Disclaimer: See Prologue.
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Part One
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ACT 1, Scene 1 EXT. Outside an auction tent on the grounds of an estate in Southern California. Day, the present.
GILES, WILLOW and BUFFY are walking amidst rows of tables filled with piles of household and miscellaneous items for sale. They are at an estate auction which is already underway. Crowds of potential bidders are still browsing amidst the items tagged for auction and sale. Close to two hundred folding chairs have been set up under the tent and almost every one is now occupied by bidders. Every now and then polite applause comes from the tent as a significant item in the auction is knocked down for a premium price.
Closer to the tent are the more valuable pieces to be auctioned, among them are locked glass cases filled with ancient jewlrey and artifacts. Giles stops at one table and begins rooting through an old wooden box of what appears to be documents and pages torn out of old books.
Willow and Buffy keep on walking. Willow is scanning all the locked cases while Buffy is bored out of her mind.
BUFFY
I still can't figure out how you talked me into coming to this thing.
WILLOW
'Cause you were sitting at home moping. You won't go out. You hardly even go to the Bronze anymore since you and Scott broke up. Faith says she even caught you doing your homework while you guys were out on patrol.
BUFFY
That's not true!
WILLOW
Oh yeah? Then how'd you get that history paper done on time?
Buffy scowls and sulks.
WILLOW (cont'd)
(pause, then gently)
You did the right thing... You gotta get your mind off Angel. He's really gone.
BUFFY
(sarcastically)
And looking at people's old used junk is supposed to perk me right up?
WILLOW
Buffy, I saw some real cute guys under the tent. And there's some cool stuff here, too. You're not giving it a chance.
BUFFY
(looking back at Giles who is still rooting through the manuscripts in the old box)
You mean Giles type stuff.
WILLOW
No, there's supposed to be some really fabulous jewelry somewhere. I just can't find it.
Buffy sighs. Finished examining the old documents, Giles joins them at a table.
BUFFY
(to Giles)
Whatcha lookin' at back there?
GILES
Actually a rather interesting box lot of manuscript fragments.
BUFFY
Looked like something you'd line the cat pan with.
WILLOW
(excited)
Are you gonna bid on it, Giles?
GILES
I think so.
WILLOW
(spying the jewelry table)
Oh! There's what I was looking for! Come on, Buffy.
Buffy rolls her eyes as Willow works her way through the crowd. Buffy follows but lags behind. She finally catches up to Willow who has pushed her way through the crowd and is gazing down at one of the glass cases.
BUFFY
(as she joins Willow)
Hey, Will, I think I really wanna leave. I'm just not into this...
Buffy stops in mid sentence when she sees the look on Willow's face. Her mouth is hanging open and her eyes are wide with awe and wonder.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Willow?
Buffy follows Willow's gaze to the case and her mouth drops open too. Before them both are close to fifty lots of ancient jewelry. Shining back from under the glass are signet rings, necklaces of lapus lazuli, broaches, coins, medallions, ivory cameos and gold, everywhere the glint of gold and electrum in the morning sun. Buffy's mouth hangs wide open and she stammers.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Oh... my... God...
Giles comes up behind them. Buffy and Willow, transfixed by the jewelry, don't even realize he is there.
GILES
Quite stunning, isn't it. One of the last premier collections of the ancient jewelers' art still in private hands.
BUFFY
(in awe, not taking her eyes from the case)
Where did all this come from, Giles?
GILES
This is the personal collection of Anton Furtwangler, Professor of Archeology at the University of Munich in the 1890's. His field of expertise was Greek and Roman jewelry and numismatics.
BUFFY
"Nummie" what?
GILES
Coins.
BUFFY
Oh.
GILES
It's been kept intact by the family for over one hundred years. After Furtwangler's son, Willhem died in the early fifties, the family moved to California. Hans was the last surviving great grand nephew. This is all his estate. Furtwangler's library, manuscripts, notebooks, his collection, there's a lifetime of assembled artifacts and research here today... (with a touch of sadness in his voice)... all going on the block to the highest bidder.
Buffy and Willow pay little attention to what Giles is saying. Their eyes are still rivited to the jewelry case.
WILLOW
(pointing and almost gasping)
Oh! Buffy! Look at that one!
Buffy's eyes fall on the center of the case where Willow has indicated. There, glistening in the sunlight, is a set of large gold earrings. The matching pair, roughly two inches in height, are each carved in the form of a two horse chariot manned by a driver clutching the reins in one hand and in the other holding a wreath of victory out over the charging horses.
The intricacy of the gold work is breath taking. Details on the earrings are sharp and crisp down to the flowing gold waves of the galloping animals' manes and tails. To Buffy and Willow it seems like they can almost see the look of exhaltation on the faces of the drivers as they hold the electrum wreaths out over the necks of their victorious teams.
GILES
I see you've both spotted the crown jewel of the collection. (nodding) Magnificent gold work of the Hellenistic period. Possibly these hung on the statue of a goddess. They turned up on a dig outside of Alexandria.
WILLOW (cont'd)
(almost in a daze)
Oh... my... God...
BUFFY
(still not able to take her eyes from the case)
I already said that, Will.
WILLOW
I know...
BUFFY & WILLOW
(together)
Oh... my... God...
They look at each other. Buffy speaks urgently to Willow.
BUFFY
Will, how much money you got?
WILLOW
Uh... about thirty-five dollars.
BUFFY
I got three months allowance.
Willow gives Buffy a sad smile and holds up two fingers.
WILLOW
Remember, you spent some of it on those shoes.
BUFFY
Oh... yeah, well two months, but I think I still got forty, forty-five bucks left.
Buffy rummages in her coat pockets looking for her wallet. She finds some bills and shows them to Willow.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Wow! I think that gives us eighty, ninety bucks between us! (growing more excited) We'll share 'em, Willow! I'll wear one, you'll wear one! And then we'll alternate on weekends so we can each wear 'em both!
Willow smiles at Buffy, but she is sceptical of the plan.
BUFFY (cont'd)
(to Giles)
Okay, how do we bid on 'em, Giles? Think we have enough?
GILES
(gently, without sarcasm)
I don't think so. I'm afraid you're probably between fifty and seventy-five thousand short.
Buffy and Willow's mouths fall open again. The look of shock on Buffy's face quickly dissolves into one of disappointment. She looks down mournfully at the little fistfull of bills in her hand.
BUFFY
(to Willow)
Guess it wasn't such a hot idea to ditch Cordelia, huh?
WILLOW
(equally discouraged)
That's her Dad's credit card ya know. (staring at the earrings) Hey . . we did get to see them.
Buffy gazes back at the jewelry case.
GILES
Willow's right you know. We were all fortunate today. Look at how beautiful they are.
The two charioteers and their horses glow in the bright natural light.
GILES (cont'd)
I'll tell you what. I'll pick up two copies of the auction catalogue on the way out. I know they have some magnificent photographs.
BUFFY
(smiling sadly)
Thanks, Giles.
GILES
Come on. I want you to see some other things.
All three move away from the jewelry case. Buffy casts one last longing look over her shoulder.
At one of the outer tables, Giles stops and picks up an open box filled with assorted small pieces of junk jewelry. Mixed in with the lot are some ancient pieces that are damaged, chipped or broken. He holds the box out to Willow and Buffy.
GILES
Take a look here. This may be more within your budget.
WILLOW
What is it?
GILES
A box lot. A little of this, a little of that.
BUFFY
Looks like a lot of junk to me.
GILES
Not necessarily. You take the good with the bad. But there are some beautiful old pieces mixed in. Like these.
Giles holds out a pair of small blue scarabs. One is cracked, the other chipped.
GILES (cont'd)
Egyptian scarabs. They don't have much collector's value since they're broken, but they still have a beauty all their own. (Giles examines them closely) Carefully mounted to conceal the defects, they would look lovely in a necklace.
Buffy's interest grows. She takes one out of Giles' hand and gazes at the soft blue stone.
BUFFY
(wistfully)
They are pretty.
GILES
And magic, too
Surprised, Willow and Buffy look at Giles.
GILES
(smiling)
At least their original owners three thousand year ago believed them so... They wore them for protection from the spirits of evil. And who knows?
WILLOW
(smiling)
Yeah... who knows,... right Buffy?
BUFFY
(nodding)
Right,... who knows.
WILLOW
Oh, Giles! Look, there's coins in here, too!
Willow brings out three small copper coins, each about the size of a nickel. All are heavily corroded with only the faintest traces of a portrait remaining on each. Willow holds them up for Giles to look at.
GILES
Hhmm, they look like late Roman imperial issues. Maybe around 300 or 350 A.D. They're fairly common. Very little value in that condition.
Willow clenches the coins in her hand and looks up as if she were seeing something that Giles and Buffy can't. She speaks slowly and sadly to Giles.
WILLOW
No... they were valuable, Giles.... a long time ago... to a family that had them.
Puzzled by what she is saying, Buffy stares at Willow. Giles nods his head as if he understands what Willow is describing.
WILLOW
(slowly as if remembering from the distant past)
They were poor. They didn't have much... and the baby girl was hungry, crying ... so her father went to the market and sold his only heavy robe for three coins. He was so excited 'cause he could buy vegetables, some bread... and some warm fresh milk for his daughter. When he brought the milk home, and the baby stopped crying for the first time in days 'cause her tummy was full, ... for a few minutes,... he thought he was the richest man in the world.
Willow holds the coins tightly. She looks sadly back up at Giles and Buffy.
WILLOW (cont'd)
They *were* valuable, Giles. Real valuable.
GILES
(nodding)
Yes. I suppose they were.
BUFFY
(quietly)
How did you see all that, Will?
WILLOW
In the last few weeks, since I've started studying spells and all...
Giles gives Willow a disapproving look.
WILLOW (cont'd)
(protesting to Giles)
I haven't been casting any, Giles! Really! At least not since that time the toilet backed up, and my Mom made me clean up the bathroom.
Buffy grins and Giles shakes his head.
GILES
No more power outages, Willow?
WILLOW
I swear, Giles! But... every once in a while I'll pick up something... something I've never seen before and holding it... I can see where it's been. And if it was a part of something important.
GILES
It also could just be a very active imagination, Willow.
WILLOW
Oh no. I don't think so.
GILES
(taking the coins out of Willow's hand)
Here, let me show you.
Giles holds the coins in his hand and rubs them together. He closes his eyes as if conjuring up an image in his mind.
GILES (cont'd)
Now, I see a beautiful young lady (indicating Buffy and Willow) about your age. She was sent to the market by her mother to purchase a jug of olive oil with three coins. But on her way she spotted the most beautiful pair of sandals, soft leather, with multicolored glass beads woven into the thongs.
Buffy gives Giles a smirk and rolls her eyes.
GILES (cont'd)
(as he puts the coins back in the box)
You know the rest of the story.
BUFFY
Knock it off, Giles!
GILES
Do you like them? The scarabs?
BUFFY
(wistfully)
Yeah...
GILES
Good. My treat.
Giles signals to an ATTENDANT at the table.
GILES (cont'd)
Items on this table are being sold outright?
ATTENDANT
Yeah, I think you got a price right on the bottom of the box.
Giles looks at the bottom of the box.
GILES
(to the Attendant)
I'll give you twenty for it.
ATTENDANT
Good enough.
Giles passes a twenty dollar bill to the Attendant. He then hands the box to Buffy.
WILLOW
(as she starts to poke among the items in the box that Buffy is holding)
Cool!
With the box lot cradled in one arm, Buffy takes out one of the blue scarabs in her free hand and gazes at it.
BUFFY
(quietly as if speaking to the little stone)
You belong to me now. I'll put you in a nice setting... you'll look so pretty.
Willow looks at Buffy and raises her eyebrows.
BUFFY
(still talking to the scarab. Not seeing Willow's gaze)
... and you'll keep your end of the bargain... you'll protect me?
Buffy smiles to herself, clutches the little blue scarab in her hand and holds the clenched fist up to her lips, giving it a little kiss. Buffy then spots Willow's disbelieving stare.
BUFFY
What? With what I gotta do every night, I'm not allowed to talk to rocks?
Willow breaks into a grin.
WILLOW
You had me worried there for a moment.
BUFFY
(Holding up the little scarab in her hand)
Nah! This little guy's gonna do the worrying for both of us.
Giles turns to head back towards the auction tent.
GILES
If you want to join me, several of the lots I'm going to bid on are coming up.
BUFFY
Okay.
WILLOW
(shaking her head and taking the box from Buffy)
Talking to rocks! Geez.
BUFFY
And you didn't yell at the toilet when you screwed up that spell the other night!?
Buffy and Willow, trying to catch up with Giles, run back through the crowd towards the auction tent.
CUT TO INT. A dark room with shades drawn. Day at the same time.
One lone floor lamp with an incandescent bulb casts illumination, although the heavy lamp shade directs all of the light downwards. No features of the room can be seen only a solitary badly worn easy chair and its occupant, ETHAN RAYNE.
Ethan is holding a cordless phone to his ear. In his lap is the catalogue for the Furtwangler auction, open to the last page which lists all the miscellaneous unpictured lots to be auctioned.
Ethan begins talking over the phone, his words carefully spoken, his tone patronizing and arrogant.
ETHAN
Right... Lot number 437. . . FOUR THIRTY-SEVEN YOU IDIOT! Not four seventy-three!
That's a box of bloody doilies! Will you look at the catalogue, you little dimwit! ... The manuscript fragments are what I want!
Ethan sighs and shakes his head in disgust.
ETHAN (cont'd)
Right. Now, my maximum bid is five hundred dollars. You got that? Five hundred and not a cent more! (under his breath) The damn things aren't worth half that.
Ethan listens over the phone for a moment.
ETHAN (cont'd)
Why do you have to make it so complicated!? It's a "left" bid. Just give it to the auctioneer when the lot comes up! Trust me, he'll take it. (with a threatening, sarcastic tone) He *knows* me!
Ethan listens again for a moment and sighs.
ETHAN (cont'd)
(calmly but with a touch of exasperation)
I know Ripper's there. He'll probably be the only other person bidding on it... I don't bloody care if the Slayer is with him! What's she going to do? Stake the auctioneer and grab the box?... So what if she sees you? Probably be for the better anyway. You really should try to get back in her good graces.
Ethan listens for a moment more, closes his eyes as if he thinks all his dealings with the outside world are forever doomed to be with complete morons, then sighs once more.
ETHAN (cont'd)
Right,... right. Just call me to let me know how much I got it for, and I'll come down and pick it up after the auction.
Ethan turns off the cordless phone and places it on a side table obscured by the dark. He picks up off the same table a shot glass filled with amber liquor. He sips it slowly as he stares at the catalogue in his lap.
ETHAN (cont'd)
(shaking his head in disgust, to himself)
Uhh, American youth... Ripper, I don't know how you can stand dealing with them.
CUT BACK TO EXT. The Auction Tent, Day, the same time.
SCOTT, holding a cellular phone, pushes the off button and slips the phone into his back pocket. He looks nervously around the tent at the crowds of people jammed in. The bidding is ongoing and brisk as prospective purchasers try to draw the Auctioneer's attention by waving paper plates with their buyer numbers drawn in black marking pen.
Towards the front of the tent, Buffy and Willow slide down an aisle of folding chairs and find two empty ones next to Giles who is already seated. He is holding a paper plate with his bidder number on it. Willow cranes her neck and spots Scott among the runners at the front of the tent.
GILES
A word of warning. Don't raise your hand for anything. You could be mistaken for a bidder and become the proud owner of a gold plated bedpan. No waving at friends, not even to scratch an itch on the top of your head. Is that clear?
WILLOW
(to Buffy, pointing across the tent)
Ohh! Isn't that Scott?
Giles yanks Willow's arm down.
GILES
(urgently but under his breath)
Willow!
WILLOW
(meekly)
Sorry... (to Buffy) Well, isn't it?
BUFFY
(looking over the crowd but feigning indifference)
Yeah... so?
WILLOW
I didn't know he hung out at these things? (joking) Maybe he's weirder than you thought.
Scott realizes he has been seen. He quickly works his way over to the Auctioneer who is between lots. As the Auctioneer looks to the runners for the next item for sale, Scott slips him a plain white envelope.
SCOTT
(nervously)
This is a left bid. For lot number four thirty-seven. It's from Mr. Rayne.
The Auctioneer stares at Scott for a moment.
AUCTIONEER
(with a tone of fear in his voice)
Mr. Ethan Rayne?
SCOTT
Yeah, he said you'd know him.
AUCTIONEER
(nodding, still fearful)
Okay, yeah. Thanks, kid. I'll... I'll put it up right away.
Looking back around at Buffy, Scott cracks a faint uncertain smile and gives her a little wave. He then hurries off the auction platform and disappears into the crowd.
WILLOW
Buffy? What was that all about?
BUFFY
I don't know. He's not working here, I know that.
Buffy, Giles and Willow watch the Auctioneer as he opens the envelope. The Auctioneer silently reads the contents, then leans up to the microphone.
AUCTIONEER
Ladies and gentlemen, the next item this afternoon is being taken out of numerical order. You will be bidding on lot number four thirty-seven... that's lot number four thirty-seven, the box of unattributed manuscript fragments. This lot is being sold "as is."
WILLOW
(excited to Giles)
Oh, Giles, that's the one you want!
GILES
(puzzled)
Yes. (to Buffy) I suspect your friend there, Scott, has given the auctioneer a left bid.
BUFFY
(to Giles)
And that would be?... what?... as opposed to a "right" bid?
GILES
A "left" bid is a bid on a lot by a person who cannot attend the auction ... or wishes to remain anonymous. It has been "left" with the auctioneer. It's the maximum amount the bidder is willing to pay. Only the auctioneer knows the amount and everybody else is bidding against the left bid without knowing how much it is.
WILLOW
I wonder who Scott's doing it for?
BUFFY
I can't think of anybody else who would want your old papers, Giles, except maybe...
GILES
(quietly)
Ethan... (shaking his head) No, there are people from all over the country here. Could be anybody.
AUCTIONEER
(over the microphone to the crowd)
Are we ready to begin? This is for lot number four thirty-seven, the manuscript fragments.
GILES
(tightening his grip on the paper plate)
Here we go.
Buffy and Willow glance at each other and settle into their chairs as if they are preparing for a roller coaster ride. This is a side of Giles they have never seen.
AUCTIONEER
(speaking rapid fire)
I'll begin the bidding at fifty dollars. Do I have fifty dollars?
Hands holding paper plates with bidder numbers pop up all through the crowd under the tent. Giles is among them
AUCTIONEER (cont'd)
I have fifty everywhere! Do I see one hundred? One hundred dollars?
Half of the hands holding the paper plates drop as the bid rises. Giles still holds up his bidder number.
AUCTIONEER (cont'd)
I have one hundred dollars, do I have one hundred fifty? I'm looking for one hundred fifty.
Most of the hands drop. Only Giles and two other bidders keep their paper plates raised.
AUCTIONEER (cont'd)
The bid is one fifty, do I have two hundred? Do I have two hundred? Two hundred dollars for the manuscripts? I'm looking for two hundred.
The other bidders drop out. Only Giles remains. His hand holding the plate goes down. As the Auctioneer continues to raise the bid, his eyes are glued on Giles awaiting Giles' signal whether he is willing to meet the bid.
AUCTIONEER (cont'd)
The bid is two hundred. And now I have two fifty, the bid is now two fifty. (looking at Giles) Do I have three hundred. I'm looking for three hundred.
BUFFY
How can it go up? Nobody's bidding against us.
Giles gives the Auctioneer a nod indicating he will raise the bid.
GILES
(under his breath to Buffy and Willow)
It's the left bid we're competing against.
AUCTIONEER (cont'd)
I have three hundred. I have three hundred. Now I have three fifty. I now have three fifty. (looking at Giles) The bid is now three hundred fifty, do I have four hundred? I'm looking for four hundred.
Giles, his face steely and almost immobile, gives the Auctioneer the faintest nod. Buffy and Willow, both their mouths open, stare at Giles.
AUCTIONEER (cont'd)
I see four hundred. The bid is four hundred. I now have four fifty. The bid is now four hundred fifty. (still staring at Giles) Do I have five hundred? I have four fifty, do I have five hundred? I'm looking for five hundred.
For a moment, Giles looks down and thinks. His face remains expressionless. He slowly looks back up at the Auctioneer and almost imperceptibly, shakes his head. The Auctioneer spots the signal and turns to the rest of the crowd under the tent.
AUCTIONEER (cont'd)
The bid is now at four hundred and fifty. I am looking for five hundred.
BUFFY
Giles? You're quitting?
GILES
(shaking his head)
I just don't have the money.
WILLOW
No credit cards?
Giles gives Willow a look that says "credit what?" Buffy looks down, discouraged. Her eyes fall on the little box of jewelry in Willow's lap. Amidst the junk, the two scarabs stand out, their blue almost glowing. Buffy stares at them as if they were giving her a message. She then looks up suddenly at Willow.
AUCTIONEER
I'm looking for five hundred dollars. Are we all done at four fifty? Are we all done at four hundred and fifty dollars?
BUFFY
(quickly rummaging in her pockets)
Willow! Gimme your money! Quick!
WILLOW
What?
BUFFY
Gimme your money!
Willow takes some bills out of her purse. Buffy grabs them and wads them together with a fistfull she has pulled out of her own jacket pocket.
AUCTIONEER
Are we all done at four hundred fifty? Four fifty going once! Going twice!
Buffy rips the paper plate out of Giles' hand and leaps to her feet, waving the bidder number and her fistfull of money.
BUFFY
(shouting)
Five Hundred Twenty-five Dollars!
There is a slight gasp in the tent among the crowd. All heads including the Auctioneer's turn to look at her.
GILES
Buffy!
WILLOW
That was my thirty-five bucks!
BUFFY
We bid five hundred twenty-five!
AUCTIONEER
(slowly at first)
The bid is now five hundred and twenty-five dollars. (looking around to the rest of the crowd) Do I hear five hundred and fifty? The bid is five hundred and twenty-five. Do I hear five hundred and fifty? Five hundred and twenty-five. Five hundred and twenty-five going once.
BUFFY
(smuggly to Giles)
I guess that knocked out whoever Mr. Sneaky was.
GILES
(happy but flustered)
I... I guess so...
AUCTIONEER
Five hundred twenty-five going twice!... SOLD! For five hundred twenty-five dollars to the young lady, bidder number...?
A light round of applause echoes in the tent as Buffy holds up the paper plate for the Auctioneer to see the bidder number.
AUCTIONEER (cont'd)
Number two fifty-eight! Bidder number two fifty-eight. Thank you.
WILLOW
(distressed)
Buffy! I'm broke! We're both broke!
BUFFY
I'll share my peanut butter sandwiches with you next week. Besides, Gilesy here is good for it.
GILES
Well, actually, not until next Thursday. I'm embarrassed to say, now I'm broke, too.
BUFFY
(joking)
That's okay. It's not like we don't know where to find you when it comes time to collect!
CUT TO INT. The dark room. A few minutes later. Day
Ethan is still sitting in the recliner. In one hand, he holds the portable phone to his ear, in the other the shot glass full of liquor. He slugs back the full shot, then speaks over the phone.
ETHAN
No, I'm not mad at you. Not this time anyway. There'll be plenty of other times for that. This one was my own fault.
He turns off the portable phone and sets it on the table in the dark.
ETHAN (cont'd)
(sighing and looking at the empty shot glass)
Ripper, Ripper. . . besides being a general annoyance... you're making me run up my liquor bill.
CUT TO BLACK
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