.:: Transcript 7x19 - Empty Places::.

Written by Drew Z. Greenberg
Original U.S. Air Date: April 29, 2003

Transcribed by: CariCranberry
For: http://www.buffyworld.com

NB: The content of this transcript, including the characters and the story, belongs to Mutant Enemy. This transcript was created based on the broadcast episode.

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GILES (V.O.)
Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer:

1 EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
A teenage girl is running through the woods at night, running for her life. Bringers are chasing her. She sees an old pick-up truck driving down a dirt road through the woods, and she runs in front of it, waving it down emphatically with both arms. The driver slows and stops the truck; the girl goes to the passenger door and speaks to him through the open window.

MAN
(wearing a black shirt with priest's collar, speaking in a southern drawl) What's goin' on?

GIRL
Please get me out of here! (opens the passenger door and climbs in)

Cut to:

2 INT. TRUCK - NIGHT
The young girl is panting, catching her breath. She's sitting in the passenger's seat in an old truck beside a man dressed as a preacher or priest.

MAN / CALEB
Call me Caleb. Never was nobody's daddy.

GIRL / SHANNON
I'm Shannon.

CALEB
Now, I want you to deliver a message for me. It's for the one and only, the original slayer.

Caleb takes a knife and stabs Shannon in the stomach. Caleb kicks the door open and pushes Shannon out.

Cut to:

3 INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Buffy, Faith, and Spike walk into Buffy's house through the front door. Dawn and Giles are at the dining room table.

FAITH
Hey, got a spare bed for a wanted fugitive?

GILES
(stands, nods) Hello, Faith.

FAITH
Well, I guess "wanted" wasn't really accurate.

Cut to:

4 INT. WORKSHOP AT ROBIN'S PLACE - NIGHT
Buffy walks up to Robin, who's trying to stand. She looks around the room, then walks up to Robin again.

BUFFY
I have a mission to save the world. I don't have time for vendettas. (walks away) The mission is what matters.

Cut to:

5 INT. UPSTAIRS AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Giles walks up to her as she goes into her doorway.

BUFFY
(looks at Giles) I think you've taught me everything I need to know. (shuts her door)

Cut to:

6 INT. WINE CELLAR AT THE SH. VALLEY VINEYARDS - NIGHT
Buffy walks down the steps into the wine cellar, followed by Molly, Kennedy, Rona and another potential. Caleb walks out into the light.

BUFFY
Save the sermon, padre. I heard you have something of mine.

CALEB
(chuckles) I do now. (with one powerful punch, he sends Buffy flying across the room)

A dark-haired potential swings at Caleb, but he grabs her sword, then her face, then Caleb snaps her neck and drops her to the ground.

MOLLY
(seeing Caleb kill the potential) No...!

Xander is at Buffy's side as she recovers and gets back into the game.

BUFFY
(weakly trying to sit up) Get them out of here.

Xander leaves. Caleb walks menacingly toward Molly, who backs up slowly, frozen with fear. She raises her arm back to stab him, but he grabs her wrist, then her neck. Caleb squeezes Molly's neck, lifting her off the floor.

CALEB
(to Molly) I work in mysterious ways. (stabs Molly, lets go of her neck, dropping her to the ground)

Caleb grabs Xander and turns him around so he's facing Caleb. Caleb plunges his thumb into Xander's left eye, gouging it out. Xander screams in agony.

BUFFY
(goes to Xander's side) Xander!

Fade to black.

End Recap.

The Start Of Episode
PROLOGUE:
7 EXT. STREET - DAY
A man closes his shop. There's lots of traffic and honking on the street. The street is full of cars, all pointed in the same direction, but no one's moving. People are even walking through the street carrying belongings. Buffy walks among them, looking around, when someone in a car calls out to her. It's Clem, driving a late model red VW Beetle.

CLEM
Hey, you.

BUFFY
Hey.

CLEM
Can you believe this mishegaas?

BUFFY
Yeah. You'd think these people had never seen an apocalypse before. (chuckles) What about you? Just going for a quick spin to 7-Eleven... in Nebraska?

CLEM
It's getting bad here. Really bad. Hellmouth acting up again, people feeling it, getting crazier. You can't swing a cat without hitting some kind of demonic activity. Not that I swing cats, or eat—nope. Heh. Cuttin' way back. Cholesterol—morals. I mean, morals.

BUFFY
Right.

CLEM
We've seen some bad stuff in this town before but, you know, this time, it's like it just seems different, more powerful. (shakes his head) I don't think anyone's gonna be able to stop it. (catches himself) I mean, I'm sure you'll do fine. Complete confidence in you. Heh. Uh, if anyone can do it, you can, because you...rock! If you save the world, I'll come back, we'll have drinks. When. When, I mean. When you save the world. (Buffy nods) It's gonna be great with all the... rocking. (sincerely) Maybe... maybe you should just get out of town this time.

BUFFY
Yeah. I probably should.

CLEM
You take care of yourself, OK? (waves, then softly) Bye. (drives off)

Cut to:

Opening Credits.

ACT I:
8 EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY
Willow and Giles are talking to an officer outside the police station. The streets there are chaotic too, with the honking and the traffic. Giles is wearing a gray turtle-neck sweater and a black trench coat. Willow's staring intently at the officer.

GILES
Ah, thank you, officer. We—we appreciate your help.

OFFICER
Oh, no, thank you, Inspector. We don't get a lot of contact with Interpol, so we're happy to help you with anything you need. Is there anything else we can help with?

WILLOW
No. Thank you. We're fine.

OFFICER
Right... because— Wait... Who are—who are you?

WILLOW
(started intently at the officer) I'm with the Inspector.

OFFICER
You're with the Inspector. Right. Well, we don't get a lot of contact with Interpol, so—

While Willow and Giles are talking to the officer, two other officers escort a crazy man into the police station.

CRAZY CITIZEN
(rambling to himself) A single step!

OFFICER 3
(to pedestrians) Stay on the sidewalk, folks.

CRAZY CITIZEN
A single step, and it is upon us. It is nigh! From beneath you it—

OFFICER 2
Freakin' nutcase.

The two officers take the crazy man inside the police station.

WILLOW
(looking over at the man) Ow.

OFFICER
Uh, people are acting up, getting nuts. Man, you just let us know if you need help with your guy 'cause we are itching to hand out some justice.

WILLOW
(looking back toward the man) He—he doesn't seem like much of a threat.

OFFICER
(squinting at Willow) And—and you are?

GILES
Um, I think it's time we were catching our flight to, um... Interpol. (pulls Willow away)

OFFICER
Right. OK.

WILLOW
(walking away with Giles) Good idea. My control was fading. What's up with those cops?

GILES
Oh, same as everyone. The hellmouth is active again.

WILLOW
Come on. I want to get back to Xander. (they leave)

The two officers come out of the building and chat with the one Willow and Giles were talking to.

OFFICER 2
(looking off after Willow and Giles) Who was that?

OFFICER
(shrugs) Um, I— I don't know.

OFFICER 3
(holds out a flyer) Did you get one of these yet?

OFFICER
No. What is that?

OFFICER 2
Fugitive. Ran to ground right here in our own backyard.

OFFICER
(eagerly) Yeah? Sounds like a situation that needs some justice.

Cut to:

9 INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
Buffy and Willow are talking to Xander in his hospital room. Xander's left eye is covered with a bandage. Willow is sitting on the edge of his bed, holding his hand. Buffy's standing, talking to him.

BUFFY
And that you should expect to see some bruising when you remove the bandages. Bruising around the— area. The, uh, bone structure and musculature was hit pretty hard.

XANDER
OK.

BUFFY
Um, also they said that the—the meds may cause you some stomach discomfort, so we're gonna have to be careful with your diet.

XANDER
I can't taste anything right now anyway. I keep waiting for my other senses to improve 50%. Yeah, they should kick in any day now.

BUFFY
(smiling) Well, we're looking at a possible release as early as tonight. Um, we're just waiting for your labs to get back, and Dr. Kallet said that should be a couple of hours.

XANDER
That's great.

BUFFY
(nods) OK. Um, I think we're all caught up then. (holding the files, to Willow) Thank you for this. This was, um, really great work.

WILLOW
(disappointed) Oh. I thought we were gonna... (looks at Xander, then at Buffy) There were gonna be card games.

BUFFY
Oh, no, I just— I should really get back. (Willow looks heartbroken) I want to get everyone started on this. I think we're really close to something.

XANDER
It's OK. It's gotta be done. And I might see you tonight, without depth perception, of course, but... still. (smiles)

WILLOW
(holding Xander's hand) So, I guess you're stuck with me then, huh? (tries to sound chipper) Let's order some cherry-flavored off-brand gelatin, and then I think we'll be up for a rousing game of—

XANDER
I might need a parrot.

WILLOW
Huh?

XANDER
Well, to go with the eye patch, to really complete the look. I think I still have that costume from Halloween.

WILLOW
Yeah, and don't underestimate the impact of a peg leg. Maybe the hospital can hook you up with a nice one. Maybe they have a 2-body-parts for the price of one kind of deal.

XANDER
Oh, you know what the best part is? No one will ever make me watch jaws 3-D again.

WILLOW
Yeah, and, (tries to smile) you'll never have to... (tries to stifle her tears as they well up in her eyes, squeezes Xander's hand tighter)

XANDER
(sighs, looks at Willow as tears well up in her eyes) Oh, Willow... please don't.

Willow looks down, trying to keep her tears from falling. She's desperately trying not to make a scene here, for Xander's sake.

Cut to:

10 INT. BASEMENT AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Anya is standing in front of the group of potentials lecturing while Andrew stands to her side, writing key words on an easel-pad. Andrew writes "UBERVAMP."

ANYA
And so we know that a battle is coming. Ubervamps galore. We also know that the Ubervamps are hard to kill...

ANDREW
(writing in red) Hard...to...kill.

ANYA
But I have been out talking to some of my old contacts, and they've provided some surprising bits of news. Yay for them! (Andrew draws a picture of an Ubervamp) Uh...OK. For example, Ubervamps can be staked... right through the heart. Zing—poof. (Andrew writes "steak" then crosses it out and writes "stake" beside it) Just like regular vamps. Um...we didn't know this. (Andrew draws a red arrow from the word "stake" to the torso of his Ubervamp drawing) Of course, these guys have incredibly strong sternums, so it's a lot like driving a wooden stake through solid steel. But you guys are all super-strong, right?

KENNEDY
(scoffs) Um...no.

ANYA
Right. OK. Um... but still, heart information, still good to know since holy water seems to run off these guys like they've been scotch-guarded. And, well, sunlight would work, but guess what— they're not coming out during the daytime. (Andrew flips to a clean sheet of paper and draws a yellow smiling sun) Uh, also, beware of their, uh, teeth and the claws they use to shred flesh. (Anya holds up her hand, fingers spread, like she's clawing and shredding with her hand; Andrew writes "teeth, claws")

RONA
OK, you know what? I used to be really afraid of these Ubervamp guys. But then the scary preacher blew into town, and now I'm mostly terrified of him.

ANYA
(flips her note cards) Right, well, um... we're working on getting info on that guy.

AMANDA
Why bother? Nothing works. Nothing will.

ANYA
(shuffling her note cards) OK... I know you're all upset... and I, myself, would much rather be sitting at the bedside of my one-eyed ex-fiance than killing time here with you people in this over-crowded and might I add increasingly ripe-smelling basement. And I would be, too, if not for a certain awkward discussion he and I recently had right over there on that cot immediately following some exciting and unexpected breakup sex. (some of the girls seem grossed out and move off the cot; Andrew writes "breakup sex" on the paper, underlining it) But...I need to give him some space... so I'm doing what I can do, contributing any way I can... and so will all of you. You still need to know this information. We can't stop just because something else is trying to kill you, too.

Cut to:

11 INT. KITCHEN AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Faith's sitting alone on the countertop in Buffy's kitchen eating potato chips from a bag when Kennedy walks upstairs.

KENNEDY
You got enough to share?

FAITH
Trade ya for a carton of cigarettes and some soap. (Kennedy looks confused) Sorry. Habit. (Faith hands Kennedy the bag) Shouldn't you be down at Hogwarts?

KENNEDY
(takes some chips) Probably. (hands the bag back to Faith)

FAITH
All right. Playin' hooky. Score one for the boarding school brat. Anya's technique's probably a little different than what you're used to.

AMANDA
(walks upstairs from the basement into the kitchen) Do you think there are gonna be questions about her sex life on the test? 'Cause I really hope I don't have to study all that.

FAITH
Yeah. (grins) Whenever she starts talking about getting all sweaty with Xander like that I just remind her I had him first. Shuts her right the hell up.

KENNEDY
Thing is— what's the point? Studying demon hot zones and pressure points doesn't do a hell of a lot of good when preacher man's out there, ready to finish the job he started.

FAITH
No one's come up with any info on Caleb yet?

AMANDA
No. Nothing is working—not research, not Anya's contacts.

KENNEDY
We're lousy with dead ends around here. (crosses her arms) Everyone's feeling pretty pointless. We don't even have a place to start.

BUFFY (O.S.)
Hey, who's here?

Cut to:

12 INT. DINING ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Buffy comes into the house carrying the file Willow and Giles got from the police. Dawn walks into the room, concerned.

DAWN
Hey, Buffy, how's Xander?

Faith, Kennedy, and Amanda go into the dining room.

BUFFY
He's doing really well. He's ready to come home, I think. (smiles, puts down the file on the table, starts opening it)

FAITH
Whatcha got?

BUFFY
Info that Giles and Willow were able to pull off the police database. We figured with Caleb's, you know, overt religiosity thing if we wanna learn more about him, let's find out where he's been.

FAITH
(reading from the file) "Incidents of violence and vandalism connected to California religious institutions in the last 10 years." Looks like this gives us a place to start.

BUFFY
Yeah. I figure we start with California. We don't find anything there, we'll expand the search. But a guy like Caleb didn't just get in the game. He's been playing for a while, and I wanna know where. Whatever it takes. (to Dawn) You good to help?

DAWN
Well, I was gonna do lots and lots of homework, but darn the luck, they went and canceled school, (Buffy hands Dawn papers) so looks like I got the time.

BUFFY
Good.

DAWN
(sits) Hey, Buffy... How was Xander's mood, you know, exactly? (Buffy doesn't look at her) And did you get a chance to talk to the doctor about the meds? Because it seemed like—

FAITH
Hey, pipsqueak, why don't you go get some of the stuff you've already gotten from Giles?

DAWN
Or, um, we can talk about this later, maybe.

BUFFY
(still hasn't looked at Dawn) OK.

DAWN
Yeah. I'll be right back. (leaves the room)

BUFFY
Try to find anything that looks like Caleb, his church, his ring...

KENNEDY
His ability to render a slayer useless in just one punch. (Buffy looks up, hurt; Faith frowns) I didn't— that was stupid. I don't know why I said that.

BUFFY
(stifling tears, stands) Uh, it's OK. Um...you know, I—I have to go to the school to pick up the rest of my stuff.

KENNEDY
(stands) I really didn't mean—

BUFFY
It's fine. Really, it's fine. Don't worry about it. Hey, uh... isn't Anya doing that thing for you guys today?

KENNEDY
Yeah. We were. We probably should head down there now.

BUFFY
(smiles) OK. I'll be back soon. (Kennedy and Amanda leave; to Faith) See that everyone else gets started on this. (leaves)

FAITH
Yeah. (starts reading through the files)

Cut to:

13 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Buffy walks through the empty halls past the cleaned-out lockers. She walks into the school office to her old cubicle and sits at her old desk. She picks up a picture on her desk of Buffy, Willow, and Xander, hugging, from their high school days. They were so happy, smiling in the sunshine. Buffy touches Xander's face and sniffles.

CALEB
Oh, now, look... (Buffy looks up to see Caleb standing there right in front of her) Things don't go exactly your way, so here come the waterworks. Ain't that just like a woman?

Fade to black.

ACT II:
14 INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Resume. Caleb has just confronted Buffy in her old office.

BUFFY
Get out of here.

CALEB
Now, now, little girl. Manners. I do imagine that firebrand tongue of yours has inflamed many a man, weak as they are. (looks around) This here's a, uh... public school, ain't it? Kinda deserted. Only just, I suppose. Folks work so hard at keepin' the Lord out, and look what happens in return. (Buffy backs up to a filing cabinet) He abandons you. (Buffy reaches for a drawer in the cabinet) Not that He could do you much good now, anyway— (Caleb turns to see Buffy trying to reach into the cabinet for something) Ah, ah, ah. (condescending) Wouldn't do that were I you, swee'pea. Fightin' back didn't do you much good last time, did it? And how is poor, sweet Xander? Let him know he's in my prayers, and any time he's willin', I'm ready to... (makes a poking gesture) finish the job.

BUFFY
Go near Xander again, and I will end you.

CALEB
(pushes over Buffy's desk violently, walks purposefully toward Buffy) Mind your manners. I do believe I did warn you once. You're angry... frustrated, scared. I like that in a girl. You really should relax a little. Look at where you are. History's gonna look back at you, at me, at this place, and they're gonna see the glory. Great things are happenin' now, right here. This school, the seal... it's all gonna be a part of the great sweepin' tide of change, and you're gonna be a part of it. Now, why would you wanna miss that? More importantly, why would you want to get in its way?

BUFFY
(scowls) I guess I'm just ornery. (punches Caleb in the face)

CALEB
(laughs) Ha ha ha! Oh, I knew you'd be a wild one—

Buffy kicks him, but he grabs her leg and pushes her down. She kicks his shins, but he picks her up off the ground by her neck.

CALEB
I'm gonna take such sweet pleasure in taming you. (throws Buffy through the window; she lands across the hall, unconscious) I'll see you soon, little lady. (walks away)

Cut to:

15 INT. KITCHEN AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Dawn and Giles are reviewing the police file in the kitchen. Andrew walks in.

DAWN
OK, well, here's the one that stood out. It's, um, a mission up north in Gilroy. (hands Giles some files)

ANDREW
(walks up to the counter) Um, Mr. Giles, Faith stole the last meatball-and-mozzarella-flavored hot pocket out of the freezer even though I had called dibs on it.

GILES
(looking at a picture, ignoring Andrew) I don't see anything.

DAWN
Exactly. No vandalism at all.

GILES
Then why is it in the file?

DAWN
The place was abandoned. (Andrew walks to the freezer in a huff) Um... locals started noticing after a few days that no one was going in or out. 6 members of the order lived there, but when the cops showed up... all gone. Unsolved.

ANDREW
(grabs a box from the freezer) Yup. See, the post-it's still here: "Andrew's. Please do not eat." But the box is empty now. (shakes the box)

GILES
Oh.

DAWN
Oh? Oh, good?

GILES
Not sure. Here... (Giles and Dawn walk into the living room; Andrew follows)

Cut to:

16 INT. LIVING ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Giles walks to the desk and pulls a magnifying glass out of the drawer. A bunch of potentials are sitting on the couch and chairs in the living room as well, but they're quiet and solemn-looking.

ANDREW
See, it's not the hot pocket itself— even though it did have that new-and-improved thicker tomato sauce— it's just the fundamental lack of respect.

GILES
(to Andrew) Shut up. Pay attention. (holds the magnifying glass over the photo) Dawn, what do you see?

DAWN
What am I looking for?

GILES
On the back wall, A... knothole.

Through the magnifying glass Dawn can see an imprint of what looks like Caleb's ring in the wood on a wall next to a statue of Mary.

DAWN
That's not a knothole.

GILES
Amanda, would you go down to the basement and get Spike?

DAWN
Maybe this'll help...if this does bring us closer to Caleb.

FAITH
(walks into the room eating a pastry) Sounded like there was news. (Andrew glares at her)

SPIKE
(walks into the room) What's up... Rupert?

GILES
Spike, I have a mission for you.

SPIKE
Oh, really? 'Cause, you know, sometimes our missions end up with you trying to kill me. I'm not fond of those.

GILES
This is bona fide... with real ramifications. Take a look at this. (hands Spike the photo and the magnifying glass)

SPIKE
Looks like our boy's been here. You want me to go check it out?

GILES
I need someone who can take care of themselves in case Caleb has... left some souvenirs. (Spike shrugs and walks toward the door)

ANDREW
(whiney) Are we gonna get to the food-stealing issue soon?

GILES
(calls after Spike) Take Andrew.

ANDREW & SPIKE
(simultaneously, incredulously) What?

DAWN
Well, you are always saying you wanna get out of the house more.

ANDREW
Yeah, but—

GILES
There may be demons... lurking about. You never know. He's a demon expert. He can help.

SPIKE
Oh, please.

GILES
Well, he can bring his pan flute thing along. Excellent. Off you go. (pushes Andrew out of the chair; Andrew follows Spike)

DAWN
(to the other girls) So, see? That's something, right? We'll have some news soon.

AMANDA
Sure. Maybe that'll get us somewhere.

FAITH
(stands) Maybe. (looks at the other girls) In the meantime, the troops here gotta sit and stew, feeling crappier by the minute.

DAWN
We should keep them occupied.

FAITH
Yeah. I know how to keep them occupied.

Cut to:

17 INT. BRONZE NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
Faith and the girls have gone out to the Bronze night club for some recreation. They're dancing, playing pool, drinking and having fun while Nerf Herder plays "Rock City News" on stage.

NERF HERDER (BAND)
(singing) Living on a wing and a prayer, out on the strip nobody cares. Scabbing off a valley chick, sleeping on the practice room floor. Pretty soon the record company will be banging on your door.

Faith dances with a group of four guys. Amanda and a bunch of the potentials dance together. Dawn and Kennedy are dancing together.

KENNEDY
(dancing) What kind of band plays during an apocalypse?

DAWN
(dancing) I think this band might actually be one of the signs.

NERF HERDER (BAND)
(singing) Rock city news. You gotta pay your dues...

Cut to:

18 INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Buffy walks into an empty house.

BUFFY
Hey. Guys, how's it— (looks around, realizes everyone's gone) going?

GILES
(from the dining room) Buffy. Are you hurt?

BUFFY
Oh... Caleb came back looking for seconds.

GILES
My God, is h-he—

BUFFY
Still able to make me see cartoon birdies all around my head? You betcha. The short lack of consciousness was nice. I feel rested. (sits, groans) So...how did those police files work out? Were they helpful?

GILES
Uh...uh... yes. (sits) Very much so, I think. Um... there's evidence that Caleb may have established a foothold up north.

BUFFY
That's great. That's—

GILES
I, um... I sent Spike to look into it. (sips from his mug)

BUFFY
Spike? Is this a mission from which you intend Spike to return alive?

GILES
Yes. (sets down mug) I sent Andrew with him.

BUFFY
Again I ask the question.

GILES
Buffy, you weren't here. Decisions have to be made in your absence.

BUFFY
Yeah, well, those are the ones that have been scaring me.

GILES
I did what I thought was right.

BUFFY
You sent away the one person that's been watching my back—again.

GILES
(quickly, indignant) We're all watching your back.

BUFFY
Funny... that's not really what it feels like. (stands to walk away)

GILES
Buffy—

BUFFY
Where did everybody go?

GILES
What?

BUFFY
Faith. The girls. Where are they?

GILES
Um...Faith thought that the girls could do with some time off their studies. I—I thought...She took them to the Bronze.

Buffy shakes her head, rolls her eyes, and walks out the front door.

Cut to:

19 INT. SHADOW VALLEY WINERY - NIGHT
Caleb is in the wine cellar talking to someone.

CALEB
You know what I figured out tonight? Every high school in this country, from one end to the other, smells exactly alike. Now, why do you suppose that is?

BUFFY/FIRST
(walks out from the shadows) And how was our best girl?

CALEB
They always think they should put up a fight.

BUFFY/FIRST
Did you lay the proper groundwork?

CALEB
That I did. Reckon she got the message, even if she doesn't know it yet. So now the big strong slayer goes back to those girls... she's just so ready to walk them right into it. And all we have to do is give her that one final gentle (sticks his hand through Buffy/First's chest) nudge.

BUFFY/FIRST
Excellent.

Cut to:

20 INT. BRONZE NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
Amanda is sitting down drinking a red drink when Faith comes off the dance floor to have a drink of beer she'd left on the table.

AMANDA
(excited) This is so cool. Buffy would never let us do this. You are so cool. (touches Faith's leg, turns to her friends) This woman is so cool!

FAITH
Hey, hey, how old are you?

AMANDA
17.

FAITH
(takes Amanda's drink from her and drinks it) Yeah, we're gonna get you a real nice 7-up, OK?

Faith heads back to the dance floor. Three police officers walk up to her.

FAITH
(turns, sees the police, smiles) Hey, I was wondering what was taking you boys so long. Where you been?

OFFICER
We're gonna have to ask you to come with us, miss. Outstanding warrants.

FAITH
(playing it cool) Yeah, or we could try this one on instead. How 'bout you guys buy me another drink, (hands them her drink) and we see where the evening takes us.

One of the police officers grabs Faith's hands roughly, puts them behind her, and starts walking her out.

DAWN
(stops dancing when she sees the police with Faith) Hey!

KENNEDY
(follows Dawn over to Faith) What's going on?

FAITH
It's cool. I got it. (an officer takes out his shotgun) It's nothin'. Get—get off me.

OFFICER 4
Shut up.

There's 5 total officers there now, some with their guns drawn, escorting Faith through the crowd as the other girls watch, following them to the door where the officers take Faith out back.

Cut to:

21 EXT. BRONZE NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
The potentials are still inside watching the officers escort Faith outside.

FAITH
I tell you right now, I'm not goin' back to jail. (gently wrestles herself free of the officers' grip)

Faith walks back toward the door to go back inside the Bronze, but an officer pulls the door shut from the inside.

OFFICER
Who said anything about jail?

Faith turns around to look at them to see three officers pointing handguns at her.

Fade to black.

ACT III:
22 EXT. BRONZE NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
Resume. Police officers are pointing their guns at Faith. Faith fights with them, knocking one officer down, and punching two others.

Cut to:

23 INT. BRONZE NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
Dawn, Kennedy, Amanda, Rona and other potentials are gathered around the back door to the Bronze. A police officer holding a shotgun guards it, preventing the girls from following Faith outside.

OFFICER
Stay back. This doesn't concern you.

DAWN
(crosses her arms, approaches the officer confidently) You can't keep us in here.

OFFICER
It'll be over before you know it.

Cut to:

24 EXT. BRONZE NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
The tables have turned outside in the fight between Faith and the police. Faith is lying on the ground as several officers beat her with Billy clubs. She kicks one of them in the ankle, knocking him down, giving her enough time and space to get to her feet. She kicks one man away, but he kicks her, pushing her forward. She punches him.

Cut to:

25 INT. BRONZE NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
The police officer still guards the door with a shotgun, preventing the girls from going out to help Faith.

OFFICER
Trust me—the best thing you can do is wait here.

DAWN
(cockily) Don't listen to him. He won't hurt us. You know what? I'm just gonna go borrow the phone. (starts to walk away)

The officer cocks his gun and shoots at the lights, frightening the girls who scream and duck for cover.

OFFICER
Best thing you can do is wait... here.

Cut to:

26 EXT. BRONZE NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
Faith has overpowered one of the police officers and is straddling him as he lies face-down on the pavement while she punches him. Two other officers pull her off of him.

Cut to:

27 INT. BRONZE NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
The potentials are still trying to get out the back door to help Faith, but the officer is still preventing them.

KENNEDY
(in the officer's face) You're gonna have to shoot us all to stop us.

OFFICER
(smirks) It doesn't really bother me.

RONA
These cops are really gettin' hell mouth.

OFFICER
Back up!

AMANDA
No!

OFFICER
(looks at Amanda) What?

Kennedy takes the gun away from the officer and hits him in the face with the butt of the gun before pointing it at him. The officer knocks the gun out of Kennedy's hands, but can't grab it before Amanda knocks him in the head with a broom handle. On the floor, the officer tries to crawl away, but Rona and Chao-Ahn kick him and then Dawn jumps on his back, kicking and screaming at him. Finally, the girls rush out the back door.

Cut to:

28 EXT. BRONZE NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
The girls rush outside to find Faith lying on her back on the ground, shielding herself with her arms over her face as the police have ganged up on her, beating her with Billy clubs. Kennedy and Amanda go up to the police men and throw them off of Faith. Faith has a chance to get to her feet now and joins in the fight against the police. She kicks a man against the hood of his car, and grabs the club from another, presses it against his throat, and knocks him into a wall. He sinks down to the ground.

BUFFY
(walks up as the fight ends) Faith! What are you doing?

FAITH
Just blowing off steam. Well, it started that way. Turned when the cops went evil on us.

Dawn, Chao-Ahn, Rona and the other girls come out of the club and gather around Buffy and Faith.

BUFFY
Girls, go home. (glares at Faith) I need to talk to Faith for a minute.

DAWN
Buffy, we weren't—

BUFFY
Dawn— you, too. Go. (the girls walk away; to Faith) What is this?

FAITH
They needed a break, all right? They've been running themselves into the ground. Things just got out of hand.

BUFFY
Taking a break is one thing—I get blowing off steam—but they were fighting. And those girls were drunk! What were you thinking?!

FAITH
Seemed like a good idea at the time.

BUFFY
Yeah, what if someone had gotten hurt?

FAITH
They didn't.

BUFFY
Faith, I need to know that these girls are gonna be safe when I'm not around.

FAITH
No one got hurt, B. Look, you don't even know these girls. Maybe you should have a little more confidence in 'em, let them mess up sometimes, you know, get down and dirty. How the hell else are they gonna learn?

BUFFY
Learning from your mistakes is one thing. But you don't throw children into—

FAITH
They're not children.

BUFFY
That really isn't the point. (walks off)

FAITH
Yeah, what about the vineyard?

BUFFY
(stops walking) What?

FAITH
How safe were they when you dragged them off to meet Caleb? How safe was Rona or Amanda or Molly?

Enraged, Buffy punches Faith in the face, knocking her down to the ground. Buffy walks away. Faith touches her face and watches Buffy go, but doesn't follow.

Cut to:

29 EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT
Andrew is riding behind Spike on the motorcycle with his arms around Spike's waist, wearing an old football helmet, and Spike drives them through the California countryside at night.

ANDREW
You sure you don't wanna stop and pick up some burgers or something, you know, road trip food?

SPIKE
It's not a road trip. It's a covert operation.

ANDREW
Right. Right. Gotcha. (beat) I—I bet even covert operatives eat curly fries. They're really good.

SPIKE
(rolls eyes, then) Not as good as those onion blossom things.

ANDREW
Ooh, I love those.

SPIKE
Yeah, me, too.

ANDREW
It's an onion... and it's a flower. I—I don't understand how such a thing is possible.

SPIKE
See, the genius of it is you soak it in ice water for an hour so it holds its shape. Then you deep-fry it root-side up for about 5 minutes.

ANDREW
Masterful.

SPIKE
Yeah. (beat) Tell anyone we had this conversation, I'll bite you.

ANDREW
Right.

Cut to:

30 EXT. FRONT PORCH AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Faith is sitting on the front porch railing smoking a cigarette alone as Robin Wood walks up to the house.

ROBIN WOOD
The big meeting hasn't started yet, has it?

FAITH
God, I hope so.

ROBIN WOOD
Faith?

FAITH
You must be Principal Wood. Heard a lot about you. (takes a drag)

ROBIN WOOD
It hasn't really started yet, has it? 'Cause I, uh... I hate being late.

FAITH
Troops are still gathering. I think you're safe. (nods)

ROBIN WOOD
Looks like someone banged you up pretty well.

FAITH
Yeah. Cops. Mostly.

ROBIN WOOD
Mostly?

FAITH
Yeah. (points to her cheek) This one's from someone who just thinks she's a cop. It's my favorite of all my current bruises.

ROBIN WOOD
So someone who thinks she's a cop, huh? (sits) You gonna have to, like...ice her now or something like that?

FAITH
(grins) I'm not gonna kill her. Wanted to, but didn't. By the way, bully for me since no one else said it.

ROBIN WOOD
For what? For not killing Buffy?

FAITH
It's this new thing I'm tryin'.

ROBIN WOOD
(grins) She told me about you.

FAITH
Believe every word.

ROBIN WOOD
So what changed? I mean... why didn't you fight back?

FAITH
(shrugs) Other things matter more.

ROBIN WOOD
I think you're worried about her.

FAITH
(shakes her head) I think you need to brush up on your Buffy and Faith history.

ROBIN WOOD
(chuckles) All right, if you say so. But I read people pretty well. It's a thing I do.

FAITH
(stands) You, uh, live around here, right?

ROBIN WOOD
Uh, no, not exact— Well, it's the center of town, really.

FAITH
This town, walking anywhere after dark is like an extreme sport. Someone who didn't know you very well might think you were out lookin' for a fight or something. (mock-punches him) Maybe you got bigger issues than what's wrong with B. I read people, too. (a car pulls into the driveway) Xander's home.

Cut to:

31 INT. MISSION - NIGHT
Spike pushes open the creaky front door to the mission as Andrew stands nervously behind him. Spike sighs and walks in, followed by Andrew.

ANDREW
No one's here. These kinda places make me feel funny inside.

SPIKE
I'll buy that. You and me got something else in common after all.

Someone jumps out of a closet as they walk past, grabbing Andrew and pushing him against the wall.

ANDREW
Spike!

Spike pulls the robed man off of Andrew, and the man punches Spike. They start to fight. Spike pushes the man against the wall, and he falls to the ground. Spike pushes the hood off of the man's face to reveal a burn mark on the man's cheek. The mark looks like something Caleb made with his ring.

Cut to:

32 INT. LIVING ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
There's a hastily made yellow banner painted with "WELCOME HOME" in big red letters hanging over the fireplace. Giles, Dawn and the potentials are gathered in the living room as Buffy and Willow escort Xander in the room. Faith and Robin Wood follow, closing the door behind them.

XANDER
(looking around) Oh, God.

KENNEDY
We didn't have time to do more. You have to pretend there's a big party here.

Dawn goes up to Xander and gives him a big, long, tight hug.

XANDER
That's fine. Parties in this house, I usually end up having to... rebuild something.

BUFFY
Welcome home, Xander. I wanted you to be here for this. I think you'll be interested in what I found out.

WILLOW
W-what did you find out?

BUFFY
I-it's about the cellar. Look, I know that night wasn't fun for any of us... but I figured out some things about that place, and I realize now what we have to do. (Giles looks at her, concerned) We're going back in.

Fade to black.

ACT IV:
33 INT. MISSION - NIGHT
Spike and Andrew recognize the shape of the robed man's scar and stare at him. Spike bends down to get a better look.

SPIKE
Tell me about the mark.

MONK
Oh... (covers the scar with his hand)

SPIKE
Hey! Are you part of Caleb's faction?

MONK
(shakes his head) No! No!

SPIKE
Then tell me what happened.

MONK
(weakly, frightened) I c-can't.

ANDREW
(bends down to get in his face) "Can't" is a 4-letter word! I'm Andrew. I'll be your bad cop this evening. You don't start singing, my associate here—

SPIKE
We're trying to fight him. Caleb. We need your help. (Andrew stands)

MONK
You can't fight him. You can't stop him. You can only run.

ANDREW
(bends down to get in his face) "Run" is a 4-letter wor— (catches himself ) A 3-letter word. (stands)

SPIKE
(stands) Talk.

MONK
I'll do better. I'll show you. (Spike offers the man his hand, helping him to his feet) One night, (grabs a candelabra) some time ago, a man arrived at our doors.

SPIKE
And you said, "come in, do some damage"?

MONK
We are—we are a benevolent order, and, yes, we welcomed him. We offered to feed him... but he had come for something else.

The monk walks up to a statue of Mary in an alcove, just as seen on the picture that led Spike here in the first place. He touches a secret lever, causing the statue to swing out of the way, revealing a secret compartment behind it.

MONK
Behind this, he revealed something even we didn't know was here. A secret room. (walks in; Spike and Andrew follow) He was excited, talking the whole time... destiny, that sort of thing.

SPIKE
Yeah. We hear he's a real smooth talker.

MONK
(takes a tapestry off the wall, revealing an inscription behind it) He was going on about this ancient inscription.

ANDREW
Neat.

MONK
He read it... and he didn't like what it said. His temper... He was the purest evil I've ever seen. He burned his mark upon me. And then I ran and I hid... and I listened to the others die.

ANDREW
Running away...saved your life. (Spike takes the candelabra from the monk and walks up to the inscription) What does it say?

The inscription is Latin words written with Greek letters: Non tibi est. Ei solae tractare licet.

SPIKE
(translating) "It is not for thee. It is for her alone to wield."

Cut to:

34 INT. LIVING ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Buffy addresses the meeting of Giles, Dawn, Faith, Willow, Xander, Robin Wood and all the potentials in her living room. Xander is sitting in an overstuffed chair, with Dawn sitting beside him on the arm of the chair. Kennedy is sitting on the sofa, with Willow sitting beside her on the arm of the sofa. Anya is standing beside Willow with her arms crossed.

BUFFY
Look, I know what you're thinking, but I had a visit at the school today from Caleb.

DAWN
Buffy, why didn't you—

BUFFY
I'm fine. I mean, it wasn't fun, but I'm fine. I'm better than fine. I—I figured something out. He kept making all this noise about the school.

ROBIN WOOD
Is it that seal again?

WILLOW
Do we need to try shutting it again?

BUFFY
No, that's just it. We've spent all this time worrying about the seal and the hellmouth. Why isn't Caleb guarding them? Why doesn't he have someone there protecting it? Why is he camped out at the vineyard? The bad guys always go where the power is. So if the seal was so important to Caleb and the First, they would be there right now. They're protecting the vineyard or something at the vineyard. I say it's their power, and I say it's time we go in and take it away from them.

Xander shakes his head and looks down. Giles uncrosses his arms and sighs.

FAITH
(standing beside Robin Wood with her arms crossed) Or, in the alternative, how 'bout...we don't? I mean, it's a neat theory, B, but I'm not going back in that place, not without proof, and neither should you and neither should they.

BUFFY
I'm not saying it's gonna be easy.

ROBIN WOOD
I think Faith had the floor.

FAITH
Maybe it ends OK the way you wanna play it, but maybe it doesn't. And right now, I don't think I want you playin' the odds.

BUFFY
Did you come here to fight?

FAITH
Listen, we're fighters, all of us, but you gotta give me something to fight, something real, not—

GILES
(softly) Windmills. (looks at Buffy)

BUFFY
There is something there.

GILES
Maybe. But we can't be sure of that. This is a hell of a lot to ask.

ROBIN WOOD
Too much.

BUFFY
(grinning nervously, looks around) I—I don't understand this. For 7 years, I've kept us safe by doing this— exactly this, making the hard decisions. And now, what— suddenly you're all acting like you can't trust me?

GILES
Didn't you say to me today you can't trust us? Maybe there's something there that should be addressed.

BUFFY
Is that why you sent Spike away, to ambush me?

GILES
(rolls his eyes, sighs) Oh, come on.

RONA
You know what? I am sick of your deal with this Spike guy. This isn't about him. This is about you. You're being reckless.

BUFFY
(steps back) What?

RONA
You are! I don't even know you, and I can tell! You are so obsessed with beating Caleb, you are willing to jump into any plan without thinking.

BUFFY
(through gritted teeth) That's not what I'm doing.

KENNEDY
(stands, walks up to Buffy) Well, that's how it feels to us. People are dying.

WILLOW
(stands, walks up to Kennedy) Kennedy...

KENNEDY
(turns and snaps at Willow) Why are you always standing up for her?

WILLOW
(softly, sadly) I'm not.

BUFFY
What do you mean, you're not?

WILLOW
With everything that's happened, I— (shrugs) I'm worried about your judgment.

BUFFY
(looks around) Look, I wish this could be a democracy. I really do. Democracies don't win battles. (Xander looks away) It's a hard truth, but there has to be a single voice. You need someone to issue orders and be reckless sometimes and not take your feelings into account. You need someone to lead you.

ANYA
(calmly) And it's automatically you. (looks at Buffy) You really do think you're better than we are.

BUFFY
No, I—

ANYA
But we don't know. We don't know if you're actually better. I mean, you came into the world with certain advantages, sure. I mean, that's the legacy.

BUFFY
I—

ANYA
But you didn't earn it. You didn't work for it. You've never had anybody come up to you and say you deserve these things more than anyone else. They were just handed to you. So that doesn't make you better than us. It makes you luckier than us.

BUFFY
I've gotten us this far.

XANDER
But not without a price.

BUFFY
Xander—

XANDER
I'm trying to see your point here, Buff... but I guess it must be a little bit to my left... (shakes his head) 'cause I just don't.

BUFFY
Look, I'm willing to talk strategy, OK, I'll hear suggestions on how to break this down, but this is the plan. We have to be together on this or we will fail again.

GILES
We are clearly demonstrating that we are not together on this!

BUFFY
(commandingly) Which is why you have to fall in line! I'm still in charge here.

RONA
Why is that, exactly?

BUFFY
Because I'm the slayer.

RONA
And isn't Faith a slayer, too?

FAITH
(caught off guard) What? Whoa, whoa, whoa. So not what I meant. I'm not in charge chick. I think B here needs to just...chill out for a little bit, take a siesta or something. But I'm not the one you want.

KENNEDY
Maybe we need a vote... to see who wants Faith to have a turn in charge.

BUFFY
(sternly) No.

KENNEDY
No, what?

BUFFY
No. You don't get to vote until I've had my chance to pal around, you know, get everybody drunk. See, I didn't get this was a popularity contest. I should have equal time to bake them cookies, braid their hair—

FAITH
Learn their names?

BUFFY
(laughs) You're just lovin' this, aren't you?

FAITH
You have no idea what I'm feeling.

BUFFY
(low, mean) Come in here, take everything that I have... You did it before. Did you tell them that? Did you tell them how you used to kill people for fun? Hey, you guys think that's nifty?

GILES
Buffy, that's enough!

FAITH
I didn't come here to take anything away from you, but I'm not gonna be your little lapdog, either. I came here to beat the other guy, to do right, however it works. I don't know if I can lead. But the real question is...can you follow?

ROBIN WOOD
So we vote.

BUFFY
Wait. Guys—

Buffy looks around—Anya's crossed her arms and stares back with pursed lips; Willow looks away—Buffy searches their faces.

BUFFY
I can't watch you just throw away everything that— (looks at Xander and at Dawn, who's not meeting her glance; Buffy holds her head up high) I know I'm right about this. I just need a little— I can't stay here and watch her lead you into some disaster.

DAWN
(stands, walks up to Buffy, softly) Then you can't stay here. Buffy, I love you, but you were right. We have to be together on this. You can't be a part of it. (Buffy blinks her eyes in disbelief) So I need you to leave. I'm sorry, but this is my house, too.

Buffy looks around then walks out the front door.

RONA
Ding dong, the witch is dead.

DAWN
(low, angrily) Shut your mouth.

Cut to:

35 EXT. FRONT PORCH AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Faith follows Buffy outside.

FAITH
(concerned) Hey. Look, I swear I didn't want it to go this way—

BUFFY
(sternly) Don't.

FAITH
I mean it, I—

BUFFY
Don't...be afraid to lead them. (Buffy's face is wet with tears) Whether you wanted it or not, their lives are yours. It's only gonna get harder. Protect them, (looks at Faith) but lead them.

Faith walks back inside the house. Her face tear-streaked, Buffy walks down the front walk alone.

Cut to:

Closing credits.