The Better Path: Part 9
by Gaius Petronius
Disclaimer: See Prologue.
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Part Nine
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ACT 4, Scene 2, EXT. On the steps of the old mansion.
Dusk
Giles and Buffy are standing and staring up at the walls of the mansion. Giles holds under his arm the small black notebook. Broken and fragmented stucco surrounds the now paneless windows that glare down at them in the fading light. The mansion itself appears to lear like a nameless demon. They stand silently for a long time as the sun sets. Finally Giles speaks.
GILES
Buffy, it does not have to end this way. There are spells...I know there are methods by which this can be altered... or at least postponed.
BUFFY
No, Giles. Remember, I swore. I gave my word. The word of a Slayer to the Angel of Death. That's binding. There must be a soul exchange.
GILES
But, Buffy, if I just had more time...
BUFFY
(she turns angrily to him)
Like last night? No, Giles!... What difference does it make if you have all the time in the world or no time at all... if the end is still going to be the same?
GILES
Buffy, the end *is* always the same no matter what. It's the paths we choose and how we travel them that make the difference.
BUFFY
And what if we've had no choice! If we've had to destroy what we love in order to save what must be saved! Up to now, I've had no choice, Giles! I never have! And the one time I did make a choice...
Buffy stops in mid sentence.
GILES
... and only you have the right to judge if that choice was right or wrong. But not tonight, Buffy!
BUFFY
Well I'm making a choice again! You give me one reason why I should stay on your precious *path*!?
GILES
(quietly, after a pause)
... that's easy... for those that love you . . . two in particular, Angel... and Scott.
Buffy stares at Giles. She shakes her head trying to find the words to argue with Giles.
GILES (cont'd)
(firmly)
... and with all those reasons, why should there be questions in your heart?
The SOUND OF A SPEEDING CAR racing up the long driveway interrupts Giles. Buffy and Giles turn in the direction of the sound. They see the headlights of Cordelia's red convertible racing up the driveway.
BUFFY
(to Giles)
How the hell did they know we were gonna be here?! You told them!
GILES
(calmly)
I did no such thing. Willow is far more knowledgeable than you give her credit. And the others, regardless of what's happened, will follow her.
BUFFY
Damn it!
Buffy turns away from Giles and heads up the mansion steps at a brisk walk. Giles doesn't follow. The car screeches to a halt near him. Xander, Faith, Willow, Cordelia and Oz pile out and run up to Giles.
XANDER
(to Giles)
We're not too late?
GILES
I don't know.
FAITH
That stupid bitch! (calling after her) Buffy! Get yer ass back out here!
Buffy glances back at Faith, then turns and disappears into the mansion.
GILES
(to Faith)
I don't think that's going to do much good at this stage.
FAITH
Don't knock it if ya ain't tried it! Yer smart talk has really made big progress!
Buffy!
Faith tears away from the group around Giles and follows her. Faith pushes her way through the front door where Buffy entered moments earlier. The others move to follow but Giles grabs Xander by the shoulder.
GILES
Give them a moment.
Puzzled, Xander and the others look at Giles.
GILES (cont'd)
We don't have many options left. Who knows, maybe a little Slayer to Slayer persuasion might do some good.
CUT TO INT. The Mansion Central Hall. The same time.
Buffy is standing in the middle of the hall, gazing at the spot where Angel vanished into the vortex. Faith enters through the main doorway. She stops halfway across the hall and calls softly to Buffy.
FAITH
Buffy.
Buffy doesn't respond. Faith walks over towards Buffy.
FAITH
(more insistent)
Hey, 'B.' Ya gotta talk to me.
BUFFY
(not looking at her)
Why? There's nothing to be changed here.
FAITH
I'll tell you why! 'Cause you're walking out on this job and sticking me with the whole thing!
BUFFY
You're a big girl. You can handle it. Besides, Giles thinks you're "enthusiastic."
FAITH
(angry)
'B, why the hell do you want to do this?
BUFFY
(almost a whisper)
I don't... but I can't live with what I did to Angel. He knew. For that fraction of a second, he knew. If there was some way it could have been me instead of him, I would have taken his place without thinking... (looking directly at Faith) wouldn't you, for someone you loved?... and now there is a way... so we're just trading places.
FAITH
I can't talk you out of this?
BUFFY
It has to happen, Faith. There must be an exchange of souls. The Slayer's oath can't be broken.
FAITH
Now, hang on a sec. What would happen if you just turned around and walked outta here?
Buffy scowls at Faith.
FAITH
I mean, who's to stop us from parading out the door, never looking back, and heading down to the Bronze for a couple of Virgin Marys. Heck, we could lock you in Oz's cage in the Library.
BUFFY
And you don't think the Angel of Death would find me anywhere I went?
FAITH
Worth a shot.
BUFFY
No. It's not.
FAITH
(resigned, she stands right next to Buffy)
You're one stubborn babe. I can't fight that. (sighing) Okay, bye bye hug?
Faith opens her arms to Buffy. Buffy turns to her and raises her arms as well. Before the two meet, Faith grabs one of Buffy's outstretched hands and twists it behind her back. With lightning speed, she grabs Buffy's free arm and yanks it back with the first. She then whirls a set of handcuffs out of her coat pocket and clamps them down on Buffy's twisted wrists. Buffy, caught totally off guard, squirms wildly but Faith is now standing behind her, her arms wrapped around Buffy's shoulders, and has her in control.
BUFFY
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?
FAITH
(struggling to keep Buffy under control)
I told you, no more Ms. Nice Slayer! I'm gettin you outta here 'til your brain starts working again! I wasn't kidding about Oz's cage! (calling out) Giles! Guys! Gimme a hand here!
Buffy swirls in Faith's grip. She swings one leg under Faith, tripping the second Slayer.
Faith's grip doesn't break, and, as she falls backwards, she pulls Buffy down with her. Both strike the stone floor hard. Faith is momentarily stunned. The fraction of a second is enough for Buffy to break out of her grip and leap to her feet.
As Giles and the others begin pouring in the main doorway, Buffy leaps across the empty hall, thowing herself backwards as hard as she can against an angular point in the stone walls. She directs the force of the blow against the handcuffs and there is a loud CRACK as one of the metal links between the clasps snaps. Her hands are free.
Regaining her wind, Faith jumps to her feet and stands staring at Buffy. When she realizes Buffy is free and there is nothing more she can do, she drops her fighting stance. Buffy remains on the defensive; her hands with the broken cuffs still around them are raised defiantly in front of her.
BUFFY
(to Faith, indicating the cuffs dangling from her hands)
You got lousy taste in jewelry.
FAITH
(resigned)
Yea, that flea market stuff's real cheezy... You can't blame a girl for trying, though.
BUFFY
(after a moment)
Nah,... guess ya can't. (to Giles and the others) I want you guys outta here!
No one moves or says anything. They just stare at her. Finally Xander speaks.
XANDER
We're not leaving, Buff.
BUFFY
You can't do anything!
WILLOW
That's not true, Buffy! You can always do something!
GILES
(walking towards Buffy and holding out the little black book)
Willow's right. Remember this little book I showed you last night? The one I was given when I first became a Watcher? Well, I found something in it... I want to share it with you.
Giles draws close to Buffy's side. She still does not drop her defensive stance. Giles opens the black book.
GILES (cont'd)
It's a gentle spell, calming, for just this kind of moment.
I never thought I would ever need to use it.
(he flips by several pages and then reads to her)
"When my heart and soul are breaking,
And all the spirit inside me aching,
Hold me back by a gentle touch,
And so my pain won't hurt so much."
Buffy looks at Giles, the stern frown on her face dissolving. In it's place comes a sorrowful smile. She lowers her arms.
BUFFY
Oh.... Giles...
GILES
(soothing)
Say it with me?
Together they recite the spell, Buffy speaking hesitantly at first. As they do, Giles gently brushes the dissheveled hair off Buffy's forehead. She stares up at him, her eyes wide and glistening.
GILES & BUFFY
"When my heart and soul are breaking,
And all the spirit inside me aching,
Hold me back by a gentle touch,
And so my pain won't hurt so much."
Giles takes his hand and wipes a lone tear off Buffy's cheek. Willow, Xander, Oz, and Cordelia stand motionless in amazement. Only the expression on Faith's face changes. Her eyes widen in horror.
FAITH
(whispering)
Oh no... Giles, no . . . please don't...
GILES (cont'd)
(to Buffy)
Say it again with me.
GILES & BUFFY
"When my heart and soul are breaking,
And all the spirit inside me aching,
Hold me back by a gentle touch,
And so my pain won't hurt so much."
Giles places his hand on Buffy's head as if he were blessing her.
GILES
There, it's done... you are the Slayer. I promise you,... you will not die.
He then steps back from her. Not understanding, Buffy looks at Giles
BUFFY
Giles? (she turns and sees the look of agony on Faith) Faith! What the hell is going on here? (turning back to Giles) What did you just do?
FAITH
(to Buffy)
My Watcher used that spell on me once. It's a restraining spell, Buffy, the only control a Watcher has over a Slayer.
BUFFY
A what!?
Buffy goes to move but her hand strikes an invisible obstruction. She jumps back in surprise. She then kicks outward, but her foot hits the same unseen wall. She tries to walk forward but bounces off what appears to be an invisible force surrounding her on all sides.
BUFFY (cont'd)
What the hell did you do, Giles!?
GILES
Faith is right. Sometimes the stress of a Slayer's duties is emotionally overwhelming. The spell is like a "time out." But it has to be spoken by the Slayer. Don't worry. It only lasts a few minutes. You'll be free in no time.
BUFFY
That's a cheap trick, Giles! This won't stop the exchange!
GILES
(quietly)
I know.
FAITH
(despairing)
'B' you don't get it, do you.
Buffy turns back to look at Faith.
FAITH (cont'd)
(quietly, gazing at Giles)
He's going in your place, Buffy.
All the events of the past twenty-four hours suddenly become crystal clear for Buffy. She spins to stare accusingly at Giles but when their eyes meet, she sees from the look of peaceful resignation on his face that they only have a few minutes left. Her eyes widen in horror and her mouth moves trying to form words but no sound comes out. As the realization of what is about to happen descends on her, she can only whisper one word.
BUFFY
(to Giles, almost silently and shaking her head)
. . . no...
In the center of the hall only a few feet from Giles, the Angel of Death steps out of nothingness. He is completely concealed in a black robe and cowl with the exception of a pair of white emaciated hands protruding from the sleeves. His face cannot be seen. His voice is deep, hollow and reverberates in the hall like an echo.
ANGEL OF DEATH
. . . Rupert Giles...
GILES
... yes...
BUFFY
(her panic building)
. . . no... no, Giles...
ANGEL OF DEATH
You are ready to complete our agreed upon bargain?
GILES
Yes.
The Angel of Death slides the cowl back from its concealed face. As the pale visage comes into view, Willow gasps and Cordelia turns away in fear. Xander and Oz wince at what they see and Buffy lets out a scream of fury and sorrow. Rather than her face as she saw on the night she swore the oath, the Angel of Death now wears a greying death mask of Giles. Buffy throws herself wildly against the invisible barrier surrounding her. She rains a hail of blows against her invisible prison at the same time screaming.
BUFFY
Giles! No! No! Giles!
ANGEL OF DEATH
(to Giles)
Whose face do you see before you?
GILES
My own.
ANGEL OF DEATH
Whose choice is it to exchange your soul?
GILES
My own.
ANGEL OF DEATH
Let that face be a reminder for all eternity that this path was taken of your own free will.
BUFFY
NO, GILES! Faith! Guys! Stop Him! Please!
Without hesitation, Faith runs forward and attempts to plant a kick into the mid section of the Angel of Death but her blow passes through as if nothing were there. Only the robe of the Angel of Death waves gently as if disturbed by a passing breeze.
Faith attacks again, but this time, before she can strike, the Angel of Death waves its pale boney hand at her. Faith is suddenly lifted off her feet and thrown violently across the Hall against a wall. She collapses to the floor, blood oozing from a gash in her forehead. She doesn't move.
Xander runs forward and stands between the Angel of Death and Giles. He faces Giles.
GILES
(calmly)
Xander, what are you doing?
XANDER
(thumbing over his shoulder indicating the Angel of Death)
I think I have a better chance of persuading you than your clone, here.
GILES
Please, don't make me have to punch your lights out.
XANDER
I really didn't want it to come to that...
Xander takes a swing at Giles who easily parries the punch. Xander swings again. This time Giles grabs Xander's arm, twists it behind his back and kicks Xander away from the center of the hall. Xander slams into Cordelia and Oz who are standing close together. All of them topple in a pile on the stone floor.
Suddenly Willow steps forward, her eyes almost glowing. She raises both hands as if about to begin an incantation. Giles sees her.
GILES
No! Willow don't!
WILLOW
Like you said, Giles. We don't have many options left.
Willow takes a deep breath and begins chanting. Her voice rings in the central hall.
WILLOW (cont'd)
"Praenuntius Mortis, redite ad Infernos!
(Return to the Inferno, Harbinger of Death!)
Hic solum bonitas est!
(There is only goodness here!)
Abite cum manibus, Angelus Mortis, inanibus!
(Angel of Death, depart with empty hands!)
Iubeo te!
(I command you!)
Ab hoc loco non anima cape!
(Take no souls from this place!)
Angelus Mortis, redite ad Infernos!
(Angel of Death, return to the Inferno!)
Hic non mandatum habes!"
(You have no errand here!")
Sensing a true threat, the Angel of Death spins to confront Willow. Its eyes blaze a deep red, like glowing coals. It raises its robe enshrouded arm and points one of the knarled fingers at Willow. Suddenly she stops reciting and grabs at her throat as she begins choaking.
GILES
(to the Angel of Death)
Stop it! Release her now!
The Angel of Death slowly turns its head to glare at Giles.
GILES
She is not part of the bargain! If you take her, then the deal is made! (whispering urgently to the Angel of Death) And what will your Master say when He finds you have lost the chance to collect the soul of a Watcher?! . . . and in exchange for the powerful soul of a cursed vampire, all you have to show for it is... (indicating Willow) this little apprentice Wiccan!
The Angel of Death continues to stare unspeaking at Giles. Finally it lowers its arm and Willow drops to the floor. She is pale and struggling to catch her breath.
GILES
(calmly to the Angel of Death)
I thought you'd see it that way. Willow? Are you all right?
WILLOW
(gagging and crying)
Damn it, Giles!
GILES
Good. (to the Angel of Death) Let's get on with it. The soul of Angelus will be returned as it was collected, free of the effects of its imprisonment.
The Angel of Death nods in agreement
GILES (cont'd)
Lead me, then.
Giles turns to face Buffy who is still trying to break out of her invisible prison.
BUFFY
Giles, don't, please! I never meant it to be this way!
GILES
You left me only one choice, Buffy. As your Watcher, it's my first duty to protect you. I told you, you are the Slayer... you will not die.
BUFFY
(leaning against the invisible barrier and starting to break down)
No! no . . . no... no...
GILES
"And now it is time for us to go our separate ways."
Buffy instantly recognizes the death words of Socrates that Giles used the previous night when he was drunk. She throws herself wildly against the barrier once more, hysterical tears running down her face.
BUFFY
NO! NO! DAMN YOU, GILES!
GILES
"I, to pass into that state which is death,... and you, to go on living."
BUFFY
(thrashing against the barrier)
DAMN YOU! NO! NO!
GILES
"And which of us sets out upon the better path, is known only to God."
The Angel of Death turns and begins walking away. Giles follows close behind. He stops for a moment, takes off his glasses and sets them on a small table.
GILES (cont'd)
I don't suppose I'll be needing these anymore.
As if passing through an invisible portal, the Angel of Death slides away into nothingness. As Giles walks to the same spot, he begins whistling the old British song, "The Minstrel Boy." The simple notes have an ironic, mournful sound that echos in the hall.
Suddenly, the restraining spell around Buffy collapses. In a final desperate act, Buffy leaps from where she has been imprisoned in an effort to grab Giles before he can set foot into the invisible portal. She is too late. As Giles follows after the Angel of Death, Buffy's fingers barely sweep across the last disappearing tips of his rough tweed jacket. Buffy drops to the floor empty handed. Giles is gone, the notes of his whistled tune cut off in mid phrase.
Lying on the floor, Buffy looks up in front of her and sees only empty air where Giles stood moments before. The hall is virtually silent. As Buffy rises up on her knees she looks in agony around her. Willow is crumpled down on the floor, her hands drawn up against her chest, her fists clenched. She is slowly regaining her breath. Oz gets to his feet and runs to her side.
Xander is seated on the floor clutching his twisted arm. Cordelia is trying to help him but she doesn't know what to do. She tries to rub the arm tenderly, but Xander gives a little yelp of pain. Confused, Xander looks wildly around him.
XANDER
Is Buffy okay?... Where's Giles?... What happened to Willow? Is she all right?
CORDELIA
She's okay, Xander. Willow and Buffy are both okay.
XANDER
What about Giles?
Cordelia looks sadly at Xander and says nothing.
XANDER (cont'd)
Oh Cordie, I was such a jerk! I screwed up so bad again! Giles is right. All I do is screw up! I'm so stupid!
CORDELIA
(pause)
No!... I know he doesn't think that. What you tried to do was...
Cordelia can't finish the sentence. She catches a little sob in her throat. Realizing what she is doing, in anger, she swats Xander hard but takes care to avoid his bad arm.
CORDELIA (cont'd)
Damn it! I was just learning how to hate you!
Xander looks up at Cordelia for a moment. He then hangs his head and rubs his eyes with his uninjured hand. With the help of Oz, Willow is now sitting, the color returning to her face. She calls over to Xander.
WILLOW
Xander... are you okay?
XANDER
Will?
Looking around her, Willow spies the still form of Faith.
WILLOW
Oh, no! Buffy! Xander! Faith's hurt real bad!
XANDER
Oh, shit!
Xander gets to his feet, still clutching his arm, and, with Cordelia in tow, limps over to where Faith is lying. As he hobbles by Buffy, she looks up at him, her eyes pleading but Xander doesn't acknowledge her. They kneel down beside Faith. Cordelia pulls a wad of tissues out of her purse and uses them to staunch the flow of blood from Faith's head.
Faith opens her eyes and groans.
FAITH
(raising her hand to her bleeding forehead)
Oh, man... that you Cords?
Xander and Cordelia both breathe a sigh of relief.
CORDELIA
Yeah, don't move, Faith.
FAITH
(to Cordelia)
You gotta lend me some of your makeup. This is gonna be one hell of a shiner!
CORDELIA
Looks like a job for a professional. (examining the bruise now growing on Faith's face) I can handle this.
XANDER
Relax, Faith. She's the best.
CORDELIA
(to Xander)
Thank you... you pig.
Xander smiles but hangs his head shamefully again. Willow, now sitting, moves as if to stand but Oz restrains her.
OZ
No, Will, don't. You'll pass out.
Willow looks up at Oz. He clearly still adores her, and she sees it in his eyes. She begins sobbing.
WILLOW
Oh, Oz. . . What're we doing wrong? Everything's falling apart... you, me, Xander, Cordelia... and now we've lost Giles. What are we going to do?
Oz holds Willow in his arms, and she buries her face in his shoulder.
OZ
What we do best, Will.
She takes her head off his shoulder. They look at each other straight in the eyes.
OZ (cont'd)
Never give up.
Willow hugs Oz again.
Almost in a daze, Buffy finally stands and walks alone over to the small table where Giles' glasses are sitting. She reaches down, picks them up and holds them in her hands, gently rubbing the worn gold rims with her fingers. A tear builds up at the corner of one of her eyes and rolls slowly down her cheek.
A gentle shimmering of light appears a few feet in front of her. Gradually a physical form begins materializing in the light. Details of the form grow more specific with each passing moment. The light suddenly is extinguished leaving the fully materialized form in its place. It's Angel.
For a moment he gazes straight ahead, clearly dazed. Then he looks down at his hands and begins tentatively rubbing them together as if the feel of flesh and skin were a sensation almost totally forgotten. He looks back up and sees Buffy staring at him.
ANGEL
Buffy?
Buffy doesn't answer or move towards him. Instead, she clutches Giles' glasses tighter in her hands and puts them gently against her chin. She closes her eyes as the tears run down her cheeks.
BUFFY
(almost a whispered sob)
... no... no, Giles...
Bewildered, Angel stares at the chaos around him. He sees Willow weeping in Oz's arms. He then sees Cordelia, her hands now stained with Faith's blood, trying to stop the flow running down Faith's face. His astonished gaze finally falls on Buffy.
ANGEL
(slowly, in shock)
Oh God... Buffy!... What did you do?... What's happened here!?
There is a loud CRASH of building demolition as the scene cuts to the Epilogue.
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