RILEY: (OS) Buffy...

(Buffy leaves the door slightly open, turns to walk toward Riley. He's wearing a turtleneck sweater)

RILEY: You okay? You look pretty beat up.

BUFFY: (nods) Minimal damage of the fighting kind. It's all the other kind.

RILEY: Come here.

(He hugs her.)

RILEY: It's okay. Just let it out. I'm right here.

BUFFY: I can't. (sniffles, pulls back) Not now. They need me. If I start now ... I won't be able to stop.

(She bites her lip and we see tears in her eyes. Riley starts to lift his hand to her face.)

JOYCE: (OS) Buffy?

(Buffy turns and walks back to the hospital room door, wiping her eyes. Riley watches her enter the room and close the door behind her.)

• Buffy & Riley

written by: David Fury; Transcribed by Joan the English Chick (pisces@englishchick.com).. Full transcript at:
http://www.studiesinwords.de/86shadow.html