Buffy The Vampire Slayer

First of all a big thanks to the guys over at the Buffy Cross And Stake board for this and especially to a person with the username DrunkenSpike for telling us he/she got hold of this script. I’ll post it in parts so to possibly make it a bit more tidy as it’s quite large.

Chosen"

INT. CRYPT - NIGHT

BUFFY and ANGEL are still mid-kiss. They break, holding each other.

ANGEL

Well, I guess that qualifies as "happy to see me."

BUFFY

Angel, what are you doing — no. Don’t even. I just wanna

bask.

They look at each other, warm and giddy. The smile is still on Buffy’s

lips as she says:

BUFFY (CONT’D)

Okay. I’m basked. What are you doing here?

ANGEL

Not saving the damsel in distress, that’s for sure.

BUFFY

You know me. Not big with the damsel-ing.

ANGEL

(turning away)

Got your share of distress, though.

BUFFY

And then some. You heard?

Angel retrieves an accordion file from the corner.

ANGEL

I got coverage on the whole thing. Very gripping, needs a

third act.

BUFFY

You have to leave L.A.

ANGEL

It’s the First. Right? The First Evil, The power that tried

to convince me to kill myself...brought me back from hell.

BUFFY

Yeah. It’s gotten a little more ambitious since then. It’s

raising an army.

ANGEL

Well it failed once, and I’m here to tell you that —

CALEB Babe-Ruths a beam (or torch pole, or whatever) into Angel’s head,

sending him

flying across the room. Angel lands face first, skids to a stop.

Buffy looks at Caleb. His eyes are black, dark blood dripping like

tears from them, from

his nose and mouth. His voice is otherworldly, coming from everywhere.

CALEB

You ready to finish this, bitch?

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

INT. CRYPT - NIGHT

Caleb rushes Buffy, swings at her. She blocks with the scythe. His

movements are more

halting, but his strength is greater than ever. She stumbles back.

BUFFY

Okay, how many times do I have to kill you? Ballpark

figure.

CALEB

You understand nothing.

He comes at her again and they engage, parry and blow.

ANGLE: SPIKE watches, not sure what to do.

STILL THEY FIGHT, OVER:

CALEB (CONT’D)

You think you have power over me? I am everything.

Everywhere.

BUFFY

Speech gettin’ old

CALEB

Stupid girl. You’ll never stop me. You don’t have the b —

As he is saying it, she arcs the blade back and swings it up right

between his legs. We

don’t see it connect, of course, but we sure as hell see his expression

when it does.

BUFFY

Well, who does nowadays?

A moment, and she uses both hands to RIP the blade upwards. We see

nothing of the damage,

but some dark blood spatters her face as she completes the scythe’s arc

upward. A moment,

and we hear the body fall to one side of her — then hear the other

half fall to the

other side.

Angel stands, spinning, furious.

ANGEL

Okay, now I’m pissed. Where is he?

Buffy indicates the floor to her left. Angel looks. Then she indicates

the floor to her

right. Angel looks, then back at her, impressed. Buffy smiles

girlishly.

BUFFY

He had to split.

She snorts with dorkish laughter. Angel just shakes his head

reprovingly. She stops after

a moment.

BUFFY (CONT’D)

I’m sorry, I just... ahhhh... I haven’t had a good pun in a

while.

ANGEL

That would still be the case.

BUFFY

Hey! My kill, my wordplay.

ANGEL

(hands up)

I’m out of line.

BUFFY

Well, I’m still glad you’re here.

ANGLE: SPIKE and the Buffy/First

BUFFY/FIRST

Yeah, she needs you real bad.

Spike just clenches his jaw.

As Buffy wipes the blood from her face Angel retrieves his folder,

pulls out some papers,

handing them to Buffy. She scans them.

BUFFY

I’ll have the guys run through this, see if there’s

anything new. Reliable source?

ANGEL

Not remotely.

BUFFY

Well, any port in an apocalypse...

ANGEL

I brought something else as well.

He pulls the AMULET out of his pocket. She stares at it.

BUFFY

I can already tell you, I don’t have anything that goes

with this.

ANGEL

It’s not for you.

BUFFY

Splainy?

ANGEL

I don’t know everything. It’s very powerful and probably

very dangerous. Has a purifying power... or a cleansing

power - or possibly scrubbing bubbles, the translation

is... anyway it bestows strength, worn by the right person.

BUFFY

And the right person is...

ANGEL

Someone ensouled, but stronger than human. A champion. As

in me.

BUFFY

Or me.

ANGEL

No. I don’t know nearly enough about this to risk you

wearing it.

Besides, you’ve already got that cool axe-thing.

BUFFY

So you’re gonna be with me in this.

ANGEL

Shoulder to shoulder. I’m yours.

ANGLE: SPIKE silently retreats.

Buffy looks at Angel warmly.

BUFFY

No.

ANGEL

No, what?

BUFFY

No, you’re not gonna be in this fight.

She starts to leave as he follows, unhappy. Stops her near the

entrance.

ANGEL

Why the hell not?

BUFFY

’Cause I can’t risk you.

ANGEL

You need me in this.

BUFFY

No, I need you gone.

ANGEL

Why?

She thinks a moment, before:

BUFFY

If I lose... if this gets past Sunnydale, then it’s days —

or hours — before the rest of the world goes. I need a

second front, and I need you to run it.

ANGEL

If I’m here we have a better shot at capping this thing.

I’ve read the files...

BUFFY

Well I’ve lived the files and I... if I can’t win this...

it’s my fight, Angel. It might be my last. But it’s mine.

A beat, as he takes it in.

ANGEL

Okay. That’s one reason. What’s the other?

BUFFY

There is no other.

EXT. GRAVEYARD - NIGHT

She exits, gets a few yards away before he appears at the entrance,

calling after her:

ANGEL

Is it Spike?

She stops, turns. Not overly anxious to look him in the eye. He

approaches.

ANGEL (CONT’D)

You’re not telling me something. And... his scent. I

remember it pretty well.

BUFFY

You vampires... did anybody ever tell you that the whole

smelling everybody thing is a little gross?

ANGEL

Is he your boyfriend?

BUFFY

Is that your business?

ANGEL

Are you in love with him?

Beat. Buffy can’t answer.

ANGEL (CONT’D)

Maybe I’m outta line, but this is kind of a curveball for

me. We are talking about Spike here.

BUFFY

It’s different. He’s different. He has a soul now.

ANGEL

Oh. Well.

BUFFY

What?

ANGEL

No, no, that’s great.

(mumbling)

Everyone’s got a soul now.

BUFFY

What are you, jealous?

ANGEL

No, it’s great. One for our side.

BUFFY

He’ll make a difference.

ANGEL

(almost to himself)

You know, I started it.

(right to her)

The whole... having a soul. Before it was all the "trendy

thing to"...

BUFFY

Oh my god, are you twelve?

ANGEL

I’m gettin’ the brush off for Captain Peroxide, it doesn’t

bring out the champion in me.

BUFFY

It’s not the brush off. Having both of you here would be...

confusing.

ANGEL

For who?

BUFFY

Everybody! Why are you so — Are you gonna come by and get

all Dawson on me every time I have a boyfriend?

ANGEL

Aha! Boyfriend!

BUFFY

He’s not! But...

(thinks about it)

He is in my heart.

ANGEL

That’ll end well.

BUFFY

And what was the highlight of our relationship? The time

you broke up with me or the time I killed you?

He backs down, the fight going out of both of them. She leans against a

crypt, placing

the file atop it.

BUFFY (CONT’D)

I’m well aware of my stellar history with guys, and no, I

don’t see fat grandchildren in the offing with Spike,

but... I don’t think that matters right now.

(thinks a moment)

You know, in the midst of all this... insanity, couple

things are actually starting to make sense. And the guy

thing...

He joins her, also leaning on the crypt.

BUFFY (CONT’D)

You know, I’ve always figured there was something wrong

with me, ’cause I never made it work. But maybe I’m not

supposed to.

ANGEL

Because you’re the Slayer?

BUFFY

Because... okay, I’m cookie dough, okay?

ANGEL

Yet another curveball...

BUFFY

I’m not done baking yet. I’m not finished becoming...

whoever the hell it is I’m gonna turn out to be. I’ve been

looking for someone to make me feel whole, and maybe I just

need to be whole. I make it through this, and the next

thing, and the next... maybe one day I turn around and

realize I’m ready. I’m cookies. And then if I want someone

to eat m — or, to enjoy warm delicious cookie-me, then

that’s fine. That’ll be then. When I’m done.

ANGEL

Any thoughts on who might enjoy... do I have to go with the

cookie analogy?

BUFFY

I don’t really think that far ahead. That’s kind of the

point.

ANGEL

I get it.

A beat, and he hands her the amulet.

ANGEL (CONT’D)

I’ll start working on a second front. Make sure I don’t

have to use it.

A beat, his hands on hers, and he starts off.

BUFFY

Angel. I do. Sometimes... think that far ahead.

He stops, smiles a bit.

BUFFY (CONT’D)

We both have our lives, but... sometimes...

ANGEL

Sometimes is something.

BUFFY

It’d be a long time coming. Years, if ever.

He walks backwards into the dark, smiling at her.

ANGEL

I ain’t gettin’ any older.

He disappears into shadow. She watches him go. Turns to see...

KENDRA/FIRST

Neither am I.

BUFFY

Did you come to not pummel me to death?

KENDRA/FIRST

Sending Angel home—sure that’s wise?

BUFFY

I don’t need him.

KENDRA/FIRST

But he’s your champion.

BUFFY

I’ve already got a champion.

SPIKE/FIRST

Sure about that?

Buffy turns and walks away.

END OF ACT ONE.

ACT TWO

INT. SUMMERS’ HOME - FOYER/LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Buffy enters, contemplative. She closes the door and then looks up to

see DAWN glaring at

her. She looks over and XANDER is sitting in the dining room, looking

pained and

sheepish. ANYA rubbing his head. GILES and WILLOW are also there. Buffy

looks back at

Dawn.

Dawn silently kicks Buffy in the shin. A beat.

BUFFY

Ow...

DAWN

Dumbass.

Buffy looks over at Xander, who just throws up his hands.

XANDER

Don’t look at me, this is a Summers’ thing. It’s all very

violent.

BUFFY

(to Dawn)

You get killed, and your dead. You know what I mean.

WILLOW

Did you find out anything about the scythe?

BUFFY

I found out it slices, dices and makes julienne Preacher.

GILES

Caleb?

BUFFY

I cut him in half. I’m not gonna lie, it was pretty neat.

WILLOW

Well all right!

ANYA

He had that coming.

XANDER

Party in my eye-socket and everyone’s invited!

(beat)

Sometimes I shouldn’t say words.

BUFFY

(re: scythe)

I did find out some history on this puppy. I’ll fill you in

— And I got some...

(hands over files)

...files, might be helpful, and

(produces amulet)

This. Supposed to be powerful, don’t know much more.

GILES

Where’d you get all this?

BUFFY

Angel.

DAWN

Angel?

GILES

He’s here?

BUFFY

I sent him back to L.A. To prepare.

She heads out toward the basement, turning back to add:

BUFFY (CONT’D)

If we fail.

XANDER

Operative word "If."

ANYA

Operative word "Fail."

DAWN

Or, operative word "Wheeee!"

(crickets)

Nobody gets me.

INT. SUMMERS’ HOME - BASEMENT - NIGHT

Buffy comes down the steps. Spike sits in the moonlight, no shirt,

looking off. Sees her.

SPIKE

So where’s Tall, Dark and Forehead?

BUFFY

Let me guess. You can smell him.

SPIKE

Yeah, that and I also used my heightened vampire eyeballs

to watch you kissing him.

Busted.

BUFFY

It was a... hello. I was surprised.

SPIKE

Most people don’t use their tongues to say hello. Or, I

guess they do.

BUFFY

There was no tongues. Besides, he’s gone.

SPIKE

Just popped round for a quickie, then?

BUFFY

Good, good, I haven’t had quite enough jealous vampire

crap.

SPIKE

He wears lifts, you know.

BUFFY

One of these days, I’m just gonna put you two in a room and

let you rassle it out.

SPIKE

No problem at this end.

BUFFY

(warming up to it)

There could maybe be oil of some kind involved...

SPIKE

Where’s the trinket?

BUFFY

The who-ket?

SPIKE

The pretty necklace your sweetie-bear gave you. The one

with all the power. I believe it’s mine now.

BUFFY

How do you figure?

SPIKE

Someone with a soul, but more than human... Angel meant to

wear it, that means I’m the qualified party.

BUFFY

It’s volatile. We don’t know...

SPIKE

You need someone strong to bear it then. You were planning

on giving it to Andrew?

BUFFY

Angel said... this amulet is meant to be worn by a

champion.

A beat, as he deflates. Then Buffy holds it out to him, and he

understands her meaning.

Slowly takes it.

SPIKE

Been called a lot of things in my time...

BUFFY

I want you to be careful.

SPIKE

You’re talking to the wrong guy, love.

(feeling it)

This is powerful.

A beat, as he turns it over in his hand.

BUFFY

(quietly)

Faith’s still got my room.

SPIKE

(looks up)

Well you’re not staying here! Can’t buy me off with shiny

beads and sweet talk — you’ve got Angel breath.

She looks down, nods quietly.

SPIKE (CONT’D)

Won’t just let you whack me back and forth like a rubber

ball. I’ve got my pride, you know.

She starts to go.

BUFFY

I understand.

SPIKE

(moves to block)

Clearly you don’t, since that whole "having my pride" thing

was a smokescreen.

BUFFY

(very relieved)

Oh thank god.

SPIKE

I don’t know what I would have done if you’d gone up those

stairs.

She touches his face.

BUFFY

Let’s not find out.

INT. SUMMERS’ HOME - BASEMENT - NIGHT

It is later, and Buffy is wrapped in Spike’s arms, facing away from

him. They both wear

enough to indicate they did not get sweaty. Spike sleeps, but Buffy

cannot. She looks at

his hand, resting on the bed in front of her. Runs her hand along it.

After a momment, Spike rolls over, and Buffy takes the opportunity to

sit up. She’s

wearing sweatshorts or something modest and sleepingly. Gets up and

crosses to the

window, looks out it, bathed in moonlight.

Caleb emerges from the darkness right next to her.

CALEB/FIRST

Pretty, ain’t it?

She jumps a bit, then recovers.

BUFFY

You’re not him.

CALEB/FIRST

No, you killed him right and proper. Terrible loss. This

man was my good right arm. ’Course, it doesn’t pain me too

much. Don’t need an arm. Got an army.

BUFFY

An army of vampires. However will I fight a bunch of — oh

right, I’ve been doing that for years!

CALEB/FIRST

Every day our numbers swell. But then, you do have an army

of your own. Some thirty-odd pimply-faced girls who don’t

know the pointy end of a stake from their hair dryers,

maybe I should call this off!

BUFFY

Have you ever considered a cool name? Since you’re non-

corporeal and basically powerless you could call yourself

"The Taunter," maybe the "It who talks a lot." Strikes fear

in...

CALEB/FIRST

I will overrun this earth.

BUFFY

You know how many people have said that to me?

CALEB/FIRST

I do, since they all had a small part of me in them.

Whereas I have all of me in me, so I like my chances

somewhat better. And when my army outnumbers the humans on

this earth the scales will tip and I will be made flesh.

BUFFY

(realizing)

I’m not afraid of you.

CALEB/FIRST

Then why aren’t you asleep in your dead lover’s arms?

She looks over at Spike, doesn’t answer.

CALEB/FIRST (CONT’D)

’Cause he can’t help you. Nor Faith nor your friends...

certainly not your little wannaslay brigade. None of those

girlies will ever know real power unless you’re dead. You

know the drill:

He morphs into Buffy herself, coming close to say:

BUFFY/FIRST

Into every generation, a Slayer is born. One girl in all

the world. She alone will have the strength and skill to

fight the... wait. But then there were two. Well that’s not

how the prophecy goes.

Buffy takes this in, says nothing.

MASTER/FIRST

Funny thing about prophecies, they don’t always tell you

the whole story.

GLORY/FIRST

The hardest thing about this world is living in it, ain’t

that the truth Slayer? Miles to go... Little miss muffet,

counting down...

MAYOR/FIRST

>From 7-3-0. Your gift was death.

(beat)

But your friends took their receipt, went to customer

service and got an exchange.

ANGEL/FIRST

You should’ve stayed in the ground, slayer.

BUFFY

It’s not my fault.

ANGEL/FIRST

Then whose is it? You think you know, what you are, what’s

to come- You haven’t even begun...You could fix it all, you

know.

BUFFY

And you’re going to tell me how?

ANGEL/FIRST

Your gift is death.

BUFFY

If I die...another will take my place.

ANGEL/FIRST

When are you gonna learn. This isn’t about you. This was

never about you.

(beat)

The blood-cry, the penetrating wound.

BUFFY/FIRST

I am destruction. Absolute. Alone.

(beat, waiting for Buffy)

Where’s your snappy comeback?

BUFFY

(softly)

You’re right.

BUFFY/FIRST

Mmm. Not your best.

SPIKE

I’m drowning in footwear!

Buffy looks over at Spike, who wakes with a start. She looks back to

Spike, who shakes it

off:

SPIKE (CONT’D)

Weird dream.

She doesn’t answer.

SPIKE (CONT’D)

Buffy? Is something wrong?

She takes her time looking back at him, something quietly building in

her.

BUFFY

No. Yes. I just realized something. Something that really

never occurred to me before.

He sits up, quizzical.

BUFFY (CONT’D)

We’re gonna win.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

INT. SUMMERS’ HOME - BUFFY’S BEDROOM - DAY

Buffy is there with the gang (Dawn, FAITH, Xander, Willow, Giles,

Anya). Buffy has the

scythe. Faith is out of bed, working out the kinks in her neck and

arms, testing her

strength as she listens.

BUFFY

Well? What do you think?

A beat.

XANDER

That depends.

(sincere question)

Are you kidding?

BUFFY

You don’t think it’s a good idea?

FAITH

It’s pretty radical, B.

GILES

It’s a lot more than that. Buffy what you’re talking about

flies in the face of everything we’ve ever —that every

generation has ever done in the fight against evil.

(smiles)

I think it’s bloody brilliant.

BUFFY

You mean that?

GILES

If you want my opinion.

BUFFY

I really do. I always have.

Reconciliation.

DAWN

So, I’m the key here.

Strange looks.

DAWN (CONT’D)

Figuratively—not literally. I mean—I am, but... you know

what I mean.

BUFFY

No. You are in no way to act in a key capacity.

DAWN

But you said...

BUFFY

I know what I said...But we’re doing this my way, I’m

making the choices here.

SMASH CUT TO:

FLASHBACK - "Conversation with Dead People"

JOYCE

Things are coming, Dawn. Listen. Things are on their way. I

love you. And I love Buffy. But she will not be there for

you.

DAWN

What? What are you—

JOYCE

There will be choosing to be done.

SMASH CUT TO:

ANGLE DAWN : She’s remembering.

SMASH CUT TO:

JOYCE (CONT’D)

And when it is very bad, Buffy will not choose you. She

will be against you.

SMASH CUT TO:

Dawn. A disturbing revelation surfaces inside her. Joyce’s words make

sense.

WILLOW

Whoa hey, not to poop on the party, but I’m the guy who’s

gonna have to pull this off.

FAITH

It is beaucoup d’mojo...

DAWN

Is it even possible?

GILES

I believe it is, if what Buffy has told us about this

weapon is true.

WILLOW

Not to careen back to the me subject, but... I’m... this is

beyond anything I’ve ever done. This is a total loss of

control, and not in a nice wholesome, my-girl-friend-has-a-

pierced-tongue way.

BUFFY

I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you could do it.

WILLOW

I’m just not sure I’m stable enough to —

ANYA

Oh, sure y’are. You’re as stable as the molecules in Mister

Fantastic’s uniform, am I right?

XANDER

Oh, you just couldn’t have picked a worse example.

GILES

You’re going to do this, Willow. Get the coven on the

line, see how they can help. I’ll —

DAWN

Sure you’re making the right choice?

BUFFY

(quickly)

Dawn should do a research thing.

GILES

Yes, you —

DAWN

It’s cool. Watcher Junior to the library.

(as she goes, to Buffy)

You get to save the world, I get more homework.

BUFFY

You could have been in Oxnard...

GILES

I’ll start digging up my sources. Literally, actually;

there’s one or two people I need to talk to who are dead.

ANYA

(to Xander)

Come on. Let’s go assemble the cannon fodder.

XANDER

We’re not calling them that, sweetie.

ANYA

Not to their faces — what am I, insensitive?

BUFFY

Willow...

WILLOW

(re: scythe)

I’m gonna need to run an energy scan on that puppy. To

start with.

FAITH

Sure you’re ready to give it up?

As Buffy hands the scythe to Willow...

BUFFY (V.O.)

I hate this.

INT. SUMMERS’ HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Every single person ever is in the house, packed like th’ little

fishes. There is just

enough room for Buffy to pace a little,

inspirational-seargant(sic)-style, as she speaks.

The newbies await Buffy’s latest proclamation with initial distrust.

BUFFY

I hate being here. I hate that you have to be here. I hate

that there’s evil, that it’s growing, and I hate that I was

chosen to fight it. I wish, a whole lot of the time, that I

hadn’t been.

(smiling wryly)

I know a lot of you wish I hadn’t been either.

KENNEDY and VI smile a bit, others look embarrassed.

BUFFY (CONT’D)

But this isn’t about wishes. This is about choices. I

never had one. I was chosen. And I accept that. I’m not

asking you to accept anything. I’m asking you to make your

own choice. I believe we can beat this evil — not when it

comes, not after its army is ready, but now. Tomorrow

morning I’m opening the Seal. I’m going down into the

Hellmouth and I’m going to finish it once and for all.

We see the gang as Buffy continues:

BUFFY (CONT’D)

I’ve got strong allies: warriors, charms, sorcerers, and

I’ll need them all. But I’ll also need you. Every single

one of you. So now you’re asking yourself, "What makes this

different? What makes us anything more than a bunch of

girls getting picked off one by one?" It’s true none of you

has the power Faith and I have.

(she glances at Dawn)

I think both Faith and I

(beat, should she?)

and Dawn... would have to die for a new one to be called,

(the potentials react, Buffy hurries to

continue)

and we can’t even be sure that girl is in this room...

KENNEDY

What do you mean, Dawn would have to die?

BUFFY

(hesitant)

When I died, the second time. No new slayer was called.

Because Dawn was me...is me. The monks who sent her here

made her from me and now the line moves through all three

of us. That’s the rule... The mystical forces surrounding

the Chosen ones have been destablized and we can’t fix

them. The line is vulnerabe and we can’t put things back

the way they were. So we’re going to change the way things

are. Here’s the part where you make a choice.

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - BASEMENT - DAY

Faith and WOOD finish moving something big and metal in front of a

grate. Sweaty work.

WOOD

It’s a hell of a risky idea.

FAITH

Buffy’s wacky that way.

WOOD

There’s one more vent right by the stairs.

(they head for it)

We block that, they got no sewer access, should drive them

up into the school proper.

FAITH

That’s assuming they get past us.

WOOD

Which, no offence, I am.

FAITH

Come on, you gotta have a little faith.

WOOD

(sardonic)

Think I’ve had my share, thanks.

FAITH

Well I trundled right into that, didn’t I. Look, I’m sorry

if it seemed like I was blowing you off the other day. I

was just trying to, you know... blow you off.

They start covering the vent by the stairs with stuff.

WOOD

I figured that out all by myself.

FAITH

It’s nothing personal, it’s just... after I get bouncy with

a guy, there’s not a whole lot more I need to know about

him.

WOOD

That’s bleak.

FAITH

Way of the world.

WOOD

Good to know. For a second there, I was mistaking it for

more defensive, isolationist Slayer crap.

FAITH

And he comes out swingin’...

WOOD

There is a whole world you don’t even know about, and a lot

of the men in it are pretty decent guys. They’d surprise

you.

FAITH

Guy looks at me, let’s just say his priorities shift.

WOOD

’Cause you’re so hot?

FAITH

Is what it is, yo.

WOOD

Please. I’m much prettier than you.

Faith starts in open-mouthed, victorian shock — she actually puts a

hand to her breast.

WOOD (CONT’D)

And for the record, our little encounter didn’t exactly

change my world.

FAITH

You’re tripping! That was rock ’em sock ’em!

WOOD

Oh, it was nice enough... you’re very... enthused... with a

little more experience I think you’ll really...

FAITH

Dude, I got mad skills!

WOOD

No, of course.

(re: work)

Let’s finish up.

FAITH

Hell with that. We’re going again. You’re gonna learn a

little respect here, pal.

She starts pulling off her shirt, Wood stopping her with:

WOOD

Faith. Make me a deal. We live through this, you give me

the chance to surprise you.

FAITH

(suspicious)

Well, what would be the surprise?

WOOD

You do know the meaning of the word, right?

FAITH

Fine. Deal.

WOOD

Good enough.

They start moving heavy ###### again.

FAITH

No way are you prettier than me.

WOOD

Little bit.

INT. SUMMERS’ HOME - WILLOW’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Willow has the scythe on her bed, along with a bunch of books and

papers, mystical

objects, and Kennedy. Willow is scribbling down a mystical equation,

looking nervous as a

kitten.

WILLOW

I really wish she hadn’t said that about me.

KENNEDY

What, the thing Buffy said? I think it’s true.

WILLOW

(hapless face)

Ehheh.

KENNEDY

I’ll be with you. To keep you grounded.

WILLOW

(spear-jab motion)

You may have to keep me stabbed... if I go to the bad

place.

KENNEDY

You’re saying I might have to kill you.

WILLOW

I am.

KENNEDY

Bite me.

WILLOW

I will. I mean, I do. Mean it. If I go south, you gotta

protect the others.

KENNEDY

It’s not gonna happen.

WILLOW

The darkest place I’ve ever been — this is what lies

beyond that. This is too important for me to...

KENNEDY

Buffy believes in you.

WILLOW

You know, Buffy: Sweet girl, not that bright.

KENNEDY

Hey, I’m the first to call her out when she’s not making

sense... in fact this may have escaped your keen notice,

but I’m kind of a brat. I’ve sort of always gotten my way.

So you’re gonna make it through this, no matter how dark it

gets. Because now... you’re my way.

AnD smooch.

WILLOW

I better go over it again.

INT. SUMMERS’ HOME - DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Giles sits at the table with Xander. There is a pile of books and plans

before us, so we

can’t see the map they are referring to. AMANDA looks on, and an ND

potential. They are

tired, but earnest.

GILES

I’ve gotten turned around. You’re here.

XANDER

By the pillar, yeah. I’m protecting this area.

GILES

That puts me here. By the door. Demons around the

perimeter... right. So I open the door.

Widen to find ANDREW, reading from an old rule book with some

handwritten notes on loose

leaf. And, oh, yeah, he’s wearing a red cloak, hood up.

ANDREW

You go through the door... you are confronted by Trogdor

the Burninator.

GILES

Bugger all. Fight.

Giles rolls ten-sided dice.

ANDREW

Adios to five hit points. Trogdor has badly wounded you.

GILES

What about my bag of illusions?

ANDREW

Illusions? Against a burninator?

(chuckles)

Silly, silly British man.

AMANDA

I invoke a time flux on Trogdor.

ANDREW

Step down, girlfriend, you can’t just —

AMANDA

Ninth level sorcerer, and I carry the emerald chalice.

Trogdor is frozen in time, deal with it.

XANDER

Smackdown on red riding hood! This could get ugly.

GILES

Could it possibly get uglier? I used to be a highly

respected Watcher. Now I’m a wounded dwarf with the

mystical strength of a doily.

(rubs his eyes)

I wish I could just sleep.

AMANDA

What kind of person could sleep on a night like this?

WIDEN to find Anya, head on the table, snoring away. Xander puts a hand

on her head,

affectionately.

XANDER

Only the crazy ones.

INT. SUMMERS’ HOME - DAWN’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

A messload of Potentials are in the room, some with sleeping bags, some

just hanging, all

more or less sitting at the feet or Dawn, who sits on her bed, in

mid-tale.

DAWN

And the Master grabbed Buffy from behind and bit her, she

tried to move but he was too strong, he fed on her blood

and he tossed her in the water, cackling insanely as the

bubbles rose around her and she slowly drowned to death.

VI

(upset)

Do you have any other stories?

DAWN

She gets up again, it’s very romantic. Guys, you gotta stop

worrying. It’s Buffy. She always saves the day.

BUFFY

Dawn?

Buffy appears in the door.

BUFFY (CONT’D)

I need to talk to you.

DAWN

Okay.

INT. SUMMERS’ HOME - BASEMENT - NIGHT

Spike sits, shirted this time, on the bed. He looks at the amulet,

thinking.

He stands as Buffy/First comes down the stairs. They stand on opposite

sides of the room,

looking at each other.

BUFFY/FIRST

My champion.

EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Tableau: the deserted school. A couple of buses, one of them half way

in the road, doors

open.

We push in at the school, slowly, until Wood blows past us, girls in

tow, and we see the

gang headed in.

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

We’re still behind Wood as he leads the group, that we now see includes

Buffy, stopping

at the big space at the bottom of the stairs.

WOOD

Welcome to Sunnydale High. There’s no running in the halls,

no yelling and no gum. Apart from that we have only one

rule.

(stops and turns)

If they move, kill ’em.

BUFFY

Potentials are in the basement, follow Faith and Spike.

Spike and Faith herd the girls down the hall.

XANDER

If you have to go to the bathroom, it’s on the left. If

you don’t have to go to the bathroom, picture what you’re

about to face. Better to go NOW.

The gang clusters around this area as orders and plans continue to

rattle out of people:

WOOD

Willow, my office is through there.

BUFFY

It’s right over the Seal.

KENNEDY

(takes Will’s bag)

I’ll start getting you set up.

WILLOW

Thanks.

WOOD

Okay, civilians. The vampires get upstairs we have three

areas they could get through to another building and down

into the sewers.

The camera whips around him as he points them out.

WOOD (CONT’D)

Down the hall in the atrium, the north hall here, and the

primary target, through the lounge to the science building.

GILES

Teams of two then, and I suggest you and I take the lounge.

WOOD

I concur.

BUFFY

Xander, I want you with Dawn.

XANDER

I concur.

DAWN

We’ll take the atrium.

ANYA

So that leaves me and the dungeon master in the north hall.

ANDREW

We will defend it with our very lives.

ANYA

Yes, we’ll defend it with his very life.

XANDER

Don’t be afraid to use him as a human shield.

ANYA

Good, yes, thanks.

ANDREW

And I just wanna say how proud I am to die for this really

special cause with you guys.

(unfolding paper)

There’s some people I’d like to thank, both good and

evil... a shout out to my brother Tucker, who gave me the

inspiration to summon demons and also —

ANYA

Nobody cares, ya little monkey.

Anya drags Andrew off as Wood also goes off into his corner.

DAWN

I’m gonna check out our field of engagement.

She starts down the hall. Buffy goes after her...

BUFFY

Dawn...

DAWN

No.

Dawn turns back, not waiting for Buffy to speak.

DAWN (CONT’D)

Anything you say is gonna sound like goodbye.

BUFFY

Stay alive.

And she turns and goes. Buffy watches her. Turns back and joins the

group.

There is a moment, all of them looking at each other, and we realize

it’s the original

four: Buffy, Giles, Willow and Xander. The camera slowly circles

around them as they

realize it too, look at each other with unspoken feeling. Finally:

BUFFY (CONT’D)

So. What do you guys wanna do tomorrow?

WILLOW

Nothing strenuous...

XANDER

Mini-golf is always the first thing that comes to mind.

GILES

Well, I think we can do better than that.

BUFFY

I’m pretty much thinking about shopping. As usual.

WILLOW

There’s an Agnes B. in the new mall!

XANDER

I could use a few items.

GILES

Well, no, aren’t we gonna discuss this? We’re saving the

world to go to the mall?

BUFFY

I’m having a wicked shoe craving.

XANDER

Aren’t you on the patch?

WILLOW

Those never work.

GILES

And I’m just here, invisible to the eye, not having any

vote...

And the kids are headed off, leaving Giles to watch them.

XANDER

See, it’s the eye-patch thing.

BUFFY

Right, do you go with the full black secret agent look —

WILLOW

Or the puffy shirt pirate-slash-poet feel. Sensitive yet

manly...

XANDER

Now you’re gettin’ a little renaissance fair on me.

BUFFY

It’s a fine line.

Giles turns away from them.

GILES

The earth is definitely doomed.

He heads off ot his corner.

ANGLE: The three of them. They walk together, in slightly slow motion,

down the hall.

Willow peels off, then Xander, everyone casually talking, any other

day, until Buffy is

alone. there is no sound save music.

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - BASEMENT HALL/SEAL ROOM - DAY

Buffy comes down the stairs and on top of the music we hear voices,

remembered voices,

phrases from her past — her first meetings with her friends, key

moments together, it

all builds and jumbles in her head as she walks along the hall until

she reaches

SPIKE

Time to go to work, love.

He is standing at the end of the hall. He indicates the Potentials.

Some are crowded outside the chamber ’cause there’s not enough room for

everyone. Buffy

is let through, moves to the edge of the Seal, next to Faith, who holds

out Andrew’s

knife.

FAITH

You’re first, B.

Buffy takes the knife, cuts her hand, lets it drip onto the Seal. Faith

takes the knife -

 

FAITH (CONT’D)

Pucker up, ladies. We’re going to Hell.

— and slices her own hand with casual aplomb.

Hands over the knife to Amanda, who is much more hesitant...

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - SEAL ROOM - A BIT LATER

As girls all around the circle are holding out their hands...

ANGLE: The SEAL — starts to open.

A moment of watching it, and Buffy starts down.

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD’S OFFICE - DAY

Willow sits on the floor, the scythe in front of her and mystical

objects arranged.

Kennedy watches her from the other side of the room.

WILLOW

They should be in place. Okay. Magic time. You ready to...

heh heh... kill me?

KENNEDY

Starting to be...

WILLOW

Great. Pun. Right.

(takes a breath)

Brace yourself.

She shuts her eyes.

KENNEDY

(quietly)

Come on, Red. Make it happen.

INT. CAVERN - DAY

Buffy, Faith and a few girls have climbed down, as more follow. Spike

comes abreast of

Buffy.

SPIKE

Not to be a buzzkill, luv, but my fabulous accessory isn’t

exactly tingling with power.

BUFFY

I’m not worried.

SPIKE

I’m getting zero juice here. And I look like Elizabeth

Taylor.

FAITH

Cheer up, Liz. Willow’s big spell doesn’t work, won’t

matter what you wear.

BUFFY

I’m not worried.

She is looking straight ahead and the others now pay attention as they

approach:

ANGLE: THE PRECIPICE, beyond which is an ENDLESS cavern swarming with

THOUSANDS of

Ubervamps.

ANGLE: OUR GUYS stare down at them.

BUFFY (CONT’D)

(catatonic)

I’m not worried...

RONA

(whisper)

Really? ’Cause I’m flashing back to Xander’s whole bathroom

speech.

AMANDA

Buffy?

BUFFY

(closes her eyes)

Now Willow Now Willow Now....

AMANDA

(more worried)

Buffy...

BUFFY

I’m not worried! As long as Willow can work the spell

before they —

As one, the vamps see the girls and charge, screaming.

BUFFY (CONT’D)

— see us.

END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR

INT. CAVERN - CONTINUING

The girls await the really noisy death approaching from off camera.

They are, hey, terrified.

BUFFY

(sooo quiet)

Willow...

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD’S OFFICE - CONTINUING

Willow is mumbling something rapidfire under her breath.

KENNEDY

Willow?

Willow stabs her a SHUT UP look, her lips still moving.

INT. CAVERN - CONTINUING

On Buffy and Faith, starting to think about retreat...

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD’S OFFICE - CONTINUING

Willow suddenly tenses up, eyes wide, as light begins to fill the

room... We do a series

of quick dissolves, moving in at her...

WILLOW

Oh...

WILLOW (CONT’D)

My...

WILLOW (CONT’D)

Goddess.

Kennedy falls back, slammed by something unseen.

KENNEDY

NNnnhhhhaahhhh....

INT. SUMMERS’ HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY (DAY 2)

We flash back now to the second half of Buffy’s speech to the

Potentials, picking it up

again at:

BUFFY

So here’s the part where you make a choice.

And we lay in a SERIES OF IMAGES to be INTERCUT with the living room

scene. Some of

Buffy’s speech we see, some we just hear over the images. What she has

to say is this:

BUFFY (CONT’D)

What if you could have that power? Now. All of you. In

every generation one Slayer is born because a bunch of guys

that died thousands of years ago made up that rule. They

were powerful men.

(points to Willow)

This woman is more powerful than all of them combined. So I

say we change the rules. I say my power should be our

power. Tomorrow Willow will use the essence of this

scythe, that contains the energy and history of so many

Slayers, to change our destiny.

(looks to Dawn)

Every girl who could have the power, will have the power.

Who can stand up, will stand up. Every one of you, and

girls we’ve never known, they will have strength they never

dreamed of, and more than that, they will have each other.

Slayers. Every one of us. The line will no longer move

through me, it hasn’t for a long time. It will move through

all of us. Right now. Make your choice. Are you ready to be

strong?

And what we see is the present, the moment of the spell’s consummation,

in different

places:

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD’S OFFICE - DAY

Kennedy’s head rears into frame, her eyes sparkling with power.

INT. CAVERN - DAY

We steadicam along the row of Potentials as they too absorb the power.

It’s a rushing wind, a hammer blow, it’s hard, soft, confusing, a first

orgasm, a perfect

equation, a fevered dream... it’s power.

And it’s happening everywhere.

INT. INDIA - NIGHT

A GIRL has fallen to the floor, wide-eyed as the power and knowledge

course through her.

INT. INNER CITY SCHOOL - DAY

Unnoticed by the throng, an AFRICAN AMERICAN GIRL leans against her

locker, breathing

hard, looking almost puzzled.

INT. TRAILER - DAY

We see the back of a beefy fellow as he is about to strike someone —

and HER hand blocks

his blow. She rises into frame, slightly bruised and bleeding, but with

a cold fury in

her eyes that suggests that won’t be happening again.

INT. JAPANESE HOME - NIGHT

The family is having dinner as the DAUGHTER backs away from the table,

trying to keep her

balance.

EXT. BASEBALL DIAMOND - DAY

A twelve year old girl stands uncertainly at the plate as the power

higs her: she takes

it in, looking down in confusion.... then looking back up, slowly, her

stance

straightening and a wicked grin on her face.

AND FINALLY BACK TO:

INT. CAVERN - CONTINUING

As the girls come out of slo-mo and into their own.

AMANDA

Sweet fancy moses.

Buffy and Faith beam at each other.

FAITH

You feel that?

BUFFY

I really do.

Faith looks ahead, they all steel themselves, various expressions of

readiness and

uncertainty on various faces...

FAITH

Everybody, hold the line...

VI

(dead cool)

These guys are dust.

And the first wave hits, the vamps cresting the edges en masse,

swarming over the girls —

Sorry. "Slayers". Who take the horde and beat it back, every single one

of them slicing,

kicking, twirling, punching, slaying like they’ve been doing it all

their lives.

They are taking out a bunch (Spike keeping his end up just fine, thank

you), holding off

others — but the vamps keep coming, endlessley. It’s brutal and dark

and sweaty and

bloody and I love it. I love it.

Unseen to the rest, too busy not dying to notice:

Spike tosses an uber vamp across the chasm. Dawn appears behind him. A

vamp rushes her,

and she tosses it like a rag doll. Spike sees her...

SPIKE

Look at you, all dressed up in big sister’s clothes. Aren’t

you...

DAWN

Buffy might not choose me, she may even be against me. But

she’s not calling the shots any more.

With one hit she hurtles Spike to the ground. Grabs the amulet from

his neck. Spike is

shocked.

SPIKE

Have you lost your bloody mind?

DAWN

(examing the amulet)

Someone with a sole, but more than a human? Sounds like

they key to me.

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD’S OFFICE - DAY

Kennedy is giddy, still out there.

KENNEDY

Oh, this is...

She stops, the smile leaving her face as she sees Willow.

KENNEDY (CONT’D)

(small voice)

Willow?

ANGLE: WILLOW

Is blown by a force so powerful, so loving, that she is

bathed in pure white wind, her hair is actually white,

streaming out behind her, her smile a bowl to catch her

tears.

A moment of transcedence, then it ends, the wind sucking out of her and

her appearence

returning to normal. She is clearly completely spent.

KENNEDY

You are a Goddess.

WILLOW

And you’re a Slayer.

She tosses Kennedy the scythe.

WILLOW (CONT’D)

Get this to Buffy.

Kennedy looks at her for a moment, then runs off. Willow collapses onto

her side,

giggling like a dope.

WILLOW (CONT’D)

That was nifty.

INT. CAVERN - DAY

Buffy is near the edge, fighting just about everyone she can touch. She

tosses a vamp

over the side, stakes another, then takes a couple of brutal hits.

Kennedy jumps down through the Seal opening, calls out:

KENNEDY

Buffy! Catch!

And she hurls the scythe right at her.

ANGLE: THE SCYTHE twirls through the air.

Buffy is fighting, catches it without even looking back, and dispatches

two vamps

immediately.

Kennedy is attacked and jumps high, kicks hard — pummels vamps with

newfound power.

KENNEDY (CONT’D)

Oh, I could get used to this.

ANGLE: AMANDA AND VI

Fighting.

SLO MO TABLEAU:

The war. Buffy in foreground, axe swinging through an already dusting

vamp, a war cry

bursting from her mouth. Faith beside her, kicking the face of another

vamp. In mid air

in the background, a vamp and a Slayer LEAP at each other, above the

heads of the warring

crowd. There is nothing to see here but the sprawling, brawling mob.

Everybody’s kung fu

fighting.

ANGLE: A few vamps get thrown into the back, see the Seal opening and

scurry up it. More

follow.

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - LOUNGE - DAY

Giles and Wood look at each other — they can hear them. Giles has a

hand rolled

cigarette. He offers it to Wood, who declines, blowing out a little

smoke as Giles stamps

out the cigarette. They hoist their swords.

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - ATRIUM - DAY

Dawn returns to Xander with Spike in tow:

SPIKE

It’s not gonna work like this little bit.

DAWN

You can’t stop me.

XANDER

What’s going on?

SPIKE

She thinks she’s going to sacrifice herself and save the

day.

DAWN

Buffy needs you. It should be me.

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - NORTH HALL - DAY

Andrew and Anya, also in wait mode.

ANDREW

I think they’re coming...

ANYA

Oh God. I’m terrified. I didn’t think... I just figured

you would be terrified and I would be sarcastic about it.

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - ATRIUM

SPIKE

Give it to me.

DAWN

You want it, you’re going to have to take it.

Spike puts his game face back on. They fight, neither with a true upper

hand, until...

XANDER

Guys!

The camera swings to see bringers standing in the hallway. Then

another, and another.

DAWN

Help Xander, I’m going in.

SPIKE

No you’re not...

He shoves her to the ground. The bringers attack. They fight, they

take out one, and two

more take its place—they just keep coming.

Dawn falls to the ground and loses the amulet. A bringer moves for it

but Spike

decapitates him with his bear hands. Picks up the amulet. Dawn and

Spike lock eyes.

A SCREAM. Xander is being over run with bringers.

SPIKE (CONT’D)

Better help your friend.

Spike exits, returning to Hell.

INT. SUNNYDALE HALL - NORTH HALL - DAY

Anya and Andrew are tackling several bringers of their own. No slayer

power, not much

success.

They take one out after another, but the fight sways to the bad guys.

Anya is knocked to

the ground. A bringer corners Andrew. It poses to strike it’s final

blow...

ANGLE : ANYA awake.

The Bringer falls to the ground, her sword in it’s back.

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - ATRIUM - DAY

Dawn and Xander hold their own. The Bringers just won’t quit.

Dawn fights brilliantly, and so does Xander. It’s not enough. A Bringer

comes behind

Dawn, poises to stab her...

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - LOUNGE - DAY

Giles and Wood do their thing. The Bringers are no match...

One takes Giles down and Wood comes to his rescue, managing a near

fatal wound to save

Giles.

INT. CAVERN - DAY

Buffy rips apart more vamps with the scythe. One knocks her to the

ground. She opens her

eyes to see:

Caleb/First.

CALEB/FIRST

You’re right more stupider than I though.

The battle rages around them.

JOYCE/FIRST

But then, you always did poorly in school.

Buffy get’s up. Stares down the first.

BUFFY

End of days...for you. You couldn’t even kill one

slayer...now the scales have tipped.

She moves past the First, but it reaches and grabs her arm. It’s

corporeal. Buffy stares

and horror.

JOYCE/FIRST

That they have.

The First delivers Buffy a powerful blow and sends her sailing across

the cavern. The

scythe falls to the side...

SLO MO: Buffy rises. Sweaty, bloodied, hair in her face, but nothing

but resolve in her

eyes. The First is nowhere in sight as she takes a step forward, two,

stumbling, hunched

steps...

Rona sees her and throws her the scythe. Buffy catches it. Stands a

little straighter.

And SCREAMS, and swings the back of the axe like it’s a bat, knocking

five vamps back and

over the edge in one blow. Sauron himself would be, like, "dude..."

ANGLE: The pile of vamps on Faith flies back as she kicks out — Faith

kips up, also

bloodied, also unbroken.

And the girls turn the tide, forcing the vamps back, many of them

falling over the edge -

 and at least one Slayer going with them. Then...

JOYCE/FIRST (CONT’D)

(appears behind Buffy)

Curds and whey, Buffy. End of days.

The first vanishes.

ANGLE: SPIKE stumbles under the Seal opening.

He turns, to see:

BUFFY/FIRST

It’s time. Your time.

She smiles, obviously not Buffy. The First starts to sing, but the

trigger doesn’t work.

SPIKE

I don’t like that song anymore.

He strikes her, sending The First to the ground.

BUFFY/FIRST

(with fierce rage)

Give me the amulet.

SPIKE

This puppet’s cut the strings.

(beat)

Oh, bollocks.

And energy SHOOTS up from him, straight through

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - SEAL CHAMBER - CONTINUING

AND UP INTO

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - PRINCIPAL WOOD’S OFFICE - CONTINUING

bursting through the floor, narrowly missing the still-prone Willow,

and continuing

through the ceiling, from whence the noon sun pours straight back down.

WILLOW

I didn’t do that...

INT. CAVERN - CONTINUING

The sun hits Spike and he is pinned, pain and something else building

in him.

SPIKE

Buffy...

She sees, racing to him —

BUFFY

Spike!

And has to dive out of the way as a prismed ray of pure, soulful

sunlight blasts out of

the amulet and into the cavern. It wipes out the vamps instantly — and

even starts

tearing apart the cavern.

FAITH

Everybody out! Now!

The girls fight their way to the exit. Everything is shaking. Buffy

comes to Spike. He is

pinned in place, energy still blasting from him.

SPIKE

I can feel it, Buffy.

BUFFY

What?

SPIKE

My soul. It’s really there. Kinda stings.

INT. SAME - DAY

As debris falls and everything shakes, the Slayers run out toward the

entrance.

EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - CONTINUING

GILES IS HELPING WOOD TOWARD:

WOOD

The bus! Get ’em on the bus!

GILES

Everybody! This way!

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Kennedy helps Willow out, Dawn and Andrew pull on Anya, who is calling

out:

ANYA

Xander! Xander!

We see, as she cannot, his corpse, hidden by debris and fallen

Bringers.

ANGLE: A BRINGER — the one that jumped on Dawn falls away, Xander’s

sword in his chest.

Dawn is bloodied but alive, and completely wigged by the fact.

DAWN

Why...

A girl grabs her, hauls her to the bus.

INT. CAVERN - CONTINUING

Buffy hasn’t left Spike’s side.

SPIKE

Gon on, then...

BUFFY

You’ve done enough, you can still —

SPIKE

No. You beat ’em back, it’s for me to do the clean up.

FAITH CALLS FROM THE ENTRANCE:

FAITH

Buffy! Come on!

Then falling debris makes her bail.

Stuff is falling around Buffy and Spike as well.

SPIKE

Gotta move, lamb. I think it’s fair to say school’s out for

the bloody summer.

ANGLE: THE CAVERN

is collapsing at the top and bottom — the actual school falling in on

the vamps.

BUFFY

Spike...

SPIKE

I mean it. I gotta do this.

His hand is held up, frozen in his rictus of revelatory pain. Buffy

takes her own hand,

interlocks it with his. A moment, and both hands burst into flames.

We hold close on the two of them, ignoring the flames, looking at each

other.

BUFFY

I love you.

A moment. He smiles kindly.

SPIKE

No you don’t. But thanks for saying it.

A big quake rocks them. Spike pushes her away.

SPIKE (CONT’D)

It’s your world up there. Now GO!

She looks at him — and bolts.

He looks back at the destruction in front of him, smiles wickedly.

SPIKE (CONT’D)

I wanna see how it ends.

EXT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Wood shuts the door — he’s at the wheel — and the bus peels out.

ANGLE: The very back of the bus — there’s Dawn, tears running down her

face looking for

DAWN

Buffy...

INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Buffy tries to head for the door, but is blocked. She has nowhere to go

but up the

stairs.

INT. CAVERN - DAY

Spike is still smiling as he is eaten from inside by the power, and the

world falls away

from beneath him as he dies.

EXT. SUNNYDALE - DAY

The bus rolls on, just ahead of the cracking earth.

INT. BUS - CONTINUING

Faith is by Wood, staunching his wound.

Giles is wrapping a tourniquet around a wounded Rona, who is fading...

Vi helps him, all

in Rona’s face.

VI

Stay awake. Look at me! This is nothing!

Anya sits by herself, lost.

ANYA

Why didn’t I die?

Kennedy holds onto the still exhausted Willow.

And Dawn still looks out the back window for any sign of her sister.

And then she sees:

EXT. ROOFTOPS - DAY

Her sister. running along the rooftop, jumping off of one just as it

collapses, keeping

pace with the bus...

The bus pulls out ahead of the last building and Buffy JUMPS an

impossible distance,

right in front of the collapsing Sun Cinema sign, and lands hard on top

of the bus.

ANGLE: ABOVE BUFFY

As she holds on, looking over the back at the cracks chasing them.

ANGLE: SUNNYDALE from way high up — the whole town is sinking into a

smoking black

crater, a tiny bus just making its way to the edge of town ahead of the

destruction.

EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN - DAY

The bus roars along. Buffy still atop it, no longer in danger.

INT. BUS - DAY

FAITH LOOKS BACK, TELLS WOOD:

FAITH

Ease off. We’re clear.

EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN - CONTINUING

The bus screeches to a stop. Buffy jumps off and people start getting

out, Dawn opening

the back door and jumping out. Buffy and Dawn hug for a long while.

Willow joins them, Anya stands to the side.

Willows afriad of the answer, but presses:

WILLOW

(to Dawn)

Did you see? Did you see what happened? Was he...

Dawn looks at Willow a moment, then Buffy, then Anya. Rises up a bit.

BUFFY

What.

Giles joins them.

DAWN

(to Anya)

He was incredible. He died saving my life.

They all realize...

XANDER

(welling up)

That’s my guy. Always doing the stupid thing.

INT. BUS - DAY

Everyone is off as Faith looks at Wood’s wound.

FAITH

It’s not that bad... you just sit here.

WOOD

That’s the plan...

FAITH

I’ll get someone to —

WOOD

Did we make it?

He looks at her. A Beat.

FAITH

We made it. We won.

He smiles a little... and then he is just staring. And still. Faith

takes a moment, then

moves to cover his eyes.

He coughs, spasming back to life, and she draws back her hand, as

startled as he.

WOOD

(whispers)

Surprise.

EXT. BUS - CONTINUING

Giles looks out at the crater. They are solom.

GILES

I don’t understand. What did this?

BUFFY

Spike.

They walk toward the edge of the crater, smoke in front of her, and we

REVERSE: SUNNYDALE

is a smoking black crater. In front of it is a sign: WELCOME TO

SUNNYDALE. After a beat,

the sign creakingly topples back into the crater.

We see everyone now, the girls milling about, the core group nearer the

crater, and we

push through the smoke to see them: Buffy, Dawn, Giles, Willow, Anya,

Faith coming out to

join them. Keep pushing slowly in as they all look out at the end of

Sunnydale...

ANGLE each of them, one at a time. Memories float to the surface. Of

Xander, Spike, etc.

We hear there voices, more key moments in each of there lives.

The pain is almost too much...

GILES

(to Buffy)

He sacrificed himself. He’s a true hero.

ANYA

Which one?

BUFFY

Both.

DAWN

It should’ve been me. For both of them.

GILES

What?

Dawn looks away.

BUFFY

No. They knew what had to be done. Both of them.

WILLOW

Xander saw more clearly than any of us. And Spike

understood more clearly than any of us.

ANYA

I loved him.

DAWN

Which one?

Anya shoots Dawn a look. Buffy puts a hand on her shoulder.

BUFFY

We all did.

FAITH

Looks like the Hellmouth is officially closed for business.

GILES

There is another one in Cleveland. Not to spoil the

moment...

DAWN

We saved the world.

WILLOW

We changed the world. I can feel them, Buffy. All over.

There are Slayers awakening everywhere.

DAWN

We’ll have to find them.

WILLOW

We will.

GILES

Yes, because the mall was actually in Sunnydale, so no hope

of going there tomorrow...

DAWN

We destroyed the Mall? I fought on the wrong side...

WILLOW

All those stores gone... The Gap, Starbucks, Toys R Us...

who will remember these landmarks unless we tell the world

of them?

We’re still pushing in, closer and closer to Buffy, as everyone around

her continues

talking...

GILES

We have a lot of work ahead of us...

FAITH

Can I push him in?

WILLOW

You got my vote.

FAITH

I just wanna sleep, yo. For like a week.

DAWN

I guess we all could. If we wanted to.

WILLOW

Yeah, the First is scrunched, so... What do you think we

should do, Buffy?

FAITH

Yeah, you’re not the one and only chosen anymore. Just

gotta live like a person. How’s that feel?

She looks at Faith.

DAWN

Buffy? What are we gonna do now?

Buffy looks at them, looks back at the crater, and we are in full close

up as she

considers the question, a small smile creeping onto her lips as she

decides on her

answer.

ANGLE : Debris, the fallen school.

A hand, bloody and beaten, pushes it’s way up through the rubbel.

BLACK OUT.

END OF SHOW.