| ACT FOUR FADE IN INT. SUMMERS HOUSE - DAY Giles, Willow, Xander, and Anya read books in the living room. Kennedy practices combat moves in the dining room. Buffy and Dino talk in the kitchen. BUFFY Unbelievable. One of those guys was at the first murder scene. One was at Faith's--they laughed...no-- it was more of a cackle. DINO YES! Cackle. Man that pissed me off. BUFFY You know what pisses me off? The fact that we were outsmarted by a bunch of fake homeless guys that may or may not be demons and one definite demoness who goes above and beyond the call of evil duty to piss me off almost as a challenge to feed her sadomasochistic tendencies. DINO Yeah...there are easier, more socially acceptable ways to do that. Last year, I had some fun with a girl who asked me to put a saddle on her and a carrot in her mouth--treat her like a horse. BUFFY That's socially acceptable? DINO The way I define it--sure. BUFFY Makes me wonder what your definition of "is" is. Buffy and Dino laugh. BUFFY Did you do a lot of research back in New York? DINO I read a lot when I was a kid. Not bad in the inherent knowledge department either. Probably a genetic thing. Dad was one hell of a guy. BUFFY Reading's never been a virtue of mine. Wasn't born knowledgeable. Familial genetics need not apply. I HATE researching. DINO We're the muscle--they're the brains. They find out what those relics could be used for, we go and do our thing and then come back here and have sex. BUFFY I'm already taken--by my hand. She's territorial. DINO Can I watch? Buffy thinks it over--not seriously. BUFFY Nah. Maybe next time. DINO I'm holdin' ya to that. I'll go check out the progress report. Buffy smiles and nods. Dino exits as Faith enters. FAITH Makin' nice with the new guy? BUFFY Not in the way you might. Buffy instantly regrets that. BUFFY I didn't-- FAITH --You did. It's okay. I'm a slut. BUFFY No. Don't even think that. I don't. FAITH Thanks for lyin' to spare my feelins...it ain't necessary. BUFFY You know, for someone with so much confidence, you think so little of yourself. FAITH And for someone so devoted to bein' a goody-goody, you sure know how to lie. BUFFY Idiot is the word that comes to mind right now. FAITH Aww, thanks B, how sweet. BUFFY Why are you like that? FAITH How else should I act? I got no friggin' idea what to do around you to keep you on my side. One minute, we're fightin' and then it's all great and then you're pissed at me for just bein' me and I...I never had a grasp of this relationship thing--on any level. I don't think I can even be a good enemy. BUFFY Trust me--you're a fantastic rival--positively and negatively speaking. My emotions have been wiggy the last couple of weeks. You've been on the wrong end of hurricane Buffy. And with the situation we're in now--and the possibility that Spike may have gone bad again... FAITH And the fact that you screwed him and this is a major roadblock in you two gettin' back together... BUFFY That's not what I want. FAITH It's all right. Makes sense--love can make you do stupid things, stir up weird feelins--or so I've heard from TV and stuff. BUFFY (dead serious) I don't love him. Never him. He knows that--I know that--I hope you do too. Faith stares deeply at Buffy. FAITH I'm glad I ain't Spike. BUFFY Perfect reminder... CUT TO: INT. CRYPT - NIGHT Spike lounges on a chair as Buffy walks in. BUFFY I take it you're no longer a tortured soul. SPIKE Your powers of perception are dazzling. That a slayer gift? BUFFY Where's Dru? SPIKE Dru? Drusilla? MY Drusilla? I mean, my ex Drusilla since we're not together. She back in town? Ain't that a spanker. She causin' trouble again? (laughing) Ahh, that Dru. Gotta love her. BUFFY Last time, you told her to take a hike. SPIKE Last time, I had a reason. Last time, I was in love with you and had to prove it. Last time, I felt the urge and desire to beat up evil. Last time...I had no competition. Last time, you said you didn't want me and you showed it. Things change. Wasn't more than a year after shuttin' that door on me that you willingly put me inside you. BUFFY Lust gets you nowhere if you feel nothing else. You love me, but I don't love you--that doesn't undermine how GOOD you are. SPIKE I've been on the losing end of-- whatever this is between us. I remember having that chip in my head and wanting to die--and trying. 'Cause I couldn't be bad. (MORE) SPIKE (CONT'D) As much as you want to believe--as much as I do--that this soul came from my conscience--my heart where deep down I am as good a person with loads of humanity as you or your friends...believe, but it's not true. I know and accept it. I traveled the globe for YOU--my love for YOU--and at this moment I feel better than I have in years and it's got nothing to do with YOU. I'm no Angel retread--piss on the worthless CHAMPION. I'm done being your whipping boy. I'm sick of bowing at your presence and groveling at your feet. BUFFY Finished with the forces of good...and we're finished altogether. SPIKE We gonna throw down now? BUFFY No. Unfortunately, we will eventually. SPIKE The way it's supposed to be. BUFFY THAT I don't believe. Spike doesn't remark. They stare for a moment. Buffy turns and walks out. CUT TO: INT. SUMMERS HOUSE - DAY In the living room, Giles and Willow ARGUE. Xander and Anya relax on the couch. Kennedy and Dino stand off to the side. Buffy walks in and over to Faith. BUFFY What's this about? FAITH Heated discussion over the ritual Spike and Dru are usin'. BUFFY One thinks it is and one doesn't? FAITH Nope. She thinks it's one--he thinks it's another. Seriously. One situation, two rituals--I love it. Giles is hot when he's arguing. So is Red. BUFFY I'll forget and remember that. Faith doesn't quite understand that. BUFFY (screaming) Shut up. Giles and Willow get quiet. BUFFY Disagreement? Do tell. GILES WILLOW I am saying Spike and Giles doesn't understand Drusilla have a Dakosta we've got a Zaborias ritual ceremony planned that will to deal with, easily one of combine and enhance their the worst things that could powers through a simulated happen to Sunnydale what wedding of sorts, a with the sun being blocked conclusion supported by the out and all and it only facts both past and present involves a fire, and yet unimaginable to Miss energetically pure hair, and Stubborn Shortsightedness. an abandoned house. Everyone stares. BUFFY Let's utilize a moment to wipe from memory the fact that Giles called Willow Miss Stubborn Shortsightedness. Truly a testament to how passionately both feel about their theories. I appreciate your hard work, but how can both rituals be possibly correct? Giles? GILES It seems the two share several of the same ingredients and instructions. BUFFY What's the most important similarity? The one that genuinely helps us. Willow? WILLOW Considering how generally simple the rituals are, I'd say the most specific is requiring an abandoned house--one unoccupied by a human for at least a quarter century. BUFFY So then the ritual itself is immaterial. Our worry is location. Am I right? Giles and Willow look at each other, then at Buffy and nod. BUFFY Problem solved. I know exactly where they're headed. And THAT'S why I'm the leader. FAITH I thought it was because everyone's afraid of a person who WANTS to be called Buffy. Faith hightails it out of there as Buffy chases her. CUT TO: EXT. MANSION - NIGHT Establish. The Bums and Hobos line up in front. CUT TO: INT. MANSION - NIGHT A dozen small statues form a circle that Spike and Drusilla stand in the middle of. Spike holds one of Drusilla's hands as she tosses an eyeball into the roaring fireplace. DRUSILLA Give us the power we so strongly desire; in darkness and death; of energy and FIRE. Drusilla tosses the portion of Dawn's hair into the fireplace. The fire explodes and shoots out connecting with each of the statues. A ring of fire is now in place. DRUSILLA And now, my love, shall we proceed to our destiny--everlasting unity? SPIKE Just give me the word gorgeous. DRUSILLA I never stopped loving you Spike. SPIKE Yes you did...but I don't mind. I stopped loving you too. Drusilla leans into Spike, their lips almost touching. DRUSILLA This moment is what we were reborn for. SPIKE Let's do it then. Spike and Drusilla shut their eyes and kiss. The burning statues erupt like fireworks. After a few moments, Drusilla's eyes shoot open, distress evident. She abruptly breaks the kiss causing the statues' fire to extinguish. Drusilla stumbles backwards as Spike watches flustered. SPIKE What's wrong? Why stop? DRUSILLA (horrified) You have materialized goodness in you. Human spirit. SPIKE What...oh, no no no...don't tell me that's a problem? DRUSILLA What have they done to you? SPIKE More what I did to myself. It's just a bloody soul--still a vampire. Drusilla lets out a glass-shattering SCREAM. Spike flinches and covers his ears CUT TO: INT. SUMMERS HOUSE, DAWN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Dawn and Elle sit on the floor, stretched out against the bed. "Alone Together" by The Strokes plays in the background. DAWN Willow fixed the Buffybot and she replaced the real Buffy--in a way. ELLE Physically she was here, but that's all. DAWN Bullseye. On the bright side, Buffybot was more pleasant and tons more tolerable than the real thing. ELLE You think I should have a Dinobot made? DAWN How would your brother take it? ELLE Spend a minute staring--two testing its agility and defense skills--and the next two and a half hours watching "Die Hard" with him. So to answer my own question: NO. A monumentally monumental NO. Silence. DAWN They're gonna be fine. ELLE Naturally. Life sucks, but great things have a funny way of showing up in the worst places--the absolute sinkholes of circumstance. DAWN Spike and Dru hooked up again and are up to something evil which is bad...but the good guys will triumph and possibly rid the world of Dru-bitch forever. And I'm here. ELLE Hey, there's no shame in letting the pros do the job. I have an entire lack of heroism that would be impressive if it weren't so disheartening. DAWN You saved me. ELLE An aberration. Still my pleasure. DAWN I'm a wimp...always on Buffy's ass about being a soldier, doing battle because I can fight and I've been scared off by ONE event. ELLE NEAR FATAL event. Don't forget those first two words. DAWN They ALMOST die every week. ELLE And you'll be back to bugging your sister to let you on the front lines in a few days. I know what you can do--everyone does. We all know how brave you are. Stop kicking yourself for being human. And quit the self-loathing because technically you weren't BORN human--or at all. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say Dawn Summers is better than great just the way she is. Now shut up! I wanna hear the song. Dawn complies happily. She rests her head on Elle's shoulder. CUT TO: INT. MANSION - NIGHT Drusilla continues to SCREAM in the midst of SOBBING. Spike tries to calm her down. SPIKE Dru, quit it. It's okay. We can still be together--just no blasted wedding rejoinment thing or whatever this is. DRUSILLA (desperately) You're damaged. My beautiful Spike's been destroyed. SPIKE I'm still here...hell, I've acted like my old self since you came back--stupid soul doesn't even register anymore. DRUSILLA How could this happen? BUFFY (OS) Go ahead Spoike--storytell away. Spike and Dru look up to find Buffy in the doorway. FAITH (OS) Yeah--please? Still haven't heard it yet. Spike and Dru this time spin and see Faith enter through the gazebo. SPIKE You're late. Afraid of the Big Bad? BUFFY I don't know--maybe. Tell me where he is and I'll get back to you. SPIKE I missed beatin' you down with a purpose. BUFFY I can't wait to beat you and not feel bad about it tomorrow. Spike SNARLS and stomps over to Buffy who goes on the offensive and hits Spike with a spin-kick. They get into it blisteringly. Faith races at Drusilla. Drusilla sees Faith coming and looks at the fireplace. DRUSILLA Animus Malaya. The fire blasts out, knocking Faith to the ground. Buffy throws Spike against the wall and connects with a left-right combo, but Spike blocks Buffy's next shot and lands a knee to the gut. He sends her soaring into the air with a vicious uppercut. Faith recovers and searches the room for Drusilla. She's vanished. Faith looks around and exits through the gazebo. Buffy and Spike continue their slamfest trading shot after shot. CUT TO: EXT. MANSION - CONTINUOUS Faith races out of the mansion and dropkicks one of the Bums. Dino, Xander, Giles, Kennedy, Willow, and Anya fight with waves of Bums and Hobos. Dino exchanges blows with a couple of the Hobos as another one leaps onto his back. There's a lot of CACKLING throughout. Anya swings an aluminum bat around. Kennedy aggressively--and excitedly-- engages as many as she can find. Giles and Xander double- team a bunch of the Hobos while Willow roams the battlefield firing magic bolts. Faith scans the area. Her eyes spot something in the distance. Close on an open manhole. CUT TO: INT. SEWER - CONTINUOUS Faith drops into the shallow water in the darkened tunnel. She cautiously takes a few steps searching and listening. Close on Faith as she abruptly spins around. Appearing behind her is Drusilla. Pull back as Drusilla smiles wickedly and vamps out. Faith snaps her head back and nails Drusilla in the face hard. Faith spins and kicks Drusilla several times and lands more blows. FAITH This time, it ain't easy. Faith tries to land a punch but Drusilla snatches Faith's hand in hers and twists Faith's arm. Drusilla punches Faith and throws her into the wall. Drusilla punches and kicks Faith in the back over and over and slams her head into the wall hard enough to crack the cement. Drusilla throws Faith into the opposite wall. Faith slumps to the ground. On Drusilla as she fixes her outfit. Faith leaps into the frame and collides with Drusilla. Faith lands several shots and shoves Drusilla back into the wall a couple of times before wailing on her. Drusilla fights back in a rapid-fire exchange. CUT TO: INT. MANSION - NIGHT Spike soars through the air, hits the floor, and skids almost into the fireplace. He YELPS and scrambles away. Buffy kicks him. BUFFY Foolish and blind. She kicks him again. BUFFY You--are--different. No doubt. She kicks him again. He barely gets himself to sit. BUFFY You brought this on yourself. SPIKE Damn right. If you think I regret it for a second, then that dumb blonde stereotype does apply to slayers. BUFFY It's almost tragic...almost. Buffy reaches behind her and pulls out a stake. SPIKE Sassy uberbitch--talkin' and stakin' don't mix. BUFFY Like a slayer and vampire as lovers. Spike smirks and spins attempting a sweep, but Buffy jumps avoiding the move. In mid-air, Buffy tries a kick of her own, but Spike catches her foot and tosses her away. Buffy loses the stake. She gets up just as Spike attacks her. They exchange blow after blow after blow. Buffy lands a kick to the head. Spike counters with an elbow and a knee. Buffy connects with a backhand. Spike gets her with a boot to the kidney. Another round of shots goes by until Spike ducks a punch and nails Buffy with a powerful uppercut. Buffy hits the ground on her knees. Spike retrieves the stake. As Buffy gets to her feet, Spike slides down low and hammers Buffy's right knee with the shaft of the stake. Buffy CRIES OUT and falls. Spike hits her twice. Buffy lies on her back as Spike straddles her. He vamps out. SPIKE Long time coming. Number four. Spike exposes Buffy's neck and goes in to bite. Buffy WHIMPERS loudly. Spike halts. He inches closer again, but stops and barely punctures flesh. He breathes harder and harder. He GROWLS, shuts his eyes, and vigorously shakes his head. He takes a long look at Buffy and ROARS before getting up off of her. He drives his foot down on to her right knee. Buffy YELLS painfully. Spike, with stake in hand, walks away. CUT TO: INT. SEWER - NIGHT Faith picks Drusilla up. She slams Drusilla's back down on her knee causing a CRUNCHING sound. Faith punches Drusilla repeatedly. Drusilla releases her nails and swipes at Faith. Faith backs off enough so that only her shirt gets sliced. Faith stomps on Drusilla's hand and buries her knee into Drusilla's back. Faith grabs Drusilla's head and slams it against the ground a few times. Faith gets on one knee and lifts Drusilla's head up, pulling it straight back. Faith reaches down and pulls out her knife. She releases the blade and positions it at Drusilla's throat. FAITH Fast or slow--no matter what--this is gonna fuckin' hurt. Faith drives the blade into Drusilla's neck and slashes across about an inch. On Faith as a POUNDING sound is heard and she drops unconscious into the water--on her front. Pull back to reveal Spike holding the stake with the butt end showing. He drops the stake and picks Drusilla up, covering her bleeding neck with his hand, and carries her off through the tunnel. Faith lies motionless in the water. CUT TO: EXT. MANSION - NIGHT Dino rips an arm off one of the Bums and beats the crap out of him with it. He uses it to hammer another. The Bums and Hobos jump on the gang and bite and claw at them. It's scrappy and ugly. Giles whacks some of the Bums with a collapsed street sign. Xander slices into two with a sword. Kennedy breaks one's neck and flings another one. Bad guy bodies are everywhere. The gang kills Bums and Hobos furiously. Anya swings her bat hard enough to lop off a Hobo's head. Willow decimates a trio of Bums with a magic blast. Kennedy picks up a Bum and impales him on a sharp fence-post. Dino literally tears apart the last one limb from limb. The gang surveys the bloody, messy scene. Everyone CACKLES at the massacred remains of the Bums and Hobos. High-fives are exchanged. Xander looks around. XANDER Where's our super girls? CUT TO: INT. SEWER - NIGHT Buffy limps through the tunnel and hurriedly pulls Faith out of the water. BUFFY (panicky) Faith, oh God oh God--don't worry-- I can do this...I can. Never took lessons or anything like that but...I had it done to me. Oh God. Don't die. She won't die. You won't die. She places Faith on her back and moves in to do mouth-to- mouth. As she does, Faith forcefully sputters water out of her mouth and onto Buffy's face. Buffy doesn't appreciate that. Faith coughs roughly. Buffy cradles Faith in her lap. FAITH (groaning) Ugh! Tastes like piss and worms. BUFFY You know that because you've had piss and worms? FAITH Did a whole lotta freaky shit when I was kid. BUFFY I dressed as Cyndi Lauper for Halloween when I was seven. FAITH And that's why you're the leader. Buffy and Faith laugh. Buffy fiddles with Faith's hair, softly caressing her face. BUFFY Can you get up? FAITH Mm hmm. BUFFY Do you want to? Faith takes a moment to think. She gives a slight shake of her head. Buffy keeps up her ministrations. On this peaceful moment: FADE OUT |
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