Split Decision: Complete Script
by Falstaff
SPLIT DECISION
A script for the television series Buffy: The Vampire Slayer
by Glen Eric Reed and Jim Balcerek
Historian's Note: This teleplay is a facsimile of an original shooting script for a non-existent episode. Efforts were made to have it appear as "authentic" as possible. In addition to fitting it into the established timeline, formatting conventions were matched to existing shooting scripts. This includes draft designations and camera references not normally included in spec scripts.
This episode fits into the timeline as follows:
5V17 - 24 February 1998 - "Passion"
Angel continues to torment Buffy. Jenny tries to curse Angel with a soul again, but he stops her - permanently.
5V171/2 - Preempted - "Split Decision"
Originally planned as an extra episode for February Sweeps, pulled for a very special "Dawson's Creek" where Dawson discovers it's not actually his creek.
5V18 - 3 March 1998 - "Killed by Death"
A raging fever sends Buffy to a hospital, where her fever enables her to see a normally invisible monster that preys on children.
This script is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the authors' imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
"Split Decision"
TEASER
INT. THE FACTORY - EVENING
The factory is in a shambles. Nothing but a burnt-out shell is
all that remains of its former glory ... which wasn't all that
glorious to begin with.
ANGEL stands at a long table, leafing through a newspaper. He
doesn't even look away from the paper as SPIKE wheels up
noisily behind him, steering around bits of charred debris.
ANGEL
You know, I love that chair.
Almost as good as tying a bell
around your neck.
SPIKE
Thanks for the sympathy, mate.
Seen Dru?
Drusilla wanders in as Angel closes up the paper.
DRUSILLA
I'm right here, Spike. But Angel
and I are going out.
SPIKE
Out where?
ANGEL
Hunting. House hunting. Nowhere
without stairs or steep inclines,
roller boy.
DRUSILLA
Oh, don't worry, my darling, we'll
bring you back a nummy treat.
Angel takes Drusilla's arm and leads her out. As they go, he
tosses a section of the paper over his shoulder to Spike.
ANGEL
Why don't you make yourself useful
while we're gone, and look through
these.
Spike looks down at the paper, then slowly back up at Angel.
SPIKE
(incredulously)
Real estate ads? Have you gone
dotty?
ANGEL
Just look in the fashionable part
of town. I'm tired of these fixer-
uppers.
He and Drusilla exit as debris falls to the floor.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL (LIBRARY) - DAY
WILLOW is sitting at a table, taking notes from a large book
open in front of her. XANDER sits opposite her, staring very
thoughtfully at the ceiling.
Willow eventually reaches a good pausing point and stops to
look up at Xander.
WILLOW
Shouldn't you be studying?
XANDER
What's the point?
WILLOW
Learning?
XANDER
Oh, I'm not much for the book
learnin', Will. I'm more the
"student of life" type. Or would
be, if I had more of a life to
speak of.
BUFFY walks in, seemingly on some sort of mission, and heads
straight back to Giles's office. She barely pauses long enough
for:
BUFFY
Hey guys.
WILLOW
Hey Buffy.
XANDER
Not there.
Buffy goes to open the door and walk into the office. The door
being locked, however, she ends up just walking into the door.
WILLOW
Oh, ow!
BUFFY
Um, where's Giles?
XANDER
Not there.
BUFFY
Yeah, I got that part. So if he's
not there, where is he? Back in
the stacks?
She starts walking toward the actual book part of the library.
XANDER
Not there, either. Not here at
all.
BUFFY
Okay, so where?
WILLOW
We were hoping you'd be able to
tell us. He called in sick today.
He's never called in sick before.
(to Xander) I mean, has he?
XANDER
Yeah, I always thought Giles was
pretty much the "tough guy." You
know, in a British sort of way.
BUFFY
You think he's okay?
XANDER
(sarcastically)
Oh, gee, and why wouldn't he be
after that whole vendetta thing?
You know, the big conflagration at
the factory?
WILLOW
Conflagration?
XANDER
Hey, I know big words, too!
BUFFY
Guess I should go check on him.
WILLOW
Well, you know that's what he'd do
for you.
BUFFY
Would he? He would. But ... you
think he wants someone checking up
on him?
XANDER
Yeah. If he needs checking up on.
WILLOW
Oh! Sure, you know big words, but
you end sentences with two
prepositions.
BUFFY
Okay, I'd better just go check on
Giles before you guys suck me into
this fascinating conversation.
XANDER
And you know we will suck.
Willow and Buffy give Xander an odd look.
XANDER (Cont.)
You in.
BUFFY
I'm going.
XANDER
Ooh, say "hi" from us.
Buffy leaves, nearly as urgently as she entered. Willow picks
her pencil back up and looks at her book for a second. She
stops, puts down her pencil, and looks back up at Xander, who
has already resumed staring at the ceiling.
WILLOW
I'm worried about him.
XANDER
Will, relax. It's Giles. He's like
a big bowl full of stable-ness.
INT. GILES'S APARTMENT - DAY
CLOSE ON: A big bowl full of herbs, slightly smoldering.
ANGLE ON: GILES
As he looks down at a thick, open text and sprinkles a bit of
some liquid into the bowl. He is uncharacteristically unkempt,
messy and unshaven, wearing a rumpled shirt with the sleeves
rolled up.
ANGLE ON: A BOOK
Closed, beside the open one. It's leather-bound, black, and
contains an inverted pentagram on the cover with the word
"Magicks" in evil-looking print below.
BLACK OUT.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
INT. GILES'S APARTMENT - DAY
Giles continues with his spell, sitting at a table and mixing
various ingredients into the bowl as he reads from the book:
GILES
Fortuna mutata praeteritus,
depreador nefas. En claro veritas,
et damnata subjectios.... (Fortune
will change to past, lay waste to
what is wrong. Make the truth
clear, and damn the lies.)
Suddenly, he is interrupted by a KNOCK at the door.
BUFFY (OS)
Giles? It's Buffy!
GILES
Innupsit tempus ... tempus
amori.... (Give me time ... time
for love....)
BUFFY (OS)
Giles?
Giles struggles to find his place in the book and continue his
spell.
GILES
Tempus amori ... tempus amori....
(to closed door) Buffy, go away!
BUFFY (OS)
Giles, don't-
GILES
Buffy, please, just go! I'll see
you at school.
ANGLE ON: GILES'S FRONT DOOR
As it gets FORCED open by Buffy. As she enters, Giles stands
from his table, inadvertently knocking a vial of liquid into
the bowl. The smoldering from the bowl increases, though Giles
doesn't seem to notice.
BUFFY
School? Where you obviously
aren't?
Giles just stares at the door. Buffy glances back over her
shoulder at it.
BUFFY (Cont.)
Oh, yeah, I'll pay for that.
GILES
Damn right you will. Look, I
appreciate your concern, but my
own truancy aside, I really don't
think Principal Snyder will abide
by your-
Buffy notices the spell paraphernalia on his table.
BUFFY
(accusingly)
What is this? A new recipe for
stew?
GILES
It's a very complicated and
delicate spell.
BUFFY
So what, you're reliving your
youth and summoning creepy demons
again?
GILES
Certainly not. I'm simply trying
to put things right.
BUFFY
What things?
She walks up to Giles and spies a picture of Jenny Calendar on
the table, beside the bowl.
BUFFY
Giles, you can't change the past!
If I could fix what I did, don't
you think I would have done that
myself by now? You think I like
the way things are? What's become
of Angel? What happened to Ms.
Calendar?
GILES
Buffy, I know what's best.
BUFFY
You always say that, but don't you
even see what you're trying to do?
You know it can't work. These-
these ... things, can't help.
She idly picks up a bundle of some root or another as an
example, and drops it into the bowl instead of back on the
table. There is a bright FLASH of light.
BUFFY
Oops.
GILES
Buffy, leave now.
BUFFY
Giles, I didn't mean-
GILES
Go!
Buffy slinks out, pulling the door shut behind her (as shut as
it can get after she forced it open). Giles goes about
cleaning the mess that used to be his spell. He looks around
for the books, which have mysteriously disappeared.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - DAY
Buffy trudges along a typical Sunnydale street, a look of
lingering anger on her face.
BUFFY
Thinks he's always right. If I
were him and he were me ... he'd
be all (imitating Giles badly)
"You can't tamper with the natural
forces of ... nature," or
something or other.
She stops near a telephone pole, taking notice of a flyer
stapled to it. The large print on the flyer reads "Join the
WHITE HATS! We need you! Tonight, 7:00, at the Bronze."
BUFFY
White Hats? Never heard of them.
Must be one of those "college
rock" bands.
Resuming her angered expression, staring at the ground in
front of her, she continues down the street, OUT OF FRAME.
CAMERA TRACKS TO CLOSE SHOT OF FLYER. We can now see smaller
print on the flyer, which reads "Help us protect Sunnydale
from the coming forces of darkness."
SLOW DRIFT to a WIDER ANGLE. Buffy continues trudging along,
head down. We now see a flyer on nearly every telephone pole
on the street.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL (LIBRARY) - DAY
Buffy enters the library, goes to the checkout desk, and
starts to put down her stuff. She talks to WILLOW and XANDER,
who are seated at the same table as when she left.
BUFFY
Turns out Mr. "Called Out Sick"
was fooling around with some kind
of magic....
GILES suddenly pops up from behind the counter, startling
Buffy. He is cleaned up and dressed in his typical tweed suit.
GILES
Can I help you?
BUFFY
Giles! How did you...? I mean, you
had to change clothes, and-and
shave, and ... that car of yours
can't go that fast!
Giles just continues to stare at her blankly.
BUFFY (Cont.)
So now what? You're going to
pretend like it never happened and
go along your merry way?
GILES
I'm sorry; what was it that never
happened?
BUFFY
Don't even try.
GILES
(confused)
And what is it exactly that I
shouldn't try?
BUFFY
Okay, did you hit your head or
something? Enough of the soap
opera gag!
GILES
I have no idea what you mean. I'm
not playing a "gag" on you.
(slightly offended) I would never
do such a thing, particularly with
a student I don't even know. Are
you sure you're feeling all right?
The Nurse's office is just down
the hall.
He comes out from behind the counter and tries to escort Buffy
to the doors, but she doesn't budge.
BUFFY
What do you mean, you don't know
me? How could you say that? (in
realization) Wait, maybe that
spell backfired and gave you
amnesia!
(pause)
And super speed as an added bonus.
She looks past Giles.
BUFFY (Cont.)
Guys, how long has Giles been
here?
Xander's jaw drops open, as if seeing Buffy for the first
time. He stands up to meet her.
XANDER
(trying to be suave)
Oh, I don't know. I don't hang out
with the books, usually.
Buffy looks at him quizzically as he stands and walks over.
XANDER (Cont.)
Xander. Is me. Hi.
BUFFY
Yeah, I know. Haven't we been
through this already?
WILLOW
Hi, I'm Willow.
BUFFY
And I'm getting a major wiggins.
And some serious déjà vu. So you
all have no idea who I am?
XANDER
Well, I, for one, would really
like to change that.
BUFFY
Okay, back off, hormone boy. So
that stupid spell turned me into
Total Stranger Girl. We'll just
have to find another spell to turn
me back.
WILLOW
(to Giles)
Ooh, we get to look for spells
today?
GILES
Well, I suppose if we're to....
No. No, we have much work ahead of
us. We don't have time to coddle
some girl who may simply be
suffering from some sort of ...
delusion.
BUFFY
Delusion!? Giles, it was your
spell that did this to me in the
first place, so I think it's up to
you to undo it.
Giles glares at her.
GILES
Look, why don't you just have a
seat, and we'll try to get to the
bottom of this, Miss...?
Buffy rolls her eyes.
BUFFY
Buffy. Buffy Summers?
GILES
(realizing)
You're.... Aren't you supposed to
be in Cleveland? When I left the
Council, I was under the
impression that-
BUFFY
Wait, so you have heard of me?
GILES
(matter-of-fact)
You're the Slayer.
WILLOW
What's a Slayer?
GILES
Someone who could be of great help
to us. Into every generation, a
Slayer is born.
GILES and BUFFY
One girl, in all the world-
BUFFY
Enough! Ok, guys, Cliffs Notes
version: I have special powers, I
kick vampire and demon butt, blah
blah. Get it?
GILES
Yes, I suppose that's an adequate
description for anyone lacking any
hint of an attention span.
WILLOW
Great! So do you want to join up
with us? We're forming a club. A
sort of vigilante-fighting-force-
demon-battling kinda club, I
guess.
XANDER
Yeah, we're recruiting at the
Bronze tonight.
BUFFY
Wait, you guys are the White Hats?
WILLOW
Oh, you saw one of my flyers!
BUFFY
No, I saw about a hundred of them.
You might want to tone down the
advertising, with all the nasties
in town.
WILLOW
We need all the help we can get.
It's getting really scary around
here.
BUFFY
That's the Hellmouth for you.
GILES
Yes, but it's become much worse
since....
He looks past her, perplexed.
BUFFY
Since what?
She turns around to see
ANGLE ON: ANOTHER GILES
Standing in the doorway. He is also dressed in his usual
tweed, only in a different shade of brown or grey. He sees his
alternate self (who we'll now call Alt.Giles) already present.
BUFFY
And ... you must be the stunt
double?
GILES
Buffy, you're here!
BUFFY
Yeah, and so are you. (indicating
Alt.Giles) And you.
(pause)
Wait, so you remember me?
GILES
Yes, of course. After you left, I
noticed that my spell books were
gone. I figured I should follow,
to see if you had taken them, and,
well ... it would appear that the
spell worked. But given your
interference, it perhaps worked in
ways I hadn't intended.
WILLOW
(to Buffy and Giles)
So you two know each other?
Buffy nods.
WILLOW (Cont.)
(to Buffy and Alt.Giles)
But you two don't?
Alt.Giles nods.
WILLOW (Cont.)
(to Giles and Alt.Giles)
And you two are the same two?
GILES
More or less, I suppose.
They look at each other's similar suits.
XANDER
Which one of you is the evil one?
ALT.GILES
(offended)
Pardon?
XANDER
Neither of you has a goatee, so
it's kind of hard to tell.
GILES
I'll handle this. Xander, please
shut up.
XANDER
One vote for the new guy.
GILES
So none of you know Buffy at all?
WILLOW
No. And we've only known you for a
couple of weeks. Well, the other
you. Er, him.
She points to Alt.Giles.
ALT.GILES
(to Giles)
I only just arrived a month ago.
My personal research showed a
Hellmouth beneath Sunnydale, but
the Council ... well, they didn't
exactly see things my way.
WILLOW
What council?
GILES
(to Buffy)
This is all very interesting. It's
as if history has rewritten itself
to prevent you from coming to
Sunnydale.
BUFFY
But why?
ALT.GILES
Something to do with your spell?
GILES
Perhaps. I was attempting to bring
someone back. Someone dear to me,
who had been wrongfully killed.
(pause)
Buffy attempted to stop me, but
she must have accidentally
triggered the spell as I was
casting it. It appears to have
protected us while changing the
rest of the world.
ALT.GILES
But nothing has changed.
GILES
No, I suppose it wouldn't have,
not from your point of view.
(realizing) Which could mean....
ALT.GILES
Are you thinking what I'm
thinking?
GILES
I assume you've read Tegmark's
theories on parallel universes.
ALT.GILES
How there are theoretically an
infinite number of possible
outcomes, hence an infinite number
of possible universes?
ANGLE ON: WILLOW AND XANDER
As they watch the conversation between Giles and Alt.Giles.
GILES (OS)
And it's just a matter of
traversing the correct distance.
ALT.GILES (OS)
To travel to any one such parallel
reality.
XANDER
You know, it's kinda like watching
tennis. Only even more boring.
Return to MASTER SHOT.
GILES
Thanks to my spell, it appears
Buffy and I have managed to
transport from our reality into
yours.
BUFFY
Where we obviously don't belong.
So we need to find a way to get
home, pronto.
GILES
Agreed. Now then: You didn't take
my books?
BUFFY
Nope. No kleptomania for Buffy.
GILES
Then the books, and the spell, are
most likely still in our own
reality. I suppose this
complicates matters a bit.
BUFFY
So what do we do? Click our heels
together three times and chant
"there's no place like home"?
GILES
Well, we can start by searching
here for a way to....
He stops and stares in the direction of the doors. Buffy turns
around to see what's stopped him.
ANGLE ON: JENNY CALENDAR
Alive and well, standing at the doors.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL (LIBRARY) - SECONDS LATER
Giles smiles as he watches Jenny enter the library.
JENNY
(to Alt.Giles)
You never told me you had a twin
brother, Rupert.
She stops next to Alt.Giles, but out of his personal space.
ALT.GILES
I don't, exactly. This is, in
fact, also me ... but from another
reality.
Giles continues to smile and stare, speechless.
JENNY
Hi. Well I guess these things are
bound to happen around here.
(noticing Buffy) Did we find
ourselves a new recruit?
ALT.GILES
This is Buffy. The Vampire Slayer.
JENNY
(impressed)
The Slayer? Good. Now we might
actually stand a chance.
BUFFY
A chance?
ALT.GILES
Sunnydale is becoming a very
dangerous place. The death count
is rising, and there have been an
increasing number of vampire
sightings. We suspect that an army
is forming. They've become
organized.
JENNY
We can't face an organized army on
our own, but no one wants to
listen to us. Except some of the
students.
WILLOW
I saw my first vampire a couple of
weeks ago. There was this guy, who
came out of nowhere, and jumped
right in front of us, and his face
just ... changed, and ... and
that's just not normal!
XANDER
Then Giles shows up, flashes a
cross at this guy, and he just
freaked. Didn't take much more
convincing for us.
ALT.GILES
If I'm right, then we are in dire
need of more help.
JENNY
We hoped we could find some at the
Bronze tonight. But with you here-
BUFFY
Only I'm not here. Not supposed to
be, anyway. Look, as much as I
want to help, I just don't belong
here. And neither does Giles. My
Giles. We have to get back home.
GILES
Perhaps we needn't be in such a
hurry. We've had a great deal of
experience with vampires and may
be of some help to our
counterparts here.
He takes a few steps toward Jenny.
BUFFY
And what about the people back
home? They need us, too! Besides,
they already have a Giles here.
GILES
I should at least take the time to
tell them what I know, to give
them some bit of an advantage. (to
Jenny) Now, am I to understand
that-
BUFFY
Are you sure that's all you need
time for?
GILES
(snappish)
Buffy, need I remind you that
we're here because of our own
errors? You can sit here and-and
... pout all you want, but I plan
to help for as long as we're here.
ALT.GILES
(trying to defuse
the situation)
Perhaps Willow and Xander could
assist Buffy in finding a
teleportation spell.
XANDER
(to Buffy)
I'm all yours....
Buffy and Willow look at him.
XANDER (Cont.)
To help you, with the spell-
finding.
GILES
Fine. While you take care of that,
I can inform Jenny ... and myself
... of what we've learned.
BUFFY
And where are we supposed to start
our research? I don't even know
what we're looking for. I wasn't
the one casting spells, remember?
ALT.GILES
Not to worry. Willow has really
become quite good with occult
research.
WILLOW
It's a gift.
JENNY
(to Giles)
We're heading to the Bronze to set
things up for tonight if you'd
like to come along.
GILES
Certainly. I can fill you in on
the way. And perhaps point out
those who may be sympathetic to
your cause. Or at least were, in
my reality.
JENNY
Great!
They smile at one another as Buffy and Alt.Giles look on.
EXT. ALLEY BY THE BRONZE - EARLY EVENING
Giles and Jenny walk side-by-side, Alt.Giles just a step
behind. Jenny carries a large duffel bag, and Alt.Giles has a
briefcase. Giles looks relaxed and happy.
JENNY
So she actually did die, then?
GILES
Well, yes, but only for a moment.
She defeated The Master in the
end, of course.
JENNY
Why "of course"?
ALT.GILES
Oh! I think I see. Yes, the Master
arose here as well, only without
Buffy here....
Giles stops short, near the door to the Bronze.
GILES
You mean the Master is here, in
your reality, free of the
Hellmouth?
JENNY
Who do you think is organizing the
army?
GILES
That certainly doesn't bode well.
JENNY
Has anyone ever told you you're
cute when you're panicked?
Giles's look of panic fades to a smile, and he lets out a
bashful little LAUGH.
GILES
Yes, well ... thank you.
Alt.Giles motions to the doors.
ALT.GILES
Shall we get things started?
JENNY
Why don't you go ahead in, Rupert.
I just want to talk to ... Rupert
about something for a minute.
ALT.GILES
All right. I'll see you both
inside then.
Alt.Giles enters the Bronze. Giles removes his glasses and
flashes his best smile at Jenny. He puts his hand on her
shoulder, a bit too familiarly, considering he doesn't
actually know her.
GILES
So, what was it you wanted to
discuss?
She looks at his hand, but doesn't remove it.
JENNY
This. There's something you
haven't told me, isn't there?
(pause)
Rupert?
GILES
Yes, I....
He CLEARS HIS THROAT, and takes his hand off her shoulder,
suddenly realizing his impropriety.
GILES (Cont.)
I suppose I should've mentioned,
uh, Jenny and I - my Jenny - I
mean, back in my reality ... we
had a sort of ... well, we had a
"thing" together.
JENNY
I can see why. I mean, I never
noticed anything with our stuffy
Mr. Giles, but you're very
handsome and charming.
(pause)
But ... why "had"?
GILES
We should really go inside.
JENNY
Rupert....
GILES
I can't.
(pause)
All that matters is what's
happening here and now, and that
while I'm here, I will do
everything I can to ... protect
you, Jenny.
She looks at him silently, and as what he said sinks in, she
hugs him. He wraps his arms around her tightly.
INT. THE BRONZE - EVENING
Onstage, A BAND is playing a quiet BALLAD for a sound check.
OZ sits behind a mixing board, occasionally making a subtle
adjustment to a control, as he talks with Alt.Giles.
ALT.GILES
We could certainly use your
support. Everyone's support,
actually.
OZ
So vampires are real? Wild.
ALT.GILES
Indeed. Can we count on your
assistance, then? And perhaps
(indicating the band) some of your
friends?
OZ
Yeah, I'm in.
ALT.GILES
Splendid!
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL (LIBRARY) - EVENING
Buffy, Willow, and Xander are seated at a table, with an
assortment of large books lying around everywhere. They each
have an open book in front of them, reading as they talk.
WILLOW
So you really spend all your time
killing demons?
BUFFY
Not all. Just most.
XANDER
Don't you ever get to have any
fun? You know, of the non-demony
kind?
BUFFY
Once in a while.
(then, serious)
Not much lately, though.
WILLOW
It must be tough. Having all that
responsibility and pressure.
BUFFY
(chipper)
Yeah, but I have you guys. The
other you guys, I mean. Back home
we're pretty tight. We've faced a
lot together.
WILLOW
You mean, we're your sidekicks?
XANDER
So we're like ... The Slayerettes?
Or something much more masculine-
sounding?
WILLOW
Hey, I think I found something!
BUFFY
Really?
WILLOW
It's a spell for a reality-fold
portal. Oh, but it's just a
translation. It says we need the
original Latin.
XANDER
It says we need the Latin, but it
doesn't give us the Latin? Gee,
that's helpful.
WILLOW
I think we're going to need some
stuff, too.
BUFFY
What kind of stuff?
WILLOW
(reading)
"Pyrian Powder, Crystals of
Oracite, and a Fermian Urn."
XANDER
(sarcastically)
Oh, well then why don't we just
stop off at the Ralphs on the way?
WILLOW
Wait, there's a magic shop in
town, right on Main Street! We
could go there.
XANDER
Will, I don't think we can
substitute crystals of oversight
and a furry urn with brightly
colored hankies and a top hat with
a rabbit inside.
WILLOW
Not that kind of magic.
BUFFY
No, I think she's right. At least
if it's like the one where I come
from. Next to the dress store?
WILLOW
That's the one! Oh, but they close
at 7:30. And we're supposed to be
at The Bronze soon. There's no way
we'll have time to find the Latin,
check in with Giles, and still get
to the shop before it closes.
XANDER
Simple: We split up. Will, you and
Buffy can find the translation,
and I'll run to the magic shop. We
can meet back up with Giles and
the others at the Bronze.
BUFFY
Xander, wait; it's sundown....
XANDER
Don't worry guys. I'm packing
heat.
He whips out a large cross and a stake.
XANDER (Cont.)
Okay, so crystal overbite ... and,
what else?
Willow writes something on a slip of paper and hands it to
Xander.
WILLOW
Here's everything we need.
BUFFY
Be careful.
XANDER
I will. Just take care of Willow.
Xander tucks the stake into his pocket, takes the slip, and
heads for the doors.
INT. THE BRONZE - NIGHT
Things are looking more organized and orderly in the Bronze
than we've ever seen before. Alt.Giles is on the stage, with a
microphone in his hand.
ALT.GILES
And this is why we need your help.
Why Sunnydale needs your help!
Without an organized resistance,
no one stands a chance of
survival. We're turning to you,
our town's youth, for support.
Jenny shouts from the back of the crowd. She stands behind a
table with a small stack of papers in front of her.
JENNY
We're asking you to sign on with
us - literally. (indicating
papers) This petition will be sent
to the mayor, and with enough
signatures showing support and
belief, we may get the authorities
to listen to us.
In another area off to the side, Giles talks with Oz.
OZ
So in your reality, I've got my
own band?
GILES
Well ... you play guitar for them.
OZ
Cool. And a girlfriend?
GILES
Yes. Willow. Willow Rosenberg.
(off Oz's blank look)
Junior, red hair ... rather shy.
OZ
Right. Who?
Jenny gestures to get Giles's attention.
JENNY
Giles? I could really use you over
here.
GILES
Yes. Of course, be right there.
EXT. BEHIND THE BRONZE - NIGHT
Back behind the Bronze, in the darkening twilight, a VAMPIRE
stands peering through a heavily tinted window. Inside, we can
just make out the silhouette of Alt.Giles, in profile, on the
stage. To the left of the vampire, the MASTER steps into view,
turning to look through the window.
MASTER
Look at them in there. Like cattle
awaiting the slaughter.
(pause)
What do you say to ending their
wait?
A CHEER resounds, and we PULL BACK to reveal what looks like
as many as a hundred VAMPIRES, champing at the bit.
EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET - NIGHT
Xander runs along, clutching his cross so tight, it's a wonder
his hand's not bleeding. He stops for a moment to catch his
breath.
XANDER
Brilliant move. Leave the hot
superhero chick back at the
library, and volunteer for the
suicide mission solo. At least we
could've died together.
He turns in a circle, looking nervously around him, and ends
up facing the same way he started.
XANDER (Cont.)
Next to the dress store. And why
would I know where that is?
In frustration, he bangs the cross against the side of his leg
... and lets out a YELP as it cuts into his hand.
XANDER (Cont.)
Ow! Ow! Damnit, what woodshop
flunky made this thing? Ever heard
of a sander?
He shakes his hand out, flinging a bit of blood into the
street. He looks down at the blood.
XANDER (Cont.)
Great. Vampire chum.
As if on cue, a LONE VAMPIRE lurks into view out of the
darkness.
XANDER (Cont.)
Great ... vampire chum! Buddy!
Pal! Hey, uh, what say we go make
with the killing and the drinking
of the blood?
The vampire eyes up the cross in Xander's hand and gives him a
doubting look.
XANDER (Cont.)
What? This old thing?
He tosses the cross aside.
XANDER (Cont.)
Just burning my hand anyway.
Y'know, that whole vampires-are-
hurt-by-crosses thing.
No response. Xander CHUCKLES, then catches himself and tries
to give his best tough-guy glare.
XANDER (Cont.)
But I kinda like the pain.
ANOTHER VAMPIRE walks up.
OTHER VAMPIRE
Good thing.
He pulls the stake from Xander's pocket and points it at him.
XANDER
Hey guys. No need to stake a
brother-in-fangs.
The vampire throws the stake to the ground. Xander takes off
running. The two vampires chase after, along with a THIRD
VAMPIRE, who runs in from the shadows.
INT. THE BRONZE - NIGHT
Alt.Giles continues talking to the crowd from the stage.
ALT.GILES
I'd like to thank you all for
signing on with us. With your
help, we can protect Sunnydale
from....
The window near him SHATTERS as a vampire crashes through it.
Several others follow him inside. More come in through the
main entrance, surrounding the crowd. The Master is the last
to appear, slowly stepping through the shattered window.
MASTER
(to crowd)
How good of you all to come
tonight. It shall be an exquisite
feast. (to vampires) Kill them
all!
The vampires begin to pounce on the defenseless patrons. Jenny
reaches into a duffel bag and pulls out various weapons,
handing some to Giles. They make their way through the
defenseless crowd, arming them with the few spare stakes and
crosses.
A vampire attacks Alt.Giles on the stage. Thinking fast, he
grabs the mic stand and swings at the vamp, CLOCKING him with
the base.
Meanwhile, the Master drops a drained victim to the floor.
MASTER
Feast, my minions, for this night
will bring about a new age for our
kind!
ANGLE ON: A GIRL
About to be bitten by a vampire. A hand presses a cross
against the vamp's face, DRIVING him back toward the wall. As
he holds his face in pain, the business end of a stake is
DRIVEN into his heart, turning him to dust.
Giles steps into view, his hand on the other end of the stake.
He nods to Jenny, who was holding the cross. Jenny hands her
the cross
JENNY
(to the girl)
Take this, and get out of here.
Hurry!
The girl stares in disbelief, then heads for the door. Jenny
pulls a crossbow out of the duffel bag, and she and Giles head
off to another area.
ANGLE ON: OZ
As he watches as two vampires terrorize some FOOTBALL PLAYERS.
He grabs a chair and swings it at one of the vampires, which
only serves to get his attention. They STRUGGLE over the chair
until it breaks apart. Oz falls backwards on the floor, and
the vampire lunges to attack him.
Just before reaching Oz, the vampire is grabbed from behind by
LARRY. Larry holds the vampire in a full nelson as Oz quickly
gets up, grabs a piece of the broken chair, and STAKES the
vampire with it.
OZ
Thanks, man.
Larry just nods mutely, so we don't have to pay him as much as
Other Vampire.
ANGLE ON: GILES
As he struggles with a vampire. Jenny tries to take aim with
the crossbow.
GILES
Not yet!
He SLAMS the vampire against the wall and quickly backs away.
GILES (Cont.)
Now!
Jenny fires the crossbow, LAUNCHING a bolt into the vampire's
heart and turning him to dust. As Giles catches his breath, he
turns to something in the corner. The Master, gazing about at
the carnage, turns his attention to the same corner. He
frowns, and turns to speak to his right-hand vampire.
MASTER
The vampire vigilante. Killing his
own kind to try to save the
pitiful humans.
ANGLE ON: THE VAMPIRE VIGILANTE
His face is turned away from us, but his dark spiky hair is
all too familiar. He has a vampire pinned against the wall,
his forearm on the vamp's throat. The vampire struggles to
free himself, then suddenly turns to dust. As we see the stake
in the vigilante's hand, Giles recognizes him.
GILES
(calling)
Angel?
The Master and Angel both turn to Giles, caught off guard that
someone knows Angel's name. Suddenly, Angel is PUMMELED by two
more vampires, who push him out the back exit.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
EXT. STREET NEAR THE BRONZE (MOVING) - NIGHT
Buffy and Willow walk side-by-side as they head to the Bronze.
Buffy has a stake in her hand; Willow, a wooden cross and a
thick book.
WILLOW
And when you ... well, you
know.... He turned ... evil?
BUFFY
The evilest. Like, no-soul, kill-
your-friends-and-pets evil.
WILLOW
Wow. I thought the films they
showed in Health class were
effective.
BUFFY
Yep, I'm the poster girl for
abstention.
WILLOW
And that's what you want to go
back to?
Buffy stops and turns to face Willow.
BUFFY
Want? No. Going back to face the
monster formerly known as my
boyfriend is the last thing I want
to do. Believe me, I'd much rather
stay here with you and fight the
Big Bad I already know I can beat.
It's just I don't belong here.
WILLOW
Yeah, but-
BUFFY
No buts. You know I'm not supposed
to be here. Besides, I already
messed up my own world; you don't
need me doing that here.
Suddenly, one of the vampires who pushed Angel out of the
Bronze runs in from a nearby alley and bumps into Buffy,
knocking her down and sending her stake scuttling down the
sidewalk.
WILLOW
Buffy!
Willow reacts surprisingly fast. Catching the disoriented
vampire off guard, she WHIPS her cross at his head, and it
somehow manages to get stuck in his collar. The vampire flails
at the cross, backs into a building, and hits the ground as
the cross finally dislodges.
Buffy dives to pick up her stake and DUSTS the vampire before
he can get back up. Willow stands still, stunned by what just
happened.
BUFFY
Sorry. Not exactly the best
demonstration of my slaying
ability.
WILLOW
It's okay. You're just distracted,
thinking about Angel and all.
Behind them, there's a LOW GROWL, and the SOUNDS OF A
STRUGGLE. Willow gives Buffy a questioning glance.
BUFFY
You'd better go on ahead. Catch up
with the others at the Bronze;
you'll be safe with them.
WILLOW
You'll be okay?
There's a loud CRASH of garbage cans O.S., as the struggle
presumably continues. Willow jumps at the startling noise.
BUFFY
I'll be fine - just go!
Willow heads off down the street and turns the corner as Buffy
runs off toward the sounds of the struggle.
INT. THE BRONZE - NIGHT
The carnage continues as vampires feast on innocent extras.
Alt.Giles spies a couple of vampires about to descend upon
three GIRLS. Charging in between the girls and the vampires,
he ushers the girls through the broken window by the stage.
ALT.GILES
(to the girls)
The window! Come on!
Meanwhile, a vampire rushes Giles, knocking him to the ground
and making him drop his stake. The vampire crouches down to
reach for him, but Giles manages to roll away to one side. As
the vampire turns to follow, Jenny KICKS him in the head. He
collapses, and Giles DUSTS him.
As Jenny helps Giles to his feet, the Master approaches them,
CLAPPING.
MASTER
Very impressive! I love it when
they resist. Gets the heart
pumping, makes the blood rush out
faster!
EXT. ALLEY BY THE BRONZE - NIGHT
Rounding the corner into the alley, Buffy has her stake at the
ready, as the PUNCHING and GROWLING get louder. At the end of
the alley, she sees Angel, now in vamp face, and another
vampire, who has his back turned to Buffy. The two vampires
continue to punch and kick one another.
Angel catches a glimpse of Buffy for a second. It's just long
enough to get the attention of the other vampire, who glances
over his shoulder to look. Unfortunately, he's fallen for the
old "look out behind you" gag, and Angel DUSTS him, with a wry
smile on his vamp face.
Buffy just stares, silent, unsure if she's looking at Angel or
Angelus. He MORPHS to his human form and looks back at her,
somewhat embarrassed about having shown his true self to an
innocent bystander. He CLEARS HIS THROAT and smiles an awkward
but charming smile.
ANGEL
(weakly covering)
Is there a problem, ma'am?
Buffy sees the soul behind his eyes, and knows it's not
Angelus.
BUFFY
Angel!
ANGEL
Why does everyone suddenly know my
name?
INT. THE BRONZE - NIGHT
The Master stands before Giles and Jenny. Jenny raises her
crossbow and fires, but the Master simply dodges out of the
way of the bolt, and it WHIZZES by his head. As he returns to
standing upright, Giles drives a stake into his chest ... but
not far enough to reach the heart. The Master looks down at
the stake that is protruding from his chest and lets out a
MENACING CHUCKLE.
MASTER
Nice try. But to be around for six
hundred years, you have to be
thick-skinned.
He pulls the stake out, drops it to the ground, and STOMPS it
into splinters.
Jenny tries to run, but the Master grabs her before she can
escape, making her drop the crossbow. Giles lunges toward him,
but he is held back by the Master's right-hand vampire.
MASTER
A shame, really, to break up such
a cute couple.
As Giles watches, the Master sinks his teeth into Jenny's
neck. As Jenny goes limp from the shock, the Master quickly
drains her, and drops her to the floor.
GILES
No!
MASTER
(to his right-hand
vampire)
You can have that one. He'll
probably taste bitter now.
Giles struggles to break the grip of the vampire holding him
as the Master slowly walks away. Just as the vampire is about
to bite, he suddenly jerks in pain and turns to dust. Giles
turns around to see Oz, standing behind him with a stake in
his hand.
OZ
We've gotta bail.
GILES
But Jenny-
OZ
Is gone.
Giles looks down at the spot where Jenny collapsed, and her
body is indeed gone. Alt.Giles steps back in through the
broken window and gestures to Oz and Giles.
ALT.GILES
Come on! There's nothing else we
can do here.
OZ
Where's Larry?
ALT.GILES
Already gone. We must leave while
the vampires are ... feeding, and
we won't have as much resistance.
Oz picks up the crossbow and climbs out. Giles just stands and
stares at the ground where Jenny's body was.
ALT.GILES
Well?
Another moment, then Giles finally looks up.
GILES
You're just going to leave,
without trying to save Jenny? How
could you?
ALT.GILES
I'm afraid I don't have a choice.
And neither do you.
Giles scans the room and sees that the vampires are all in
feeding mode, savoring the kill, and enjoying the feast.
Reluctantly, he starts to follow behind his counterpart, but
after passing a nearby feeding vampire, he turns back and
PUNCHES the vamp in the head. Before getting himself in
serious trouble, he is grabbed from behind by Alt.Giles and
Oz. They start to pull him along, until he snaps out of his
fury and willingly follows them out.
EXT. ALLEY BY THE BRONZE - NIGHT
Buffy runs up to Angel and puts her arms around him. Caught
off-guard by this at first, he consents and lightly returns
the hug.
ANGEL
Pleased to meet you, too. Now, who
are you?
BUFFY
Right. Sorry. Different universe,
different Angel. I'm Buffy.
ANGEL
The Slayer? But aren't you in-
BUFFY
Cleveland, yeah. I am. Well,
Buffy-From-This-Universe is in
Cleveland, but Buffy-From-Another-
Universe is here. Is me. I mean,
I'm here, obviously.
ANGEL
Should I be scared that I think I
followed that?
BUFFY
Probably not, considering we.... I
mean, you and I....
Angel just stares at her blankly. It seems he really doesn't
know how to finish her sentence.
BUFFY (Cont.)
Never mind, not important now.
Right now, Buffy-From-Another-
Universe needs to get to the
Bronze to find Watcher-From-
Another-Universe so we can perform
a Return-To-Another-Universe
spell.
Angel gets a dire look on his face.
ANGEL
Your Watcher is at the Bronze?
BUFFY
I'm meeting him and my friends
there. Is ... that a problem?
ANGEL
C'mon, we've gotta hurry.
He leads her down the alley, back the way she came.
EXT. STREET NEAR THE BRONZE - NIGHT
Willow, still carrying the spell book and cross, walks briskly
toward the entrance to the Bronze. She suddenly stops and
glances off to one side, as if she's heard something. Hearing
nothing, she turns back to the Bronze, and almost walks into
Xander, who is standing right there. Startled, she SCREAMS.
XANDER
Will, it's okay. It's me.
WILLOW
(trying to cover)
Oh. I knew that. Really. But you
can't blame a girl for being a
little jumpy around here.
XANDER
What happened to Buffy?
WILLOW
We got ambushed ... (boastfully)
ooh, and I got to help kill a
vampire ... (seriously again) but
we heard more of them, so she went
off to check and sent me ahead.
She notices that Xander is empty-handed.
WILLOW (Cont.)
Hey, didn't you get the supplies?
XANDER
No. I, uhh ... ran into some vamps
on the way. We should go inside
where it's safe, and wait for her.
He starts to lead her into the Bronze, but something catches
her eye from down the street.
WILLOW
Oh, there they are. Wait a minute:
They?
They look to see Buffy and Angel walking toward them.
BUFFY
(to Angel)
There they are. (calling to Willow
and Xander) Guys, don't go inside!
Angel looks ahead at Willow and Xander, scrutinizing them
suspiciously.
ANGEL
Wait a minute. You said those were
your friends?
BUFFY
Yeah. Well, this universe's
equivalent of my Friends-From-
Another-
ANGEL
Not anymore.
BUFFY
What are you-
ANGEL
(yelling)
Get away from him!
He starts to run toward Willow and Xander, with Buffy
following.
WILLOW
Get away from who?
ANGLE ON: WILLOW
As she turns to get an answer from Xander. QUICK PAN TO
XANDER, who is now in vamp face.
XANDER
Dunno. Maybe me?
Before Willow can even react, Xander bites into her neck.
CLOSE ON: The cross and spell book carried by Willow, as they
fall to the ground in SLOW MOTION.
CLOSE ON: Buffy's reaction in SLOW MOTION as she stops
running, horrified, too late to save Willow ... and far too
late to save Xander.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
EXT. OUTSIDE THE BRONZE - SECONDS LATER
Xander continues to drink from Willow. Angel takes Buffy's arm
and practically drags her toward them, as three vampires
emerge from the entrance to the Bronze and block their way.
Xander lifts his head up from Willow and turns to the newly
arrived vampires.
XANDER
Hey, get your own. She's mine.
Angel turns to see if Buffy's ready to back him up, but she
just stares, dumbfounded. As he's deciding if he can take on
the group himself, Giles, Alt.Giles, and Oz come running from
an adjacent alley, brandishing their weapons.
ALT.GILES
(to Buffy and Angel)
There are too many inside. We need
to fall back!
Buffy breaks out of her shock to point at Xander and Willow.
As they all watch, Xander begins feeding Willow from a slice
in his hand.
ALT.GILES
Oh, dear God.
Oz starts picking off a few of the vampires with the crossbow,
as more begin streaming out of the Bronze. Realizing the
situation is hopeless, Alt.Giles leads the others in retreat.
Oz continues taking a few random shots at the pursuing
vampires, who gradually give up the chase.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL (LIBRARY) - LATER
Giles and Alt.Giles are confronting Buffy. Oz and Angel are
looking through books that were left out on tables from the
earlier search.
GILES
How could you allow this to
happen?
BUFFY
Giles, I-
GILES
Willow and Xander sacrificed
themselves to help us.
(pause)
And there he was ... feeding upon
her, while we watched ... while I
stood and watched, as he drained
the life out of her. Dropping her
to the floor, just....
Giles stops, removes his glasses, and rubs his eyes as he
attempts to regain composure.
GILES (Cont.)
How could either of us have let
this happen?
BUFFY
Maybe we can still get to Willow,
before she's-
ALT.GILES
You saw her; it's already too
late. It takes merely an hour
before....
He trails off, obviously heartbroken to have lost one of his
own. Angel looks up from one of the books.
ANGEL
What was the spell she found? Can
you remember the name?
BUFFY
I don't know. Some kinda portal.
ALT.GILES
That's all well and good, but
there are easily hundreds of
different portal spells, each of
which opens a different portal to
a different-
OZ
Hold on.
Oz reads from one of the books.
OZ (cont.)
"Reality-Fold Portal" ... that
sound right?
Alt.Giles walks over to Oz.
ALT.GILES
May I see that?
OZ
The book was marked.
Oz hands him the book, and he skims through a couple of pages.
ALT.GILES
I think this should do. And I
believe we may have the necessary
items here; Ms. Calendar was
helping me put together a small
collection of magical supplies.
But we need the proper Latin text
- this is merely a translation.
BUFFY
Willow found the Latin. It was in
the book she was carrying.
ALT.GILES
I really must make more of an
effort to encourage use of the
copy machine.
Giles puts his glasses back on, ready to resume his usual
state of efficiency.
GILES
I'll search for the original text.
Oz, why don't you help-
OZ
I'm on it.
Oz and Alt.Giles retreat into the office to search for
supplies. Giles starts to head quickly back into the stacks.
Buffy stops him, with a concerned look in her eyes.
BUFFY
Giles?
GILES
You were right about what you said
earlier, Buffy: We don't belong
here.
Giles enters the stacks, leaving Buffy and Angel alone in the
main area of the library.
ANGEL
Guess you'll be happy to get out
of here. A Slayer would have her
work cut out for her the way this
town is going.
BUFFY
I guess. But at least I wouldn't
have to fight alone.
ANGEL
Well, now that Xander and Willow-
BUFFY
That's not what I meant.
Buffy takes a step in. Angel shifts uneasily.
ANGEL
Look, Buffy, I can sense that you
and, uh, Angel-From-Another-
Universe must have been.... And
maybe I'm not all that different
from him. But I'm not him.
BUFFY
I know that. It's just that, well,
maybe I don't know that.
ANGEL
I don't even really know you.
Which isn't to say I wouldn't want
to, but ... he's the one who loves
you. Don't you want to go back to
him?
BUFFY
Very much.
(pause)
But I can't.
ANGEL
Why not?
Tears begin to well up in Buffy's eyes, but she struggles to
retain composure.
BUFFY
Do you remember when you didn't
have a soul?
ANGEL
(realizing)
Oh, God. Buffy, I'm sorry.
BUFFY
Not your fault. You're not him,
remember?
(pause)
You're just closer to the him I
fell in love with than the him he
is now.
ANGEL
You know what you're going to have
to do. No one else can. No matter
what you had with him before, you
know that when you go back-
BUFFY
If I go back.
ANGEL
Buffy, I-
Before he can finish his thought, Buffy steps forward and
embraces him. He hesitates for a second, but ends up holding
her tightly. She lifts her head to look at him for a moment,
and he wipes a tear from her cheek.
As they stare into each other's eyes, we SHIFT CAMERA FOCUS TO
THE BACKGROUND to see Giles emerge from the stacks.
GILES
I was able to find the Latin in a
different ...
He sees Buffy and Angel intimately staring at each other.
GILES (cont.)
... volume.
Buffy lets go of Angel as he turns to Giles.
ANGEL
Good. Then we can get the spell
started.
Giles glares at Buffy.
GILES
Yes, the sooner the better.
Alt.Giles comes out of the office carrying a small, brass urn
in one hand and a jar in the other.
ALT.GILES
Here is the urn and the Crystals
of Oracite.
He sets them down on a table.
ALT.GILES (Cont.)
Unfortunately, we don't have any
Pyrian Powder, but Aradian should
be an adequate substitute.
However, there's only enough for a
single casting.
He finally notices the awkward silence of the others. Which
shows no sign of abating.
Oz finally walks in, carrying a small vial of red powder.
OZ
Man, this stuff smells ... great.
Kinda like warm cinnamon buns.
GILES
Very well. Let's begin. Buffy, a
word?
He ushers her aside as the others start to set up the
ingredients on the table.
BUFFY
Giles, I know what you're going to
say, but how can I go back when I
know what's here?
GILES
Because, as you well know, you're
needed there.
BUFFY
But maybe I need to stay here. And
it's not like they couldn't use
me.
GILES
Buffy, I understand what you're
going through. When I first saw
Jenny here, you could tell how it
affected my judgment.
BUFFY
And now that she's gone, you're
suddenly ready to skip town? Okay,
I don't mean really skipping town
since this is still Sunnydale, and
we're going back to Sunnydale, and
... that's not the point.
GILES
Then what is the point?
BUFFY
You said yourself that you wanted
to help. To put things right.
GILES
Yes, but putting things right does
not involve staying here just to
be with one's boyfriend.
Angel walks over to Buffy and Giles.
BUFFY
That's not fair.
GILES
(not seeing Angel)
Neither was what he did to Jenny.
ANGEL
Um, we're ready for you. Giles and
Oz have started the spell. The
portal should open soon.
GILES
Buffy, we're going back. End of
discussion.
He walks away from her.
BUFFY
Giles, you can't just dictate what
I will or won't do!
Before the argument can continue, the library doors BURST open
and vampires begin streaming into the room.
ANGEL
We've got company!
Angel immediately dives into the fray, PUNCHING one of the
intruding vampires in the chest and sending him FLYING back
into another vampire. Oz picks up the crossbow, loads it, and
provides backup.
Buffy runs up to help Angel. Giles is about to go after her,
but Alt.Giles grabs his arm.
ALT.GILES
The spell! It's already begun! I
can't complete it on my own!
Oz FIRES at a vampire, turning him to dust, then dives behind
the library counter to take cover. Meanwhile, Buffy and Angel
are side-by-side, battling the ever-increasing horde.
Giles sprinkles some of the Aradian Powder into the urn as
Alt.Giles reads from a leather-bound volume.
ALT.GILES
En et verbes, temporis apertios
foris. Verus amoveo et temporis
correctum. (By these words, let
time open a portal. Let reality
shift and time be made correct.)
A small PUFF OF SMOKE rises from the urn as the spell
continues.
Buffy and Angel have become separated in the course of battle,
but are still more than holding their own.
Oz remains behind the counter, shooting into the crowd of
vampires. He stops as something entering from the stacks
catches his attention. He turns and immediately FIRES,
catching Xander (in vamp face, wearing a leather jacket) in
the shoulder, and readies another shot.
XANDER
Okay, who shot that? Someone's
gonna answer for putting a hole in
my new jacket!
Xander pulls the bolt out, as Willow slowly glides in behind
him, looking perfectly normal.
WILLOW
(eerily calm)
We're not here to play, Xander.
You know who we came for.
XANDER
Yeah, but do you know how long it
took me to find someone to kill
who was my size?
Oz lowers the crossbow and just stares at Willow.
OZ
Who is that girl?
Willow MORPHS into vamp face. Oz's eyes widen; he quickly
raises the crossbow again and takes a haphazard shot ... which
lands in Xander's other shoulder.
Meanwhile, Giles carefully places crystals into the urn as
Alt.Giles continues reading from the book.
ALT.GILES
Temporis congruo verus et reperios
querum patria verus. (Let time
conform to reality and find those
who seek their true home.)
More vampires continue entering the library, now through both
the main doors and the back door by the stacks. One slips
through the meager defenses, and Giles is forced to break
himself away from the spell for a moment. He quickly grabs a
stake from the table and DUSTS him.
As the vampire crumbles away, Jenny - apparently alive and
well - is revealed, standing behind him.
GILES
Jenny....
A hopeful smile begins to form on Giles's face. It's short-
lived, however, as Jenny shifts into vampire form. Giles
remains frozen in place. Jenny steps forward and puts a hand
on his shoulder.
JENNY
Isn't this what you wanted,
Rupert? Don't you want to stay
here and protect me?
Before he can answer, she THROWS him backward onto the table,
knocking the urn precariously close to the edge. She slowly
strokes her hand down his cheek, runs it through his hair,
then takes off his glasses. Putting the glasses down on the
table, she leans and kisses him gently on the lips.
As she kisses him, Giles lifts the stake up behind her back
and lines it up with her heart. He can't, however, manage to
get himself to stake her.
ANGLE ON: GILES'S NECK
as Jenny makes her move to bite him. Just before she can do
it, she is suddenly DUSTED. Alt.Giles has driven the stake in
Giles's hand through her. Giles looks down to see the stake
inches from his own chest.
Back near the stacks, Angel is becoming overwhelmed by the
onslaught of vampires. Just as he STAKES one, another two grab
him from behind, pinning his arms. Xander comes over as the
two vampires PULL Angel to his knees.
XANDER
And here's the Master's gift.
Guess we should wrap him first.
With that, Willow hands him a length of chain, and he begins
securing Angel with it. Willow looks on and smiles.
WILLOW
Look at him. All chained up like a
bad little puppy.
At the other end of the library, Giles finishes dumping the
crystals into the urn as Oz emerges from behind the library
counter, FIRING the crossbow on his way to the Gileses.
ALT.GILES
Apertios foris sinus veritas, et
ne congruo ... peragro! (Open the
reality-fold portal, and let those
who do not belong ... travel
through!)
There is a loud WHOOSH, and a swirling mass of light appears
near the library counter. The sound of DRIVING WIND continues
in the b.g.
GILES
Buffy!
Buffy turns to them, and a horrified look comes across her
face as she sees Angel, in chains, being dragged from the
room. She runs toward the portal, but passes it by on her way
to Angel. Before she can get too far, Oz just barely manages
to grab her by the elbow.
OZ
Buffy, you can't.
BUFFY
I have to save him!
Giles takes hold of her other arm.
GILES
We have to go, now!
OZ
You can't save him.
She half-heartedly tries to break free from their grip, as
tears begin to form in her eyes.
BUFFY
I have to try. I can't lose him
again!
GILES
And I can't lose you.
With that, he and Oz lead her to the portal. She breaks free
and turns back to Angel, just as Giles PUSHES her through the
portal. He follows behind her, as the wind immediately dies
down and the portal closes.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL (LIBRARY) - DAY
Buffy and Giles tumble into the library a few feet from where
they left. The vampires are all gone, but Xander, Willow, and
Cordelia are sitting at a table.
Buffy is still in tears as she slowly gets to her feet. Giles
reaches out to help her up.
GILES
Buffy-
She jerks away from him.
BUFFY
How could you do that to me?
GILES
Whether or not you're accepting of
this fact, you are the chosen one
in this reality. No matter where
Angel might be, or what
consequences may befall him. You
can't simply expect to....
He trails off as he notices Xander, Willow, and Cordelia
staring at him as if he has three heads. A quick, awkward
smile at them, and he escorts Buffy into his office.
CORDELIA
What was that all about?
XANDER
Does anyone else smell cinnamon
buns?
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL (GILES'S OFFICE) - CONTINUOUS
Buffy sits on Giles's desk as he paces.
BUFFY
So, you want to continue telling
me how wrong I am and get it over
with so I can go on with my life?
GILES
Look, Buffy ... sometimes our
emotions get in the way of our
obligations, but we can't let that
interfere with our judgment.
(pause)
And I'm no more immune to that
than you are.
BUFFY
Go on.
GILES
You're actually going to make me
say this, aren't you?
(pause)
Fine, then. I'm sorry I got you
into this predicament. My emotions
got in the way of my judgment. And
while your obligations remain in
this reality, I admit I was at
fault for introducing you to the
other to begin with.
Buffy, by now, has calmed down.
BUFFY
I told you how much I needed you.
I can forgive you, but if you keep
this up, I won't be able to deal.
If you want me to remember my
obligations, just don't forget
yours.
With that, she walks out. Giles removes his glasses and rubs
the bridge of his nose.
GILES
(to himself)
Fair enough.
INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL (LIBRARY) - A MOMENT LATER
Willow, Xander, and Cordelia watch as Buffy walks over to
them.
WILLOW
So, I guess you found Giles, huh?
BUFFY
Yeah.
And there's a pause. Cordelia looks around waiting for someone
to speak. Finally, she takes it upon herself:
CORDELIA
Way to be with the brief. So where
were you?
BUFFY
Alternate reality. Not fun.
XANDER
Less fun than this one?
BUFFY
Master alive, lots of vamps. You
guys would've hated it.
(pause)
You all kinda did, really. There
was a Giles there. And Willow was
there, and Xander, you were there,
and Cordelia, you-
CORDELIA
I was still popular, right?
BUFFY
Actually, Cordelia, you weren't
even there.
CORDELIA
No wonder it was so lame. A
coolness void, just waiting to be
filled. Hey, I should go!
XANDER
Um, did you miss the "lots of
vamps" part, Cor?
WILLOW
And Angel?
BUFFY
There. And old Angel. Not the new
and improved fangier Angel.
WILLOW
(sympathetically)
Oh, Buffy....
BUFFY
It's okay, really. Made me
remember that who he is now is
just not the man I fell in love
with. And unless that changes
soon, I'll have to be ready to
take care of him.
INT. THE FACTORY - NIGHT
Spike "paces" impatiently in his wheelchair, doing a little
wheelie with each turn. Drusilla stands nearby.
DRUSILLA
Spinning, spinning ... all that
spinning, makes my head go round
and round.
SPIKE
Well, if Angel would get back and
let us know what he's found, maybe
I could stop my spinning.
Angel enters.
ANGEL
You can stop now, Spike. I'm back.
DRUSILLA
My Angel!
SPIKE
And?
ANGEL
And I've found the perfect place.
It's a bargain, really: I just
need to kill the current
residents, and it's ours.
Drusilla claps out some giddy applause. Angel walks over,
smile on his face, and puts his arm around her shoulder
triumphantly. Spike's glare burns a hole in them both.
BLACK OUT.
END OF SHOW
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