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 Eleven
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ACT 4, Scene 5 continued.
Johnathan looks up and sees Buffy standing dumbfounded half in the time distortion. He smiles, honestly happy to see her.
JONATHAN (cont'd)
Hey Couz! Didn't know you were still hanging out!
Jonathan walks over to Buffy.
BUFFY
(frightened and confused)
Jonathan? That was your voice I heard?... What... what was all that I just saw?
Jonathan smiles at Buffy. Suddenly she senses a tremendous feeling of peace coming from her old boyfriend.
JONATHAN
My wedding gift to you and Angel... Hope... Take it back with you. Always hold it close to your heart.
BUFFY
But I still don't understand...
WILLOW
(calling out desperately from the other side of the distortion)
Buffy! Please, it's almost too late!
JONATHAN
Buffy, you must learn to understand things with your heart.
BUFFY
(shouting over her shoulder)
I'm coming, Willow!
(to Jonathan)
It all looks so beautiful now. Like the stars at night. Just like you used to say...
JONATHAN
Go. Your new future is waiting.
BUFFY
(quietly)
It seems like all I ever do is say goodbye to you. Jonathan, why couldn't things have worked out so that...
Jonathan interrupts her.
JONATHAN
No, that's not how it was ever supposed to be. But you and I, we do share one special thing. We do what we have to do.
Buffy almost leaves, then abruptly turns to Jonathan one more time.
BUFFY (cont'd)
I love you, Couz... for what never was. I'll always remember. I promise.
JONATHAN
I know. Me, too... I'll be watching... Go on, get outta here.
Buffy smiles with deep regret at Jonathan. She then plunges into the time distortion and vanishes.
* * *
ACT 4, Scene 6. INT, the Library. Night, the present.
Buffy bursts out of the time distortion into the Library and tumbles headlong into Willow and Howard's arms. The time distortion shimmers and vanishes seconds after Buffy emerges.
WILLOW
Oh Buffy! Thank God! We were so scared! Are you all right?
Buffy, breathing heavily and her eyes wide with amazement, looks at Willow. Suddenly Buffy's face breaks out into an enormous smile. At the same time, tears begin pouring from her eyes. She wraps her arms around Willow and sobs with joy on Willow's shoulder.
BUFFY
(sobbing)
Oh Will, it is all right!... I'm going to be all right!... it's all going to be incredible...
Willow is puzzled by Buffy's outburst.
WILLOW
Uh, sure you are.
Buffy takes her head off Willow's shoulder and holds her friend out at arm's length.
BUFFY
Will... for the first time in I don't know how long... (she touches her heart) I know it here... it's really going to be all right.
Buffy composes herself and turns to look at Howard. She puts on a mock air of anger.
BUFFY
And you!
HOWARD
(with feigned innocence)
I don't have a name anymore?
BUFFY
You wise ass! You knew all along! Why I autta... give you a hug!
For the very first time since they met in the cemetery, Howard breaks into a huge grin. Buffy throws her arms around him. She tries very hard not to sob.
HOWARD
(whispering to Buffy only)
Sshh. You're free now... from all your mind's demons... from all your soul's nightmares... you are finally free.
Buffy smiles up at Howard. Impulsively she plants a kiss on his cheek. Howard blushes with embarrassment.
XANDER
(calling out)
Hey, you guys! No scenes, remember! Giles' orders.
WILLOW
(to Howard, a little afraid)
HP, what about... the book?
Howard walks away from Buffy over to the table, picks up the black volume and brings it over to Willow. He opens it up to the first page, holds it in front of Willow and points at a line of text, indicating for her to read it.
WILLOW (cont'd)
(reading, puzzled)
"Gallia in tres partes divisa est?"
HOWARD
With the final defeat of the Ancient Ones, their sole surviving work, the Res Profana, is gone, too. Mr. Giles and Sunnydale High are now the proud owners of a rare nineth century Carolingian codex. "Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic Wars."
Howard slaps the book shut and casually tosses the now harmless volume back onto the table.
OZ
Happy, happy, joy, joy!
WILLOW
(to Howard)
What about Giles?
HOWARD
I think you'll find Mr. Giles well on the road to recovery.
WILLOW
Hey! Let's all go down to the hospital. I'll bet ya Giles is awake! And your Mom's there, Buffy. She'll get us in. (to Oz) You can drive us down, right?
Oz nods and puts his arm around Willow's shoulder.
BUFFY
(rubbing her face with her hand)
I think I'll pass, Willow. I'm gonna crash.
WILLOW
But it's Saturday tomorrow! You can sleep in!
BUFFY
Will, I'm gonna sleep in... now.
CORDELIA
Me, too! (suddenly turning to Xander) You don't mind do you?
XANDER
Hey, who am I to come between a super babe and her beauty sleep.
OZ
Let's go before we have to carry the Xena twins out.
WILLOW
You coming, HP?
HOWARD
(with mock seriousness)
And if I do, who will clean up this disaster area you young people have left in your wake? I can't very well turn the Library back over to Mr. Giles in this condition.
They all stare at Howard. He suddenly looks comical standing amidst the wreckage of overturned chairs, scattered weapons and half burned books. Buffy breaks into a big grin.
BUFFY
Knock yourself out!
Buffy, Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordelia turn and head out the library door.
WILLOW
(calling over her shoulder)
Okay, HP. We'll see you Monday morning.
The Library is silent after they have left. Howard nods to himself, smiling.
HOWARD
Farewell, my dear Guardians. God speed.
* * * * *
ACT 4, Scene 7. EXT. On the edge of the cemetery. Night.
The steps of Sunnydale High can be seen in the distance down the street from the cemetery wall. Angel is standing alone by a broken section of the wall. He is staring angrily off into the distance towards the school.
Suddenly, Buffy, Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordelia emerge from the front doors and walk down the steps. They are talking excitedly, but it is too far away to make out what they are saying. All walk over to the parking lot and climb into Oz's van.
As Angel watches them from the darkness, the anger on his face slowly fades and is replaced by a look of confused sadness. As the van drives away, he looks down at the ground as if pondering some question for which he has, as yet, no answer.
He then turns away from the cemetery wall, walks back among the tombstones and disappears into the darkness.
CUT TO EXT. The front yard of Buffy's house. Night
Buffy jumps out of the van and runs up to her front door. She fumbles momentarily with her keys, unlocks the door and goes inside. The light comes on in the kitchen window. Oz's van drives way from the curb down the street.
CUT TO INT. Buffy's bedroom. Night
Buffy staggers into her bedroom, roughly tosses her bookbag over in the corner, collapses headfirst and fully clothed onto her neatly made up bed and wallows in the puffy comforter. She doesn't even bother to kick her shoes off. She buries her face in the pillow and is asleep in moments.
CUT TO EXT. The front door steps of Cordelia's house. Night
Oz's van pulls away from the front door steps of the Chase mansion, drives down the circular driveway and out onto the street. Left behind are Xander and Cordelia standing by the front door. As usual, they are in each other arms. Cordelia gently pushes Xander away.
CORDELIA
(quietly)
Hey, my Dad's gonna catch us again.
XANDER
(softly, looking her directly in the eyes)
Now I know what you really went through ... when Drusilla shot me with that...
Cordelia quickly puts her hand over Xander's mouth stopping him in mid sentence.
CORDELIA
I don't ever want to feel that again. Not even to talk about.
Xander takes her left hand in his. He carresses her long, delicate fingers, running his fingertips up and down her empty ring finger.
CORDELIA (cont'd)
(gasping)
Xander Harris! Don't you even think it!
Xander looks up at her, uncertainty covering his face.
CORDELIA (cont'd)
(smiling and her brown eyes sparkling)
... at least, not yet...
Xander grins. He kisses Cordelia quickly. She steps inside the front door and he is left alone on the steps. Still grinning, he turns and saunters down the circular driveway and out onto the street. As he passes under a street lamp in the distance, he starts to whistle, slightly off key.
CUT TO INT. Giles' hospital room. 4:30 A.M.
Giles still is unconscious in his hospital bed and hooked up to monitors and an intravenous. The lights in the room are lowered. Joyce Summers is sitting watch by his bed. She is reading a book under a small bedside table lamp. By the door, Oz and Willow are slouched down in two folding chairs. Oz is awake but Willow is asleep, her head nestled against Oz's shoulder. She gives a little snore. Oz looks at her face, raises his eyebrows in surprise and smiles shaking his head.
Suddenly, like the breaking of a lone wave on an empty shore in the night, Giles gives a deep sigh. Joyce looks up from her book and Oz straightens up, alert. His movements wake Willow.
WILLOW
(sleepily)
Oz, what is it?
OZ
Sshh!
Giles' eyes slowly open and he groans quietly. Joyce puts her book down and turns to the side of his bed.
JOYCE SUMMERS
Mr. Giles?
Oz and Willow get up from their chairs and join Joyce by the side of the bed.
WILLOW
Giles?
GILES
(still groggy)
Willow? Is that you? And Oz?
OZ
Right here.
Giles looks around and his eyes fall on Joyce.
GILES
(surprised)
Ms. Summers!
Joyce puts her hand on his shoulder.
JOYCE SUMMERS
Good to see you back. You had a lot of people very worried.
GILES
What happened?
WILLOW
You collapsed in your office. We thought you had a heart attack.
OZ
(to Willow)
I'm going to go get one of the nurses.
WILLOW
(to Joyce Summers)
I'll go call Buffy. She'll want to know.
Joyce nods to Willow. Oz and Willow walk towards the door. Oz leaves the room and heads down the hall to the nurses' station, but Willow stops at the door and listens to the conversation between Giles and Buffy's mother.
JOYCE SUMMERS
So, how do you feel?
GILES
Quite ravenous, actually.
JOYCE SUMMERS
Well, I'll tell you what. When you're released, you're officially invited over for a home cooked meal. And I won't hear "no" for an answer.
GILES
Oh. That sounds lovely.
JOYCE SUMMERS
I'm sure Buffy would like to have you over, too.
Suddenly Giles' brows furrow up in a frown. Willow's eyes widen in horror. She scoots out the door and runs down the hallway to the wall phone in the waiting room. Rapidly she dials Buffy's number. The phone begins ringing but there is no answer.
WILLOW
(in a panic, to herself)
Come on, Buffy, wake up!
CUT TO INT. Buffy's bedroom. At the same time.
Buffy is asleep and buried in her comforter. Her portable phone by the bedside starts RINGING. Buffy moans and rolls over.
CROSS CUT BACK TO INT. Hospital waiting room.
WILLOW
(hanging on the wall phone, impatiently)
Come on, pick it up!
CROSS CUT BACK TO INT. Buffy's bedroom.
Buffy finally wakes up and rolls to the side of her bed. She picks up her portable phone and answers in a sleepy voice.
BUFFY
... Hello...
CROSS CUT BACK TO INT. Hospital waiting room.
WILLOW
Buffy, you gotta get up!
CROSS CUT BACK TO INT. Buffy's bedroom
BUFFY
(still sleepy)
What? Is that you, Will?
WILLOW
Buffy, Giles is awake!
BUFFY
Oh, that's great.
WILLOW
Buffy, you'd better come down here now!
BUFFY
Willow, it's (Buffy looks at her clock) 4:30 in the morning!
CROSS CUT BACK TO INT. Hospital waiting room.
Willow urgently whispers into the phone.
WILLOW
Buffy... your Mom just invited Giles over to dinner at your house! And he accepted! He said he thought it would be lovely!
There is a sudden loud CLACK and a whooshing rushing sound over the phone line as if covers and pillows were being thrown about.
WILLOW
(looking puzzled at the phone in her hand)
Buffy?... Buffy, are you there?
CROSS CUT BACK TO INT. Buffy's bedroom
Buffy has dropped her portable phone on the floor. As she leaps out of bed, her pillows and comforter end up tossed on the floor in complete disorder. She scrambles wildly around her room searching for a scrungie to tie back her messed up hair.
BUFFY
Shit!
WILLOW
(her voice over the phone)
Buffy!
Buffy finds the scrungie, quickly pulls her hair back in a short pony tail and grabs the portable phone off the floor.
BUFFY
(quickly)
Sorry, Will. I'm on my way!
She throws the portable phone in its cradle and runs out of the room.
CUT TO EXT. The street out front of Sunnydale High. Before dawn, 4:45 A.M.
Buffy is walking at a fast clip down the street in front of Sunnydale High. As she starts to pass the school, she looks up at the building and sees a lone light shining from the high windows of the library.
Puzzled, she stops at the foot of the steps to the front door. As if drawn by a silent call, she slowly climbs the steps and approaches the door. She presumes it will be locked. She grabs hold of the door handle and tries to open it. The door does not give.
She is about to walk away, but turns to the door one more time. She tries the handle again. This time the door opens easily. She walks hesitantly into the darkened hallways. Her FOOTFALLS ECHO down the empty corridors. As she gets closer to the Library, Buffy breaks into a run.
CUT TO INT. The Library - Just before daybreak
Howard is seated with an old leather bound volume in his lap. Buffy bursts into the room. She sees Howard is still there, and a smile spreads across her face.
BUFFY
HP, I thought it was you! Did you hear! Giles is awake!
Howard looks up at her and smiles.
HOWARD
That's wonderful news.
BUFFY
(grinning)
But I'm in real trouble now!
HOWARD
Oh?
BUFFY
My Mom invited him over to dinner.
Howard starts to snicker.
HOWARD
Horrors!
BUFFY
(after a pause)
You already knew, didn't you.
HOWARD
(sighing)
Yes, I knew.
BUFFY
(smiling and shaking her head)
How do you always do that?
Buffy enters the room and walks over beside Howard.
HOWARD
I'm so happy for all of you. And, I must say, a little relieved. This place is a bit more rough and tumble than most where I substitute.
BUFFY
(disappointed)
You're leaving, aren't you.
HOWARD
(closing his book and standing)
Yes.
BUFFY
But you have to come see Giles. I really want you two to meet.
HOWARD
I'm afraid I can't. A Guardian is called upon by a Watcher only in moments of extreme peril. If he were to know his Guardian too well, he might be tempted to seek help when really his own resources were his greatest strength.
BUFFY
But all of us together, we could close the Hellmouth forever... right now! We could end all of this!
HOWARD
Buffy, as strange as this may sound, there must always be evil in the world. Otherwise, how could we all rise and be as strong as we must be? My staying, well, that's "not how the deal works."
BUFFY
(wistfully)
You sound a lot like someone I used to know.
HOWARD
My path is to be a wanderer of the dark.... But you, Buffy Summers... you may not realize it now, but you, ... and Xander, and Willow, and Cordelia and Oz and all the young people like you,... (quietly) you are the Guardians of the Gates of Dawn.
Buffy's eyes widen in amazement.
HOWARD (cont'd)
While I only appear in the darkest hours, all of you are the protectors of that which is yet to come. You stand so that the Gates will always remain open. And your fate holds wonders not even I can imagine. You see,... I am the past. You are all the future.
BUFFY
(sadly)
I'll never see you again.
HOWARD
Oh, I don't know. As a good friend of yours always says, I'll always be there "whenever there is a great need."
Astonished, Buffy looks up at Howard.
BUFFY
(trying not to break out crying)
Jonathan?...What I saw was real!... (almost a whisper) Is he here?
HOWARD
You are fortunate among Slayers. You not only have a Watcher, but your very own Guardian as well.
Buffy can't hold back any longer. She throws her arms around Howard and buries her face in his shoulder. He holds her and gently brushes her hair with his hand.
HOWARD (cont'd)
Sshh, there's no more reason to weep, Slayer. Your dreams now await you... at the Gates of Dawn.
Buffy looks up at Howard, a single tear stain on her cheek.
BUFFY
Could you please,...give him that hug for me?
HOWARD
I don't have to. You just did.
Buffy smiles and hugs Howard again. After a moment, Howard gently pulls away from Buffy.
HOWARD (cont'd)
Buffy Summers, Guardian of the Dawn. Go now. Your Watcher needs you.
Buffy starts to walk away from Howard but stops a few steps away from the door.
BUFFY
(turning back to Howard, her cheek still wet with tears)
But what about you?
HOWARD
I am only the past.
Howard looks up to the windows where light is beginning to stream in.
HOWARD (cont'd)
(pointing at the window)
The Dawn is breaking! Run! Run! You are the future! Run!
Buffy smiles, turns and runs out the library door. Howard stands silently holding the closed book. Then he starts speaking as if someone were standing at his side.
HOWARD
(nodding)
I know. She'll be all right. With you keeping guard, I can almost feel the fresh dawn breeze right now. (pause, as if in response to an unheard question) ... Oh, I'm sure she'll be happy. That is the way of the future. And, some day, she will restore his soul. (another pause) ... I'm sorry, too. But what a great gift you gave her, ... Hope.
Howard looks directly to the side as if reprimanding an invisible companion.
HOWARD (cont'd)
Some advice from a more experienced Guardian! Control that little magic trick of yours, pulling down people's pants! Makes us all look, well,... juvenile!
There is another pause. Howard suddenly bursts out into a wonderful full laugh and claps his hands.
HOWARD (cont'd)
(shaking his head with great joy)
Oh my! ... You are a crazy one! You know, I could prattle on with you for hours, but you have work to do. Now get to it. She's probably half way to the hospital by now.... (sighing) and the dark calls me.
Howard stands as if at attention.
HOWARD (cont'd)
Farewell, fellow Guardian. I know we'll meet again soon.
There is a long silence. Howard looks up towards the dawn light breaking through the library window. As the sunlight spills in, his image slowly fades away and disappears. In a moment, the library is empty with the shadows of the bookshelves stretching across the chairs and tables in the bright early morning sun.
The scene dissolves into Epilogue, Scene 1
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