fine.
36.
Joyce smiles and notices the look on Buffy's face. She goes
to her and puts a hand on her forehead, checking for fever.
JOYCE
Sweetie, are you okay? You look sick.
BUFFY
Yeah. I'm just tired.
Joyce brushes Buffy's hair out of her face.
JOYCE
Be sure to get some sleep.
BUFFY
I will.
Joyce turns to leave. Buffy can't let her go.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Mom?
Joyce stops and turns around. Buffy's finding it harder to
hold the tears back.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
I know I don't say it a lot, but I
love you.
Joyce smiles.
JOYCE
I love you too, dear.
BUFFY
I also want you to know that I'll do
my best to take care of Dawn when
you leave. It might be hard, and I
might make mistakes, but I'll do my
best.
Joyce looks at Buffy, a little confused.
JOYCE
Dawn?
If I had more time, I would have spent more of it with Joyce and Buffy, and the whole "Dawn didn't exist" thing. I could have gone with the new fake history and actually had Dawn exist there, but I thought this would be more interesting. Buffy's not sure of how she is doing with raising Dawn, and she's thinking it might be easier if she didn't have to do it at all. So seeing her life without Dawn gives her the perspective that she needs. She also gets an influx of Mommy love, which helps.
Joyce's plans to leave town for a little while also come into play a little while later, in "Opposing Forces". For the record, this is the trip that she was on in "What's My Line?"
|
INT. JENNY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Jenny leads the way into the apartment. The Willows follow.
PAST WILLOW
So much for Giles' apartment. He's
probably out on Watcher business.
JENNY
I wouldn't know. I think I might be
able to find something online though.
|
Also, on this page, we are reminded that Jenny and Giles aren't in a comfy place right now. This is shortly after she was taken over by Eyghon. (Jenny Calendar: The original Illyria. Hehe)
|
37.
Willow follows Jenny to the computer.
WILLOW
Try the demon database.
JENNY
Demon database?
WILLOW
Isn't it out yet?
JENNY
I've never heard of it. Sounds cool
though.
PAST WILLOW
Yeah.
Willow ignores her past self.
WILLOW
I guess it's not online yet. It's
this really cool site that lets you
search for demons.
JENNY
Well, I'll have to do it the old
fashioned way. I'll send out a flash
to my coven and see if anyone knows
anything about this whole time travel
deal.
PAST WILLOW
I don't suppose we'll be needing any
hacking? 'Cause I'm good with that.
WILLOW
I think this is more witchy than
hacky.
PAST WILLOW
Oh. You'll have to show me some of
those sites sometime.
JENNY
Sure.
Past Willow just backs away and finds a nice place to sit.
WILLOW
If we can't find anything online,
maybe I could do a spell. Like a
declaro truth spell.
JENNY
There's another one I've read about.
German, I think.
38.
WILLOW
The Wolderkot revelation spell.
JENNY
Yeah. Anything that'll explain this
to us.
(beat)
So you're into magic now?
WILLOW
Yeah. I'm a pretty kick-ass witch
these days.
JENNY
Dangerous stuff.
WILLOW
Yeah. It can get pretty ugly. There's
this whole story with black eyes and
nosebleeds that I probably shouldn't
tell you about.
JENNY
Sounds interesting.
Past Willow just stays quiet, in her seat. Away from the
conversation that doesn't include her.
EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Buffy is walking across the school's lawn, still taking in
her encounter with her mom. She stops and looks up at the
school.
As she's about to start walking again, she sees the hooded
figure walking away from her.
BUFFY
Hey!
She rushes to catch up to the figure. The figure runs.
Buffy finally catches up to, and cuts off the figure.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Nice hood. Mind if I take a peek
underneath?
(beat)
Get it? Take a peek underneath the
hood. It's a car thing.
Buffy moves to grab the hood. The figure pulls back.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
I see you're not going to make this
easy.
39.
Buffy is about to punch the hooded figure when it waves one
of it's hands. Buffy falls backwards.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Okay, that's just rude.
(beat)
You think I don't know who you are?
We only have so many witches out to
get us, Amy.
The hooded figure laughs. She pulls the hood off, revealing
that it is AMY.
AMY
Good call. But I'm not out to get
you.
BUFFY
So you just decided to give Willow
an all expense paid vacation to the
past out of the kindess of your heart?
Amy looks closer at Buffy.
AMY
You're from the future.
BUFFY
You're quick. So what's the deal?
What kind of game are you playing
here?
AMY
No games. I have good reasons for
doing what I did.
BUFFY
And those would be?
AMY
I plan to stay here.
INT. JENNY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Willow and Jenny are still sitting at the computer,
researching. Past Willow is flipping channels on the TV.
WILLOW
He's saying that the time travel
would create a demon that would attack
both versions of me.
JENNY
Yeah, so?
WILLOW
I haven't seen a demon.
40.
JENNY
So where is it?
ANGLE ON : PAST WILLOW
Sitting on the couch, watching TV. She gets a slightly
concerned look on her face.
PAST WILLOW
Umm, guys?
Willow and Jenny don't hear her.
WILLOW
It should be after us.
PAST WILLOW
Guys?
WILLOW
Maybe I could do a locator spell to
track it down. Find it before it
finds us.
|
Willow is trying to impress Jenny. When Willow was younger, Jenny was the cool, attractive cyber-pagan that she looked up to. Jenny's bookmarks helped Willow get into the witch game. So Willow taking this chance to impress her is like getting perform for her role model.
|
PAST WILLOW
Hey!
Willow and Jenny finally look over at Past Willow. Past Willow
points at the wall behind the TV.
PAST WILLOW (CONT'D)
That wouldn't happen to be our demon,
would it?
Willow and Jenny look at the wall and see the SHADOW creeping
along it.
JENNY
That's not good.
The SHADOW JUMPS off the wall, toward Past Willow.
FADE TO BLACK:
END OF ACT THREE
41.
ACT FOUR
FADE IN:
INT. JENNY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Willow puts a hand up.
WILLOW
Confuto!
(translation)
Stop!
The SHADOW FREEZES in the air.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
Run!
Both Willows and Jenny run out of the apartment.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Past Buffy and Xander are having a more relaxed conversation
now. She's getting past the shock. Now, she's looking at
Dawn.
PAST BUFFY
She's pretty.
(beat)
Are you sure I have a sister?
XANDER
Pretty sure.
PAST BUFFY
And I have to raise her?
XANDER
Yeah. Ever since...
PAST BUFFY
Mom died. That's a whole other pill
for me to swallow. I don't even want
to go there right now.
(beat)
So what's it like? Am I good at being
grown up?
XANDER
As good as anyone is.
PAST BUFFY
And in English, that means?
42.
XANDER
It means, you have your rough times,
but you get through them. Same as
you always have.
PAST BUFFY
And am I good at being all parental?
XANDER
As good as anyone can be when raising
a teenager. You don't always get
her. She doesn't always get you.
PAST BUFFY
Sounds like me and Mom.
XANDER
Sounds like everyone and their mom.
PAST BUFFY
What about Dad? Is he still alive?
XANDER
Alive, yes. The "dad" part is up for
debate though.
PAST BUFFY
So I really am in it alone?
XANDER
Not alone.
They share a warm look. Past Buffy looks back to Dawn.
PAST BUFFY
So she's doing all of this to save
Willow? That's pretty cool.
XANDER
She takes after her sister. Brave
runs in the Summers blood.
PAST BUFFY
Apparently, you should tell that to
my father.
Xander smiles.
PAST BUFFY (CONT'D)
One more question?
XANDER
Sure.
From underneath the couch, she pulls out the Scythe.
43.
PAST BUFFY
What the hell is this?
Bringing up Hank. Foreshadowing.
Also, she feels the Scythe. That's how she found it there.
|
EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Buffy and Amy are still talking.
BUFFY
Why did you bring Willow into this?
AMY
Because, I needed her.
BUFFY
You needed a target.
AMY
More than that. I needed someone I
knew could stop the demon. I knew
that when she did that, she'd go
home and I could stay here.
As Amy says that last part about staying, she rubs a ring
she has on her right hand. Another charm. Nothing we need a
closeup of, just a little side-note.
BUFFY
So you were willing to put her life
on the line, so you could hitch a
ride to making-up-for-lost-time land?
AMY
It's not like this isn't a good thing
for her. The whole purpose of the
spell is to help her work out her
issues and you can't tell me she
doesn't have those.
BUFFY
You don't have the right to do this
to people.
AMY
Does she have the right to rip apart
the Sunnydale Police Department?
She's dangerous. Don't act like we
don't all know it. This spell will
help take away that risk.
BUFFY
By killing her?
AMY
Just the opposite, actually.
Just then, the Willows and Jenny come running up to Buffy
and Amy.
44.
PAST WILLOW
Buffy!
Once they stop running, Buffy looks at them.
BUFFY
Are you guys okay?
PAST WILLOW
There's a demon after us. This is
me, from the future. Somehow, she
got sent back here and now there's a
demon out to kill us.
(then)
Hey, Amy.
BUFFY
I know. That's why I came back.
WILLOW
Buffy?
Willow looks at Buffy.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
But you look like...
BUFFY
Yeah, I'm astral projecting or
something. Giles'll explain when we
get home.
Buffy only then notices the fact that Jenny is standing right
there. Her eyes lock on Jenny.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Ms. Calendar.
JENNY
We should get somewhere safe.
PAST WILLOW
The library.
AMY
School's locked.
WILLOW
(to Amy)
Did you do this?
BUFFY
We'll chat later, let's go.
Buffy leads the way up to the school's front door. She turns
to Willow.
45.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Will?
WILLOW
On it.
Willow waves a hand. The door UNLOCKS. Buffy leads the way
inside.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - HALLWAY - NIGHT
Buffy leads the way down the hall. She's looking very
determined as she walks toward the library. Then she stops
suddenly. Willow almost bumps into her.
WILLOW
Something wrong?
Buffy leans back to Willow, a little embarrassed.
BUFFY
Which way is the library again?
Past Willow points down the hall.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Right. Thanks.
Buffy continues walking. They turn a corner and Buffy stops
again.
PAST WILLOW
You want me to lead?
BUFFY
Demon.
PAST WILLOW
Am not.
BUFFY
No.
(points)
Demon.
BUFFY'S POV
The SHADOW is moving in their direction.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Other way! Go!
The Willows, Jenny and Amy run in the opposite direction.
Buffy rushes toward the demon. She leaps through the air, to
kick it, but finds herself going THROUGH THE SHADOW and
falling to the ground.
46.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Crap. Willow, run!
(beat)
Willows.
Buffy gets up and runs in the same direction as the others.
ANGLE ON: THE OTHERS
PAST WILLOW
Where do we go?
JENNY
Classroom!
Willow jumps into the nearest classroom door. The others
follow.
Buffy passes the shadow demon and gets into the classroom.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT
BUFFY
Willow, barrier.
WILLOW/PAST WILLOW
On it./Huh?
Willow's eyes are already closed, and she's already focusing.
The shadow enters the room, but BUMPS INTO A FORCEFIELD.
Past Willow and Jenny step back a little.
PAST WILLOW
Whoa.
AMY
I could do that.
(beat)
If I wanted to, I mean.
WILLOW
That should hold for a while.
BUFFY
I can't kill this thing. I passed
right through it.
JENNY
So how do we fight it?
AMY
We don't.
(re: Willows)
They do.
47.
PAST WILLOW
Me?
AMY
It's your demon.
PAST WILLOW
My demon? That hardly seems fair.
Does that sound fair to anyone else?
WILLOW
Get over it.
PAST WILLOW
Easy for you to say, with the big
fancy witch-being. What am I supposed
to do, hack it to death?
(then)
Which sounds scary, actually. I
realize that. I meant in the computer
way, not the big heavy ax way, so
it's really not scary.
WILLOW
My goodness. Would you just be quiet
and let the grown-up figure this
out?
BUFFY
Will--
WILLOW
No. I'm just saying that the girl
could use a little quality time
getting to know her backbone.
PAST WILLOW
I have a backbone.
WILLOW
Coulda fooled me. Look at you. You're
backing away like a little kid. It's
no wonder nobody likes you.
JENNY
Hey.
The shadow is getting angrier. Slamming against the
forcefield. Amy smiles.
WILLOW
I know I can't be the only one who's
noticed it. I've only been here a
few hours and it's starting to grate.
48.
BUFFY
Willow, enough.
(to the others)
She doesn't usually act like this.
(beat)
Unless she's evil.
(to Willow)
You're not evil, are you?
JENNY
Evil?
BUFFY
It's a long story.
WILLOW
I'm not evil. I'm just saying what
nobody else would ever say to her.
Everyone thinks it. She's such a
boring, nothing of a person. It's
not hard to see why everyone bailed
on you for someone cooler. Even when
you finally managed to convince
someone you weren't a complete loser,
you still needed mind control to
keep her around.
PAST WILLOW
Her?
BUFFY
Tara. Your girlfriend.
PAST WILLOW
(eyes widen)
Girlfriend? But I'm not...
AMY
(grinning)
Well y'are now.
Past Willow looks at Buffy for confirmation. Buffy nods.
PAST WILLOW
Oh.
The shadow demon is getting stronger and stronger. The FORCE
FIELD IS RIPPLING. It could go at any time.
PAST WILLOW (CONT'D)
So is this what I have to look forward
to? Becoming someone that's so caught
up in whateveryone else thinks of
her that she's afraid to just be
herself?
49.
WILLOW
This is me.
PAST WILLOW
I'm you.
WILLOW
No you're not. Not anymore. People
change.
Past Willow smiles.
PAST WILLOW
Not into whole entirely new people.
WILLOW
They can if they want to.
PAST WILLOW
It's not a choice you have. Sure,
you can wear fancy clothes and cut
your hair in what I assume are all
the latest styles, but underneath it
all, you're still the girl who gets
a giddy whenever she opens a new
pair of Looney-Toons slippers on her
birthday.
WILLOW
And where has that gotten you?
PAST WILLOW
Not far. But where has running away
from it gotten you?
WILLOW
I'm powerful. I'm respected. I don't
have to cower in the corner whenever
a big bad comes to town. I don't
have to sit in clubs, watching
everyone get hit on but me.
PAST WILLOW
And if any of that was what really
mattered, you're list would have
started off with "I'm happy." I don't
know what happened to you- what made
you so bitter- but I pray that when
it happens to me, I know better than
to react the way you have.
WILLOW
Shut your mouth. You don't know. You
don't know. You don't know what it
was like to be thought of as nothing
more than a geek, even by the people
you knew.
50.
BUFFY
I never felt that way. Not once.
Willow starts to tear up.
WILLOW
I've worked so hard to get away from
this.
(to Past Willow)
To get away from you. Maybe it'd be
better for all of us if I just let
you die. At least then you wouldn't
have to go through everything I went
through.
The FORCE FIELD DROPS. The shadow heads straight for Past
Willow. She screams and falls to the floor as the shadow
covers her and cuts off her air supply.
Willow's eyes widen.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
I didn't mean it!
Buffy tries to help Past Willow, but she passes through the
shadow, and can't pick Past Willow up off of the floor. Buffy
looks up at Willow.
BUFFY
She's dying! Do something!
WILLOW
I can't!
BUFFY
You have to.
Willow waves a hand at the demon.
WILLOW
Back!
Nothing happens.
AMY
Magic won't work anymore. It has to
be you.
|
Magic won't work on this demon. Willow has to fight it herself. This is pretty much Willow's arc for this season, all summed up in one line. Willow has to stop running, and embrace her human power instead of her supernatural power.
|
Willow looks at Amy, then back to Past Willow, struggling
for air.
She steps forward and reaches down. She grabs onto the demon
and lifts with all of her stregnth, until she finally gets
it off of Past Willow.
The shadow CLIMBS UP HER ARM and tries to devour her, as it
did Past Willow. Willow struggles with it.
51.
Jenny rushes to Past Willow's side and helps her.
Willow continues to struggle. She manages to keep the demon
away from her face. She throws herself against a wall, trying
to hurt the demon, but all she does is knock over a shelf
full of books.
She falls to the ground. Buffy wants to help, but can't. She
has no choice but to watch Willow fight for her life.
BUFFY
You can do this, Willow. Fight it.
WILLOW
I can't.
Past Willow rushes to where Willow is struggling, and picks
one of the bigger books off of the ground.
PAST WILLOW
Yes, you can.
Past Willow swings with all of her might, hitting the shadow
demon. She continues to beat it. Finally, Willow is able to
help her, and begins pounding the demon with her fist.
|
Past Willow beating the demon with a book. Get it? I know, I know. I'm too brilliant.
|
After much beating, the SHADOW DEMON VANISHES.
The Willows look at each other. Both confused. Normal Willow
also full of deep thoughts..
PAST WILLOW (CONT'D)
Is that it?
In a FLASH, WILLOW VANISHES.
Past Willow and Jenny look to Buffy.
BUFFY
I guess the spell's over.
AMY
Which means, I'm done here.
Amy starts to walk out. Buffy grabs her.
BUFFY
Where do you think you're going?
AMY
I got me some lost time to make up
for. I figure I'll wait a year, then
find a nice quiet town to finish
high school in.
52.
BUFFY
If you ever come near Willow, or any
of us again--
AMY
Don't worry. I'll be good. I promise.
Amy smiles and starts to walk out. Before she walks through
the door, she stops and turns around. She looks at Past
Willow and Jenny.
AMY (CONT'D)
Do the vending machines still sell
brownies?
(then)
Nevermind. I'll find out myself.
With that, she walks out of the room.
Buffy walks to where Past Willow is now standing with Jenny.
PAST WILLOW
What happens now? The future's been
kinda spoiled for us.
BUFFY
Don't you just hate when that happens?
(beat)
No worries. Giles says that when I
go back, everything will be right in
the world again.
JENNY
So we won't remember this?
Buffy shakes her head. She looks at Jenny.
BUFFY
But if there is a part of you
somewhere deep in the back of your
mind that does remember this, let it
know that I forgive you.
JENNY
Forgive me?
Buffy gives Jenny a knowing look. Jenny realizes what she
means.
BUFFY
I get that things can be complicated
sometimes.
Jenny is still dealing with the fact that Buffy knows her
secret. Something she's kept to herself for so long.
Buffy looks back to Past Willow.
53.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
I guess I'll be seeing you soon.
PAST WILLOW
I hope so.
BUFFY
Before I go, can I just ask you
something?
PAST WILLOW
What?
BUFFY
What the hell was I thinking, dressing
like this? I'm 16 years old, for
crying out loud! Could this skirt be
any shorter? Have I even heard of
the word "subtle" before?
Past Willow smiles.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Dawn returns to normal. Buffy blinks a few times and shakes
her head. (This is Buffy once again, not Past Buffy)
Xander looks at them.
XANDER
Are we done?
Dawn looks at Buffy. She speaks as though she was there in
the past.
DAWN
We're done.
Buffy notices the tone in Dawn's voice.
BUFFY
You saw.
DAWN
All of it. Yeah.
(beat)
Kinda creepy at times, but yeah.
BUFFY
Yeah, creepy.
(beat)
But seeing what it was like to be 16
again, it reminded me of some things.
DAWN
I know.
54.
BUFFY
I'm not saying you don't have to
listen to me, or that you're not in
serious trouble for going behind my
back like you did.
DAWN
I know.
Buffy and Dawn share a long look. Finally, Buffy speaks again.
BUFFY
Does this mean we could have gotten
an employee discount on our movies
tonight?
DAWN
Free, actually.
BUFFY
Never keep things from me again.
They smile at each other.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
I'm still not quite clear on the
issue of past people not remembering.
Giles said that the universe was set
back on track naturally, but Amy's
still back there. So how does that
count as set straight?
XANDER
If my years of watching Star Trek
have taught me anything, it's to not
try to figure out time travel.
(beat)
Hey, I don't mean to kill the happy,
but where's Willow?
Buffy looks at him, getting serious again.
EXT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
The front of the house, looking quiet and peaceful. We SLOWLY
PUSH IN on the side of the house.
Finally, we see Willow. Sitting on the ground, leaning against
the house. Expressionless. Staring into space. Filled with
painful thoughts.
BUFFY (V.O.)
(responding to Xander's
question)
She'll be here.
FADE TO BLACK:
55.
END OF SHOW
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