Disclaimer: See Prologue.
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Part Seven
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ACT 3 Scene 4, INT. The coffee shop, early evening.
The shop is busy with activity. At the same table where he and Buffy spent hours talking, tonight Scott waits alone. His coffee is untouched. He keeps glancing at his watch. Even though he is hours early, every few moments he looks nervously around him, searching for Buffy and eyeing the door for any vampires Ethan may have sent after him.
Scott fidgits with his small spiral notebook. He pulls a short, well used pencil out of his jacket pocket and scribbles aimlessly on a page of the notebook. With his other hand, he holds the scarab around his neck and gently rubs it between his fingers. Suddenly he drops his pencil and looks up in front of him, staring past the other tables at something that only he can see. He holds the scarab with both hands as if pulling the image out of the little blue stone.
CUT TO DARKNESS, A Room with no illumination.
In his mind Scott sees a pitch dark chamber. No features are visible anywhere and there is no source of light. He is standing in the center of the chamber, and Buffy is in front of him less than ten feet away. Her back is turned to him.
Her motionless image appears colorless to Scott, her blond hair and bright clothing only visible in shades of grey. Then Scott senses in front of her the shape of a figure that is darker than the blackness surrounding them. A white crooked hand slowly emerges floating in the air in front of the figure as if it has slid out from under the folds of an inky black cassock. It reaches out towards Buffy who remains still.
Scott moves towards Buffy but he feels as if he is fighting a power emanating from the darkness. His movements are like those of a film image struggling forward in single frame motion. Concentrating his energy, Scott pushes through the force holding him back and reaches Buffy's side. She does not turn to him or recognize him.
Scott slips off the scarab in the leather thong from around his neck and gently places it over Buffy's head so that the little stone comes to rest against her white blouse facing forward towards the dark entity. In this world of greys and blacks, only the scarab now stands out in its true color, the soft blue glowing like a tiny beacon.
The dark figure suddenly draws back, and, as if suddenly freed, Buffy turns to look at Scott. Her face is a mixture of shock and sorrow. Still moving in a dream state of slow motion, she shakes her head as if trying to deny what is happening. Her voice comes to Scott's mind as if it were echoing down a long empty corridor.
BUFFY
(very quietly)
... no...
Scott doesn't reply. He only nods his head and smiles at her. He then turns to face the darkness in front of them and walks forward.
CROSS CUT BACK TO THE COFFEE SHOP
Scott suddenly shakes his head as if he were dropped back into reality. He quickly looks around him. His breathing is rapid but it is not a reaction of fear or panic, only one of exertion. His eyes wide, he looks back down at the table in front of him and tries to compose his thoughts.
Dropping the scarab, he grabs the spiral notebook and begins writing rapidly as if he were running a desperate race against time. After a few moments, he holds the finished product up in front of him, silently reading what he has written. Dissatisfied, he quickly scratches out a line here, a word there, then writes again. Reading what he has written once more, he is now content. He tears the page out of the notebook, stuffs it into his inside jacket pocket, and jumps up from the table. He runs out of the coffee shop, leaving his spiral notebook on the table.
A few moments later, Scott scurries back in again, fishes in his pocket for money and drops a dollar bill and some coins on the table. He turns and runs back out, still leaving his notebook behind. Several of the coffee shop patrons eye his actions with mild curiosity.
ACT 3, Scene 5 INT. The Ethan's room in the back of the vacant downtown storefront. Night at the same time.
Ethan Rayne is seated in his recliner reading. Every now and then he perks his head up from his book and listens as if he were awaiting someone's arrival. Finally, the back door to the room swings open and Buffy stands in silhouette against the light from the outside street lamps. She is holding the rolled up scroll in one hand. Ethan sits forward in his recliner and lays his book down.
ETHAN
(with exaggerated politeness)
Oh... hello. (pause) Do come in and close the door. You're letting all the fresh air in.
Buffy enters the room and shuts the door. She does not approach Ethan.
ETHAN (cont'd)
I'm so glad you stopped by. And I see you have the Necropolis Text. Good, we can begin right away.
BUFFY
How do you know what I want? Who told you I was coming?
ETHAN
Your little friend there, Scott... or Rarak or whatever name he goes by these days... not in so many words, but I managed to wring it out of him.
BUFFY
Scott?...
ETHAN
Oh, you're surprised? He does work for me you know.
Buffy glowers at Ethan and there is a sense of betrayal in her look. Ethan notices it.
ETHAN (cont'd)
Now, now, don't be too hard on the little fellow. He's fought me every step of the way on this, you know. Seems he's taken quite a fancy to you.
Buffy's anger builds.
ETHAN (cont'd)
Still, I have ways to make him see reason, of course... but after tonight, well,... pity. And he's been fairly useful up to now.
Buffy marches over to Ethan, reaches down, and grabbing Ethan by the collar, drags him up out of the recliner.
BUFFY
You leave Scott alone, you weasel! You got it!?
ETHAN
Easy... tsk, tsk, tsk... my, do I detect some reciprocal feelings here?
Buffy roughly pushes Ethan back down into the recliner.
ETHAN (cont'd)
We're getting violent so quickly, tonight. Usually it takes at least, hmm... two... or three minutes before you start punching people out. You're not showing very much restraint or courtesy.
Ethan waves his hands at the darkness all around him.
ETHAN (cont'd)
After all this is *my* home... and you came to *me* for help.
BUFFY
But you're forgeting something!
Buffy holds up the scroll in her hand and shakes it at Ethan.
BUFFY (cont'd)
I hold the winning cards!
ETHAN
(nodding)
So you do. You always were a crafty little bitch. (flippantly) It's agreed, then. I'll leave Scott alone. Now can we get started?
BUFFY
How do I know you'll live up to your end of the bargain... that you won't hurt him?
ETHAN
(with an evil smile)
You stupid little twit, ... you don't!
Buffy looks at Ethan in horror as he lears back at her.
ETHAN (cont'd)
You'll just have to *trust me!*
CUT TO EXT. The steps of Sunnydale High. Night, the same time.
Scott is running down the sidewalk towards the school. He stops, looks up at the library windows and sees a light. He turns to the steps and leaps up them three at a time. At the top of the stairs, he yanks the door open and runs inside.
CUT TO INT. The hallway in Sunnydale High leading to the library. Night, the same time.
Scott runs wildly down the hallway to the library and bursts through the doors.
CUT TO INT. The Library. Night, the same time.
Giles is seated in his office frantically searching through his books and the remaining texts from the Furtwangler estate. The doors to the library slam open with a loud BANG. Giles looks up to see Scott standing at the entrance to the office.
GILES
You're Scott! What are you doing here? Where's Buffy?
SCOTT
Mr. Giles! We have to stop her! She's going through with it right now! The soul exchange!
GILES
Damn it! (to Scott) I presume she's got the Luxor text!
SCOTT
(nodding)
We have to go now! I... I saw her ... the Entity from... It was summoned... It's going to take her.
Giles angrily grabs Scott by the collar.
GILES
Did you give her that manuscript!?
SCOTT
No! She took it when I wasn't around. I tried to talk her out of it, but she went to Mr. Rayne anyway. He's the one helping her!
GILES
(despairing to himself)
Oh, Buffy!
SCOTT
Mr. Giles, it's... it's the... (in a whisper) the Angel of Death coming for her! To take her to the demon dimension... But, we can still save her! I saw it in my mind, we can still save her!
Giles looks at Scott intensely.
GILES
You really can see these things, can't you? You know where she is!
Scott nods again.
GILES (cont'd)
Good! Take me there!
Together Giles and Scott run out of the office and the library.
CUT BACK TO INT. Ethan's room in the back of the vacant downtown storefront. Night at the same time.
Ethan gets up out of the recliner and holds his hand out to Buffy.
ETHAN
Come on, give me the manuscript.
Buffy doesn't move, but only glares at Ethan.
ETHAN (cont'd)
(patronizing)
I can't help you bring your Angelus back if you don't give me the manuscript.
Slowly Buffy passes the rolled up parchment to Ethan who snatches it out of her hand.
ETHAN (cont'd)
That's better. See how much we can get done if we just trust each other.
As Ethan studies the writing on the paper he begins to chuckle quietly.
BUFFY
What's so funny? You can do it, can't you?
ETHAN
Of course. It's actually very simple.
BUFFY
Then how come Giles couldn't figure it out?
ETHAN
Because Ripper is an idiot! But what would you expect, having to associate with... you people!... twenty-four hours a day!... no offence, of course.
BUFFY
(seething at the insults)
That's okay, offence taken!
ETHAN
(smiling)
Good! We understand each other... (pointing to the manuscript) here, it's clearly spelled out. "In all things, the beginning is the end and the end is the beginning."
Buffy, not understanding what she has just heard, stares at Ethan.
ETHAN (cont'd)
(exasperated)
You just read it backwards, you little nit! "The end is the beginning!" I can see why you and that Scott get along!
BUFFY
SHUT UP!... just do it!
ETHAN
(smiling smuggly)
As you wish. (he begins reading)
"Angelus Mortis, audite me!"
CROSS CUT to EXT. A street leading downtown. Night at the same time.
Giles' beat up Citroen speeds down the empty street. There is a SCREECH OF TIRES on the pavement at the car takes a corner at high speed.
CROSS CUT BACK to INT - Ethan's back room in the vacant storefront.
Ethan is still reading while Buffy stands still in front of him.
ETHAN
"...nunc ex oris infernis, te elicio, Angelus Mortis ..."
CROSS CUT BACK TO EXT - another street leading downtown.
Giles' Citroen races down the street under the few streetlamps that aren't burned out. He takes another sharp turn at an intersection, running a red light.
CUT TO EXT - Inside Giles' Citroen
Giles has his hands firmly gripped on the steering wheel. Next to him, Scott is holding on to the dashboard. Neither has seat belts on. Giles yanks the steering wheel hard, turning the car to the left. Scott looses his grip and slams into the passenger side door as they run the red light at the corner and cut off two cars in the oncoming lane. There is a SCREECHING OF BRAKES AND TIRES on the pavement as the other cars skid to a stop, their HORNS BLARING.
CROSS CUT BACK to INT - Ethan's back room in the vacant storefront.
Ethan finishes reading the manuscript.
ETHAN
... per omnis aeternitatis...
Ethan rolls up the manuscript and tosses it into the recliner.
ETHAN (cont'd)
There... all done.
Buffy looks around her but sees nothing happening.
BUFFY
So?... What the hell's wrong?
ETHAN
(flippantly)
Nothing... patience!... ah, here He comes now.
Buffy stares out into the darkness of the room. At a point near the back wall, the black suddenly deepens in the shape of a tall cloaked figure. The shape slides forward and, from out of what appears to be the folds of its robe, an emaciated white hand extends towards Buffy. Repressing her fear, Buffy holds her ground. The Angel of Death speaks with a deep voice that is somehow hollow and almost disembodied.
ANGEL OF DEATH
. . . Buffy Summers...
Buffy only nods in acknowledgement.
ANGEL OF DEATH
... ask what you desire...
BUFFY
An exchange of souls. For the return of Angel,... Angelus... I offer mine in his place.
Up to this point the face of the Angel of Death has been hidden by a heavy black cowl covering its head. Now the white hand reaches up and pulls the cowl back to reveal what is beneath. Buffy gasps. It is her face beneath the black folds but not a living face. The eyes are closed, the cheeks sunken, and the skin is grey and pasty with the color of death. The voice from the Angel of Death is unchanged.
ANGEL OF DEATH
(to Buffy)
Whose face do you see before you?
BUFFY
(hesitating and confused)
... mine?...
ETHAN
Very good!
BUFFY
Shut Up!
ANGEL OF DEATH
(to Buffy)
Whose decision is it to exchange your soul?
BUFFY
(beginning to understand)
Mine.
ANGEL OF DEATH
Let the face you see be a reminder for all eternity that this path was taken of your own free will.
Buffy nods but her eyes are wide with mounting fear.
CUT TO EXT - The outside of the vacant storefront on the street. Night at the same time.
Giles' Citroen screeches to a stop in front of the store. Scott and Giles leap out of the car and throw themselves against a metal security gate across the front door of the shop. Heavily padlocked, the gate shakes on its runners but does not budge. Scott grabs Giles' arm.
SCOTT
Around back! Quick!
Scott runs down the narrow alley by the side of the storefront with Giles right behind him.
CROSS CUT BACK to Ethan's room in the back of the store.
ANGEL OF DEATH
(to Buffy)
Swear an oath... to consumate and seal the exchange... the oath of a Slayer which cannot be broken.
BUFFY
(stumbling for words)
I, Buffy Summers,... in order to free the soul of Angel that I unjustly cast into hell...
She stops for a moment, unable to continue.
CROSS CUT to the Alley at the back door to Ethan's room.
Scott and Giles reach the back door but it is locked. Scott begins beating on the door and screaming.
SCOTT
Buffy! Let me in! It's me and Giles!
Both Giles and Scott begin throwing their shoulders against the door, trying to force it in.
CROSS CUT BACK to Ethan's room in the back of the store.
Ethan looks nervously at the door where Giles and Scott are pounding. In a panic, Buffy looks in the same direction. She doesn't know whether to continue.
BUFFY
Scott! Get outta here!
(turning back to the Angel of Death)
I offer a soul of equal weight in exchange for that of Angel's. My own.
The door bursts open. Giles and Scott stop, staring in fear at the Angel of Death.
BUFFY (cont'd)
I swear.
The Angel of Death, its hand outstretched, glides towards Buffy. Scott, hearing Buffy's words, runs towards her, at the same time removing the blue scarab on the leather thong from around his neck. As he reaches Buffy's side, he quickly slides the scarab over her head so that it drops down onto her chest facing towards the Angel of Death.
SCOTT
No, Buffy!
The scarab casts out a blue light that forces the Angel of Death back, its cowl falling forward and hiding its death mask of Buffy from view. Only a black shadow remains where the corpse like face of Buffy stared out.
Buffy looks directly at Scott. She is not angry.
BUFFY
Scott?... Why?...
SCOTT
A friend for a friend.
ETHAN
Oh dear, dear, Scott. Now you've gone and done it and mucked up the whole deal. Tsk, tsk, tsk, and I had such high hopes for you.
Ethan pulls out of his pocket the small ancient glass vial in which the blue vapor is floating. He holds it out in his hand for both Scott and Buffy to see.
ETHAN (cont'd)
(to Scott but indicating the Angel of Death)
You realize of course that our visitor here cannot return empty handed. Not an efficient way to do business, you see. I'm so sorry Rarak, but you never really belonged here.
Ethan quickly turns his hand upside down, allowing the glass vial to plunge to the floor where it shatters. The faint whisp of blue vapor is released. Scott gasps and his eyes widen with fear.
ETHAN (cont'd)
Oopps! How clumsy of me.
The Angel of Death holds its hand out towards the vapor. The faint blue color swirls up into the Angel's hand and vanishes into the darkness of its robes. As the Angel of Death turns away to depart, Scott, his blue eyes wide with desperation and fear, looks at Buffy. He quickly fumbles in his jacket pocket and draws out the piece of paper he was writing on in the coffee shop.
Taking Buffy's hands, he wraps them around the piece of paper. Suddenly his body begins to dematerialize, fading away in just a few seconds. His voice calls out faintly as his physical form disappears.
SCOTT
(sadly as he vanishes)
... goodbye, Buffy...
In the last seconds before he is gone, the image of Scott changes, transforming into what appears to be the little dragon he drew on the napkin at the restaurant. In shame at Buffy seeing his true appearance, Scott buries his snout and large blue eyes in his paws, and then he is gone along with the Angel of Death which has slid away into nothingness.
For a moment, Buffy stares, frozen in shock, at the spot where Scott vanished. She then slowly looks up at Ethan Rayne.
BUFFY
(quietly, but with steely fury)
... you... bastard!
She takes a step forward but Giles is at her side immediately with his hand on her shoulder.
GILES
(firmly)
Buffy . . . get out of here.
BUFFY
(seething, staring at Ethan who is looking for an avenue of escape)
Not before I do something that should have been done a long time ago!
Giles speaks to Buffy again, but this time there is a tone of command in his voice.
GILES
Buffy... as your Watcher, I am ordering you to go back to the library and await my return. Is that understood?
Buffy looks up at Giles and finally nods. Giles reaches into his pocket and pulls out a set of keys.
GILES
Here are the building keys. I'll be there shortly.
Buffy takes the keys, then glares at Ethan one last time. She stuffs the paper Scott gave her into her inside jacket pocket and walks slowly to the back door. As she opens the door, she stops and looks back at Giles.
GILES
(firmly)
Now...
Buffy turns and leaves. Giles doesn't look at Ethan. Instead he slowly paces the floor, staring off into the dark recesses of the room.
ETHAN
(wiping his brow, relieved)
Whew! Boy I owe you one, Ripper. I take back all the rotten things I said about you. She would have torn me to pieces.
GILES
(stops pacing and calmly looks up at Ethan)
I know... I should have let her ... but I need some information.
ETHAN
Now you're not mad about that Scott, Rarak thing, I hope. Someone had to be "it" and since I raised him up from the demon dimension four years ago, I figured he was the most logical choice. It was either that... or one of us.
Giles just glares at Ethan.
GILES
(slowly)
How do we stop this?
ETHAN
What?
GILES
The soul exchange.
ETHAN
Oh, that. Sorry, Ripper, but that's not an option.
Giles ponders Ethan's words.
ETHAN (cont'd)
She swore the oath. Our friend there will be back in about 24 hours to collect.
Giles doesn't respond to what Ethan is saying.
ETHAN (cont'd)
He'll return looking to finish the deal. A soul of "equal weight" and all that.
Giles finally looks up angrily at Ethan.
ETHAN (cont'd)
(growing fearful)
Oh, now Ripper, ... I can see why you'd be upset, being down one Slayer and all. But you've got a spare in the wings there - she's a little rough around the edges I admit.
Giles grabs Ethan by the collar.
GILES
How do I stop it!
ETHAN
I told you! You don't! If she wears that stupid little necklace again, he'll just keep coming back and coming back until the agreed upon soul exchange takes place! And every time he's stopped,... well, someone else will die... someone close to her. You have to admit, she has put herself in a pretty pickle.
Giles suddenly pulls his free arm back and belts Ethan across the face. Ethan staggers. Not releasing his grip on Ethan's collar, Giles then drags Ethan towards one of the walls and begins slamming his head into the wall board. The wall board cracks and crumbles with each increasing impact.
GILES
(as he smashes Ethan against the wall)
TELL ME... HOW... TO ... STOP IT!
Giles holds Ethan up straight. Ethan dangles in his grip.
GILES (cont'd)
How?!
ETHAN
(shaking his head in pain)
You can't! You're like that dumb Slayer of yours! You don't listen!
Furious, Giles knees Ethan in the groin. Ethan collapses on the floor.
ETHAN
(gasping as he writhes on the floor)
Aaahhh!... give it up, Ripper! It's already done! The end will not change!
Giles glares down at Ethan on the floor. He then spies the liquor bottle on the table beside Ethan's recliner. Giles walks over to the table, picks up the bottle and contemplates what he is about to do. He then takes an enormous swig from the bottle. After downing the burning liquid, he glares back at the still gasping form of Ethan. Giles shakes his head in disgust.
GILES
What a bloody waste of good Glenfiddich!
Giles smashes the bottle on the floor, snatches the scroll out of the recliner and storms out the back door.
ACT 3, 6 INT. The dark hallway of Sunnydale High. Night.
It is a short while after Buffy has fled the back room of the vacant store. She has returned to Sunnydale High and the spot in the corridor where Scott read her his poem that morning. Seated in the half light on the lounge sofa, she is breathing heavily, and her eyes are wide with the horror she has just witnessed. Suddenly, Buffy reaches into her coat pocket and retrieves the crumpled sheet of paper Scott gave her.
She spreads the paper open, but for a moment, Buffy doesn't read the rapidly scrawled writing. She fears what Scott's words will say. Finally, taking a deep breath, she turns the wrinkled paper towards the dim light and reads quietly to herself.
BUFFY
(reading with difficulty, almost in a whisper)
Scott's Last Poem, ... to Buffy...
"Tonight,... where I will go..."
She suddenly stops, bites her lip and turns away from the paper. Composing herself, Buffy begins reading again, silently this time. She hears in her mind Scott's voice calmly, as a dear friend to a dear friend, reciting his last poem.
SCOTT
(in voice over)
"Tonight, where I will go,
you must not follow me.
For all your tiger bright
and stormy heart I want
by my side,
this I must do alone.
Tonight, stay behind me.
Paths we follow differ,
you to your destiny
in the stars,
And I descending back
to the night of my dreams.
But I shall take comfort
knowing all I need do
is gaze up above me
and there... I shall see you."
Buffy slowly refolds the paper. She presses it smooth between her hands and carefully returns it to her jacket pocket directly over her heart. She leans down against the arm rest of the lounge sofa and sobs quietly in the dark hallway.
ACT 3, Scene 7, The library, night about an hour later.
The library is dark except for the single light in Giles' office. Giles is standing behind his office desk which is still piled high with books. In the only clear space in front of him, he has rolled open the Luxor Necropolis Text. Leaning over the desk in the dim light, he studies the text over and over, muttering to himself. The beams from the lamp cast his shadow against the office wall. The exaggerated movement of Giles' shadow are like those of a caged animal, somehow looking for an avenue of escape.
Giles hears in his mind, Ethan's voice ringing over and over.
ETHAN
(in voice over)
The soul exchange? Sorry, Ripper. That's not an option. She swore the oath. A soul of "equal weight" and all that.
GILES
(shouting out loud)
I can't accept that!
ETHAN
(in voice over)
Give it up, Ripper! It's already done! The end will not change!
GILES
(still yelling but to no one in the room)
NO! I am sworn to protect her! I will not let her be taken! You will not win, you bastard! You will not win!
Giles storms away from his desk. He stops by a locked cabinet and stares at the padlock on the drawer. Slowly he reaches into his pocket, draws out a small set of keys and opens the cabinet. He reaches inside and pulls out the old dusty half full bottle of scotch and the shot glass. For a moment more, he stares at the bottle, then fills the shot glass and downs it in one swig. Breathing heavily, he walks back over to his desk and places the bottle and glass next to the Necropolis Text.
As he stares at the text, an idea suddenly comes to him. He begins reading the Text intently once again. Then he leans back away from the desk and stares straight forward. He hears Ethan's voice in his mind once more.
ETHAN
(in voice over)
He'll return looking to finish the deal. A soul of "equal weight" and all that.
GILES
There must be another way . . .
Giles stares down at the Necropolis Text again and begins reading, his voice quivering.
GILES
"Angelus Mortis,... audite me... "
THE SCENE DISSOLVES INTO ACT 3, Scene 8. Sunnydale High Hallway. Night, later.
Buffy is curled up on the lounge sofa, having cried herself to sleep earlier. She slowly awakes, looks around and rubs her eyes. Down the hallway, she sees a dim light coming from the open door of the library. She gets up off the sofa and walks slowly towards the library. Her FOOTSTEPS ECHO in the silent hallway as she approaches the open library door.
ACT 3, Scene 9, INT. The Library, night.
Giles is seated alone in his office where the old fashioned green shade table lamp serves as the sole source of illumination. The rest of the library is in complete darkness. By his right hand sits the scotch bottle and the shot glass filled with the amber liquid. In front of him are two books, one a modest leather bound volume open to the last pages, the other the small black notebook which is closed. A 3x5 picture of Jennie Calendar is laying in the open volume as a bookmarker for a particular page in the text. The Furtwangler manuscripts lie scattered uselessly on the floor.
Giles slouches over the book but isn't reading anymore, rather just gazing at the page and Jennie's picture. He is drunk. Buffy enters the library out of the dark hallway. She stops just inside Giles' office door and stares at him.
BUFFY
Giles?
Giles doesn't respond. After a moment, Buffy walks over to the desk.
BUFFY (cont'd)
Giles?
GILES
(looking up at Buffy)
Oh, hello. (Giles raises the shot and slugs it down.)
BUFFY
What the hell do you think you're doing?!
GILES
Sorry. (Giles holds out the empty shot to Buffy) Can I offer you one?
In a fury, Buffy swats the glass out of Giles' hand. Giles looks at her for a moment puzzled, then shrugs his shoulders and turns back to the bottle.
GILES (cont'd)
Oh well, maybe later then.
Buffy kneels down beside Giles' chair and, grabbing him by the lapels of his rumpled tweed jacket, turns him towards her.
BUFFY
Damn it, Giles! What are you trying to do! That stuff nearly killed you once!
Giles picks up the bottle and studies it absent mindedly.
GILES
Funny, looks okay now. (he sniffs the bottle) Smells fine.
Buffy lets go of Giles and drops in a folding chair next to him. Her face is an agonized mixture of anger and hurt. Her eyes glisten as she tries to fight back tears.
BUFFY
Giles, what are you doing this to me for? What I have to do is hard enough. Trying to hurt me more isn't going to stop what's happening.
Giles doesn't answer. Instead he gazes at the bottle, running his finger up and down the side.
BUFFY (cont'd)
ANSWER ME, GILES! What the hell are you doing!?
Giles looks at her and speaks in a matter of fact tone.
GILES
As your Watcher, I'm helping you prepare for your little... excursion tomorrow. I was trying to decide what you'll need to take with you. Toothbrush, deodorant, maybe a magazine? I thought I'd better consult one of my books. It is a long journey, and you never know where the next convenience store is along the way.
Buffy stares at Giles. She is horrified how the person she respects the most in the world, in this drunken state, has lost all touch with reality. She gets up and stands beside him.
BUFFY (gently)
Giles, let's go get you some coffee.
GILES
No, no, no. That's all right. I'm fine. Did I tell you what I found? First, (Giles points to the small notebook) this little gem. It's full of spells that were given to me when I originally became a Watcher. Special ones. I've never had need for them before... but, well, there's always a first time. And here...
Giles points into the leather bound volume, then picks it up with both hands, leaving it open to the page with Jennie's picture. He holds the book up to Buffy. She stares at the writing trying to avoid looking at the picture.
GILES (cont'd)
(still pointing)
There, read that part right there.
Buffy stares at the paragraphs Giles has indicated. The book is in ancient Greek. Completely bewildered, she looks back at Giles.
BUFFY
What the hell is this? I can't read this!
GILES
Oh,... that's right... it is in Greek, isn't it... Willow hasn't taught you any, yet?...
BUFFY (growing exasperated)
Giles, Willow can barely read your stupid Latin stuff!
GILES
Oh... (taking the book back and sighing, speaking to himself) it's Plato. The "Apologia" where Socrates faces condemnation and death at the hands of the Athenian jury. (looking back up at Buffy) You sure you haven't read any Plato?
BUFFY
Giles!
GILES
(turning away from Buffy)
No, I suppose you haven't. . . Why should you?... you're only going to die tomorrow.
Buffy stares down at Giles and a single tear runs down her cheek. Giles looks back at her, reaches up and touches her face.
GILES
(almost a whisper, as if suddenly sober)
No... you're the Slayer... you can't die.
BUFFY (quietly)
I am, Giles. There's no changing that.
GILES
(now drunk again)
And you haven't read Plato?
BUFFY
Giles!?
GILES
You really should...(turning away) But I guess it's too late now and I don't suppose there's a library... there.... (looking back up at Buffy) The Athenians would have set Socrates free, you know, but he forced them to condemn him. He chose his death... as a final lesson to those whom he loved dearly.
Buffy sits down beside Giles and listens as he speaks.
GILES (cont'd)
As he was about to be led away, he explained to the jurors how they were all setting out on different journeys, for them journeys of life . . . and for him... the journey into another state of existence... death ...
Giles looks directly into Buffy's eyes.
GILES (cont'd)
He said, "And which of us sets out upon the better path,... is known only to God."
For a moment, Giles and Buffy look directly into each other's eyes, their faces etched with the agony of what they know will come on the next night. Finally Buffy hangs her head and the tears flow freely down her face. Giles takes her head in his arms and holds her tight to him. He tries to speak reassuringly but his eyes are red and his face flushed with the alcohol.
GILES (cont'd)
Sshh, Buffy, sshh. . . you will not die... you will not...
Giles holds her protectively as the darkness in the library hangs over them both like a shroud.
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