| ACT THREE FADE IN EXT. STREET - NIGHT Faith solemnly walks. Punk Vamp is along side her wearing a smug expression. PUNK VAMP You really can't trust the good guys...the goodie good guys. FAITH That wasn't her. There's an explanation--somewhere. PUNK VAMP What you see is what you get. FAITH Shut up. PUNK VAMP I can see you're pretty bummed. That redemption kick ain't workin' so good. FAITH It was. PUNK VAMP But not in her eyes. Faith stops and stares at Punk Vamp for a moment. FAITH Blow off. Faith picks up a swift stride. Punk Vamp doesn't move--but does grin wickedly. PUNK VAMP She's nothing. You're the REAL slayer! You could do so much more than kowtow to some vengeful bitch! Faith flinches but keeps walking. CUT TO: INT. SUMMERS HOUSE - NIGHT The gang's assembled in the living room--minus Faith. BUFFY Please tell me someone had success. ANYA We had a certain amount of success that people might find successful but others unsuccessful. Depends on whether you prefer a glass half- full of vodka, or half-empty. SPIKE I could really use a FEW half-full glasses of vodka after tonight. GILES What do you have? SPIKE Bad mojo times two. Christopher Dean-- Dawn's startled by that. SPIKE --A demon killer, self-proclaimed peacekeeper. There's way too much about him to go into... WILLOW You know him? SPIKE I've been around a long time and he's got about a decade of anti- hero work under his belt. Only 22...reputation for playing both sides in order to maintain stability. There's a laundry list of theories on WHAT he is... That earns a sideways glance from Anya. SPIKE ...And he's got a reputation for not shying away from killing humans. BUFFY So he's got the ability to put up a decent fight against a slayer? ANYA Yes, but the way you described the attack doesn't mesh. XANDER Mesh? Why no mesh? ANYA He's famous in the underworld--but not for his stealthness. He makes his presence known due to an exceptional ego. BUFFY I know WHAT he is--a MAN. SPIKE The bad news is he's stronger than a slayer. Good news--he works alone...except for a sister that's probably a teenager by now. XANDER (to Dawn) Hey Dawn, what about-- DAWN --Those new kids...yeah, you know there's a few newbies that came in recently. I can snoop around. BUFFY New? I didn't hear about that. DAWN Come on...the only work you'd do would be counseling anyone crazy enough to think you actually DO any work. That gets some giggles. A dangerous look from Buffy quiets them. The front door opens and Faith enters. She sways into the living room and immediately locks eyes with Buffy. BUFFY Anything happen? FAITH Handled a vamp. Got a beat on the bad guy. WILLOW Oh, so do we. FAITH (to Buffy) Where were you? BUFFY Scouted places evil might make itself comfy--boardwalk, high school, docks. FAITH Sounds like you didn't need me. I really didn't need you. BUFFY What's that supposed to mean? FAITH It means I'm tired, goin' back to my "home", you can do whatever the hell you wanna do and call me. That knocks everyone off, especially Buffy. Faith makes a loud exit. BUFFY Hooray for personal issues. CUT TO: EXT. REVELLO DRIVE - MINUTES LATER Faith huffs and puffs but deflates when the Punk Vamp gets in step with her. PUNK VAMP You're obviously pissed. FAITH Which sucks for you if you stick around. PUNK VAMP I can help. I remember how you handled being the Mayor's number one. This town could be yours. I'll help. We don't even have to touch the hellmouth. FAITH Did you bang your head too many times tryin' to get out of the coffin? I don't swing that way anymore! PUNK VAMP You were made for a life of death. You've been betrayed by the very people--or person--that you put your trust in, that you wanted to be forgiven by and what do you get? A contract on your head. Faith spins and headbutts Punk Vamp hard enough to knock him into a car. FAITH My head--my business. CUT TO: EXT. SUNLIGHT HOTEL - LATER Faith makes her way up the walkway. She stops abruptly. FAITH You don't learn, do ya? Faith spins around and is surprised. Standing a few feet away is the Dark Man--Christopher Dean. DARK MAN Actually, I'm extremely proud of my high school diploma. It would've been more, but when your night job involves killing things...well, English Lit seems trivial. FAITH I know what you mean. I didn't even get through 9th grade. DARK MAN I only finished up to set a good example for the kids. Faith nails him with roundhouse kick to the face. Dark Man hits the ground. He gets back up after a moment and wipes at his lip a little. DARK MAN Huzzah...totally didn't appreciate that. FAITH Why not? That was a love tap. Here's some more lovin'. Faith fires off a flurry of punches and kicks--some connecting, others blocked or avoided. Dark Man fights back enough until he lands a kick to Faith's stomach and another kick sending her stumbling backwards. DARK MAN What's goin' on here? We just met. FAITH Oh, so if we get to know each other, THEN you won't kill me? DARK MAN Who said anything about killing you? FAITH You did. DARK MAN I did? I, Christopher Dean, said I was going to kill you. FAITH Names don't matter. Just the principle. DARK MAN I like my name. You can call me Dino though. FAITH Really? That's sweet of you. DARK MAN No problem. I think we should get some issues straightened out here. FAITH Good idea. Faith punches Dark Man in the face and follows up with several more blows. Dark Man fights back but Faith gets the upper hand. She drives her foot into his knee, elbows him and grabs him. She SCREAMS as she throws him all the way through a hotel room door. FAITH (shouting) I ain't lettin' you or that blonde, righteous superbitch take me out. I'll bury you both. Straight enough for ya? A determined Dark Man soldiers out of the room. DARK MAN That's the way it is--fine. Get ready for a Godsmacking. CUT TO: EXT. COLUMBUS AVE - NIGHT Buffy mutters while powerwalking. BUFFY Damn Faith, always getting on my nerves. Has to be all Miss Attitude causing more problems on top of existing problems making me leave in the middle of the night to track her down to resolve those problems so we can focus on resolving the other problems and it's nothing but problems problems problems in my life and Faith is just another problem and I've got major Faith-related problems and Faith probably has Buffy-related problems and I would kill her if I didn't need her so much. Buffy freezes. She shuts and rubs her eyes in frustration. BUFFY Now I'M all about Faith. Buffy prepares to scream but gets beaten to the punch by a SCREAM from afar. CUT TO: INT. APARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER The door busts open, giving way to Buffy. She enters to find Punk Vamp feeding on a woman. He drops his victim and holds his ground. Buffy stalks towards him. BUFFY Not a good move. PUNK VAMP I'm a monster--what do you expect? BUFFY Fair enough. But the dustbuster's making an appearance. PUNK VAMP Faith won't like this. BUFFY What do you know about Faith? PUNK VAMP We go way back. She's seen your plan. She's pissed. BUFFY Your babbling is having no effect on my desire to kill you. In fact, it's making it worse and-- (dangerously) --don't you dare talk about Faith like you know her. PUNK VAMP Touched a nerve. You won't live much longer. BUFFY I'm too bored to blah blah you. Buffy pulls out a stake and approaches Punk Vamp. Behind her, the Creature materializes from the wall. Buffy halts her steps as she notices a mirror on the opposite wall. She spots the Creature's reflection and turns around as the Creature jumps her. CUT TO: INT. SUMMERS HOUSE, DAWN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Dawn packs some stakes, crosses, and holy water into a backpack. She pulls open the door and the VOICES of the others can be heard downstairs. She quietly closes the door and heads over to the window. After looking back one more time. she tosses the backpack through the opening and climbs out. CUT TO: EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT Elle closes the door behind her. She checks her watch and adorns a worried look. She wraps her jacket around herself, adjusts her purse, and kisses the large cross around her neck. CUT TO: EXT. SUNLIGHT HOTEL - NIGHT Faith crashes into a dumpster. Dark Man goes on the offensive and leaps at Faith who gets out of the way. They exchange numerous blows until Faith elbows Dark Man in the chest, stunning him. Faith hammers Dark Man with an assortment of punches, a kick to the stomach, and finally an uppercut. Dark Man hits the ground but sweeps out Faith's legs sending her down with him. He hits with her with a couple of forearms. The battle continues as a messy rumble on the ground. Faith uses her knees to push Dark Man away. He hops to his feet and she does the same. DARK MAN You're making a mistake. Faith's eyes burn with rage. She attacks him in an all-out assault. They have a lengthy engagement that culminates in Dark Man tossing Faith onto the windshield of a car. Dark Man jogs towards the recovering Faith and hits the sky. Faith rolls off the hood a moment before Dark Man lands on it. Dark Man wastes no time in jumping off the hood and landing a boot to Faith's head. Faith positions her right foot in between Dark Man's legs and delivers a low blow causing Dark Man to collapse in ungodly pain. Faith puffs for air and recuperates for a moment. Dark Man lies in agony. Faith reaches into her boot and pulls our her switchblade. Dark Man reacts with a swift kick knocking it out of her hand. Faith moves to jump on him but Dark man resists. He grabs her head and bangs it against the car. He flips her over and brings her down onto the pavement hard. He scrambles to his feet and prepares for another attack, but appears to run into a barrier. He tries walking again, but finds resistance again. She slams his fist forwards, to the side, backwards and hits some kind of invisible wall. Faith gets up and watches wide-eyed. VOICE (OS) I rationalized that you might want just a teeny bit of assistance. Faith becomes white as a ghost. She slowly turns around and finds MAYOR WILKINS smiling. MAYOR I missed you so much Faith. But you already knew that. Faith is speechless. END ACT THREE |
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