The Better Path: Part 3
by Gaius Petronius
Disclaimer: See Prologue.



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Part Three

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ACT 2, Scene 1 EXT. Establishing Shot of the old mansion where Buffy killed Angel sending his soul to Hell. Night

CUT TO INT. The central hall of the old mansion. Night.

Buffy is standing alone in the middle of the central hall over the spot where she last saw Angel disappear into the vortex. Her arms are hanging loosely at her side, her head tipped down slightly as she stares at a particular spot on the floor. There, at her feet, a small red rose lies on the stone tiles where she placed it moments before. She does not move or give any hint that she is aware of her surroundings. Her face is frozen in a blank mask, her eyebrows raised as if in a question.

She stands gazing at the rose on the floor for a long time.

Finally, she sighs and walks slowly over to one of the walls where a column is inset into the side of the hallway. She leans her back against the column and, while staring up at the vaulted ceiling, slowly slides down to sit on the cold stone floor. She draws her legs up and tries to nestle herself into a more comfortable position. She leans her head against the column, and her gaze now descends to the rose in the center of the hallway once more.

She sits unmoving. Then, almost imperceptibly, Buffy's eyes begin to close. She sighs again, deeply this time, and the quiet sound is almost a sob. With eyes now shut, her head tips gently to the side as she tries to draw closer to the cold unyielding column, as if she could somehow squeeze some faint sense of comfort from the dark stones. The central hall is dead silent.

CUT TO EXT. Outside the Bronze. Night, the same time. Establishing shot.

The evening is in full swing at the night spot as students come and go. The MUSIC of Oz's band, Dingos Ate My Baby, rises and falls as the door swings open and shut.

CUT TO INT. Inside the Bronze. Night, the same time.

Dingos Ate My Baby are on the stage. OZ, on lead guitar, is playing next to the singer. Willow and XANDER are seated around a table. While both are holding drinks, neither are drinking. Instead they stare in amazement out onto the dance floor where FAITH is dancing enthusiastically by herself.

XANDER
(not taking his eyes off Faith)
... Wow... different...

WILLOW
At least no one's laughing. I mean they could be snarfing at her and everything.

Unconsciously, Xander let's his hand drop down onto the table. It lands right on top of Willow's. Both try to pretend that they don't realize they are touching. After a moment, Willow and Xander slowly look at each other. From the look on their faces, it's obvious in another few seconds they will be in each other's arms, kissing. Willow tenderly rubs her hand across the top of Xander's. As Xander starts to lean towards her, suddenly she draws back.

WILLOW
(pulling her hand away, totally flustered)
No . . no... no hands. Hands are a bad thing!

XANDER
(coming to his senses)
Right!... right. New rule. When we're together like this, "hands in pockets."

Xander pulls his hands off the table and puts them in his pockets.

WILLOW
Yeah! That's a good rule! (putting her hands in her pockets) Rules are a good thing. That way we know what we can do and what we can't.

Willow and Xander turn to look at the table in front of them. Their eyes fall on their two drinks.

XANDER
(contemplating the two glasses)
... we have a problem...

WILLOW
Well, Duh! The hands in pockets was your idea!

XANDER
Yeah? Well, you didn't have to agree to it so quick! You're supposed to be "Miss Smarty Pants I Can Read Latin Now."

WILLOW
(hopefully)
Hey... this is good. We're fighting. Let's just keep fighting, then we won't...

Willow stops in mid sentence as she and Xander stare at each other, once again ready to leap into each other's arms. Trying to break her gaze, Willow slowly leans down over the table to take a sip from her glass. Xander does the same thing. As both bend forward toward their drinks, their heads turn to each other and their eyes lock. At the last second before reaching the glasses, their faces move together and they kiss with their hands still tightly tucked in their pockets. After a moment, they slowly separate.

XANDER
(upset, turning away from Willow)
. . . Oh... shit...

WILLOW
(upset as well)
Yeah,... and we didn't even break the rule!

CORDELIA suddenly appears next to the table as if she materialized out of nowhere.

CORDELIA
(perky)
Hey, Willow! Hey, Xander!

Both Xander and Willow nearly leap up out of their chairs in fright. Cordelia pulls up a chair and sits down next to Xander

XANDER
Cordie! Wow, you scared me.

CORDELIA
(puzzled)
You two look weird. What's with the hands in the pockets?

XANDER
(flustered, then recovering)
Uh... we were just playing on old game. Who could drink the most from their glass without spilling it.

CORDELIA
(a little sceptical)
This one of those dopey things you two did as kids?

WILLOW
Uh... yeah. We used to play it at family picnics. Then he'd drop salamanders down my shirt when I wasn't looking.

CORDELIA
(shaking her head)
Eeeww! (turning to Xander) Come here, reptile boy.

Cordelia wraps her arms around Xander. Hesitating at first, Xander puts his arms around her. She kisses him passionately.

With a sad look on her face, Willow slumps back in her chair, takes her hands out of her pockets and plops them on the table in front of her. For a few moments, she stares off over the other tables at nothing in particular. She then notices that the band now sounds different. Glancing up at the stage, Willow realizes Oz is no longer there. His guitar sits unattended leaning against his amplifier. Willow suddenly gasps in panic. Leaping to her feet, she looks wildly around.

WILLOW
Oh No! He couldn't have seen... I... I... gotta find Oz!

Willow runs toward the stage and disappears into one of the entrances.

CORDELIA
(to Willow's back as she vanishes)
Bye... (to Xander) Did you let her have more than two Dr. Peppers again?

XANDER
(now worried)
Uh... honest Cordie, I don't know what she...

Faith returns from the dance floor and interrupts Xander as she sits down next to him in Willow's chair.

FAITH
Hey, guys.

Faith speaks directly at Xander.

FAITH (cont'd)
So, what's up with Red?

XANDER
(avoiding Faith's gaze)
I don't know. She just saw Oz wasn't playing and went to find him.

CORDELIA
Speaking of finding people, where's Buffy? She a no show, again?

FAITH
Probably. She told me to take the night off. She'd handle patrol.

Faith speaks under her breath so only Xander can hear.

FAITH (cont'd)
(quietly to Xander)
She's a liar, too. (in her regular voice) Not that I don't mind the extra boogie time.

Xander's eyes bulge with fear.

FAITH (cont'd)
And I feel like dancing tonight! (she points her thumb at Xander) Hey, Cords, can I borrow this guy? I promise I'll give him back in a couple of minutes.

Xander turns to Cordelia, his expression pleading with her to bail him out. Cordelia, flattered and misunderstanding the look, smiles and leans forward so her head is beside Xander's. She speaks directly to Faith.

CORDELIA
No way. This one's mine. I don't share.

FAITH
(smiling)
That's okay. Good policy. Just checking.

Searching for a familiar face, Faith scans the dance floor and the other tables. At the same time, Scott enters the Bronze and stops by the door. He, too begins eye balling the room but he is looking for someone specific.

FAITH (cont'd)
(seeing Scott)
Ahh! I spot a victim!

CORDELIA
Isn't that Scott?

FAITH
Yeah... I bet he's looking for Buffy, too.

CORDELIA
But they just broke up. He dumped her.

FAITH
Cords, look at him.

Cordelia cranes her neck and watches Scott nervously moving around the dancing couples.

FAITH (cont'd)
See what I mean. Guys! (Faith looks directly at Xander again) They're so transparent! Well, nobody's getting any younger here. I better rescue this kid before he falls down a hellmouth.

CORDELIA
You think you ought to be hanging out with him? I mean he and Buffy just...

FAITH
(interrupting)
I'm just gonna ask him to dance... not take him home!

XANDER
But isn't there like some unwritten rule about how long you're supposed to wait before...

FAITH
(getting up and messing Xander's hair with her hand)
Hey, rules are made to be broken, right?

Faith gives Xander's head a push that's just a little too rough to be in fun and, as she leaves the table, she calls back over her shoulder.

FAITH (cont'd)
(to Xander)
I'll catch up with you later.

CORDELIA
(watching Faith leave)
What's with her? And I thought Buffy was a bad influence.

Xander, his face creased with guilt, watches Faith weave her way through the crowd towards Scott. Cordelia, despite her best efforts to turn on the physical attraction, realizes that Xander is barely paying attention to her.

CORDELIA (cont'd)
Now what's wrong with you? Come on! We finally have a night all to ourselves. Just you and me. Everybody's split. Buffy's off doing... whatever she does. Willow's chasing Band Man. (pleading now) Please, Xander... it's me.

Xander suddenly looks back at Cordelia. She sees how upset he is but she can't tell why.

CORDELIA (cont'd)
(worried)
What's wrong?

XANDER
Cordie? ... If we could take the last two weeks, since Homecoming,... and forget they ever happened... just start 'em all over again... would you do that with me?

CORDELIA
Huh?

XANDER
Pretend these last two weeks never existed... would you?

Cordelia stares at Xander.

CORDELIA
(slowly, fearfully)
Xander? Are... you gonna break up with me?

XANDER
NO! But say yes, please say yes!... that we can forget these last two weeks...

CORDELIA
(staring Xander in the eyes)
Okay,... yeah, Xander. I'll forget.

XANDER
Promise?

CORDELIA
I promise.

XANDER
I promise, too.

CORDELIA
(quietly)
Xander? What's happened?

Xander sighs. He returns Cordelia's loving gaze. He takes her in his arms and holds her tight. He then kisses her passionately. Oblivious to the people who are now staring from the neighboring tables, Xander buries his face in Cordelia's brown hair and whispers in her ear.

XANDER
I... I do love you, Cordie... no matter what you hear, what people say or what happens...

Wrapped in Xander's embrace, Cordelia's eyes widen with happiness, but then the fear returns to her face. It was something in his tone as well as what he said. She returns his hug as hard as she can.

CORDELIA
(worried, whispered in Xander's ear)
... me, too... I... I love you, too.

CUT TO EXT. An alleyway outside the Bronze. Night. At the same time.

Oz's van, the motor running, is parked halfway up the alley towards the street. Willow bursts out of a backstage entrance door to The Bronze and runs out into the middle of the alley. As she looks up and down the dark street, she sees Oz's van. She turns towards it, calls out and starts to walk in the direction of the van.

WILLOW
(crying out)
Oz! Oz, please wait!

Suddenly, the motor of the van races. The van pulls out into the alley and drives up to the intersection with the main avenue. Oz's van pulls out into the street and disappears leaving Willow standing alone in the alley. Sobbing, she gazes up the alley to where the van was last visible.

WILLOW (cont'd)
(shaking her head and crying to herself)
... oh no... oh... no...

CUT TO INT. The dance floor of The Bronze. At the same time.

Scott is standing by himself at the edge of the dance floor. Couples girate in front of him under the lights. Faith slips up beside him.

FAITH
Hey Mr. Clean Jeans.

SCOTT
(jumping, surprised)
Oh!... oh, hi Faith. You scared me there.

FAITH
Seems I've been doing that a lot lately. You looking for Buffy?

SCOTT
Uhh, no... well... yeah, sort of.

FAITH
That's what I love. Guys who know what they want. (pause) She's not here.

SCOTT
I didn't think she would be.

FAITH
Scott, if you're looking for Buffy... what'd you break up with her for?

SCOTT
Where'd you hear that?

FAITH
From Buffy. (eyeing Scott as she pries for more information)
What's your side of the story?

SCOTT
(guilty)
Well, she sorta... dumped me.

Faith's eyes widen with this lie.

SCOTT (cont'd)
I just don't get her. You know her. What is it with her, she's this really hot chick,... gorgeous and all. She's into martial arts. Must be smart, too, cause she hangs out in the library with that Willow Rosenberg.

Faith stifles a laugh.

SCOTT (cont'd)
(not noticing Faith's suppressed outburst)
I really like being around her, but she's bummed all the time 'cause of that Angel guy she used to go out with... something awful must have happened between them. I thought I had a chance with her, even just to be friends and hang out. But look at me...

FAITH
Hey, I'm looking, and ya look pretty cute to me.

SCOTT
Oh, yeah, right! Our big first date,... Buster Keaton film fest! What was I thinking!... That's easy, I wasn't. No wonder she always found a reason to bail whenever I asked her out after that. I mean we'd have lunch at school and all but then every day after class she disappears into the library. Some excuse about that Mr. Giles' tutoring her or something. And going to The Bronze, or just stopping off for a stupid ice cream at night, forget it. I guess she just doesn't like me... this Angel guy must've been really something.

FAITH
Don't be too rough on yourself. She's been dumping on everybody lately. You still like her, don't ya?

Scott doesn't answer.

FAITH (cont'd)
(smiling)
I like you, Scott... that was a nice lie you told,... her dumping you.

Shocked by Faith's bluntness, Scott looks up at her.

FAITH (cont'd)
Don't gimme that look! All guys lie,... but that one was sweet, blaming yourself... listen, you're good enough for her, you just gotta believe it. I'm sure there's lots of stuff about you she doesn't know that she'd find real special.

SCOTT
(wistfully, as if Faith weren't there)
Well, I do draw pretty good... and I write.
(suddenly realizing Faith is listening and smiling)
Oh shit, what the hell am I telling you for! Promise me you won't tell her!

FAITH
I'll let you do that. Listen, I got a deal for you. I know where she is tonight. Do the next dance with me and I'll go find her for ya.

SCOTT
(hopefully)
Maybe I can tag along. I know a real cool coffee shop that stays open late and...

FAITH
(interrupting, jokingly but with a touch of warning)
Hey, don't push your luck with me. You may be sorta cute,... but you're still a liar. When I leave, you stay put, got me!

Scott nods. Dingoes Ate My Baby begins playing a slow song.

FAITH (cont'd)
That's our cue.

Faith leads Scott out onto the dance floor. They start dancing, Faith with her usual provocative attitude and Scott totally self conscious. Suddenly the muffled RING OF A CELL PHONE, barely audible above the dance music, comes from Scott's coat pocket.

CUT TO INT, Ethan Rayne's room in Act 1. At the same time.

Ethan Rayne is sitting in his beat up recliner, the portable phone to his ear. He hears the cell phone on the other end of the line RING a half dozen times.

ETHAN
(shaking his head and sighing, under his breath)
Scott, I really don't like being ignored, so unless you're in the sack with the Slayer, you damn well better pick up.

CROSS CUT BACK TO INT. The dance floor of The Bronze.

Scott and Faith are still dancing and the phone in his pocket continues to ring

FAITH
(to Scott)
Hey, what's with the wire?

Scott reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a small cell phone.

SCOTT
Ahh, it's just this old jerk I work for. He doesn't go out so I've gotta run all his errands. He's always calling to remind me to do all this crap for him.

FAITH
If I were suspicious, I'd think you were into something else, carrying a cell phone around and all.

Scott pushes a button on the cell phone that turns off the ringer. He puts the phone back in his pocket.

SCOTT
I've been avoiding him. The job sucks, anyway. I was gonna quit today.

FAITH
Well, why don't you answer the phone and tell the old coot to shove it?

SCOTT
Faith... not now, okay.

FAITH
Hey, it's your life.

The slow dance music ends. Faith and Scott stop dancing. Scott looks at Faith expectantly.

FAITH (cont'd)
Okay! I'll go find her! Geez, you got it bad. A little advice, don't let Buffy see you like this!

Faith turns to leave. As she weaves out among the couples on the dance floor she turns to look back at Scott.

FAITH (cont'd)
Stay put, you hear me?

Scott nods. Faith leaves the dance floor and goes out the front entrance of The Bronze. For a few moments, Scott glances nervously around him. Xander and Cordelia are still in each other's arms and Willow and Oz are nowhere to be seen. When Scott sees nobody he knows is watching, he quickly slips out The Bronze front entrance after Faith.

CROSS CUT BACK TO INT, Ethan Rayne's dark room. The same time.

Ethan Rayne finally pushes a button on his portable phone that disconnects his call to Scott. He looks at the phone in his hand for a moment, then reaches over to the table by the side of his recliner and pours a shot of Scotch. He downs the shot in one swig, then turns on his phone once more and hits a speed dial button. There is a RAPID BEEPING as the phone automatically dials the number in its memory.

ETHAN
(exasperated)
Rarak, you're a bloody nuisance.

The number begins RINGING, and Ethan puts the phone to his ear.

ETHAN (cont'd)
(speaking into the phone)
Trick, please... Trick! Ethan here.... Yes, it's good to talk to you again, too. How's things?... Good! Glad to hear it! Politics can be so... dirty. Plans for the condos out on the Strip still on track? Excellent. If you need a little persuasion with Zoning on the environmental impact statement, you know who to call. Listen old man, I need a favor.

As Ethan listens to the phone, he slowly smiles.

ETHAN (cont'd)
Now, now, Trick, I delivered the candy! And the formula was perfect!... Yes, actually this does have something to do with getting the Slayer out of our hair. I need to impose upon a few of your crew to round up my little . . . "assistant" there... Yes, seems he's wandering again. I just can't seem to get him to recognize that this is business and not pleasure...

Ethan listens for a moment.

ETHAN (cont'd)
I know he's been a bit of a pill lately but your solution would severely limit his usefulness. There is the problem of sunlight, you know, and how he's supposed to get near the Slayer during school hours. Besides, you fellows are not exactly known for being... inconspicuous.

Ethan smiles as he listens to the phone. He pours himself a second shot of Scotch.

ETHAN (cont'd)
That's a good man. Just have them drop him off here and I'll take it from there.... I owe you one, Trick. Thanks again, and give my regards to the Mayor.

Ethan switches off the portable phone and places it on the table. He picks up the full shot glass and sips on it.

ETHAN (cont'd)
(sighing to himself as he rubs his hand over the side of his face)
Scott, Scott, why do you always make it so difficult. All I wanted you to do was be friends with the dumb bitch, not get all in a dither over her.

Ethan shakes his head.

CUT BACK TO INT. The Bronze. Night, moments after Scott has left.

Looking down from overhead onto the stage where Dingoes Ate My Baby are playing to a crowded dance floor. In the middle of the stage, Oz's guitar and amplifier sit unattended.

THE SCENE SLOWLY DISSOLVES into The Bronze several hours later. Still looking down onto the stage but now the band is finishing packing up.

Willow is seated on the stage floor leaning against Oz's amplifier. Her normally poker straight hair is messy and her face has a serious hang dog case of the blues. Bronze employees push brooms around her as they clean up the stage and dance floor. The last band members and patrons are leaving, and every once in a while Willow looks up expectantly, waiting for Oz to return.

Finally, Oz slips in through the back stage door and walks up quietly behind her. She senses him coming and jumps to her feet. Nervously she plays with her fingers. Oz stops and looks down at the stage floor.

WILLOW
(hopefully)
Hey.

OZ
Hey.

There is an uncomfortable pause. Willow finally breaks the silence between them.

WILLOW
Where you been?

OZ
(ignoring her question)
I... I gotta get my stuff and get going.

WILLOW
Oz... we gotta talk.

OZ
No Willow, you gotta talk. Not me. That's what *you* want to do.

Willow is hurt by Oz's blunt response.

OZ (cont'd)
I know what I just saw tonight... so I'm gettin' outta here now. Maybe tomorrow it'll all be gone, like nothing ever happened.

Willow stands staring at Oz, the shock of what he is saying quickly sinking in.

OZ (cont'd)
I know The Bronze'll still be here. Town won't change. That stupid red light at Park Street'll still be screwed up. Yeah, ... maybe tomorrow it'll be like nothing ever happened. I'll wake up and be tall and have graduated and you and Xander will have been going out since you were kids.

WILLOW
(upset, trying to keep from crying)
Oz! Please talk to me!

OZ
I am talking to you. But this isn't about talking. This is one you gotta figure out for yourself.

WILLOW
(stamping her foot and crying out)
I have figured it out!

OZ
(quietly and firmly, looking her straight in the eyes)
No. You haven't.... I gotta split.

Oz collects his guitar and amplifier. He lugs them off stage and out the back door. Willow stands alone in the center of the Bronze stage. She rubs her hands together and her chest is heaving with suppressed sobs. Somewhere out of sight, a Bronze employee begins individually switching off the lights illuminating the stage.


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