| ACT TWO FADE IN INT. SUMMERS HOUSE - NIGHT Everyone's assembled, including SPIKE. Faith stands by pensively. Dawn gives her the stink-eye; Giles is stone- faced; Buffy's fuming. BUFFY (to Faith) Mass-murder occurs in your area and you don't get there until AFTER the fact. FAITH There was absolutely zip to make it seem like somethin' was up. BUFFY Or maybe you just weren't paying attention. FAITH There's wasn't much that needed attention. I took care of a couple of newbies and that's all. I had no friggin' reason to think there was a bloodbath in progress! XANDER How could vampires get in there to do that kind of damage? I mean, getting an invite from every single person who answered the door...the odds aren't there. WILLOW Maybe they got smart and found a spell to break the rule. I could go down there to check for traces of magic. BUFFY Good idea Wills. (to Spike) Spike, you go with her and be ultra-cautious. SPIKE Shouldn't I be patrolling? You know, something that can utilize my talents more. XANDER That better not be a veiled sexual reference. SPIKE Bite you. BUFFY Look, we can't take much of a risk anywhere near that building--no matter how dead it is. ANYA How do we even know this is the work of vampires? Maybe it's just a bunch of psychos. GILES It could be possible this is part of a ritual of some sort for a cult. BUFFY Either way, we're taking major precautions. We won't hunt these guys so much as keep an eye out. FAITH Let THEM hunt US. BUFFY What's a matter Faithy, afraid of the hunt? FAITH As much as I'm afraid of you. There's silence for a moment. DAWN What does that mean? ANYA For all intents and purposes, I do believe she's NOT afraid--and rightfully so seeing as Faith is Classic Coke to Buffy's Diet. Everyone stares at Anya incredulously. ANYA You know I'm right. GILES Yes, well, I will get to work on research. BUFFY Dawn, Xander, Anya, you help with that. (to Faith) We'll do an all-night sweep. FAITH I guess you want uptown this time. BUFFY No...we're sticking together. No screw-ups that way. Faith shakes her head. BUFFY Everyone, get to it! Buffy heads to the door with Faith close behind. Dawn rushes to cut off Buffy. DAWN I can help out on the street. BUFFY Sorry Dawny, but not this time...not this situation. DAWN Even after what I did at the library! Do you have to be there to see it? BUFFY Not this one. Plus it's a school night...have to be responsible. Dawn angrily stomps off. Faith nudges Buffy. FAITH Since you're my babysitter, should I call you Miss Summers? Off Buffy's not quite amused look: CUT TO: EXT. WEST SIDE STREET - LATER THAT NIGHT Buffy and Faith walk in the empty street. It's chillingly quiet between the two. FAITH I gotta say, this is kick-ass weather we're havin'. BUFFY I'm glad you brought that up. FAITH Really? BUFFY Yep. Gives me a good reason to tell you to shut the hell up. FAITH I'm always happy to give ya a GOOD reason to do something. Means I'm useful. BUFFY Don't make too much out of it. FAITH I'm pissin' you off? BUFFY Words can't even... FAITH Now THAT'S being useful! Buffy brings them both to a halt. BUFFY You just don't quit--do you? FAITH I can go on longer than you can take it. I will if you don't get out of my face. BUFFY Well then out of fear of what you might do to me, I will now take another step forward-- Buffy steps forward right in Faith's face. BUFFY --And get in your face even more. And why am I doing this? Because nothing's happening and I really want to beat you down. FAITH I thought it wasn't worth the risk. Buffy smirks. BUFFY I guess all that badness didn't leave me after all. Faith takes the first swing and catches Buffy by surprise, but she recovers and the duo engage in a heavy exchange of power-shots and counter-shots. Buffy fires a backhand that Faith catches. Faith punches Buffy in the kidneys and twists her arm and body around into a possessive hold. Faith wraps her arm around Buffy's waist--tight--while her other arm hovers just over Buffy's chest. Faith brings her mouth to Buffy's ear. FAITH (whispering) Do you feel it? BUFFY (breathy) I don't know what you're talking about. FAITH Someone's here. They're watching. I felt it the other night too. BUFFY Where? Faith slides her leg in between Buffy's, causing Buffy's breath to hitch. Faith maneuvers her left foot so it moves Buffy's left foot pointing in the direction of an alley. FAITH You feelin' up to it? BUFFY No excuses. Faith likes that answer. Faith shoves Buffy away from her. Buffy regains composure several feet away. Buffy calmly walks backwards towards the alley. BUFFY This night can only get more interesting. Buffy turns and sprints towards the alley. Faith sprints in favor of the alley on the opposite side of the building. CUT TO: EXT. PRIMARY ALLEY - CONTINUOUS Buffy enters the alley which is seemingly empty. Buffy scans the area but finds nothing. Suddenly, a CREATURE steps out and materializes from the wall behind Buffy. Buffy furrows her brow and turns around only to get hammered by the Creature. CUT TO: EXT. ROOF - CONTINUOUS Faith climbs onto the roof from the fire escape and runs across to the other edge. She peers down into the alley. The sound of a FIGHT can be heard, Buffy GRUNTING loudly. CREEPY VOICE (OS) Faaaith. Faith whirls around and finds no one. She's freaked. BUFFY (OS) (screaming) FAITH. Faith again whirls around. She looks down and a CRASH happens down in the alley. FAITH (shouting) B! Faith hops over the edge. CUT TO: EXT. PRIMARY ALLEY - CONTINUOUS Faith shoots down the fire escape in record time and lands from a big jump down. She spots Buffy lying in a heap of garbage cans and shattered glass. Faith rushes over to her. FAITH B? What happened? BUFFY (wearily) He came out of nowhere. Disappeared. FAITH You okay? BUFFY Better than I look. Really. Faith helps Buffy up and races out of the alley. Buffy slowly but surely follows. CUT TO: EXT. WEST SIDE STREET - CONTINUOUS Faith searches for anything at all. FAITH Somethin's out to get me. BUFFY I beg to differ...and I've got the bump to prove it. FAITH You don't get it--I'm a target! BUFFY Then let's turn the tables. Buffy starts walking but Faith stops her. FAITH You're hurt. BUFFY YOU'RE right. You were also right about being hunted. Whether it's only you they want--to kill you or bait you into something stupid-- doesn't matter. It involves me too. FAITH I can do this myself. BUFFY Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Faith nervously looks around one more time. Buffy begins walking and Faith goes with her. CUT TO: INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH, ROOM 227 - DAY Dawn sits in class, tired but clearly disgruntled. A couple of rows over, Elle eyeballs Dawn with curiosity. Dawn glances over at Elle and catches her staring. Elle mouths "Are you okay?". Dawn smiles. CUT TO: INT. SUMMERS HOUSE - DAY Faith, Willow, Xander, and Giles reside in the living room. WILLOW There were no magicks. I went over the entire building three times. GILES The texts were no help. It's a crapshoot. (to Faith) What did you say attacked Buffy? FAITH I didn't see it. B said it was empty and the thing just came out of nowhere. Disappeared before I got down there. Street was empty. XANDER Really advanced vampire? A master? FAITH No. Too quiet for a vamp. I could sense the thing the other night, but that's it. And Buffy--she didn't put up much of a fight. WILLOW You think it's following you? FAITH Not even I'M this paranoid. XANDER Assassins? Wouldn't be the first time. GILES That's a good theory. Have Spike ask around. XANDER I'll send Anya with him. She's pretty good at the investigating part. I suck at it. Which makes me depressed. Xander checks with Faith who raises an eyebrow at him. XANDER There's also your predicament. You shouldn't be jumpin' for joy. But at least you have a bitchin' body! Faith concedes to that. Xander chuckles and wants a high- five. Faith won't go near it and leaves. Willow and Giles can't believe what Xander's doing. XANDER You have to admit, Faith is kinda man-ish. Willow and Giles gape. XANDER Spike's right--maybe I should go on a gay cruise. Willow's and Giles' eyebrows shoot to the ceiling. XANDER That didn't come out right. CUT TO: INT. ESPRESSO PUMP - DAY Dawn and Elle sit at a table with their drinks. Elle pours an assload of sugar into her cappuccino. Dawn can't help but gawk at the obscene pouring. Elle finally stops. ELLE I get that a lot. DAWN No, it's no big deal. I consume that much all the time...over the span of a month. ELLE People can be so intolerant of sugaritis. DAWN You gave it a name? ELLE That way I can accuse people of discrimination. Which is weird because I'm a Republican. DAWN Yeah, that's the only reason why it's weird. ELLE Why were you so down today? DAWN It was a rough night. Major reading. And there's the whole "my sister won't let me do anything beyond safe" factor. ELLE That makes you a member of a very non-exclusive club that includes most teenagers in America. Even me with my not-so-mainstream brother. DAWN I just want--I mean, I can help-- Dawn laughs pitifully. DAWN My life is too complicated for this conversation. Elle flashes dejection. ELLE No problem. I understand. Dawn notices Elle's hurt and is about to speak, but holds back at the last moment. She looks away sadly. CUT TO: INT. WILLY'S BAR - NIGHT Spike and Anya walk in. There's a good crowd. Willy tends bar and gets antsy at the sight of the duo. They walk over to him. WILLY Hey there. What brings you to my fine, semi-law abiding establishment? I've done nothing wrong! I'm telling ya I'm innocent. I want no one killed. ANYA We haven't said anything yet. WILLY Just covering my bases. SPIKE We got a few questions. WILLY Like... SPIKE Is there a hit out on the rogue slayer? WILLY Faith? ANYA Yes--Faith. There may be someone who wants her dead--a theory that, if true, is vigorously unacceptable! WILLY I'm clueless on that. I like the slayers and I don't wanna see 'em bite it. I got nothing for ya but I'll keep an ear open. (MORE) WILLY (CONT'D) (to Spike) Now you on the other hand...I've heard plenty dealing with you, big guy. SPIKE Really? What-- ANYA (shouting) --Hey! This is about Faith.. Anya slaps Willy. WILLY What was that for? ANYA Get your mind where it belongs--on Faith and NOT Spike. (to Spike) This is not, never has been, and never will be about you. (to Willy) And you will not divert attention to Spike to satisfy whatever unholy crush you may have on him. Willy's shocked and Spike is disgusted. Anya pushes Spike away and slaps Willy again. Anya walks to the center of the room with Spike. ANYA We have to question these. How do you want to handle it? SPIKE You're really taking this to the extreme. It's just Faith. Anya backhands Spike. ANYA There's no "just" Faith. Faith is Faith and you will respect that you popsicle bleach-head. SPIKE All you want is for her to live so you can get in her pants. ANYA So? Spike's intrigued. SPIKE We could engage these blokes one at a time. Weed out information. ANYA Actually, I believe getting tough is more responsible. (to the room) Excuse me, can you please listen up? The room quiets down and all eyes go to Anya. ANYA Can I get a show of hands...how many of you have a penis and testicles? Spike's thrown off big time by that. CUT TO: EXT. RESTFIELD CEMETERY - NIGHT Faith strolls through, her eyes darting around. FAITH (low) I'm alone and ready and heady and outta control Faith stutters in her step for a moment and her face twitches. She picks up the pace near a mosoleum. She hits a corner and whips her arm around. She pulls out a clean- looking PUNK VAMP and slams him against the mosoleum wall. FAITH You better have a good reason for followin' me. No, wait, that won't help you, so spare yourself the torture and open wide. Faith pulls out a stake and prepares to strike. PUNK VAMP Whoa! Faith, don't you recognize me? FAITH You're a vampire, right? Punk Vamp nods. FAITH That's all I need to know. PUNK VAMP Lester. We worked together for the mayor. The good ole days. FAITH (angrily) If you think that helps you, then someone better fill you in on my life the last 3 years. PUNK VAMP Okay, so that doesn't paint me in a nice light, but I know who's out for ya. There's an out-of-towner, hired for big bucks. A corrupt crusader you can say. A rogue slayer, past or present, is painted in black and deserves to die...according to the heroes. FAITH Rogue doesn't equal stupid. PUNK VAMP You want proof. I can give it to ya. CUT TO: INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH, BASEMENT - NIGHT Punk Vamp leads Faith into a shadow-covered space. They hide behind some boxes as Buffy walks into sight with the Dark Man behind her. BUFFY Way to screw up. She lives and I get a headache...another one along with you and your failure. DARK MAN She will die. I guarantee results. BUFFY Guarantees are as valuable as a California public school education. All I want is that pathetic, worthless, slutbomb lying as a corpse on my doorstep. DARK MAN I'll do it with a smile. Even I know she's no good and I lived 3000 miles away. She's little more than a mistake turned nightmare...a soulless murderer masquerading as a people's protector. She deserves no less than death. BUFFY Excruciating. Make her feel it. Dark Man nods his approving confirmation. He and Buffy walk off in the direction they came. Faith looks beyond lost. END ACT TWO |
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