Disclaimer: See Prologue.
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Part Two
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ACT 1, Scene 2, INT. The Sunnydale High Library. Day, a short while after the auction.
Giles drops the wooden box of manuscripts on one of the library tables with a BANG. A cloud of dust swirls up out of the box at him. Willow and Buffy are standing behind Giles. Willow starts gagging on the dust while Buffy waves her hand to blow the swirling cloud away from her.
GILES
There! Now we can get started.
BUFFY
(to Willow)
Willow! I don't want to do this! It's a weekday with no school!
WILLOW
(firmly)
Buffy, you're staying with me today. I'm not letting you go off moping in the cemetery again.
BUFFY
(guilty)
I'm not going to the cemetery.
WILLOW
Then you're sneaking off to the old mansion.
BUFFY
Am not! I can't stand that place.
WILLOW
Oh, yeah, right! That's why Faith says she found you there four times last week!
Trapped in her lie, Buffy scowls and looks away from Willow.
GILES
Willow's right you know. The only thing that's going to heal this is time... and keeping your mind busy.
WILLOW (cont'd)
(gently)
Buffy,... you can't keep going there. What are you going to do when they tear it down next week?
Buffy walks away from Willow and Giles. She sits at another table piled high with uncatalogued books. Willow walks over and sits down next to her. She leans forward and talks quietly to Buffy.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Buffy... you have to accept it. You did the right thing with Angel... What happened was my fault. I never should have tried that spell again.
Buffy looks up from the table at Willow.
WILLOW (cont'd)
You have to carry the pain for sending him to Hell. That part's yours, I can buy that. But restoring his soul, him recognizing what you were doing to him... I'm to blame for that, not you. I'm not going to let you carry that one. That's mine,... forever.
Buffy nods at Willow.
BUFFY
(quietly)
I know. I know... thanks, Willow.
WILLOW
Come on, let's help Giles.
BUFFY
In a sec. I just wanna sit here for a little bit.
WILLOW
(getting up)
Okay.
Willow returns to Giles who begins pulling the old manuscripts one at a time out of the wooden box. He carefully lays them out on the large table top, taking particular care with one rolled up scroll. As he gently uncurls the delicate parchment, he signals for Willow to place a pair of books at one end to hold it flat.
GILES
(to Willow)
Set the books at the head of the paper so it won't curl back.
Willow does as she is instructed. Giles places another book at the bottom of the scroll, which keeps it unrolled. Both he and Willow study the now open manuscript. Meanwhile, at her own table, Buffy pays no attention to Willow and Giles. Instead, she absent mindedly looks at the covers of the stack of books in front of her. A large brown volume, whose heavy cover is embossed with pictures and gold inlay catches her attention. As she draws it towards her, Buffy sees the pages are all edged with gilt. She finds the title in gold on the cover, "Dante's Inferno."
WILLOW
(to Giles as he studies the manuscript)
It's in Latin. What is it, Giles?
GILES
I'm not sure. But if it's what I suspect, it's quite a find.
BUFFY
(calling out)
Hey, Giles. Who's Dante?
GILES
(looking up distracted from the manuscript)
Who? Dante? A famous 14th century Italian poet. Dante Alighieri.
BUFFY
Oh,... so what's his Inferno?
GILES
(speaking to Buffy while at the same time trying to study the manuscript)
Hmm?... Oh, you've found the Dante Inferno I purchased. Fabulous 19th century edition. The Gustave Dore engravings are stunning.
BUFFY
But what is it?
GILES
One of the great works of European literature. It's his vision of his own journey to the underworld.
WILLOW
(interrupting, pointing to a spot in the manuscript)
Giles, look at how funny they made those letters.
Giles turns back to the manuscript once more.
BUFFY
(sadly, realizing she is losing her Watcher's attention)
But what's it about, Giles?
Giles doesn't answer. Busily he runs his finger up and down the lines of text in the manuscript with Willow following his motions. Discouraged, Buffy looks back to her own table and opens the Dante volume. She turns to the title page, stops and stares at the black and white steel engraving of the poet himself. The visage of Dante in the Dore rendering glares sternly up as if telling the reader, "turn these pages only if you dare behold the terrors I have seen." Her eyes widen as her hand slowly moves to flip the page to The Vision of Hell, Canto I. She begins reading the English translation quietly to herself using her finger to help her keep her place in the text.
BUFFY
(slowly)
"In the midway of this our mortal life,
I found me in a gloomy wood, astray
Gone from the direct path..."
Buffy stops reading in mid sentence. In her mind she sees Acathla and Angel standing before the whirling vortex in the old mansion. Meanwhile, Giles leans back and slowly paces away from the manuscript he and Willow are studying. He puts his hand on his chin, stops a few feet from the table and stares off into space. Puzzled by his behavior, Willow watches but does not interrupt his train of thought. Giles turns around to Willow and shakes his head.
GILES
I don't understand it.
WILLOW
What?
Buffy shakes her head to drive the image of Angel from her mind. She looks up from her book and eavesdrops on Willow and Giles.
GILES
(frustrated and confused)
It's clearly a Latin transcription of the Luxor Necropolis Text. An addendum to the Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, something that was presumed lost for centuries... and here it is, not in the original hierogliphic of course, but staring me right in the face.... But with the exception of the first two lines, the whole thing reads like nonsense. It's in Latin, but the Latin is gibberish.
WILLOW
Latin usually is gibberish to me.
GILES
(ignoring Willow's remark, rambling on)
It's supposed to be a spell and guidebook for the high priests of Osiris and the priestesses of Isis. A key to the underworld and the demon dimension. Hiero of Alexandria even claimed it contained formulas for exchanging souls between the mortal realm and the underworld. But Hiero was never a terribly trustworthy source. Much of his information was only second or third hand...
WILLOW
Giles!
Giles stops talking and looks at her, the look of puzzlement clearly visible behind his gold rimmed glasses.
WILLOW (cont'd)
(gently)
You're babbling.
GILES
Oh... sorry.
Giles returns to the table and calmly begins studing the manuscript once more. Buffy turns back to her book and begins rapidly scanning the lines of The Vision of Hell. As she turns the page, her eyes fall on another of the volumes' multitude of engravings. Before her she sees Dante and his guide, the Roman epic poet Virgil standing under the dark stones of the gateway to Hell. Fearfully, Buffy reads out loud the words carved in the black rock over their heads.
BUFFY
(quietly, to herself)
"Through me you pass into the city of woe:
Through me you pass into eternal pain...
Before me, things created were none save things
Eternal, and eternal I endure.
All hope abandon ye who enter here."
Buffy stops reading. Again she sees in her mind the whirling vortex behind Acathla. She hears her own whispered voice to Angel. It echoes as if from some distant time.
BUFFY'S VOICE
Close your eyes.
She sees herself draw back the sword to plunge into Angel. As if struggling to awake from a nightmare, Buffy shakes herself loose from the vision once more. She looks up from the book to call over to Giles for reassurance. But seeing he and Willow are still preoccupied, she holds back and returns her attention to the book. She now turns pages rapidly, skipping dozens at a time. Several of the Dore engravings flash by, their visions of souls in the torment of Hell cause Buffy to turn away from the volume. Finally one opens in front of her, virtually leaping off the page. She wants to turn away, but no matter how hard she tries, her eyes are still drawn to the haunting image before her.
In the stark black lines of the steel engraving is the shape of a naked man, nailed at hands and feet in cruciform fashion to the stone floor of the vision of Hell. By his broken body, Virgil and Dante stand contemplating his fate. Buffy, her voice quietly shaking, reads aloud the words of the Roman poet as he describes the scene to Dante.
BUFFY
(her eyes wide with horror)
"That pierced spirit, whom intent
Thou view'st, was he who gave the Pharisees
Counsel, that it were fitting for one man...
To suffer for the people."
Again, Buffy imagines the form of Angel hovering before her, now with the sword piercing him and sliding back into the vortex behind Acathla. The last thing she sees is the look of shock and accusation on Angel's face as he pours out of the mortal world into the demon dimension. Then all is quiet. Her mind is in the Library once more. Breathing heavily, she looks up from the book before her and calls out quietly.
BUFFY
(softly)
Giles.
Giles and Willow are still immersed in the Necropolis text and give no indication they have heard her.
BUFFY
(louder, with fear and pleading in her voice)
Giles!
GILES
(looking up)
Buffy?
WILLOW
(seeing her friend's distress)
Buffy? What's wrong?
Willow and Giles abandon the manuscript and hurry to Buffy's side. Giles kneels down beside her and Willow slips into a chair by her friend.
GILES
What is it Buffy?
Buffy doesn't answer.
WILLOW
(firmly)
Buffy! Talk,... now.
Buffy looks up at her two friends. Her face is an agony of despair.
BUFFY
Giles,... for what I did to Angel... is there a special place for me?...
She looks back down at the engraving in front of her.
BUFFY
Here... in Hell?
For a moment, Giles stares at Buffy in shocked silence. Bewildered he shakes his head.
GILES
What!?
BUFFY
(pointing to the engraving)
There.
Willow leans forward and reads the caption under the engraving.
WILLOW
"That pierced spirit, whom intent
Thou view'st, was he who gave the Pharisees
Counsel, that it were fitting for one man...
To suffer for the people."
Giles reaches out and closes the book. He takes Buffy by the shoulders and turns her to face him. He speaks earnestly and with gentle reassurance.
GILES
Buffy, listen to me. This book is not a literal description of the underworld. It is a political and social commentary by a very famous writer on his own times. It is not real.
BUFFY
But, Giles...
GILES
(firmly)
It is not real!... Often times, Hell is really our own private place, deep in our minds. We create it... and we dwell there of our own free will, until we choose to take a better path and step back out into the world.
Buffy stares up at Giles. Giles hangs his head and a faint sad smile crosses his face.
GILES (cont'd)
(ashamed)
I'm sorry, Buffy. I know I haven't been much help since Angel died. I should never have let...
BUFFY
(interrupting)
No... Giles, you've been great. (looking at Willow as well)
You both have. You're like my rock that I hang on to. You're always there.
Buffy's eyes begin to glisten but she does not cry.
BUFFY
(looking at Giles)
Don't ever leave. (looking at Willow) Either of you.
Willow wraps her arms around Buffy and speaks quietly.
WILLOW
. . . never...
GILES
(to Willow)
Maybe this isn't the best activity for a free afternoon after all. You two go and find something frivolous to do.
WILLOW
Yeah, ... Hey, I have an idea. Let's go find some settings for those two blue stones we got at the auction.
BUFFY
(wiping her eyes and sighing with relief)
I could use a trip to the mall.
GILES
(to Willow)
You know, you might have more luck at Anson MacDuffie's shop downtown.
WILLOW
Oh yeah! He's got real cool stuff! (to Buffy) It's not like the mall. You have to give it a chance. But I think you'll like it.
Buffy and Willow get up to leave the library. As they head towards the door, Giles calls after them.
GILES
Buffy... I want you to take the night off. Go to the Bronze. Let Faith handle patrol... do you hear me?
BUFFY
(over her shoulder)
Yeah, gotcha.
Willow and Buffy disappear out the library doors. Giles stands alone beside the desk with the book of Dante's Inferno staring up at him. He shakes his head.
GILES
(quoting to himself)
"the idle brain..."
ACT 1, Scene 3, INT. A small Curiosity/New Age shop in downtown Sunnydale, a little later in the day.
The shop is dingy and disorganized with stands of small apothecary bottles filled with herbs, extracts, and essences lining the walls. Books are scattered around in shelves in no particular order. The countertop is cluttered with shoe boxes, each one filled with a variety of polished stones, crystals and other less identifiable objects. A large manual cash register takes up a full one quarter of the countertop while across the room several glass cases hold assorted estate jewelry and small wooden cigar boxes overflowing with old tarnished coins.
Behind the counter at a compact table fixed with a small bright jeweler's lamp sits ANSON MACDUFFIE, the shop's owner. He is in his early fifties, tall with thinning brown hair, brown eyes and a dark mustache streaked with the first splashes of grey. Using a jeweler's eyepiece, he is trying to read the worn inscriptions on several old coins.
Buffy and Willow enter through the shop door. Willow is still carrying the box lot they purchased at the auction. A small bell hanging on the door RINGS, announcing their presence. MacDuffie doesn't look up from his task. Buffy stares around the shop with deep misgivings.
BUFFY
This is the place you were talking about?
WILLOW
Yeah, Mr. MacDuffie's got all kinds of old jewelry stuff. If anybody could find a setting for those stones, he can.
Buffy gazes around her, still not sure how she got talked into coming to such a dumpy old shop. MacDuffie looks up from his work and sees his customers. He speaks with only the faintest hint of a Scottish accent.
MACDUFFIE
Miss Willow! One of my best customers. How are you? How is Mr. Giles?
MacDuffie gets up, puts down his jeweler's eyepiece and comes over to the counter.
MACDUFFIE
Ah lass, you brighten my day every time you come in. (to Buffy) I always tell her, with that gorgeous red hair, she should've been a Scot and me thirty-five years younger!
WILLOW
(blushing and smiling)
Hello, Mr. MacDuffie. We just came from an auction with Giles. He says "Hi."
MACDUFFIE
Yes, the old Furtwangler estate. Well, you tell him I should have the "eyebright" he ordered in by Monday. (turning to Buffy) And who's this lovely young lass with you today.
WILLOW
Oh, this is Buffy.
BUFFY
(hesitantly)
Hi.
MACDUFFIE
Ahh, Buffy Summers. You are the one Miss Willow talks about so much.
Buffy's eyes widen and she turns to cast a worried look at Willow. Willow just smiles at her.
MACDUFFIE (cont'd)
(to Willow)
Well, what can I do for you today. A little chamomile for the tummy, again?
Willow puts the box she is carrying on the sole open space on the countertop. She fishes in the box and retrieves the two blue scarab stones Giles bought them at the auction.
WILLOW
Actually, Mr. MacDuffie, we were looking for some kind of a little locket or setting to put these in so we could hang them from a necklace.
Willow holds the scarabs out for MacDuffie to see. MacDuffie studies them in Willow's hand and, smiling, speaks with a tone of awe
MACDUFFIE
Oh my... these are wonderful scarabs.
Buffy, her eyes widening with amazement, listens to MacDuffie.
MACDUFFIE (cont'd)
They represent Khepri, "he who came forth from the earth." The ancient Egyptians worshiped the scarab beetle as a symbol of rebirth and new life. Khepri pushed the Sun across the universe, and as a servant of the Sun's power, He also guards the just against the forces of darkness and evil. These are very old... and quite wonderful... I think I have just what you need. May I?
MacDuffie takes the scarab stones from Willow's hand. He walks over to a pull out drawer in the wall, opens it and roots around inside. Finding what he wants, MacDuffie returns to the counter. He holds two small oval silver jewel mountings. He deftly loosens each mounting with a tiny jeweler's screw driver, slips a scarab into each mounting and just as swiftly, tightens the mountings. He then pulls out of a box on the counter two thin long thongs of leather. He slides a leather thong through each mounting and ties them off as separate necklaces. He then signals for both Buffy and Willow to step up close to the counter.
MACDUFFIE (cont'd)
(as he places the first scarab necklace over Willow's head)
Miss Willow, this one will be for you.
MacDuffie turns to Buffy. At first Buffy is nervous but the strong look in MacDuffie's brown eyes is somehow reassuring. She steps closer to the counter, and MacDuffie gently slides the scarab necklace over her head.
MACDUFFIE (cont'd)
There, you are both under the protection of Khepri, now... A good friend to have on your side.
Willow smiles with pride and Buffy, looking down at her own scarab around her neck, marvels at the small blue stone.
WILLOW
Oh thank you so much, Mr. MacDuffie. (to Buffy) See, I told you!
BUFFY
Hey, you learn something new every day. (to MacDuffie) Thank you, Mr. MacDuffie, they're perfect.
MACDUFFIE
My pleasure, lass.
WILLOW
What do we owe you?
MACDUFFIE
Fifteen should do very nicely.
Willow goes to pull money out of her purse but stops suddenly. She looks up accusingly at Buffy.
WILLOW
(distressed)
Buffy! You blew it all at the auction... for Giles' manuscripts!
A look of panic crosses Buffy's face; the look quickly dissolves into one of disappointment. Sadly she starts to take the necklace off, sliding it over her head. Knowing what Buffy is feeling, MacDuffie stops her.
MACDUFFIE
Wait... no, you both keep them. They're yours now... Miss Willow, pay me when you come in next time.
Willow grins broadly and Buffy's eyes light up.
WILLOW
Oh, thank you, Mr. MacDuffie!
BUFFY
(quietly, with respect)
Thanks... Mr. MacDuffie.
MACDUFFIE
(spoken to Buffy as he waves off her "thank you")
. . . Ahh, go!, it's a beautiful day outside. Not meant for young people to dawdle around in places the likes of this.
Willow picks up the box lot off the counter, and she and Buffy quickly turn to leave. As they go out the door, Willow turns to Buffy.
WILLOW
And you wanted to go to the mall!
They both leave, and the little mechanical door bell RINGS as the door shuts behind them. MacDuffie sits behind the counter for a few moments after they have left. Then he speaks quietly to himself.
MACDUFFIE
Aye, tis a good day today indeed... I'm glad they're in your care now. Watch over them... they're good lassies.
ACT 1, Scene 4. INT. Ethan's room. That afternoon.
It is lighter now and clear that the room is actually a large storage room behind a vacant storefront in downtown Sunnydale. A few boxes are strategically placed to serve as pieces of furniture holding up lamps, ashtrays and assorted nick nacks. There is a door on the back wall leading to the side alleyway. Ethan is still in his recliner. He is a little tipsy. He pulls out of his pocket a small antique hand blown glass vial with a cork stopper. It is roughly the size of a perfume bottle. Inside, a faint blue wisp of color, closer in content to vapor than liquid, sloshes gently from side to side as Ethan examines the bottle. Maliciously, he begins tossing the bottle up in the air and catching it.
ETHAN
(sing songy as he tosses the bottle)
Where... are... you... Rarak? "Oh where, oh where has my little Scott gone?"
Suddenly, Ethan almost misses a catch. The bottle slips in his hand but he recovers and keeps it from falling to the floor where it would have almost certainly broken.
ETHAN
(nonchalantly)
Oooh! That was a close one.
Ethan slips the bottle back into his coat pocket. The back alley way door opens and Scott stands in the bright afternoon sunshine, his silhouette casting a shadow across the floor. Ethan looks up.
ETHAN (cont'd)
My, my. The prodigal demon has returned.
Scott steps into the room.
ETHAN
Rarak, close the door. You'd think I hadn't taught you any manners in the last four years.
SCOTT
That's not my name!
ETHAN
Oh, that's right. You're sensitive about that sort of thing. (patronizing) Sorry... Scott.
Scott walks up to within five feet of the recliner. Ethan brings the recliner to a sitting position and he leans forward
ETHAN (cont'd)
Now, what do you have for me?
SCOTT
Well, Mr. Giles did get the manuscripts.
ETHAN
(exasperated)
I know that! Did you get me the Necropolis Text?
SCOTT
(puzzled)
No, I told you Mr. Giles has it.
ETHAN
Well you could have knocked him on the head or something and snatched it.
SCOTT
(searching for an excuse)
He... he had Buffy with him.
ETHAN
Oh... that's right, the Slayer. Well, you'll just have to start dating her again, loiter around the library and steal it when you get the chance.
Scott does not answer. He looks down at the floor.
ETHAN (cont'd)
What's wrong now!?
SCOTT
I'm not going to hurt her.
ETHAN
Nobody's asking you to... just yet.
SCOTT
I'm not going to hurt her! I'm not going to lie to her!
ETHAN
(his eyes widening as he understands)
Ohh... I see. So *that's* why you broke up with her.
SCOTT
Shut up.
ETHAN
(sarcastically)
What a noble little thing you think you are! Ending a relationship so you wouldn't have to hurt your . . . girlfriend. Well, just because you have a soul, don't get so bloody high and mighty with me! ... For God's sake, I told you to date her, not fall in love with her.
SCOTT
SHUT UP!
ETHAN
Rarak, you must understand. This is business. You'll have years and years of all the pleasures this mortal world has to offer, but while you're working at my command, business comes first. Now, I want you to get back in with the Slayer, learn as much as you can and get your paws on that Necropolis Text. I gather she's still totally messed up over killing Angelus. I think we have an angle we can work there... if I can just get a hold of the spells for exchanging souls. And remember to check in with me later tonight.
SCOTT
(now angry)
I told you, Mr. Rayne. I'm not going to hurt her! And if I go out with her, it's because I want to, not because you ordered me! I won't lie to her! And I won't betray her!
ETHAN
(leaning forward, pulling the antique vial out of his pocket and waving it at Scott)
Listen, you slimy little lizard! You'll do what I say or my hand may suddenly slip after I've had a few too many. I could sneeze and send your miserable carcass back to the demon dimension where I got you!... now get out of here and do what you've been told!
Scott turns to leave. Before he goes out the alley way door, he stops and glares back at Ethan.
SCOTT
You may think you control me, but you don't. And you don't scare me either. 'Cause really I've got nothing to lose. All you can do is send me back... and in those few seconds it wouldn't be hard to sink my claws into you... and drag you along with me.
So... Mr. Rayne... you just leave Buffy out of any of your plans. I won't hurt her... and if you so much as lay a finger on her...
Scott's eyes suddenly glow with a faint blue light which quickly vanishes. He turns to the door once more and leaves. Ethan looks nonchalantly after him. Ethan then leans back in the recliner and looks up to the ceiling in disgust.
ETHAN
Of all the millions of stinking little twits in the demon dimension... I had to raise up one, (sighing)... with a bloody soul!
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