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 Five
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Act 3, Scene 1 continued.
HOWARD
Since this Ancient One exists in many different spaces and times, we must fight it the same way... in the past... in the present... (very quietly) and in the future.
XANDER
(frowning)
You just lost me.
HOWARD
YogSothoth still threatens to break back into this world because none have been able coordinate the attack in all three moments of time at once. The spells to put it down permanently must be cast simultaneously in the past, the present and the future.
XANDER
And we're supposed to just hop around in time! (to Cordelia) Hey Cordie, let's jump in your convertible and cruise back to 1955! We'll fit right in.
Cordelia swats Xander across the top of the head.
XANDER (cont'd)
Ow, that hurt!
Cordelia and Xander stare at each other intently for a moment.
XANDER (cont'd)
Aw come on! I can't have it?
CORDELIA
Now!?
Cordelia rolls her eyes and pulls around her shoulder bag. Buffy, Willow and Oz, thinking they know what Xander means, gaze astonished at the two. Cordelia pulls a Snickers bar out of her bag and gives it to Xander.
CORDELIA
Next time, hang on to your own candy!
Xander grabs the candy bar, peels off the wrapper and stuffs the chocolate into his mouth. He glances up at the amazed looks on his friends' faces.
XANDER
What? I was hungry!
Willow and Buffy shake their heads and sigh with relief. Oz is still puzzled.
OZ
(to Willow)
What just happened here?
WILLOW
(whispering)
I'll tell you later.
BUFFY
Okay, here's the Final Jeopardy question. How the hell do we move around in time? The book's gonna do that for us, too?
HOWARD
In a manner of speaking, yes.
WILLOW
(looking at the black volume on the table, fearfully)
What is in that thing?
HOWARD
Pieces of knowledge and power predating human existance. It is a collection of fragments from an incredibly distant period in time... when Ancient Ones and Elder Gods ruled our realm of reality.
OZ
Aw come on, man! Scientifically that doesn't make any sense. Where's the evidence of these creatures ever having walked the earth?
Once more, the glint of madness surfaces in Howard's eyes.
HOWARD
In your nightmares, Master Oz! In the legends and myths, in the demi-gods and monsters that run common through all human cultures. There is where you will find these primordial beings still surviving,... in the depths of the human mind... "in mente terrores sunt."
BUFFY
(sarcastically)
All right, so we time travel, too. How?
HOWARD
The spell for casting out the Ancient Ones opens a portal or pathway to each point in time. Two of you will pass together to that moment, read the spell for laying down YogSothoth and return when the pathway reopens.
BUFFY
(hesitantly, afraid of the answer)
And we need two of us to read one spell...? Why?
HOWARD
One must hold back the Ancient One while the other reads. It will not sit idly by and wait for you to destroy it.
There is a silence in the room as what Howard has just said sinks in.
WILLOW
... oh...
OZ
Why don't we just burn the book?
HOWARD
Because the Ancient Ones then will never be fully cast out. There are numerous other ways to bring them in, but only one that will close the void permanently.
Howard picks up the book and holds it at arm's length in front of him.
HOWARD (cont'd)
This... damned thing... is the only way. We will act tonight. Mr. Giles inadvertantly must have read one of the spells, summoning YogSothoth. That's why he was struck down.
BUFFY
Then it knows where the book is?
HOWARD
Not yet. But it's very near. We'll begin at dusk. Willow, you and Xander will go into the past.
Xander and Willow look at each other, disappointed at their pairing.
HOWARD (cont'd)
Oz, you and Cordelia will remain here in the present
Cordelia looks at Oz and almost says "Eewww" but catches herself.
HOWARD (cont'd)
... and you Buffy... you will pass into the future.
BUFFY
And you'll be coming with me?
HOWARD
No. I must stay behind... (quietly) I am not of that realm
BUFFY
But who the hell is gonna help me?
HOWARD
There will be someone there. I can't see who yet. And you will have one other challenge.
BUFFY
So what else is new? What do I win?
HOWARD
The others, in the past and present will use spells we know today. You will be armed with the same incantation, but since you will be in and of the future, you will also need a spell that is not yet written.
BUFFY
Oh Great! (discouraged) And I thought you liked me.
Howard is actually hurt by the remark. Buffy quickly realizes the effect of what she has said.
BUFFY (cont'd)
I'm sorry. I didn't really mean that... so... how do I find this spell that doesn't exist yet?
HOWARD
(putting his hand over his heart)
It will come to you from here... when the need is greatest.
Buffy's eyes widen. Howard's words have a familiar ring. Howard reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out three folded sheets of paper. He passes one each to Oz, Willow and Buffy.
HOWARD (cont'd)
These are the spells you will use the minute YogSothoth appears. Read them aloud clearly and quickly.
BUFFY
This is in that stupid dead language!
WILLOW
(to Howard)
It's in Latin, HP. None of us are very good at this.
BUFFY
(almost throwing the paper down in frustration)
I can't read it!
HOWARD
Just pronounce every letter exactly as written, and you'll be fine.
BUFFY
Oh, man!
(trying to read from the paper)
"Nunc... YogSoth something...in...
(holding the paper to Willow)
Willow, what's that word?
WILLOW
"praeterito"
BUFFY
What?
Willow, pointing her finger at each word on the page, reads the spell together with Buffy. Buffy stumbles over the unfamiliar words.
WILLOW and BUFFY
"praeterito tempori paries."
WILLOW (cont'd)
You'll get it.
BUFFY
Sure!
Buffy stuffs the paper in her back pocket. Howard walks over to a tall thin locked closet by the door to Giles' office. He pauses for a moment, looking at the handle.
WILLOW
Uh, HP? That's always locked. I don't know what Giles keeps in there, but he's never opened it when any of us are around.
Howard places his hand on the handle and holds it firmly for a moment. There is a sudden sharp CLICK as the latch engages and the door swings open in his grip. Howard turns to face the group. Their mouths are all open in surprise. He speaks to them with a command in his voice.
HOWARD
Well? Don't just stand there like cabbages. All of you step forward.
Casting uncertain glances at each other, Xander, Cordelia, Willow, Oz and Buffy approach Howard and the darkened closet. He reaches into the closet and draws out a very old short sword. It is plain, with little ornamentation, a "gladius" of the Roman Republican or Greek imperial periods. Howard waves Xander forward and hands the sword to him.
HOWARD (cont'd)
This will be yours to defend Willow. It is not unlike one that might have been used by your namesake, the Lord Iskander.
Xander takes the sword by the hilt and hefts it in his hand.
XANDER
Hey, this is cool!
OZ
You know, we could get thrown out of school for carrying these things. What if Snyder walks in?
HOWARD
Principal Snyder is now preoccupied deciphering Mr. Giles' "mouse requisition form" I submitted this morning.
Willow and Buffy snicker.
HOWARD (cont'd)
Cordelia, you're next.
Cordelia doesn't just step forward. She walks right up to the closet to choose her own weapon. She points into the darkness of the closet.
CORDELIA
I like that one. It's pretty.
HOWARD
My!
Howard pulls out an enormous long sword, a Scottish Claymore. The hilt is emblazoned with entwining Celtic runes and studded with multi colored stones. However, the sword is two thirds as tall as Buffy. Cordelia takes the sword from Howard but it is so heavy, she nearly drops it on the floor.
CORDELIA
Wow!
The others all start to snicker.
OZ
And she's supposed to protect me!
CORDELIA
Hey! What's so funny?
Cordelia lifts the sword up and points it out directly at Willow, Oz, Buffy and Xander. She then deftly sets the point directly down in the floor in front of her and leans forward on the hilt. Always tall, she suddenly looks a lot larger and more menacing.
CORDELIA
(to the others)
We cheerleaders work out at practice. We're not feebs, you know!
OZ
Whatever floats your boat!
CORDELIA
(handing the sword to Howard who puts it back in the closet)
That one's mine!
HOWARD
And you Buffy.
Buffy steps forward. Howard draws from the closet a light, almost rapier like sword. It's design and provence of manufacture are not readily identifiable. The hilt is cast in a swirl of unclear whirling shapes and the hand guard, a covering of abstract forms. The sharp, thin blade sparkles, even by the artificial light of the library. It is clearly not something of the past or present. Buffy carefully takes the sword in her hands.
HOWARD (cont'd)
This is for your future companion and defender, whomever fate determines it will be.
BUFFY
(impressed)
Yeah, this is okay.
HOWARD
And now we have one last task. Buffy, you must lead me to the Hellmouth.
Buffy's eyes open in astonishment. There is a moment of silence in the room.
CORDELIA
Wait a minute, I thought we're standing on the Hellmouth,... the school and all.
HOWARD
No, the center, the vortex from which the evil itself pours forth.... Buffy, we must go together... now.
BUFFY
(fearfully looking up at Howard)
Okay...
Buffy knows what Howard is asking. She must return to the blood pool, the scene of her own death, in the depths of the Master's Chamber.
* * * * *
ACT 3, Scene 2, INT. The Basement of the Warehouse in Act 2, scene 6. Day
Spike and Drusilla are asleep, she still passed out at the long table and Spike in the beat up old barcalounger. Angelus is seated on the floor, leaning against one of the basement walls. His head is resting back against the wall and his eyes are closed, but he is not asleep. Every now and then he rubs his face with his hand and sighs.
Outside the warehouse, the wind begins to pick up. The SOUND OF RUSHING AIR can be heard in the basement room. Upstairs in the warehouse, the few remaining unbroken panes of window glass rattle in their loose frames. Angel opens his eyes and sits forward. A disembodied malevolent Voice speaks to him.
VOICE
I am seeking.
ANGEL
Hey. Welcome to Sunnydale.
VOICE
You will do what I say.
ANGEL
Sure, what's in it for me?
VOICE
Whatever you desire... Rivers of blood, endless victims, their tender young necks ready to be snapped... all those things you would never grow weary of.
ANGEL
You know, as tempting as that all sounds, I really only need one thing.
VOICE
Speak.
ANGEL
The Slayer chick. Let me harvest her... and I'm all set.
VOICE
Find the book, speak aloud the verses... I will come... and you will have what you seek.
Angel is about to ask "What book?" but thinks better of it.
ANGEL
Deal.
The wind quickly dies away, and the basement falls silent. Drusilla and Spike, both still sound asleep, do not stir from their spots. Angel looks across the room over at Spike in the barcalounger.
ANGEL
(musing)
Ah, Spike. You just have no vision.
Smiling, Angel leans back against the wall and looks up at the ceiling.
ANGEL
After all, "Many are summoned,... but few are chosen."
* * *
ACT 3, Scene 3, INT. In the Master's Chamber. Late afternoon.
Buffy and Howard are standing alone in the middle of the Master's Chamber. The stone walls glisten red all around them. Howard holds a blazing torch, Buffy, the sword that will protect her. Both stand silently staring at the blood pool from which the Master rose before his destruction.
BUFFY
(quietly to Howard but staring ahead)
Last stop. Fun City. Everybody out.
Howard looks around him at the ceiling, walls and various tunnels that branch off out of the chamber. His eyes finally fall on a long thin capstone laying on the floor.
HOWARD
Here,... here is where it will rest, patiently waiting.
Howard bends down and slides the stone aside. It is surprisingly light and beneith it is a hollowed out indent in the floor. Buffy bends down beside him and carefully places the sword in the shallow depression. She then pushes the capstone back into place. On one knee beside the stone, Howard speaks quietly to himself.
HOWARD
"Nothung,... Heraus aus der Scheide zu mir!"
BUFFY
(looking at Howard)
HP?
HOWARD
(placing his hand on the stone)
It's from old Germanic myth... the hero Siegmund, in his direst need, cries out for his lost sword, "Needful." And the mighty steel hears his cry, "Nothung, spring out of your sheath to me!"
Buffy looks Howard straight in the eyes.
BUFFY
Then whoever is yet to come... will find "Needful" waiting.
Howard nods. They both stand. Buffy glances around the chamber. Her eyes fall on the passage that leads to the room where the Master cornered her and took her life. Howard places his hand on Buffy's shoulder.
HOWARD (cont'd)
No! Do not seek your ghosts and demons yet! You will confront them soon enough.
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