| ACT FOUR FADE IN EXT. HOPE CEMETERY - NIGHT Buffy wanders around until discovering Faith sleeping against Joyce's headstone. Buffy stops to take in the sight--the myriad of emotions playing on her face. She deliberately makes her way to Faith and crouches down next to her. She nudges Faith who stirs. BUFFY Faith--sweetness--wake up. FAITH Nooo...wanna stay. BUFFY That thrills me to no end Faith, but it's too dangerous nodding off out here. FAITH Your mom's protectin' me. BUFFY That's not surprising--she loved you. FAITH B, I'm so exhausted. BUFFY I know. I got it covered. Buffy caresses Faith's tear-stained cheeks, gazing lovingly at her the whole time. She takes Faith in her arms and picks her up. Buffy stands and begins the trek home. CUT TO: INT. CHURCH - NIGHT More candlelight. No organ. Demonized Sister Christian props up a cross in the front. Strapped to the cross is the living Altar Boy, barely breathing with a marking carved into his chest. The symbol is a vertical line intersecting with a horizontal one, and two diagonal lines connected to the middle forming a "V". From the office, there's a blood- curdling SCREAM. IN THE OFFICE Father Oliveira has Elle strapped to the cross on her front. He uses a bowie knife to carve the same symbol into Elle's back, only with the diagonal lines on the bottom half forming an upside down "V". Elle CRIES OUT constantly. CUT TO: INT. BUFFY'S BEDROOM - MORNING Faith abruptly wakes up. She searches the room and is sedated by the sight of Buffy watching her from the window. FAITH Enjoy the show? BUFFY Four stars. A must-see...every night. FAITH (shyly) Helluva review. Damn I'm good. BUFFY Like you said: when you're good, you're still the best. FAITH Better than the rest--exact quote. BUFFY Paraphrasing--no one should be permitted to be mentioned in the same sentence as you. Incomparable. FAITH Ya gotta power down the praise machine. Buffy strides over to the bed and gets on. Faith sits up to face her. BUFFY No. FAITH Blanket rejection--how 'bout elaboratin'. BUFFY I will compliment you for as long as my mouth can move and the vibrations of my vocal chords produce the sound of my voice. If that sits poorly with you...TOUGH. FAITH Okay. BUFFY Don't leave the house without me accompanying you. While you are totally aware of your situation and thus can mount a sterling defense on the street, it's still too risky. I'm not gambling with my special lady's life. FAITH You really are a better heroine than the drug. Listenin' to you is addictive. (beat) I'll stick--don't worry. BUFFY Ain't happenin'. Worrying about you is addictive. Faith and Buffy smile vibrantly. Faith leans over and pinches Buffy. BUFFY Ow. Bitch. FAITH Sorry--makin' sure I'm awake. CUT TO: INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH, CLASSROOM - DAY Dawn boredly pays little attention to the TEACHER's DRONING. She alternates between listening and reading the ancient book in front of her. She peers over at an empty desk. Dawn's both suspicious and upset. CUT TO: INT. SUMMERS HOUSE - DAY Buffy and Faith sit on the stairs. BUFFY Regional bias. Has to be. FAITH But everything's supposed to be a shinin' star in sunny California. BUFFY Unpredictability takes precedence in this state. FAITH Forces of evil battlin' heaven's platoon, right here in the entertainment capital of the world! Be glad you were born in the United States--imagine doin' this in...France. Buffy mock shivers. Faith CHUCKLES. BUFFY Wouldn't mind airmailing them the Parcheesy demon. FAITH Wouldn't mind seein' you in a freedom braid. BUFFY Renaming hairstyles now? Miss anti-feminine female. FAITH Just doin' my part as a patriot. BUFFY This is fun. Darn Giles--limey bastard. FAITH Atta girl. I'm rubbin' off on ya. BUFFY I can think of some other way you can rub me. Faith's a deer-in-the-headlights on that one. Buffy GIGGLES incessantly. She stops and Faith comes to her senses when the door opens and Giles pokes in. GILES Buffy, shall we? BUFFY We shall. I'll be right out. GILES Naturally. (to Faith) Faith, you look smashing. FAITH (wryly) That British for normal? Giles smiles and shuts the door. BUFFY So, I gotta go. FAITH Be a hero. BUFFY No mischief out of you. FAITH Drat! My dastardly plans have been foiled once again! Buffy jerks her head, undecided of her next action...but she goes for it. She kisses Faith on the cheek. Faith's content with that. Buffy's lips linger then release, but Buffy's head doesn't move away. Instead, she raises her hand to Faith's chin and turns Faith's face to her own. This time, Buffy doesn't hesitate to close the gap between their lips. The kiss is soft and light, yet memorably mind- blowing. Buffy disengages and stands off the steps. Faith, eyes still shut, almost tips over leaning forward wanting more. She reconnects with reality and sees Buffy bend down and pinch her. Faith SQUEAKS. BUFFY Making sure you're awake. Faith's grateful and clearly relieved. BUFFY I'll see you soon. Why don't you take a stab at cooking dinner? Faith nods enthusiastically. Buffy smiles like a goof, opens the door, and exits backwards so she can eyeball Faith the whole time. The door finally closes--Buffy's gone-- Faith's delirious. FAITH (skyward) If that's a sign of things to come, please--please come down here so I can lick ya! CUT TO: EXT. DEAN HOUSE - DAY Dawn BANGS on the door. DAWN (shouting) Elle. Elle, open up please. I have to know you're all right, so come out if you're here. No answer. Dawn is off-the-wall freaking. CUT TO: INT. SEWER - NIGHT Buffy and Giles scower the black passage. BUFFY I'd rather be home cozying up with Fa--Fox News. Boy that Bill O'Reilley--an opinionated bazooka. GILES Splendid way of putting it. I must admit being partial to Laurie Dhue--she's quite enchanting. BUFFY Miles beyond Greta Van Susteren. (beat) This strikes me as pointless and blech since we eliminated the thing. GILES The assigned reading would have informed you the Pareesy travel in pairs. BUFFY Your mistake was giving assigned reading to a superhero with a complete disregard for the subject in her school days. Plus, pairs? What are they, figure skaters? Don't these gross garbage goofs hit the surface? CUT TO: INT. SUMMERS HOUSE - NIGHT Faith has a pot filled with water boiling on the stove. She tosses a bunch of spaghetti sticks in. FAITH That it? So, like, the boilin' water tag-teamin' with the steam softens the spaghetti...and now I just watch? Cookin's a fuckin' spectator sport. Faith settles in for extended spectating when Dawn and Anya, backpacks in hand, come in. DAWN Pack some weapons and let's go. FAITH Excuse you? DAWN Elle's a hostage and God knows what else at St. Cecilia's church. They got two other kids--we're launching a rescue mission. ANYA Which could also be a save-the- world mission...either way, it's a distant second to a warm bath and a glass of vintage Portuguese wine. FAITH Sorry D. While I feel a kinda pride you're taking the initiative here and all, I ain't movin'. DAWN What? Bullshit! You're coming! This is my best friend and she could die! ANYA Are you cooking? FAITH I'm not supposed to leave the house. I promised Buffy. Anyway, I gotta keep on eye on the pasta--if it stays in too long, the sticks might evaporate or dissolve from the steam. ANYA Oh of course it's BUFFY! Everyone has a girlfriend except me now! Xander's got a girlfriend, Willow's got a girlfriend, Buffy and Faith are each other's girlfriends, even Dawn has a girlfriend! DAWN Huh? What was that? ANYA Is there something wrong with me? FAITH Didn't you tell me to go for it with her? ANYA Well, yeah, I just thought you'd sew some more Anya-oats before taking the plunge. DAWN Hold up! (to Faith) YOU and--and--Bu--Bu--Buf... (to Anya) ...and I, uh, transparent... Dawn rotates attention between Faith and Anya and her own befuddlement. DAWN This is SO the worst fucking timing! Dawn huffs out of the kitchen. ANYA I love Xander. Congratulations on the Fuffy. Anya playfully punches Faith on the shoulder stinging Faith. ANYA Don't EAT too much. Faith's eyebrows quirk. Anya leaves. Moments later, the door is heard OPENING and CLOSING. Faith returns to the pasta, but the doorbell RINGS. Faith heads out into the living room and to the door. As she opens it: FAITH No An--you're not invited to EAT with us. Faith opens the door completely to find the other PAREESY on the doorstep. Faith's eyes bulge and she tries to slam the door shut, but the Pareesy's claw obstructs the door and it slings back into Faith causing her to hit the floor. Faith wriggles to her feet and races into the dining room as the Pareesy chases. Faith and the Pareesy stand off on opposite ends of the table. Faith deeks one way, then the other. The Pareesy's not fooled and sends the table crashing away-- a development that dishevels Faith. The Pareesy stalks towards Faith, mammoth arms extended, but Faith escapes with a tuck-and-roll. She runs out of the dining room, through the living room, and into the kitchen--the Pareesy hot on her trail. Faith's genuinely afraid and can only muster the sensibility to throw any object she can get her hands on at the Pareesy. They have little to no effect, except for the scalding hot water that Faith slings along with the pot, which elicits a ROAR from the Pareesy. Faith looks for an exit plan, and makes a bee-line for the backdoor, but stops short of leaving. She turns back and stares coldly at the Pareesy before jogging to and hopping on the table, using it as a springboard to jump in the air, executing a hand-landing onto the counter and flipping into the archway distancing herself from the Pareesy, but not for too long as the Pareesy chases her as she speeds to the stairs. Faith stumbles up the steps, the Pareesy getting a claw on one of her feet. She kicks the Pareesy in the head several times, then stomps on his claw SNAPPING a nail INJURING the Pareesy. That gives Faith a chance to run up and into Buffy's room. She hurriedly pushes the dresser and desk in front of the door, immediately illiciting a SLAM from the Pareesy on the other side. Faith curls up into a ball, composing herself as best she can--which isn't much. CUT TO: INT. CHURCH - NIGHT Demonized Sister Christian at the ORGAN. Torches blare in the corners. The crosses with Elle and the Altar Boy are side-by-side. Demonized Father Oliveira presides over the ceremony at the podium. FATHER OLIVEIRA We are gathered here, Gods of all realms laying witness to this grandest of occasions, as the ascension into the seventh circle of Uvomperia commences its final stage. This is truly a moment exemplifying glory at its most glorious...nullifying millennia of suffering in the crossroads of Drookome by the residents of the astral plain known as Earth and all her neighbors and allies. The ORGAN stops. Father Oliveira walks over to Elle and Altar Boy. FATHER OLIVEIRA It is our time--destiny--rebirth into lucrative optimism; unparalleled domination; unbridled affluence. Sister Christian appears and joins Father Oliveira. They hold hands and raise their free ones. FATHER OLIVEIRA Sister, we gear ourselves for a future existence that will last an eternity. SISTER CHRISTIAN And then some. Father Oliveira and Sister Christian place their free hands on the symbols carved into the flesh. A STORM's brewing indoors. THUNDER and LIGHTNING. They CHANT: BOTH Emperors of darkness, purveyors of enchantment, heed us our calls for malevolent entrance--light, fire, blowing winds of pandemonium-- elevate us! Take us! Make us! Never BREAK-- They're interrupted by the SHATTERING of the chains on the doors and the doors flying open. bDawn marches in with Anya in tow. Dawn is pissed--the demonizers are pissing their pants. CUT TO: EXT. STREET - NIGHT Buffy and Giles do double-time down the street. BUFFY Have I told you lately that you suck? GILES Yes. It provides warmth and indigestion every time I hear it. BUFFY When this is over, and Faith is ALIVE and still KICKING ass, I'm gonna feed her boots your ass. Send us into the friggin' sewer, lurching into a set-up of putrid proportions putting my Faith in grave danger! You and me are talking...oh we are sooo talking. GILES Happy days are here again. Buffy and Giles make the turn onto Revello and don't get far before encountering... BUFFY Spike. There's Spike--holding port with his cocky grin and cigarette. He flips the cigarette away. SPIKE Hello luv. I'd let you by, but my friend isn't quite finished redecorating. BUFFY I will let you go back to Drubitch in tact if your bony ass wisens up and avoids a confrontation. SPIKE Doesn't work that way. That backroom slut has to pay for slittin' Dru. I'm within my rights--just like you want me blowin' in the wind for messin' with your woman. BUFFY What's happened to you? SPIKE I woke up from my worst nightmare-- actin' as your lovesick puppy and doin' goody-goody bullshit at your behest. I'll die for my woman--and this smile on my face is 'cause YOU--WILL--TOO. Know what they say: you can't go home again. Buffy engages Spike in a furious exchange. Giles takes off for the house, but two HENCHVAMPS leap onto the scene. Giles backsteps and prepares for a fight. CUT TO: INT. CHURCH - NIGHT Dawn knees Father Oliveira in the gut and follows with an uppercut. She's relentless in her attack, the Father unable to mount much of a defense until baring his shark teeth and biting Dawn's shoulder. Dawn CRIES OUT and the Father kicks her off him. Anya has an aluminum bat and maneuvers around Sister Christian. Anya keeps her distance, hesitant to fight. ANYA I believe in a forum of discussion to weed out disagreements. Sister Christian HISSES and scares Anya shitless with her jaws-like incisors. Anya LAUGHS nervously and wildly swings the bat at Sister Christian who blocks Anya's shots. Anya elbows Sister Christian in the chest, stunning her, but Sister Christian punches Anya in the face. They have a superior exchange, Anya doing a helluva job fighting Sister Christian off. Sister Christian attempts a punch, but Anya ducks and drives the bat-head into her stomach. Anya scurries off, hopping onto a pew and jumping over the back of it onto the next pew. She does it again, Sister Christian following suit--another and another and another and...Anya's toe scrapes the pew and she hits the next one hard and then lands on the floor out of sight. Sister Christian smiles maniacally and jumps one then the next then the next...and when she leans over to look at Anya, the bat flies into Sister Christian's face. Father Oliveira hits Dawn several times, causing her head to lull. She's losing it and Father Oliveira takes advantage, picking Dawn up and heaving her into the gallery. He walks to Elle, pulls her head back, and prepares to take a big bite out of her exposed neck. But before he can, he YELLS PAINFULLY--probably from the knife sticking out the back of his own neck. He falls to his knees and suddenly convulses until a RED SPIRIT materializes from his body. The body collapses, but the Red Spirit hovers. Dawn strides purposefully into the aisle, turning to Anya. DAWN Anya--do it! Anya nods, pulls out her own knife, and jams it in the same spot as the other. Sister Christian goes through the same song and dance and another RED SPIRIT appears. Both Spirits hover around and MOCK Dawn and Anya. DAWN Restoration solidification maximus. The Spirits aren't thrilled as they become physically solid figures. Anya bops the head off hers with the bat and Dawn charges the other Red Spirit and shoves a stake through its eye, killing it. Anya and Dawn pull the knives out of the Father and Sister, checking for life signs. ANYA Still beating and breathing. DAWN Mine too. All hail research! ELLE! Dawn shoots over to Elle and peels her off the cross. DAWN (soothing) Oh God baby, please be all right. ELLE (groaning) Dawn? DAWN Yeah, it's me, I'm here and you're safe. Elle breaks down into tears and heavy SOBS. Dawn holds her tighter. DAWN I know--it's okay. Shh. CUT TO: INT. BUFFY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT The door is beginning to give from the POUNDING. Faith crawls over to the weapons chest and opens it up--empty except for a note. FAITH (reading) Ha ha. Got ya. Told you my weapons are MY weapons and this'll teach you to ASK before taking someone else's possessions. With the sincerest affection, Buffy. (beat) MOTHERFUCKER! Great fuckin' time to be pullin' this prank PSA bullshit B! She discards the note and trashes the room in her search for any useful weapon. She hits the pillows knocking Buffy's diary to the floor, incidentally opening to the last entry. Faith peers under the bed--nothing but stuffed animals. Finally, Faith looks out and spots the diary just as the dresser skids further from the door and the desk is on the verge of following suit. Faith takes a comprehensive look at the diary and silently reads it, shocked wonder invading her face--and then she comes to the "I LO" part. Despite it being incomplete, she knows. There's a surge in her--she gets up as the Pareesy breaks through and goes for her. Faith puts up a whale of a defense. getting in the first shot and a flurry of others. The blows cause a SQUISHY sound, but still hurt it. Faith hits it with all she has, but the Pareesy counters with a backhand sending her into the wall and almost out the window. Faith hangs half out, but manages to boot the Pareesy when it approaches and she goes on a rabid assault, beating the thing into submission. The Pareesy can only swipe at Faith with its claws, but Faith ducks them with ease. She pounds on the Pareesy with vigor and ecstasy, "jelly" and goo and other mushy crap flying off the demon as it ceases to move more and more with every one of Faith's brutal blows. CUT TO: EXT. STREET - NIGHT Spike's head SMASHES through a car window. Buffy drop-kicks his ass. SPIKE Bloody hell! Talk about unsportsmanlike conduct! Buffy pulls Spike out of the window. BUFFY What you just said--blah blah blah, I'm pussy-fruit. SPIKE Dru was always a better lay than you. BUFFY What a coincidence--my hand is a better lay than you. See--weren't meant to be together. SPIKE Sure we were--in hell whoopin' the stones out of each other. Buffy backhands Spike and the two get into it rough. Giles does more than hold his own against the Henchvamps. He swipes at them with a battle-ax, connecting with the broad side of it. He drops down and chops off the legs of one of the vamps and then hops up and swings at the head of the other vamp, but misses. The legless vamp WRITHES in pain, as the other vamp gains hold of Giles' throat. The vamps loses all color and turns to dust a moment later. Once the dust settles, Giles is revealed to be holding a stake in his hand. He uses it again to shut the legless vamp's pathetic PLEAS. Spike jukes away from Buffy's shots and lands a spin-kick of his own. Giles stands and motions to join the fight. Spike notices, elbows Buffy, and sends her crashing into Giles. GILES I suppose this is my fault. BUFFY All together now... BOTH Wise-ass. GILES There are worse things to be. Buffy gets off Giles and helps him up. Spike's vanished. Buffy panics. BUFFY FAITH! CUT TO: INT. SUMMERS HOUSE - MINUTES LATER Buffy races through the door and up the stairs into her room where the Pareesy lies dead and depleted of his "jelly". Faith relaxes on the floor against the bed. Buffy leaps on her, showering her with kisses. BUFFY FAITH! Sweetness, are you okay? God I missed you and was so scared I'd lose you. Buffy kisses Faith full on the lips for an extended period of time. When they break apart... BUFFY From now on, safe haven is Giles' place--NOTHING ever happens there! FAITH Whatever you say. I didn't get to finish dinner. BUFFY (seriously) God you're sexy. Buffy kisses Faith again. They don't notice Giles in the doorway, or the tender and understanding smile playing on his lips. He leaves them to their moment. CUT TO: INT. GILES' HOUSE - DAY Giles hands Buffy a drink. GILES How is Faith progressing? BUFFY Nascar-fast. She's pure adrenaline. GILES Killing that Pareesy ignited her slayer spirit. People can execute the most stultifying feats when facing fatal adversity. BUFFY She's dazzling. GILES Simple and satisfying. Are you here as a courtesy or is this substantive? BUFFY Any conclusions on what sidelined Faith? GILES Examining the spell's ingredients and incantation, I fell upon a single theory. BUFFY Which is...? GILES Faith claims she was strictly by- the-book on the execution of the spell, and I believe her. So the problem was caused by one of the ingredients...a Brasogen's toe-- last piece of the puzzle and resulted in stripping a slayer of her powers--no easy task. Too much of a coincidence, especially considering WHERE she caught the demon. That intrigues Buffy. CUT TO: INT. UNDERGROUND, MID-LEVEL OFFICE - DAY The door BUSTS open and in swaggers Buffy with a sack. The Suiter falls out of his seat and fearfully stands up. SUITER I expect a check for that. BUFFY Not necessary. I'll pay you back right now. SUITER Cash? Buffy dips into the sack and pulls out a railroad spike. BUFFY Tears--yours. SUITER Buffy, I know we've never been on good terms... BUFFY This is the first time we've met. SUITER And it's going unbelievably bad... BUFFY For you. SUITER I am a vain creature whose vanity is his greatest asset so this is vexing. BUFFY You never thanked me for killing your bosses. SUITER This is our introductory meeting--a point made by thou. BUFFY Thee. SUITER I was a Nazi. BUFFY Keep talking...now it's a laundry list of reasons to kill you. SUITER Kill...yeah, how many spikes you carrying? BUFFY Eleven. SUITER Doesn't exactly scream "quick and painless". BUFFY Nope. SUITER Sounds more like torture. BUFFY Yep. Admittedly not my style--but aiding and abetting the attempted murder of the woman I love...just the visuals have me shivering. SUITER I'm quivering. BUFFY Adds to the fun. Buffy steps forward a few feet. Suiter uses that moment to make a run for the door, but Buffy cuts him off in a flash and traps him against the wall. She punches him. BUFFY You won't get a shred of mercy from me by resisting. SUITER It wasn't my idea! I was just the middle guy! Spike hired me! BUFFY No fucking duh! Why do you think I'm using railroad spikes you dolt? SUITER Right...kinda hard to think straight when your life is on the line. BUFFY Takes practice. Buffy punches Suiter again, then props up his left arm and rams the spike through his elbow area. Cue HORRIFYING SCREAM. BUFFY How much did he pay you? Suiter doesn't answer--more out of headsplitting pain than stubbornness. BUFFY Come on buddy--stay with me. How much? SUITER One thousand. BUFFY A grand? To sell out my sweetness... Buffy grabs another spike, props up Suiter's right arm and slams it through his right elbow. More SCREAMING. Blood seeps from the wounds. BUFFY Everyone will know--you are the message to be paraded in front of the demon population, so they understand the rules of the game have been wiped from record and replaced by what you symbolize...Buffy the Vampire Slayer is now one ruthlessly vengeful bitch! Buffy jams a spike into his knee. SCREAM. BUFFY Demons will find you here, my calling card clearly displayed so they know who was responsible and they'll remember... Buffy spikes him in the thigh; one in the midsection; another in the shoulder blade. GASPING SCREAMs. BUFFY Embedded in their memory banks for as long as I live, the unconscionable sight of you...every gory detail fresh in their minds 24-7... Spike in the crotch. PAINFUL, SCREECHING ROAR. BUFFY Fuck with my loved ones... (whispering to his ear) ...and you--are--FUCKED. Buffy pulls out the next spike and flips it playfully. She steps a few paces back and gets ready for target practice. BUFFY Don't worry--Spike'll get his--and worse. Your mistake--Faith and I are the chosen TWO. On Buffy as she throws the spike: FADE OUT |
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