FADE IN
INT. ILLYRIA'S TEMPLE – NIGHT
The fabric of the universe is dented as ILLYRIA lands in front of a statue of a beast with several hands. An army of beasts is making animal noises. The QWA'HA XAHN, a tall more humanoid beast, dressed in white clothes turns to look at her.
ILLYRIA
Ikht'aka garaka dinkrahtak paleh!
[Subtitled: I have come back to lead you in battle!]
The QWA'HA XAHN looks her up and down.
THE QWA'HA XAHN
[puzzled] karge tsumeeke oh [Subtitled: And you are?]
ILLYRIA
Tche'testia Illyria graka d'lara! Jpetzke Gargamatcheze!
[Subtitled: I am Illyria your ruler! Bow before me!]
THE QWA'HA XAHN starts trembling, like a volcano about to erupt. He then breaks out in what can only be interpreted as wild unadulterated laughter.
THE QWA'HA XAHN
Shpelze kgarda fwerteze goki. [Subtitled: Someone take this worm out]
Two beasts move slowly out of the crowd and throw spears at ILLYRIA. ILLYRIA motions her hand forward and time slows for the spears and the beasts. She walks through the advancing-in-slow-motion spears, easily dodging them. She cocks her head, lifts with one hand THE QWA'HA XAHN of his feet by some loose tissue.
INT. HILL OVERLOOKING ILLYIRA'S TEMPLE – NIGHT
ILLYRIA drops THE QWA'HA XAHN to the ground.
THE QWA'HA XAHN
Kwarbara Xesrekla! Shbenjka qrd klukh Jbeparse kern lekek bah![subtitled: The insolence! I will crush you like the bug you are!]
ILLYRIA
Loportke Qwa'ha Xahn. Shrba staka lkehirok stamker iturbat namina sta'klek blintimos. Lkarhek gimnon sta'klek gurban gurban. Shdekunpa gurten kadem jbakstenkh, brka whstabel.
[subtitled: Be silent Qw'aha Xahn. I have assumed a different from unworthy of myself and have lost most of my powers. But I have one power that matters. I can prevent the destruction of our army, our defeat.]
INT. U.C. SUNNYDALE GROUNDS – DAY
WILLOW walks across the lawn, her hair reverting to its natural color in mid stride. Coming across her is Tara with some books in her hands. Tara is smiling shyly as she passes Willow who is unable to talk to her. Before Tara could get far, Willow breaks out in a small half run.
WILLOW
Tara!
TARA halts and turns nervously.
WILLOW
Hi, em, Tara, waitup.
TARA
Hi, er…
WILLOW
Willow.
TARA
Yes, em, can I, I mean, did you want something?
WILLOW
I was wondering if you were going to the Wicca meeting.
TARA
I'm not sure yet. There's time. How did you
WILLOW
[Interrupting] I could totally sense that you have magic in you.
TARA
[Breaks into a smile] Really?
A tear forms in the corner of Willow's eye and makes its way down her cheek.
TARA
Are you okay?
WILLOW
[a sad broken hearted smile] Just, something in my eye.
INT.Underground train station in ROMe – night
Noisy train passes and reveals SPIKE leaning on a wall. Another train arrives, stopping at the station. He enters the train with a couple of other passengers. The camera pans to the entrance showing A YOUNG WOMAN running. She is too late, the doors have closed. She pulls out a stake, jumps on the roof and uses it to hang on as the train rolls.
INT. TRAIN – day
SPIKE is hooded, shielding him from the weak sun. Outside, it is cloudy. The train stops. A bumping noise is heard from outside and in comes DANA, her hair a mess. She drops to the seat in front of SPIKE, rubbing her arms.
SPIKE
What the bloody hell? Are you following me Dana?
DANA
Yes.
SPIKE
What happened to your hair?
DANA
I've had a problem with time.
SPIKE
I mean, thanks for saving me life, but this is too much, love.
DANA
I don't like it there. They all think I'm spooky, a monster.
SPIKE
Well they… [looks at her pained expressions and stops] You know what, bugger them.
INT. UNDERGROUND TRAIN – DAY
SPIKE is sleeping or at least the vampire equivalent. DANA is resting her head on his shoulder, sleeping as well. DANA wakes up suddenly, abruptly, shouting, waking both of them up.
SPIKE
AAARGH!
DANA pulls out her stake, aiming it at SPIKE who grabs her arm.
SPIKE
Dana, it's me.
dana
[heaving, pulling back] Sorry. I..I'm sorry.
DANA drops the stake and walks back, locking herself in the bathroom. SPIKE runs after her, touches the door.
spike
Dana.
SPIKE walks back to his seat. GUNN is waiting for him there, sitting across.
spike
What the bloody hell. [sniffs] So you've earned a few days to live. I see the headlines: "Vampire hunter goes vamp!"
gunn
I am not here to fight, and you better not too if you care about the people minding their own business around.
spike
You must be a hell of a fighter, seeing how Gunn was as a human, but whatever you want, not interested, and I've got a mean slayer that is coming [looking back not so sure] any minute now to back me up.
gunn
Come'on Spike, after all we've been through, the people we've killed and eaten, well sometimes eaten and killed… It really [fake clutching his heart] hurts me that you would treat me this way.
spike
What? We never… [gets it] Angelus? That you?
gunn
In a way, I am.
spike
What are you doing wearing Gunn on yourself?
gunn
I got tired of my old body. All those gypsies, shamans, witches, actors and higher beings, playing with my soul all the time. It was a liability. Gunn sold his soul for a good price and I got his body for a bargain.
SPIKE
I'm still going to kill you. It barely stopped me that Buffy cared for you when you still had a soul. What do you think would stop me now?
GUNN
Souls, souls, they're such wonderful things. Look around you. You think you're special? A champion? Look at all these people. They all have noses, ears, eyes. And they all have souls. I'm sorry to be the one to break it to you but you are not a beautiful and unique snowflake.
SPIKE
Get to the point Angelus before you get to the point of my fist.
GUNN
All these souled people keep killing each other in wars all the time. Remember the good times in Europe? We played with death but the humans around us led most of the wars. Granted, manipulating them was easy, but even today, they steal, they cheat, they murder. They start wars for fun, for money, for dead people's graves. Everyone has something he or she wants and they will go a long way to get it.
SPIKE
What do you want?
GUNN
No, no, no. It's what we want. You know we want. We want him and we want him gone. Buffy may not want me in my new body and, oh, missing soul, but you can comfort her when her boyfriend is gone.
SPIKE
I can't do this to Buffy.
GUNN
You want to be even with the Immortal, I know you do. He will always be there, a menace to you. You know this slayer Dana is a real juicy piece. Granted, she's a little demented but you never had problems with that. I'm sure one day, [chuckles] if she doesn't stake you first, she will develop a taste for you. Tsk, tsk, tsk then the immortal comes, now that Buffy is all old and worn, and oh no, Dana has somebody else to wake up in the middle of the night.
SPIKE
You're all talk, Angelus.
GUNN
Oh, you'll discover I'm much more then that now. Think about it, Spike. This prince of darkness saving girls in distress crap is not for you.
SPIKE
It's what I want.
GUNN
Is that right? [standing] I'm sure you will want to know what the Shanshu thing was all about. I know Angel did.
SPIKE looks the stake Dana left behind, hesitates, then picks it up.
spike
Angelus!
SPIKE throws the stake at GUNN who turns and catches it swiftly in mid air, completes a whole turn and goes through the door. SPIKE runs after him and opens the door to the next cart but Gunn has disappeared. Most of the people around are asleep, except for a KID looking wide eyed at SPIKE.
SPIKE
We're circus performers.
INT. GILES' OFFICE – DAY
XANDER is confronting GILES. Behind him, a worried DAWN, KENNEDY and BUFFY.
XANDER
What do you mean gone?
giles
She hasn't shown up for class, or told anyone where she's going. That's highly unusual for her.
dawn
Maybe she was doing some magic….
buffy
Dawn, don't you have classes to attend?
dawn
But…
buffy
No buts. Whatever it is, we'll deal with it.
DAWN frowns.
kennedy
It's okay, Dawny. I'll fill you in later.
DAWN leaves.
xander
So you think she maybe did some magic and disappeared?
giles
I'm not sure yet. There are traces of powerful black magic activity centered in the dungeons.
buffy
Black magic? After all we've been through? What would make Willow go there?
giles
You know where Willow has been with magic. Once you cross that line there's always a temptation to use magic.
buffy
Yes, but why now?
giles
I'm afraid that's not all. We're also missing Illyria and Dana.
xander
Illyria Who?
giles
The super being that infected Fred. We've gone over this.
xander
Oh right.
buffy
You do know who Fred is?
xander
Sure, the, er, [embarrassed]
she was with Angel's team.
buffy
We need to figure out how Dana and Illyria are connected to this.
xander
They're all unstable.
giles
That's a bit overstating it, but yes, all of them have been to dark place, but it still explains very little.
buffy
I'm sure whatever Willow is doing, it's for a good cause.
INT. CASTLE LIBRARY – DAY
DAWN, ANDREW and AMANDA sit at a table.
dawn
I think Willow is doing something real bad.
amanda
Like what?
dawn
I'm still trying to piece everything together.
andrew
Is it true what they say? That it's connected to Dana and Illyria's mysterious disappearance?
dawn
I'm not sure about Dana. Spike told me Illyria could jump time. I think maybe Willow wanted to try some time travel magic.
amanda
But why would she
ANDREW
No, let Hermione speak her mind. She has a point there.
DAWN
I'm just not sure why. Time travel must be a very tricky business.
ANDREW
Maybe she is stuck in some time loop and she can't get out in that Star-Trek episode.
AMANDA
[reproachfully] Andrew.
ANDREW
Sorry.
dawn
Where would you go if you could travel time?
AMANDA
I think the future is a nice and most probably comfortable place.
ANDREW
True, though I would really want to go back in time and make right all the things I did when I was bad and punch Warren real hard in the face.
dawn
I think being flayed alive was enough torture for him.
AMANDA
Who did that?
andrew
Willow, when she went all Wicked Witch of the West on us. She wanted to kill everyone.
amanda
But why?
andrew
Because Warren killed Tara, her witch lesbian lover.
amanda
Wasn't Warren your friend?
andrew
[ashamed] It was more of a love slash hate situation.
dawn
[Standing up, excited] It's Tara. She's after Tara. I've got to tell Giles.
ANDREW
But we're gonna miss "Ancient Artifacts".
DAWN
You go to class. I will take care of this.
ANDREW and AMANDA look at DAWN, a look of resolve on her face as she fast paces away.
andrew
[sigh] Just like her sister.
INT. CASTLE CORRIDOR – NIGHT
DAWN is running through the corridor, bumps into XANDER, panting.
XANDEr
What's happening, Dawny?
dawn
I can't talk now, gotta go get Giles, it's an emergency..
xander
Is there anything I can do?
dawn
Get Buffy.
xander
I'll try.
DAWN is pacing away, suddenly slows.
dawn
I might have to take a rain check on tonight.
xanDer
Sure.
EXT. SUNNYDALE CEMATARY – NIGHT
TARA is sitting on a grave tomb stone, stunned and confused. WILLOW is standing in front of her.
TARA
That's, em, wow.
WILLOW
I know it's a little to much to take.
tara
I died, I mean, gonna die.
willow
Yes.
tara
Some guy with a gun.
willow
Yes.
tara
And we were together and I, I like women.
willow
Yes, didn't you know that?
tara
[downcast] I was always pretty much alone.
willow
You don't have to be alone anymore. You've got me, friends.
tara
I'm now sure, I mean, wow, it's
A couple of demons come running through the cemetery.
WILLOW
Tara, get down.
They crouch beneath a tombstone. The demons charge towards them. WILLOW's eyes turn black as she gets ready some magic, but the demons just ignore her and go on about their ways. TARA looks at WILLOW, horror in her eyes.
WILLOW
[to herself] Oh, right, they're after Xander and Anya.
tara
You're a… [backs off, scrambling] Your power.
willow
I'm sorry; I wouldn't do this if I didn't think your life was at risk.
tara
You've got a demon in you.
willow
I'm not… [teary eyed]I, I love you Tara.
TARA runs off. WILLOW shoots green energy bolt which suspends TARA.
WILLOW
Don't go sweetie. I will make things right.
She shoots a blue magic energy ball at TARA. TARA starts splitting in the same way that the apple did in "War and Peace". Now there are two TARAs suspended in mid air.
WILLOW
You will forget all that happened since I came and you will go to the wicca group meeting.
TARA
[mechanically] I will.
A red energy ball flies from Willow's hand and one of the TARAs disappears.
INT. TARA'S ROOM – DAY
TARA materializes, a little bit shaky. She looks baffled. She shakes her head and goes to a calendar on the wall. She grabs a pen and marks a date.
EXT. SUNNYDALE CEMATARY – NIGHT
WILLOW, all blue and black now is opening up a bright yellow portal while TARA is still suspended in mid air. WILLOW is going through the portal, while TARA floats after her. The portal glows and expands as the screen FADES TO YELLOW.
EXT. Wheat FIELD – DAY
A great yellow wheat field fills the screen. YOUNG TARA, about the age of six is running through the field, happy and determined. She almost falls, but regains her footings and continues running. Finally, she is out of breath and collapses on the ground, breathing heavily. A HOODED FIGURE, dressed in a brown cloak, appears, floating in the air. WILLOW gets on her feet, looking at the figure in awe. The HOODED FIGURE's hood drops down and we see MRS MCLAY, young woman, looking much like older Tara but also a little like black Willow with black eyes and black hair.
MRS MCLAY
Hi Tara.
YOUNG TARA
Hi. Are you a witch? I am a great witch!
mrs mclay
I am your mother.
young TARA
My mother is dead.
mrs mclay
No I'm not [eyes beifly glowing red] I've been growing strong. They married me to your father young to stop me from using the magicks but I was too powerful.
young tara
Daddy says you're a demon.
MRS MCLAY
In a way that is where real power is.
YOUNG TARA
Go away fithy demon! Shoo!
MRS MCLAY lands on the ground near YOUNG TARA.
MRS MCLAY
I want you to join me, I want to teach you what real power is.
YOUNG TARA kicks MRS MCLAY in the knee and runs off. MRS MCLAY growls and starts walking fast in pursuit. YOUNG TARA falls, her leg twisted, and starts crying. MRS MCLAY gains on her, creating a ball of red energy in her hand but is suddenly struck by a great green energy bolt, throwing her away and up in the air, suspending her. Two white witches in approach. YOUNG TARA stops crying for a moment and looks at them.
WITCH #1
The coven has been looking for you.
MRS MCLAY
Bitch. You're keeping me away from child.
WITCH #2
You have violated all of our rules.
MRS MCLAY
I will destroy all of you.
WITCH #1
Sure you will.
WITCH #2 approaches YOUNG TARA. She touches her leg briefly and it heals. YOUNG TARA is still crying.
TARA
I want my daddy.
witch #2
Tara, we will not take you away family [pulls out a book] but I want you to study this book. It will guide you through life. Don't take it home. Bury it somewhere.
YOUNG TARA stops crying and takes the book. The inscription says "GUIDE TO THE MAGICKS". A sports car stops on a nearby road. The witches manhandle MRS MCLAY into the car and drive away. The car plates say "GOBROOM" and are Cleveland plates.
EXT. TARA'S FAMILY HOUSE – DAY
YOUNG TARA approaches the house, her hands dirty from digging in the ground. MR MCLAY, in his late-twenties, approaches her.
MR CLAY
Where have you been, Tara?
TARA
I was
MR MCLAY slaps TARA. She starts crying silently.
TARA
I, I'm [stuttering] ssory, I dididn't mean to.
MR MCLAY
Oh, you will be. Time you learned a lesson.
MR MCLAY pulls out his belt and kicks YOUNG TARA down and she falls to the ground IN SLOW MOTION.
INT. CASTLE DUNGEON – DAY
TARA is falling to the floor, WILLOW falling through the portal behind her, exhausted, unconscious. TARA gets up, running right in to the arms of KENNEDY who comes through the door, with GILES and DAWN in pursuit. KENNEDY helps TARA to a lab chair, looking at TARA in fascination and awe, struck by her presence.
GILES
Are you okay? Tara, talk to me, it's Giles.
kennedy
What's wrong with her?
giles
Time travel can be quite stressful for regular human beings. Tara, do you know what happened to you?
tara
My, my memory is a bit fuzzy about that. My guess, is, I'm not in Kansas anymore?
giles
No, you're in Rome. You do know who you are, who we are?
tara
I know who I am, but I don't know who you are.
giles
Then you must be suffering some long term memory loss. It's worse than I suspected.
tara
I, I'm okay. Willow, [heaving] she did a protective spell. She is an amazing witch.
KENNEDY has a jealous look on her face.
giles
But you don't recognize me?
tara
No, I haven't met you yet. [sighs, tired] You're in my future.
INT. APARTMENT BUILDING – NIGHT
SPIKE walks up the stairs with DANA by his side.
spike
I thought a seer would live in a place less crummy than this cesspool.
SPIKE looks at DANA as she remains quiet.
spike
Not much of a talker, are you?
dana
Sorry. Buffy told me that I should interact more.
spike
You should. I know you've had head problems, but sooner or later you're gonna find out that this world has more to offer than death and pain.
dana
Funny statement coming from a vampire.
spike
Even without a soul I had fun where I could get it that didn't involve blood. Or at least mostly didn't involve blood.
dana
Good for you, William.
They come to a door. Spike knocks on the door but it opens. Inside THE SEER is dead, her face marked with blood like tribal stripes. On the wall, there are childish drawings; some of a girl chopping a person with a bone saw, some of a girl hitting people with blood flying off their face.
SPIKE
Bloody hell.
DANA holds a hand to her mouth, then runs off. SPIKE chases her through the stairs.
spike
Dana!
DANA runs through the front door and into an alley. SPIKE looks at her go. He cuts through another alley. DANA runs fast, turning a corner, where SPIKE is standing, waiting. DANA can't stop in time and she bumps into SPIKE, and they both tumble to the ground in what could be seen as a hug.
dana
It's me. I killed her.
spike
No it wasn't. I know who done it.
dana
I killed, I killed [tears in her eyes, heaving] I killed them.
spike
Yes, you did. But with the drugs and the messing with your head and the abuse you were not in control.
dana
I did it, I had blood on everything. Blood of the innocent.
SPIKE looks worriedly at her.
spike
Listen Dana, we will take care of the monster that did this.
DANA stands up moving away from spike, pacing back and forth, wiping away her tears.
DANA
I have to be brave, a woman warrior. I can't crumble now with emotions. I am a slayer, strong on the outside, strong on the inside.
SPIKE
Good on you.
DANA
Someone is trying to play me. Test my weaknesses. Like the watchers.
SPIKE
I know that someone.
DANA looks at SPIKE with surprise.
SPIKE
And we will take care of him.
SPIKE pulls out a cell phone from his jacket, punches a number.
spike
Hi, it's me. We have a major problem.
INT. GILES' OFFICE – DAY
GILES is sitting alone in his office, looking through some books. DAWN rushes in.
GILES
Ah Dawn, good of you to come in. I had some nasty call from the Coven. Where is everyone?
DAWN
I think Xander had to go fix a pipe leak somewhere. He says it will take him some time. You know he is better in carpentering than with plumbing.
GILES
Yes, a week of cold showers definitely delivers that message. Er, Kennedy? Buffy?
DAWN
Kennedy is with Tara.
GILES
[Interrupting] Is that really necessary?
DAWN
She said she wanted to protect Tara if Willow wakes up.
GILES
Willow loves Tara. Why would she be needing protection? And where's Buffy?
DAWN
Buffy just went away all of a sudden. She said she had received a phone call and had an urgent matter to attend to.
GILES
[sighs] As if we didn't have enough missing people. I don't get it? What could be more important than Willow going over to the dark side again?
WILLOW [O.S]
I am not dark.
WILLOW, standing at the door is back to her normal human colors but is stern. GILES and DAWN look nervous. Giles gets up, straightens his glasses and examines WILLOW.
GILES
How did you? We locked your quarters.
WILLOW
Yes, you know I can bend time. Bending space is sort of the same.
GILES
I thought in your weakened state you wouldn't use magic.
WILLOW
I got better.
GILES
Willow, what made you use this kind of magic again? Didn't we all find Last time stressful enough?
WILLOW
[softens] I, I had to get Tara.
GILES
Willow, for all the power that we have here we're still human beings. For once you should accept death as a natural thing.
WILLOW
[Angry] That might be fine for you watchers. After all you easily accept the death of slayers when they are still young.
GILES
[Annoyed] That is quite irrelevant and you know it. We have to do our jobs. If anything our training makes Slayers live longer.
WILLOW
[On the verge of tears] I had to do it.
GILES
[Softening] Time travel can have terrible consequences. Tara played a pivotal role in our joined history. How could you take her from her continuum?
WILLOW
I left a duplicate of her.
GILES
What? That's that's preposterous. Even with all your powers someone must have helped you with this. Time travel requires mystical powers that only supreme beings
DAWN
Illyria.
They look at her with Surprise.
DAWN
And I think this means Illyria now has some Willow's powers.
GILES
How could you be so irresponsible? Illyria is an extremely dangerous being bent on destroying everything just for fun.
WILLOW
She wanted to save Westley.
DAWN
I don't think so.
GILES sits down.
GILES
I don't think I can take any more bad news.
DAWN
I've been reading up on Illyria and the other ancient beings. Illyria and her kind didn't care about anything but their power. Now if I were to go back I would probably save my mother. Willow went back to save Tara. Illyria would try to get back her power, her armies.
WILLOW
I could feel some of Fred in her. She changed.
GILES
I thought you did too.
WILLOW looks both angry and ashamed.
INT. ROOM IN ILLYIRA'S TEMPLE – NIGHT
ILLYRIA and THE QWA'HA XAHN sit down on large stone chairs. ILLYRIA looks uncomfortable as her chair was designed for someone much larger.
THE QWA'HA XAHN
Charbe xaluchle balingukh B'pksuah. [Subitled: What you are saying is most troubling]
illyria
Ikht'aka garaka kadentblevka. Mvja gerba krempletrent! [Subititled: I am here to stop it. We will be strong once again!]
THE QWA'HA XAHN
Mvja tirb'kaht nessper terk'leptakh darpek gelhi tsumeeke. [Subtitled: We must immediately attack the deeper well to free you]
illyria
Garkedepthke ja terk'leptakh ja gerbketr palke nestia, genkelphote jin ksa, ja ikht'ake [Subtitled: The power of the deeper well will draw inside; you will be captured, like me]
THE QWA'HA XAHN
Jekpel Mvja, djont Belkerna! [Subtitled: Tell me what do oh great one!]
illyria
Jetmbe kerdisiam tegoeh Bildinkhah! [Subtitled: Prepare the ritual of Bildinkhah!]
The QWA'HA XAHN looks worriedly at ILLYRIA.
INT. BUFFY'S APARTMENT – DAY
BUFFY is sitting, crestfallen. THE IMMORTAL is behind her, fidgeting. SPIKE is standing in the middle of the room, looking at BUFFY. DANA is standing at a corner, her face blank.
buffy
Does this means that Angel is dead?
SPIKE
I don't know Buffy, but the way he was talking about Angel; it was past tense, like he wanted me to know that Angel was gone.
THE IMMORTAL
But he hasn't tried to hurt you or dust you or anything…
spike
I know, it's a bit uncharacteristic.
dana
If Angelus doesn't kill he has plans.
spike
What?
dana
You have known him for a long time. Can't you tell? If Angelus doesn't touch you that means he can torture you in some other way. You, your friends, your family, your soul.
buffy
Dana is right. She's not top of her history class for nothing.
spike
Angelus is a blood lusting creature just like all the other vampires I know.
THE IMMORTAL
When he was with you, perhaps; always wanting to outshine your savageness. That's why I had to stop you. We had created here a civilized society, art, science, means for fulfilling our spiritual needs but all you wanted was pillage, destruction.
spike
[shouting]And I just thought you wanted to take the time to have your way with Dru and Darla.
buffy
[shouting] Stop it. This is not really helping. [quietly] And eughwww… Darla? Drusilla? Same vampires that were always killing my frinds?
dana
Yes they are same.
the immortal
[uncomfortable] I told you I made love to vampires.
buffy
You know what, I'll deal. We need to concentrate on taking out Angelus. Do we have a picture of Gunn?
SPIKE
We'll get it. I'm sure he'll be coming for you though, he always does.
BUFFY
It's okay, I've handled him before.
THE IMMORTAL
And I will back her up.
BUFFY
I want to be alone with Spike.
This take SPIKE and THE IMMORTAL by surprise.
the immortal
[taken aback] Er
BUFFY
We need to discuss, something.
SPIKE
[slightly cocky] Yeah, okay.
THE IMMORTAL
[solemn] I understand. I trust and love you. Let me know when you are finished.
buffy
I love you too.
the immortal
Come Dana, we'll get Ice cream.
DANA smiles an uncharacteristic girlish smile. SPIKE looks at her, worried.
dana
Sound nice.
THE IMMORTAL and DANA leave.
buffy
This is complicated.
spike
I know, and I don't mean to
buffy
[interrupting] I mean with Dana. Don't worry about Angelus. I guess some of us will always be live bait for Angelus.
SPIKE
It's not. Oh Come'on. Why is everyone picking on me? First Angelus, now you.
BUFFY
It's nice to know that Angelus and I have something in common.
SPIKE
Look, I don't even know if it's like that between us.
buffy
Spike, I know how you are when you like someone. Sure, I've been blind to it for a long time *and* for probably a good reason, but now I know what's it like. You've shown me.
spike
I did.
buffy
Take care of her, Spike. I've done a lot for her. I brought her back from God knows what kind of dark places she's been too. Don't want that to be for nothing.
spike
Angelus wants her to go back to those places but she's tough and you, you're using me.
buffy
[surprised and hurt] What?
spike
With the Immortal. You want to make him jealous, keep him on his toes. I get that.
buffy
That's not, I mean, where do you get off.
SPIKE stares BUFFY reproachfully. BUFFY's frown turns into a smile.
buffy
Fine; you know me, I know you; we all play our little games. You know, it's not easy dating the Immortal. He's been to places I couldn't even imagine, and I don't mean just earth places.
spike
So you don't reckon you're worthy?
buffy
I don't know yet. I did save the world a couple of times.
SPIKE
Yes, we did.
BUFFY
But I know I'm gonna try to make it work. Not a girl to back up from a good fight.
spike
First you have to help me fight Angelus.
buffy
I'm sure he'll come here, we'll do a little Silence of the Lambing and then I'll stake him, blah blah.
INT. GILES' OFFICE
GILES and PROF. CARLUCCI are sitting in the office.
GILES
These books are extraordinary.
PROF. CARLUCCI
Yes, for centuries we thought that the forbidden books were lost.
GILES
You do have lots of treasures here at the Vatican.
PROF. CARLUCCI
Lots of work.
GILES
I'm not sure how these books help us. There's fascinating depiction of Illyria's wars. But Illyria's powers are crippled now. Why would she go back to where death surely would await her by the first enemy to come her way?
PROF. CARLUCCI
It won't come to that. Her followers would probably slaughter her first is she were to appear in human form. We're still cavemen during that period if we exist at all, barely able to carve rough tools for killing weak animals.
There's a knock on the door.
giles
Come in.
AMANADA comes, holding a book.
amanda
Hi, Professors. I, I just want to ask you some questions.
giles
And those questions can't be answered by, say, books?
amanada
I think there's some things only a watcher can teach.
GILES beams.
giles
Later, then, I'll let you know. We're sort of in an important meeting.
amanda
Okay.
AMANDA leaves.
PROF. CARLUCCI
She has some nice behind.
giles
[embarrassed and disapproving] Yes, well, I'm not sure, well, anyways, weren't you saying something about cavemen?
prof. Carlucci
Yes, we weren't really evolved at that period, so I don't think Illyria would be accepted as leader, especially now when most of her powers are gone.
GILES
So, I guess some sort a ritual, perhaps some hidden gems that can restore her powers?
PROF. CARLUCCI shows a book to GILES with the picture of Illyria as she was before she infected Fred.
prof. carlucci
There is the ritual of Bildinkhah.
PROF. CARLUCCI
It allows Illyria to tap into the source of her powers in case an enemy has tried to transform her into something else.
giles
Was that common?
PROF. CARLUCCI
In her original form Illyria was virtually indestructible. Her kind roamed the earth for millions of years, in the time before man, when chaos ruled the earth. We don't have evidence of the ritual ever actually been performed. These entities were paranoid. They had to be.
giles
So they always had backup plans. Do you think we could stop the ritual?
prof. carlucci
Difficult to say. If it's in the past, it has already happened.
INT. THE QWA'HA XAHN's QUARTERS – NIGHT
THE QWA'HA XAHN sleeps in his quarters. A fly buzzes around his face. He is too sleepy to rays his arms to shoo it away and tries to blow air through his mouth to do it. The air coming out of the QWA'HA XAHN's mouth is steamy and somewhat fiery but doesn't work well as the fly is tough and comes back every time. This goes on for a few rounds, and then the fly explodes, waking up the QWA'HA XAHN. Three black ghosts, WOLF, RAM and HART, float in the air in front of the QWA'HA XAHN.
QWA'HA XAHN
Xeloopoh! [Subtitled: Wolf!]
WOLF
Klergephakh loftengak. [Subtitled: Good morning]
THE QWA'HA XAHN
Illyria gulkes perqwa'ha zdelptekh. [Subtitled: Illyria has come back]
WOLF
Dinbrahtak stroklokh [Subtitled: We know]
THE QWA'HA XAHN
Illyria Keh'rektlap kerdisiam tegoeh Bildinkhah! [Subtitled: Illyria wants me to prepare the ritual of Bildinkhah! ]
WOLF
P'letkah d'bookranl lastk'rpakh [Subtitled: Don't worry you leadership is safe]
THE QWA'HA XAHN
Ikht'aka Gune'th kartakhk Polkrenhek[Subtitled: I thought we had a deal]
WOLF
Ikht'aka ptkeph. [Subtitled: We do.]
THE QWA'HA XAHN
Ikht'aka Shbek'lukper Gerb nmekraz npok'lkre'ha[Subtitled: I never should trusted you scum]
THE QWA'HA XAHN spits at the ground.
WOLF
Xhezpa nmekraz jlprekh. [Subtitled: And yet you did]
RAM
Jbekhle gpaklem dehk. [We will take care of it]
WOLF's monstrous ghost shaped head turns and looks annoyingly at RAM. RAM's face materializes as well and looks apologetic at WOLF. HART snickers.
WOLF
Jbekhle gpaklem dehk. [We will take care of it]
THE QWA'HA XAHN
Shubpa'xa Sdekklem [Subtitled: You better]
While THE QWA'HA XAHN watches WOLF, RAM and HART slither away the wall behind him becomes bluish and forms a humanoid shape.
THE QWA'HA XAHN
Turok-Han Z'hadu [Subtitled: Ubervamp cocksucker]
The humanoid shape becomes Illyria holding two swords and as THE QWA'HA XAHN turns sticks one of the swords into his chest and stick the other sword in his neck. THE QWA'HA XAHN is pretty tough and still moves and tries to attack Illyria. She blocks his attack and jams the other sword in his torso. THE QWA'HA XAHN jerks and then stops. ILLYRIA pulls his head up and decapitates him. She takes his head and walks towards the entrance.
illyria
Fine, I'll do the ritual myself.
INT. Kennedy's QUARTERS – NIGHT
Kennedy and Tara are sitting on Kennedy's bed. Assorted weaponry is on one of the walls. Xander is standing around, looking at Tara in wonder.
xander
I can't believe you're here.
tara
I can't believe is either, er, [unsure] Xander?
xander
The one and only. Wow, we know everything about your future: demons, gods, magic, female groping.
Kennedy gives angry an angry look.
tara
Except, well, that future will never happen for me.
kennedy
[softly] What do you want, Tara? Giles told me there's another one just like you where you left, like a twin.
TARA
And she will experience everything that I was supposed to?
KENNEDY
Yes.
TARA
Then I can't go back.
XANDER
I think it would be too confusing for Willow of the past to have two of you around. Or possibly, a lot of fun.
KENNEDY
Xander, maybe you should leave us alone for a while. Don't you have some plumbing to fix?
XANDER
Come'on, I know Willow better then anyone. I stopped [looks at Tara, carefully weighing his words], well, she knows I love her and that can, you know if she's, you know carried away, and, em
WILLOW enters the room. KENNEDY gets in front of TARA and XANDER looks nervously at WILLOW. WILLOW waves her hand and XANDER and KENNEDY freeze.
WILLOW
I'm sorry I pulled you out of your timeline Tara but you were going to die.
TARA
It's, it's okay. I get it. You did it for me.
WILLOW
I know I'm scaring you with my powers but this is what I had to do.
TARA
I feel, I think I feel. [pause]
WILLOW
What?
TARA
You said I loved you before I died.
WILLOW
It, it was… We were happy.
TARA
I would like to see how this works. I've been so alone all this time and… I want to try to see what's it like, to be together.
WILLOW comes and hugs TARA. They both cry a little. WILLOW pulls for a moment to try and kiss TARA.
TARA
[stuttering] N, not yet.
WILLOW
[worried face] But I thought.
TARA pulls away.
TARA
I, I need time. [pause] To adjust.
willow
Okay. I'm just happy that you're back.
tara
I don't know what I feel yet.
willow
I, I need to go now. There's some urgent business I need to take care of.
tara
[half smiles] You sound like a mafia man.
willow
[looks down] It's important. Don't worry, I'll be back.
TARA and WILLOW wave each other goodbye. WILLOW walks out of the room. TARA wipes the tears from her cheek, as XANDER and KENNEDY unfreeze. XANDER jumps, startled that WILLOW is gone. KENNEDY is stunned seeing TARA in front of her. XANDER turns to look at KENNEDY and TARA.
XANDER
Did she? Was that magic?
TARA
[on the verge of crying again] Yes.
KENNEDY has a concerned look on her face. She gets up.
kennedy
I'll be back.
XANDER looks in approval. KENNEDY marches off the room.
tara
She's really nice.
EXT. HILL OVERLOOKING ILLYIRA'S TEMPLE – NIGHT
GILES and KENNEDY holding swords and WILLOW step out of a portal. In the background a volcano is overflowing with lava.
giles
This looks, er, interesting.
GILES goes to check some markings on the ground
kennedy
[to Willow]You didn't have to freeze us to talk to Tara.
willow
You've been hiding her from me.
kennedy
Not really, we just weren't sure if you were evil or not.
willow
You used to support me. You weren't afraid of, well, anything.
kennedy
When I met you weren't doing stupid things like time travel.
GILES comes back.
giles
Are you two still bickering? Because I'm not gonna stand for it.
GILES voice is drowned by the sounds of hoofs approaching. Monsters are fast approaching over the hill moving rapidly like tigers. GILES is standing with his back to them whil KENNEDY prepares her sword and WILLOW raises her hand. The monsters go through GILES, KENNEDY and WILLOW as if they were ghosts.
kennedy
We're ghosts.
giles
Willow, did you do this?
willow
Not intentionally. Time warp is tricky you know. Maybe it's because we traveled beyond our time.
kennedy
So how are we going to stop Illyria if we're ghosts?
willow
I, I'll try to fix this when we get to the temple.
GILES takes his glasses off and wipes his forehead.
giles
For now it seems rather to be, er, to our advantage.
WILLOW
But no samples for Prof. Carlucci.
GILES
We can hardly bring samples back if we're dead.
At the distance they see electric bolts.
KENNEDY
Guys, I think we're running late.
KENNEDY starts running with WILLOW and GILES in pursuit.
giles
Willow, [panting] can't you transport us there or something.
WILLOW
In ghost form it's a bit tricky.
INT. BUFFY'S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
The room is dark. DANA is sleeping on the couch while SPIKE is sleeping on the floor. DANA mumbles, then screams, waking SPIKE up.
SPIKE
What?
SPIKE gets up, looks at DANA's face. She calms down. BUFFY, dressed in a robe comes in.
buffy
Still having bad dreams?
spike
Yes.
buffy
I still have those sometimes. Slayer dreams. They're like spooky haunted house movies made by David Lynch.
A rock smashes the window to the room. DANA wakes up, startled. SPIKE looks through the window. The street outside is empty.
SPIKE
I might be able to track his scent.
SPIKE leaves. BUFFY picks up the rock, notices a letter is attached to it. She opens the envelope and pulls out the letter written in red ink. The page has a poem on it and a beautiful portrait of Buffy.
DANA
What does it say?
BUFFY stares at the letter, her face a mixture of shock and pain.
INT. ILLYRIA'S TEMPLE – NIGHT
The statue of a Illyria As She Once Had Been is glowing, bolts of energy around it. ILLYRIA is standing in front of it, chanting. Monsters are everywhere. KENNEDY runs up to one of the stone pillars. She looks questioningly at WILLOW that joins her a moment later. A blue halo envelopes both ILLYRIA and her statue. The statue becomes lifelike Green dinosaur like monsters come flying through the air. ILLYRIA throws a bolt of energy at one of the green monsters which screams, rolling and crashing into one of the pillars. The other dinosaur monster avoids the path of the first one, swoops again and tries to crash into the statue. The statue catches the dinosaur monster with its arms and crashes it into another pillar. ILLYRIA closes her eyes. A blue energy cloud rises from her and into the statue. ILLYRIA's body drops to the ground, lifeless. Illyria's statue lifts its head up and cries with joy as purple lightning hits it, shattering its head. The statue falls to the ground. Ubervamps charge from the surrounding hills, attacking the monsters.
INT. HILL OVERLOOKING ILLYIRA'S TEMPLE – NIGHT
WOLF, RAM and HART watch Illyria's statue head explode and the Ubervamp attack. A great big demon is standing nearby, blowing some air on his palms to cool the,..
demon
Itj'ka mek huriuklep, J'ikaxhan coolimpe ge'vente. Jkemp ratvana gilkumpek. [Subtitled: That was magnificent, but I don't want to see you ever again. I've repaid what I owe you.]
wolf
Jou v'klempek spekara joust. Neplektampa j'kaltre jvankpor. [Subtitled: You might not want us around right now, but if you need us, you know where to find us.]
INT. ILLYRIA'S TEMPLE – NIGHT
Ubervamps and monsters are fighting everywhere. Kennedy, Willow and Giles are trying to stay as close as they can to a pillar.
Kennedy
We need to take the body back. She must have relatives who will want to bury her.
GILES
But I don't see how we can drag her with us in our incorporeal state.
willow
We just need to get to her.
Suddenly they are crouching beneath the statue, near ILLYRIA's body.
WILLOW
Let's go home.
KENNEDY lifts up ILLYRIA's body. WILLOW raises her arm and white energy envelops all them. ILLYRIA's irises move.
INT. BUFFY'S LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
BUFFY is reading the letter as DANA is standing there.
BUFFY
"Now I'm truly a happy soul/ I am different, dark and moody at night. / What I wanted was denied me ; / A sword you struck in all your might. / We're here today and forced to stay,/ But tomorrow I will come and sigh / Your face so perfect like an angel - / Your weapons by your naked thigh. / You are an expert with power, / you want the darkness it's your rein. / But all the floating graves will not, / Bring love as deep and bright as pain."
THE IMMORTAL is standing at the corner of the living room, staring at BUFFY.
INT. THE DEEPER WELL – DAY
GUNN stands on a bridge looking down the deeper well watching the sarcophaguses floating.
EXT. OPEN FIELD – NIGHT
TEENAGE TARA, aged 15, is lying in the field, holding a candle and reading her magic book in the bright moonlight. A car comes shrieking to a halt on the road nearby, dropping a large package, startling TEENAGE TARA. The car speeds away. TEENAGE TARA takes her book and walks over to the road. The large package appears to actually be a human being. It turns on its back revealing her to be MRS MCLAY.
tara
M…Mom?
MRS MCLAY
I'm, where am I?
tara
Are you evil, mother?
MRS MCLAY
No, I'm just…[pants] I think I don't feel so good.
tara
You need to see a doctor.
MRS MCLAY smiles a weary smile.
MRS MCLAY
No doctor will help me. It's not a regular disease.
TARA helps MRS MCLAY walk, holding the magic book in her other hand
tara
We'll take care of you. Dad will know what to do.
MRS MCLAY
[startled] No… I mean, he's not, he doesn't… Okay, fine, I guess there's not much choice for me anymore.
tara
It will be okay. We…we will be a family again.
TARA and MRS MCLAY, still leaning on her shoulder, approach the farm. MR MCLAY comes out, walking fast.
MR MCLAY
Where have you been?
MR MCLAY starts unbuckling his belt then notices MRS MCLAY.
MR MCLAY
Norma? Is that you? Tara, stay away from her… She has a demon inside of her.
tara
She's sick. I think she's all out of her powers.
MR MCLAY takes Tara's magic book.
MR MCLAY
You see this? This is what got your mother to where she is now.
TARA has tears in her eyes.
Tara
Fine. Just, just help her.
MR MCLAY holds MRS MCLAY and takes her inside the farm house.
mr mclay
I'm not through with you young lady. I don't want you to end like your mother.
tara
Fine, dad.
TARA stands alone, looking at the stars in the sky.
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