ACT II
EXT. XANDER'S FIREHOUSE
Giles is knocking at the front door again. Jordy opens and looks up
at him like it is the first time he's seen him.
JORDY
Can I help you?
GILES
Yes, uh... I.. I'm looking for Xander
Harris. He.. he does live here, correct?
JORDY
Uh-huh
GILES
I'm an old friend of his, do... do you mind
if I come in?
JORDY
Yeah... I don't think so.
GILES
I beg your pardon?
JORDY
Xander's not feeling well and isn't up to
having any visitors.
GILES
Well, that's why I'm here, actually.
JORDY
Really.
GILES
Yes.
JORDY
That's too bad. I'll tell him you came by.
GILES
Yes but...
Jordy shuts the door in his face again. Giles knocks on the
door again. As the door opens we...
CUT TO:
EXT. FONTAINE HOUSE - FRONT DOOR
Lucy opening the door to her house and Liv marching past
carrying a destroyed Kevlar vest.
LIV
(flat)
Hey.
LUCY
Liv, where are you...
LIV
Sorry. Forgot my key and I needed a new flak
jacket.
LUCY
What happened?
LIV
Mushannu Nyork demon was tearing up a grave
site.
LUCY
Sweetie, I...
LIV
I need to get a move on. Don't wait up.
LUCY
No.
LIV
Mom, I need to go to work.
LUCY
No. You're not going anywhere young lady
until we talk.
LIV
Oh... That's original. Is this suddenly an
after-school special?
LUCY
Don't take that tone with me.
LIV
Oh, that's a good one too. You want to tell
me I'm grounded and then send me to my room
without any supper?
LUCY
(softly)
It's not your fault.
Liv swallows hard. It takes all her control not to break down.
She turns and gives her mother a hard look.
LIV
Big talk from someone who killed my father.
Lucy's jaw drops open.
LIV
What?! Did you think I'd never figure it
out?! Did you think I'd never look it up?!
Did you think I never noticed you locking
yourself in your bedroom once a year to cry
your eyes out?! So tell me! Is that my fault
too?!!
Liv pushes her mother aside and runs out the door. Lucy slides
down onto the floor sobbing.
EXT. XANDER'S FIREHOUSE - FRONT DOOR
Giles is still standing outside trying to convince Jordy to let
him in. He's getting quite exasperated.
GILES
I am not a vampire!
JORDY
Sure, that's just what Jason Patric thought
when that old guy from the Gilmore Girls
wanted into his house.
GILES
I... I.. I have no idea what you're talking
about.
JORDY
Inviting a vampire into your home renders
you powerless against him.
GILES
Well I know that. Look, I can prove I'm not
a vampire just by walking into...
Giles takes a step toward the door. Jordy lets off one of his
werewolf snarls, making Giles step back.
GILES
There's no reason to get violent.
JORDY
Says you.
GILES
Look, I'm part of the Watcher's council, and
I need to see him.
JORDY.
Oh. Well, why didn't you say that in the
first place?
GILES
Well, I...
JORDY
Can I see your badge?
GILES
We don't have badges.
JORDY
What about an ID card?
GILES
I have a driver's license.
JORDY
No Watcher's council ID card?
GILES
We don't have ID cards! Why would we need ID
cards?!
JORDY
Well for occasions like this.
Giles sighs, removes his glasses and massages the bridge of his
nose.
GILES
Look, I appreciate what you're doing, but I
can assure you that I'm here only to help
Xander.
JORDY
I...
GILES
How long has it been since he slept?
A look of worry crosses Jordy's face.
JORDY
About a week.
Giles and Jordy stand at the door now appraising each other in
a different light.
INT. XANDER'S FIREHOUSE - BEDROOM
Xander lies on the floor, fetal position, disheveled and
unshaven. He mutters to himself in a voice so low we can't
hear. Giles and Jordy step forward and help him to his feet and
then a chair. Xander's head rolls around until he finally
focuses on Giles. His expression turns to one of hatred.
XANDER
(with venom)
Giles.
GILES
Hello Xander.
XANDER
This seems familiar.
GILES
Yes it does.
XANDER
Come to fire me... again?
Giles sighs and sits across from him.
GILES
Xander, I think it's time you and I had a
long talk.
XANDER
He died. It was my fault.
GILES
This isn't about the boy.
XANDER
It is.
GILES
You know better than that.
EXT. SAINT BUFALARI'S CAMPUS - FLASHBACK
Xander stands with Liv looking at Brad's dead body lying on the
ground.
GILES(OS)
Do you know today's date, Xander? Do you
remember what happened on this date?
INT. XANDER'S FIREHOUSE - BEDROOM
XANDER
Shut up. It's got nothing to do with her.
GILES
I think you know it does.
XANDER
It doesn't.
EXT. SOMEWHERE IN AFRICA
Xander stands alone, looking down at a dead African girl's body
who is positioned almost like Brad's body.
XANDER
(trying to convince himself)
It doesn't.
INT. XANDER'S FIREHOUSE - BEDROOM
GILES
It has everything to do with her.
XANDER
You and I have talked enough.
GILES
No. You had a one sided conversation with me
three years ago and we haven't spoken since.
XANDER
And when you finally decided you wanted me
back, you send little Andrew to ask.
GILES
Xander, you're twisting the circumstances.
XANDER
Then what did happen?
Pongo the puppet, holding a tray containing a cup of tea comes
up to Giles. Giles takes the cup and nods thanks. Pongo walks
away.
GILES
A slayer died Xander. It wasn't your fault.
And you know that.
Giles does a double take as he realizes that a puppet just gave
him a cup of tea.
XANDER
She was my responsibility!
GILES
These girls? They're all our responsibility,
but it's also our job to put them in danger.
XANDER
It's a crappy job.
GILES
Out of all the people who work for the
Watcher's council, I think you and I
understand that better than anyone. When
Lateesha died...
XANDER
She didn't just die Giles.
GILES
I... I know that.
XANDER
She was butchered.
GILES
I...
XANDER
You didn't have to drive a stake through her
heart and cut off her head before burying
her in the ground. You didn't have to face
her parents and explain what happened. You
didn't have to watch her...
Xander's voice trails off...
GILES
I know Xander.
XANDER
You don't know! You didn't know a thing! You
just came in with all your tweed and all
your books and said...
(imitating Giles)
"Look Xander, it's time she fought on her
own!"
GILES
Xand-
XANDER
So I did what you told me to do.
GILES
(softly)
I should have listened.
XANDER
And I should've been with her!
GILES
I'm... I'm sorry Xander.
XANDER
What?
GILES
I should have listened to you. I... I...
(shakes head)
As you get older Xander, you may find a day
when the child you know has become an adult.
Sometimes that exact day can become a little
blurry. I should have listened. You knew her
much better than I did. I should have
trusted your judgment.
Giles takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes.
GILES
I may not get visions, Xander, but I know
what it's like to have dreams. Every night
it's the same one. Where I try to pull girl
after screaming girl from a meat grinder.
Buffy. Kendra. Faith. Lateesha. Sometimes I
see Dawn... Willow... you. I see you all
there and I can't move fast enough to pull
you all out.
Giles shudders and then looks up at Xander to see him looking
back for the first time with sympathy.
XANDER
I know that dream. Or something close to it.
GILES
I suppose you do.
XANDER
How do you get used to it?
GILES
You don't. You just have hope. That and a
lot of scotch usually does the trick.
XANDER
(rubbing his eyes)
It's only been three years?
GILES
Xander... I know this is a bad time, but...
I received a call yesterday.
(beat)
It's about Liv...
EXT. CAPE KENNETH CEMETERY
Liv is in full battle mode. Six vampires surround her and are
taking turns beating the snot out of her. She takes three solid
punches from one vampire before dropping down, dodging the
final punch, delivering a vicious uppercut and finally a stake
to the chest. A vampire charges her from behind and grabs her
from behind, holding back her arms. Another vampire takes
advantage of the moment and starts beating the crap out of her.
Liv throws out a high kick to the vampire giving the beatings,
knocking him back. Liv throws an elbow back into the solarplexus
of the Vampire holding her. She then stomps on his
instep, spins, delivers a blow to the vamp's nose and then
stakes him in the chest.
The other vampire she had just kicked recovers and charges at
her. Liv delivers a round house kick to him and spins around to
stake another vampire charging into her.
She turns around in time to get two punches from another
vampire which she had no time to block. She drops and sweeps
the legs out from under him, rolls and stakes the vamp before
popping back up from the ground. She ends up in front of
another vampire who she punches twice, stakes and then spins
around and stakes the final vampire charging in after her.
Liv collapses against a grave stone, trying to catch her
breath.
VOICE(OS)
Such a shame.
Liv turns to see Brad standing right behind her. Her mouth
drops open in shock.
BRAD
Here I thought we had something special, and
I see you dancing with other guys. I thought
I was your boyfriend. Did homecoming mean
nothing to you?
LIV
(disbelief)
Brad?
BRAD
Not quite
(vamping out)
I've grown a bit.
Off Liv's horrified reaction we...
END ACT II
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