Disclaimer: See Prologue.
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Epilogue
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EPILOGUE Scene 1, EXT. Outside the gates of the old mansion several days later. Morning.
A wrecking balls swings against the upper floor of the mansion. With a loud CRASH, it punches through the wall, shattering windows and forcing hidden support beams out from under the stucco and into the sun. One wall totters, tips back in on itself and the upper story begins collapsing. Fragments of brick and stucco rain down onto the driveway and grass below.
Beyond the gate, Buffy is standing, watching the demolition. She winces as the wrecking ball smashes into the mansion walls. She gives no other sign of emotion. Her face is a mask of passive resignation at what she sees. Faith, her forehead bandaged, stands a few feet from her. She, too, cannot take her eyes off the destruction taking place. Uncharacteristically, she is scowling.
Cordelia's red convertible is parked at the street corner. Cordelia is leaning up against the driver's door. She watches Buffy and Faith intently. As more of the mansion comes down, she lowers her head and sighs.
A few yards away from Cordelia, Willow is seated on the curb with her back turned to the demolition. Her head is in her hands and her elbows perched on her knees. But she is not weeping. She is thinking, and her brow is deeply furrowed. She gives not a hint she is even aware of the crashing timbers and falling masonry behind her.
Finally Faith walks up behind Buffy.
FAITH
Come on 'B.' Let's get outta here.
BUFFY
No... I have to watch it all.
FAITH
(pause)
... He made his choice, 'B.' It was his last act. He did it for you... for all of us. He wouldn't want us hanging out here.
Buffy stares silently at the crumbling mansion.
FAITH (cont'd)
I know you would have stopped him if you could. We all would have. We tried, but we had no idea he was going to . . .
BUFFY
(interrupting but never taking her gaze off the demolition)
No,... I did. He tried to tell me.
Faith stares at Buffy in disbelief.
BUFFY (cont'd)
The night Scott died, Giles got drunk. He never drank, at least not when we were around. I should have picked up on it right there. I thought he was trying to hurt me. Like he was angry at what I had done... at what I was going to do. But really he was telling me, in his Giles kind of way, what length he was willing to go to... to save me... from myself. (Buffy turns to look at Faith) I wasn't listening.
The wrecking ball swings again, and the last remnants of the second floor crash down onto the driveway.
BUFFY (cont'd)
... He said I wouldn't die...
Faith and Buffy look at each other in silence for a few moments. A payloader begins scooping up the construction debris around the shattered mansion, its metal teeth SCRAPPING LOUDLY against the concrete and wood timbers.
Faith wraps her arms around Buffy and the two Slayers hug one another. Willow, still sitting on the curb, gives a loud huff and gets to her feet with a look of resolve on her face. She marches over to Cordelia.
WILLOW
Okay, I don't care what you think of me, but we've hung around here long enough!
CORDELIA
(seeing Willow's look of determination)
Oooh, "stern face."
WILLOW
Cordelia, truce? We got some big-time research on our hands.
CORDELIA
(after a pause)
This was like, pretty final, Willow. You really think there's anything we can do?
WILLOW
I don't know. But did that ever stop Giles?
Cordelia smiles faintly and shakes her head.
CORDELIA
I guess not. . . nothing ever stopped Giles... 'cept maybe a bop on the head!...he always found the answer.
WILLOW
And we will, too. We just have to stick together no matter what we feel. Let's go.
Willow and Cordelia walk over to Buffy and Faith who are still in each other's arms consoling one another.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Hey, huggy bears, ditch the "moment." We got serious research mode here.
Faith and Buffy turn in disbelief to look at Willow.
WILLOW
(exasperated)
Well!
BUFFY
Willow, Giles is dead! We gotta accept that.
WILLOW
No, we don't! And I won't! (pause) Guys, I made a decision just now. Until we get Giles back,... I'm taking over... as Watcher.
BUFFY
What?
WILLOW
Buffy, I know the oath. I know the deal, I can even read some of Giles' books. And somebody's gotta pull this all back together ... or we'll all fall apart for good... and we'll never get him back.
FAITH
Shouldn't we, like, wait for the Council or whatever to send out a new Watcher?
WILLOW
Oh, yeah, right! And how long's that gonna take?
The other's are silent for a moment.
WILLOW (cont'd)
I'm the one that's gotta do it. Who else is there? Oz? ... or Xander?
Cordelia bursts out laughing but quickly covers her mouth with her hand.
WILLOW (cont'd)
The only one else who knows enough stuff about it is Angel.
Willow glares at Buffy who turns her head away. Faith makes a face of disgust.
FAITH
That'd be kinkier than even I could handle.
WILLOW
I'm the only one guys. It's either that, or we lose everything.
For the first time, Willow looks directly at the demolition of the old mansion.
WILLOW (cont'd)
If we walk away from here today, let our squabbles separate us, then everything we've fought for... all our sacrifices... all of Scott and Giles' sacrifices... all the stuff that hurts us so bad,... and the stuff that makes us laugh... that makes us what we are... we can kiss it all goodbye.
Buffy looks down at the ground, pondering what Willow has proposed. She slowly looks back up at her best friend. She reaches out her hands and holds Willow by the shoulders.
BUFFY
(quietly)
Will... can you do this?
WILLOW
Buffy, I have to do this. Can you?
Buffy looks intently at Willow, lets go of her shoulders and stands up straight in front of Willow almost as if standing at attention. Buffy then nods in agreement. Faith steps close beside Buffy and smiles at Willow
FAITH
(to Willow)
You're one gutsy chick.
BUFFY
(to Faith)
You don't know Red, here, like I do. She's more than gutsy.
WILLOW
Thanks, guys... for having faith in me. (after a pause)
Okay, let's get back to the library. Cordelia, you'll chase down Xander and Oz. And we'll need to get the phone pool going for this evening.
BUFFY
Will, you have any idea where we're gonna start?
WILLOW
(with anger under her breath)
Oh yeah! On the way back, we're gonna pay a little courtesy call... on Ethan Rayne!
At the mention of Ethan's name, Buffy's eyes blaze with fury. She grits her teeth and clenches her fists. Faith notices the sudden transformation and cracks a smile.
FAITH
(to Buffy)
Hey... you're angry! (to the others) This is good! This is a good thing! We got healing going on here now!
Faith looks at Willow and sees the determined look on her face.
FAITH
(to Cordelia but pointing at Willow)
Her, too! Wow! I think I'm gonna get angry! This'll be great! What about you, Cords?
Cordelia raises her hands defensively
CORDELIA
Easy, Faith. Somebody's gotta be the designated driver.
All turn to head back to the car. They begin climbing into the convertible, Faith and Buffy in the back seat, Willow and Cordelia in front. Faith sings out.
FAITH
Hey, Cords! We gotta stop at the Ice Cream Palace after our little visit to Mr. Ethan. I get a funny feeling I'm gonna be *real*... hungry. How 'bout you 'B' ?
BUFFY
Yeah... I know I'm gonna be *real*... hungry.
They are all in the car and the doors slam. For a moment the car sits unmoving at the curb. The rest of the dialogue is heard in voice over.
FAITH
Wow! You do sound hungry. 'Course you don't know what *real* hungry is. Now that time in Boston on the bus...
BUFFY
Are you telling me, I don't get as hungry as you?!
FAITH
'B', I get hungry just thinking about getting hungry.
CORDELIA
Hey, guys could you stuff it. Now I'm getting hungry.
BUFFY
Cordelia, you're always hungry.
CORDELIA
Shut up, Buffy!
Cordelia pulls her convertible out into the street. As the car drives off down the street, Buffy and Faith continue arguing in voice over.
FAITH
'B', nobody gets hungrier than me. I invented hungry!
BUFFY
Do I hear a challenge! Listen you wus, you may have invented it, but I'm the head
Slayer and I defined hungry!
FAITH
Okay! That's it! Chase, pull this Toymotor over! We're settling this now!
WILLOW
HEY!
There is a pause.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Will you two shut up!... (almost meekly) You're making me... hungry.
There is a sound of giggling from the back seat.
BUFFY
Sorry, Will.
FINIS
(09/98 - 02/99)
* * *
A Note At The End:
Do not despair Giles fans. Check out the sequel, "The Descent To Avernus," as the Scooby Gang mounts a rescue effort for Giles into the depths of Hell itself!
Pax
Gaius Petronius
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