Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all the characters that appear on the show are the exclusive property of Joss Whedon, the WB and Mutant Enemy, Inc. The Ancient Ones, in particular the entity YogSothoth, as well as the character of Robert Blake first appeared in the Cthulhu mythos stories of the early twentieth century horror writer, H. P. Lovecraft.
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Part Three
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ACT 2, Scene 5, EXT. The Cemetery. Night
Tombstones loom up out of the darkness. Somewhere, a night bird flies by, the only clue to its passing the rushing noise made by the beating of invisible wings. Buffy is supposed to be on patrol, at least that was her original intension. Instead she is seated, cross legged, in the grass by Jenny Calendar's grave. She speaks quietly, partly to the stone and partly to no one in particular.
BUFFY
... so that's the whole deal. But I guess you know it all by now anyway. Thing is, I've gotta find this "guardian." I don't even know where or how to start. So I'm asking a favor, not for me cause I know I treated you like crap. For Giles... if you know anything about this guardian guy, could you just sort of point him in my direction.
A faint breeze rustles the leaves in the trees. Buffy stands up.
BUFFY
(to the tombstone)
Thanks for listening.
Buffy resumes her patrol. She wanders with little direction, her mind preoccupied. After a few minutes of fruitless searching, she sits on another stone. She is now completely discouraged.
BUFFY (cont'd)
(to herself)
Maybe it was dumb to pin all our hopes on a dream.
Suddenly, Buffy straightens up alert. She hears the distant sound of FOOTSTEPS in the grass coming from somewhere out in the cemetery. She stands up, not assuming a full defensive posture, but ready to spring into action at the slightest indication of danger. She eyeballs the darkness around her but sees nothing.
Finally, she is able to locate the source of the footsteps. Off in the distance, she sees a faint light, like the beams of a street lamp filtering through the trees into the cemetery. Buffy begins walking carefully towards the light and the footsteps. In a moment she stops. A thin figure, over six feet tall appears from among the stones where the faint light is spilling into the cemetery. He is approaching her with a firm but slow gait. She stops and raises her arms in defense.
As the figure comes closer, Buffy can see he is wearing a trench coat, oddly out of place in the warm night air, and a peculiar floppy hat. The shadow from the hat obscures any features on the stranger's face. Buffy holds her ground. The stranger stops about twenty feet in front of Buffy. He removes his hat to reveal brown thinning hair and a long, care worn face. He looks to be in his late forties. It is Howard.
HOWARD
Excuse me, I'm looking for a Miss Summers. Buffy Summers. I was told I could find her here.
BUFFY
Who's looking?
HOWARD
Oh, I'm so sorry. I apologize. My mind gets distracted sometimes. I am Howard... Phillips... from Providence. I was called to serve as Mr. Giles'... substitute. Just while he's laid up.
BUFFY
(suspicious)
Okay... I'm Buffy Summers. How'd you get out here so quickly? Giles just got sick yesterday.
HOWARD
I was already in this part of the country, and your principal must have contacted the employment agency immediately. I came as soon as I heard. This is my first trip here to the west. It's very different from what I'm used to. The nights are warmer, the air, dry as driftwood bleaching in the sand.
Buffy approaches Howard as he is talking. She is still uneasy. When she gets within arm's distance she pulls out a cross from her inside jacket pocket and places it quickly on the back of Howard's exposed hand. Nothing happens. She pulls the cross back and looks up at Howard towering over her. She is embarrassed, confused and doesn't know what to say or whether even to apologize.
HOWARD (cont'd)
(smiling)
Satisfied?
Buffy gasps. Her eyes widen.
HOWARD (cont'd)
(peacefully)
Please, don't be afraid.
BUFFY
(frightened but a faint glimmer of hope entering her voice)
You?... are you... the Guardian?
HOWARD
I heard Mr. Giles' call. I came as quickly as I could.
BUFFY
But how can I be sure you're really...
HOWARD
The same way I know you're the Slayer.
Howard puts his hand over his chest.
HOWARD (cont'd)
I know it here. Search your heart.
Buffy is silent for a moment as she looks deep into Howard's calm brown eyes.
BUFFY
(reassured and apologetic)
Oh, Mr. Phillips. I didn't know where to look or what to expect. I'm so sorry. You must think I'm a real jerk face.
HOWARD
Hardly the words I would use to describe a Vampire Slayer, Miss Summers...
BUFFY
(smiling)
You can call me Buffy. All my friends do.
HOWARD
I am honored then, to be counted among your friends,... Buffy. And I'll tell you what. Why don't you call me what most of my correspondants do, just "HP."
BUFFY
(feeling more at ease)
Okay, yeah. That sounds cool. "HP."
HOWARD
Good then. We have much to discuss. Let's walk together while we talk. I must understand everything that is going on here. Besides, it's been so long since I've enjoyed such a warm, peaceful night.
Buffy and Howard walk slowly off through the cemetery among the stones. Buffy explains to him the fate that befell Giles. She also shares details about Giles, Xander, Cordelia, Willow, and Oz. At various points, she stops and waves her hands around in the air as she describes a particularly exciting or traumatic incident. Howard listens intently, halting her occasionally for clarification on different points. Finally, after what seems like almost an hour, they are nearing the gates to the cemetery.
BUFFY
(continuing her long explanation to Howard)
... so Willow and I think it's got to be something to do with that book.
HOWARD
You're probably right. I'll have to examine it in the morning.
Buffy stops and looks directly at Howard.
BUFFY
HP, what's a Guardian? Giles never mentioned it.
HOWARD
Frankly, I'm not sure exactly how to answer your question.
BUFFY
But you are a Guardian. I know it. You're the Guardian of the Watchers Giles told me to look for.
HOWARD
I am a kind of Watcher, yes. Maybe let's just leave it at that.
BUFFY
But you are going to help Giles? You have to. We all depend on him so much.
HOWARD
You'd do anything for Mr. Giles, wouldn't you.
BUFFY
You name it. And Willow and Xander and Oz and even Cordie. We'd all jump into the Hellmouth itself, if there was a chance we could pull Giles out.
HOWARD
I believe you would.
Howard looks directly into Buffy's eyes. He smiles and gives a great sigh of relief.
HOWARD (cont'd)
(quietly)
You are the ones. I'm not alone anymore.
By the gate to the cemetery, a figure moves in the shadows. Buffy picks up on the shifting form and swings around to face it. Howard turns with her. ANGEL steps out onto the pathway.
ANGEL
Hey, Buff. Good to see you out and about.
BUFFY
What is it with you! Get lost, creep!
ANGEL
I'm really sorry about what happened to your wizard friend there, old Jonathan. I didn't have anything to do with that, you know. It was all Dru's idea.
Buffy glowers at Angel, but Howard studies him, listening to every word.
ANGEL
For crying out loud, they threw me out. Really! Dru's in a snit and Spike's rolling around like he's got a whole bulb of garlic up his...
BUFFY
Shut Up, Angel! Just Shut Up!
Angel smiles and saunters closer.
ANGEL
Who's your new boyfriend? Where'd you pick him up, the senior center?
Buffy is growing angrier by the minute. All it will take is the right comment for her to lash out at Angel.
ANGEL (cont'd)
You don't waste any time do you. But that's good, being able to move on. I mean, just cause your old boyfriend's ashes aren't hardly cold yet...
That's the remark that sends Buffy over the top. She reaches into her coat, pulls out a stake and is about to lunge at Angel, when Howard quickly places his hand on her shoulder. The unexpected power in his grip holds her back. Buffy gasps quietly. She looks up at Howard who shakes his head.
ANGEL (cont'd)
(to Howard)
You don't have to defend me. Buffy and I go way back. We used to do some serious wrestling... (smirking) ...the other kind.
Angel stops grinning and looks Howard up and down. Angel puts on a look of mock concern.
ANGEL (cont'd)
Wow, a little overdressed for the weather, don't you think. I didn't know they sold this stuff at the vintage shop downtown.
Howard says nothing, only watching carefully every move Angel makes.
ANGEL (cont'd)
(now standing face to face with Howard)
You know, you look familiar. Have we met?
HOWARD
I do know you. Innsmouth, Dunwich, Arkham, Kadeth in the frozen waste, the Mountains of Madness, I'd recognize one of YogSothoth's minions in whatever time or space they appear.
ANGEL
Now you're babbling, old dude.
HOWARD
You can't even see it yourself yet.
ANGEL
(pointing right in Howard's face)
You... I really don't like you. I thought we were rid of that old fart, Giles. But you, you're twice as weird... and I gotta do somthing about that.
Angel turns to leave, but before he has taken two steps he whirls around, his face metamorphized into the vampire rage, and leaps toward Howard. Sensing the threatening tension in Angel's voice, Buffy has anticipated the attack. She quickly grabs Angel's arm before he can clamp it around Howard's neck. Buffy twists Angel around into an impossible position, then kicks him away from Howard.
Angel falls onto the ground and glowers up at Buffy.
ANGEL (cont'd)
Ah, finally some real fun!
Angel jumps to his feet and wildly charges Buffy. Buffy catches Angel full in the gut with another kick sending him toppling back against the stone column of the cemetery gate.
BUFFY
(furious)
I'm warning you! Don't push me tonight!
ANGEL
I'm a little off my game, but I could use the practice!
Angel lunges once more at Buffy. Again, Buffy parries the attack, this time with her fists clenched together, she plants a swinging punch across Angel's jaw. Angel staggers against the stone column. Buffy now follows through with blow after blow to Angel's face. Angel cannot recover. As he slides to the ground, Buffy lands two more kicks to his mid section. Angel topples to the ground.
BUFFY
I warned you, this was no practice! It's over! Game, set, match!
Buffy pulls out the stake and is about to plunge it into Angel when Howard suddenly steps up behind her and grabs her arm, holding back the final blow. Buffy is virtually frozen in the iron grip. She struggles for a moment, then turns to confront Howard. He releases her arm from his grasp.
BUFFY (cont'd)
What the hell are you doing?!
Angel shakes his head clear, senses the opportunity and scrambles away into the dark.
HOWARD
No... you can't kill him.
BUFFY
Damn it, why not!
HOWARD
He was the one with the cursed soul.
Buffy is astonished. She has revealed nothing to Howard about her relationship with Angel.
HOWARD (cont'd)
I can't see it clearly, but I can feel that soul is waiting. It has a purpose, a very important role to play in what's to come. If I let you destroy this Angelus, something will change, possibly beyond our ability to counter act... and I also sense heartbreak.
Howard looks deep into Buffy's eyes. Buffy's eyes begin to glisten.
HOWARD (cont'd)
(slowly, sighing sadly)
And lord knows, ... there's been enough sorrow here.
Buffy, trying to hold back the tears, hugs Howard.
BUFFY
I'm sorry, HP.
HOWARD
I know. I know. More and more, I grow weary of the darkness.
BUFFY
(looking up at Howard as she steps back from him)
Me, too... HP,... what's happening here?
Howard paces and stares off into the night.
HOWARD
This is where the final struggle will unfold.
Across all the windows of time,
And in all the darkest pages of history,
The battle will soon rage around us.
You and I and the others, our paths now converge,
Leading us all before the Gates of Dawn
and to the edge of the Mouth of Hell.
Buffy not understanding, stares at Howard.
HOWARD (cont'd)
"Over the mountains of the moon,
Into the valley of the shadow.
Ride,
Boldly Ride,
The Shade replied."
Buffy, her face a mixture of fear and awe, can not take her eyes off Howard.
HOWARD (cont'd)
(seeing Buffy is becoming frightened again)
I'm sorry, Buffy. I do tend to babble. You just have to slap me every once in a while. You have my permission.
BUFFY
(relieved)
That's okay. Giles is the same way. He gets all excited when he finds some new book or spell. Sometimes we all have to gang up on him to keep him in line.
Howard smiles at the description of Giles.
BUFFY
(after a pause)
That poem, I don't know what it means, but it was sorta beautiful... in a scary kinda way.
HOWARD
You'd better go now. There is nothing more for us to do here. Bring your friends to the library in the morning. (smiling) I can't wait to meet Willow and Xander and Cordelia and this Oz person. Is he a magician?
BUFFY
Nah! Plays in a band. 'Though he is a whiz at chemistry.
HOWARD
We have much to accomplish, and I can feel time pressing in all around us.
Buffy turns to leave, then stops and looks back at Howard.
BUFFY
HP,... thank's for coming.
HOWARD
(smiling, with self parody and a slight formal bow)
What gentleman could possibly turn down such an invitation... from Buffy Summers, the Slayer of Vampires.
In spite of her fear, Buffy manages to crack a slight grin.
BUFFY
You are weirder than Giles. You won't get mad if I tease you, will you?
HOWARD
If it was good enough for Mr. Giles, who am I to object.
Buffy smiles. Somehow, the night does not seem so dark now.
HOWARD (cont'd)
Go... run!
Buffy runs out of the cemetery. Alone, Howard, stares up at the stars in the night sky. He speaks quietly to himself.
HOWARD (cont'd)
And now, "the readiness is all."
* * *
ACT 2, Scene 6, INT. The Basement of a Warehouse, early morning.
The basement room has no windows so the morning light cannot filter in. Dust and cobwebs hang everywhere. In the center of the room are a few chairs and a long dining table that has seen better days. A pair of candelabra, the candles now melted down and gone out, sit at either end of the table. Spike is asleep, fully reclining in an old beat up barcalounger nearby. Drusilla is passed out at the table, her face down on the wood and buried in the disordered mess of her hair. By her outstretched hands on the table is a tipped over broken champagne flute. A puddle of red liquid spreads across the table from the shattered glass.
Angel barges in, a few beams of sunlight right behind him. He quickly shuts the door.
ANGEL
Whew! Just made it.
He looks around in disgust at the mess and disorder in the basement.
ANGEL (cont'd)
Aw, man! Are you guys bombed again? Geez!
Angel walks over to Drusilla. He pauses and looks down at her.
ANGEL (cont'd)
Hey, Dru.
There is no response. Angel then grabs a clump of her hair and lifts her head up off the table. Her eyes are half shut and completely glazed over, her face and lips smeared with blood from the spilled glass.
ANGEL
(putting her head back down)
Yech! Nothing more disgusting than a stoned chick!
Angel leaves Drusilla at the table and turns to Spike in the barcalounger.
ANGEL
Hey, Spike! Wake up!
Spike doesn't move. Angel kicks the barcalounger. It suddenly pops into the upright position, rudely awakening Spike.
SPIKE
(groggy and hung over)
Shit, Angelus! I thought I threw your ass outta here!
ANGEL
Spike, listen!
Spike suddenly grabs his head as if afflicted with a splitting headache.
SPIKE
Aaahh!... What the hell do you want? It's 8:30 in the morning!
ANGEL
I just came from the cemetery, and I saw Buffy...
SPIKE
Christ, Angelus, when will you get a life!
ANGEL
No, she was wandering around with some old dude. A Guardian of some kind.
The word "Guardian" catches Spike's attention. He looks up at Angelus.
SPIKE
The Slayer's hanging out with a Guardian now? Give it up, Angelus!
ANGEL
Something big time is going on. This Guardian guy is preparing for some monster battle! (grabbing Spike) Will you listen to me, Spike!
Spike puts his hands to his ears to block out the volume of Angel's voice.
SPIKE
I hear you, damn it!
ANGEL
Something is coming, bigger than that Martel Wizard, bigger than the Judge!
SPIKE
Some advice, Angelus. Leave it alone. If there's a Guardian wandering around, he's more than any of us can handle.
ANGEL
But what's so big, they need a Guardian? We gotta find out so we can get in on this action.
SPIKE
If it's that big, it would just as soon squash us along with the Slayer.
Angel is frustrated at Spike's lack of interest. He turns away from Spike.
ANGEL
Dru can see the future. Wake her up so I can get a handle on this.
SPIKE
(pausing before he speaks)
Oh, you are one funny dude! You wake her up!
ANGEL
(looking for an excuse)
She's... still mad at me.
SPIKE
You know how our darling Drusilla is when she's hung over.
ANGEL
(musing and smiling)
She never could hold it down. Always was a cheap drunk.
SPIKE
And I'm not paying the dry cleaning bill this time!
ANGEL
(resigned)
You win. Can I crash here today?
SPIKE
You don't have much choice, do you.
Spike waves his hand at Angel.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Go ahead, just stay outta my way.
Spike adjusts the barcalounger back to the reclining position. Angel stands in the middle of the room, shaking his head. His mind is pondering how he can find out what evil force is mustering against Buffy. Spike speaks up again, lying flat in the barcalounger.
SPIKE (cont'd)
Angelus, if the Slayer makes you feel so bad, treat her like a bad case of gas... if you ignore it long enough, sooner or later it'll pass.
Spike closes his eyes. At the table comes a loud snore from the unconscious Drusilla.
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