Im Banne des Bösen

Willow

Okay, um...

Xander

It's your turn.

Willow

I, alright, okay, uh... 'In the few hours that we had together, we loved a lifetime's worth.' Xander: Terminator.

Xander

Um, oh, okay, I got one. (imitating Charlton Heston) 'It's a madhouse! A mad...' Willow: (interrupts) Planet of the Apes.

Willow

Oh! Sorry, go ahead.

Xander

'...house!' (indicates she may answer) Willow: Planet of the Apes. Okay, good. Me. Uh...

Willow

I'm thinking. 'Use the Force, Luke.' Xander: Do I even have to dignify that with a guess?

Xander

Well, what else do you wanna do? We already played rock, paper, scissors. My hands cramped up.

Willow

Well, yes, if you're always scissors of course your tendons are gonna strain...

Xander

(interrupts) Y'know, I just gotta say that this has been the most boring summer ever.

Willow

Yeah, but on the plus side no monsters or stuff. She steps over to the wall and hops up to sit on it.

Xander

I'm just so restless! I'm actually looking forward to school startin' up again.

Willow

Yeah, and that wouldn't have anything to do with a certain girl we both know who is a Vampire Slayer?

Xander

Please, I'm so over her. Did she, uh, mention when she might be gettin' back? About which I do not care.

Willow

I haven't heard from her. I got a couple postcards when she went to L.A., but then, like, nothing.

Xander

Well, she's probably with her dad having a good time.

Willow

And you don't care?

Xander

Well, okay, there might be some interest. I'm a man. I have certain desires, certain needs...

Willow

Uhhh! I don't wanna know.

Xander

I got a movie for ya! (taps her nose with his ice cream) Willow: (surprised) Xander!

Willow

Witness. (pouty) My nose is cold.

Xander

Let me get that for ya. (leans in to lick off her nose) Willow: Xander! (stops him) Xander: I'm sorry, I can't help myself. Your nose looks so tasty. He reaches up with his napkin and gently wipes off her nose. He takes much longer than he needs to and looks into her eyes. He brushes his hand against her cheek. After another moment he starts to move in for a kiss. She responds in kind and tilts her head. They stop just short of making contact and linger there a moment. Xander finally begins to pull back, and when he does he sees a vampire standing on the other side of the wall. Willow notices his glance and looks, too. She screams and jumps off of the wall as Xander pulls her away from the vampire.

Buffy

Hi, guys! The vampire gets up. Buffy turns her attention back to him and kicks him in the chest, sending him flying into a tree, where he gets impaled on a dead branch and bursts into ashes. She turns back to Willow and Xander.

Willow

Buffy!

Xander

Hey! (hugs her) Buffy: Hey. Hey, Will! (hugs her) Xander: (hugs Buffy again) Man, your timing really doesn't suck. (laughs) Willow: When'd you get back?

Buffy

Uh, just now. Dad drove me down. And I figured you two losers would be getting into some kind of trouble.

Willow

I think we had the upper hand. I-in a subtle way.

Buffy

Does either of you even have a cross? Very sloppy.

Xander

Well, it's been a slow summer. I mean, that's the first vampire we've seen since you killed the Master.

Buffy

It's like they knew I was coming back. They start to walk.

Xander

So, what about you? How was your summer? Did you slay anything?

Buffy

No. Uh, just hung out, partied some, shopping was also a major theme.

Xander

Well, you haven't lost your touch. That vampire...

Buffy

I did kinda whale on him, didn't I?

Xander

(notices) I like your hair.

Buffy

(giggles) So, how did you guys fare? Did you have any fun without me?

Xander

No.

Willow

Yes!

Xander

Uh, our summer was kinda yawnworthy. Our biggest excitement was burying the Master. They stop walking.

Willow

That's right, you missed it. (points) Right out by that tree. (Buffy looks) Giles buried the bones and we poured holy water and we got to wear robes.

Xander

Very intense. You shoulda been.

Willow

Have you seen Giles?

Buffy

Why would I do that? I'll see him at school.

Xander

Man, I'm really glad you're back.

Buffy

(looks at the tree again) Me, too. Cut to Buffy's room. Her dad is helping her mom unpack her things. Joyce opens a suitcase and looks through it.

Okay, then. This is the last of it. (puts another suitcase on the bed) Joyce: More clothes?

How much shopping did you let her do?

Oh, I just thought I was saving you from the big back-to-school clothing nightmare. (unzips the suitcase) Joyce: My nightmares of Buffy in school have nothing to do with clothes. Did she manage to stay out of trouble in L.A.?

But?

She was just, I don't know, um... distant. Not brooding or sulking, just... there was no connection. The more time we spent together, the more I felt like she was nowhere to be seen.

Hence the shoes?

(hands her the shoes) I may have overcompensated a little bit.

Hmm.

It's so strange. You know, at least when she was burning stuff down I knew what to say.

Well, welcome to my world. I haven't been able to get through to her for so long. I'll just be happy if she makes it through the school year. Cut to Sunnydale High.

Cordelia

It was a nightmare, a total nightmare. Cut to her and two friends coming down some stairs and walking across the quad.

The first day back. It always gets me.

Giles

Yes. Cut to the two of them walking along the colonnade.

I mean, it's incredible. One day the campus is completely bare. Empty. The next, there are children everywhere. Like locusts. Crawling around, mindlessly bent on feeding and mating. Destroying everything in sight in their relentless, pointless desire to exist. They stop. Snyder looks around, observing the students.

Giles

I do enjoy these pep talks. Have you ever considered, given your abhorrence of children, school's principal was not, perhaps, your true vocation?

Somebody's got to keep an eye on them. They're just a bunch of hormonal time bombs. (takes two steps away from Giles) Every time a pretty girl walks by every boy turns into a gibbering fool. Giles spots Jenny coming towards them.

Giles

Ms. Calendar!

Mr. Giles!

Giles

Well, I, uh, um... Hello!

You see the way these kids gaze at each other... all moony.

It's good to see you.

Giles

Yes.

You think they're thinking about learning?

Giles

Uh, were you headed to the, uh, faculty room?

Sounds like fun! They head off to the faculty room leaving Snyder behind.

I try and tell 'em about the important things in life. Discipline, responsibility, punctuality. Might as well be talking to myself. Cut inside to the halls. They walk through the student lounge.

Giles

How was your summer?

Extreme. I did Burning Man in Black Rock, ohhh, such a great festival, you should've been there. They had drum rituals, mobile sculptures, raves, naked mud dances, you would've just... hated it with a fiery passion!

Giles

I can't imagine finding any redeeming, uh... (stops at the base of the stairs) Naked?

Hmm. And you probably spent all summer with your nose in a book.

Giles

Yes. I suppose you'd consider that frightfully dull.

Depends on the book. (smiles) Willow and Xander come down the stairs. Buffy is not far behind them.

Willow

Giles!

Xander

Yo! G-man! What's up?

Giles

Nice to see you. And don't ever call me that.

Hi, kids.

Willow

Hi! Buffy arrives now, too.

Giles

(to Buffy) How are you?

Buffy

Live and kicking.

Willow

Buffy killed a vampire last night. They all look around to see if anyone overheard.

Buffy

Uh, I think you can get a little more volume if you speak from the diaphragm.

Willow

Sorry.

(quietly) We've got vampires? I thought the Hellmouth was closed.

Giles

Well, it's, it's closed, but not gone. The mystical energy that emanates from it is still concentrated in this area.

Xander

Which means we're still the undead's favorite party town.

Giles

I wonder if they're here for any purpose, particularly.

Buffy

You're the Watcher. I just work here.

Giles

Yes, I-I must consult my books.

Xander

Oh, eight minutes and thirty-three seconds, pay up. (Willow hands him a dollar) I called ten minutes before you'd consult your books about something. (to Willow) Thanks. The bell rings.

Willow

We better get to class. They all start making their way to their classes.

Giles

Oh, uh, Buffy! (she looks back) Uh, I realize you've only just returned, but when you're ready I-I think we should start your training again.

Buffy

I'm ready. I'll see you after school. (starts to go again) Giles: Well, I-I-I understand if, if you want a few days to...

Giles

Buffy, that's enough. She keeps whaling on the dummy.

Buffy

(breathing hard) I'm ready. Whatever they've got coming next, I'm ready. (bunches her hair above her head) Yeah. Cut to an old brick warehouse. Cut inside.

We have been put down, kinsmen. We have lost our way. We have lost the night. But despair is for the living. Where they are weak, we will be strong. Where they weep, we rejoice. Where they bleed, (laughs) we drink! Within three days a New Hope will arise. We will put our faith in him. (looks over at Collin) He will show us the way. ~~~~~~~~~~ Part 2 ~~~~~~~~~~ The student lounge. Buffy is upstairs on a couch, off in her own world. Willow and Xander come up the stairs to her.

Xander

Buffy! (no response) Buffy!

Buffy

(back on earth) Fine! I'm fine.

Xander

Good! It's good that you're fine. Willow sits on the couch opposite Buffy. Xander steps past Buffy and sits on the couch next to her.

Willow

What were you thinking about? (gets out an apple) Buffy: Nothing.

Xander

Oh, c'mon, you can tell us. We're your bosom friends! The friends of your bosom! He gets a power bar out of his bag.

Willow

Xander. Xander winces at his power bar. Willow frowns at her apple. They toss them to each other over the table.

Buffy

I wasn't thinking anything, really.

Willow

What'd you do last night?

Buffy

Mm. Slept. I had weird dreams.

Xander

Dreams are meaningful.

Willow

Tsh! Tell me about it. The other night I dreamt that Xander... Uh, I-it wasn't Xander. I-in fact it wasn't me. It was a friend's dream, and she doesn't remember it.

Buffy

I bet she doesn't.

Giles

(finds them) Buffy!

Buffy

Giles! (gets up) What is it? You look worried.

Giles

This vampire activity, I think I know what they're up to.

Buffy

Well, we'll deal with it.

Giles

I hope it's that simple.

Buffy

It is not to worry. Trust me.

Giles

Oh, I don't know. I mean, (chuckles) I've killed you once, it shouldn't be too difficult to do it again.

Buffy

What? Giles takes a hard backhand swing at her face, knocking her down onto the table between the two couches. He gets on top of her and begins to choke her. Xander and Willow just sit on the couches and chew away at their food. Willow smiles at Xander. Buffy reaches up to Giles' face and tries to push him off. She claws at him, and suddenly pulls off a mask, revealing the Master underneath. Buffy stares up at him in wide-eyed terror. Cut to Buffy's bedroom. She wakes from her nightmare with a start. She looks around and over at her open window. She sits up and rubs her face. When she looks back at her window again Angel is there, leaning against the sill.

Angel

Mind if I come in?

Buffy

Be my guest.

Angel

How are you?

Buffy

Peachy. So, is this a social call? It is kinda late. Or, well, it is for me, anyway. What is it for you, lunch hour?

Angel

It's not a social call.

Buffy

Ah. So, lemme guess. That means grave danger. Gosh, it's good to be home.

Angel

I'm sorry. I wish I had better news.

Buffy

So, some of your cousins are in town for a family barbecue, and we're all on the menu!

Angel

The Anointed One. He's been gathering forces somewhere in town. I'm not sure why.

Buffy

Guess I'll find out soon enough, huh?

Angel

You don't sound too concerned.

Buffy

I can handle myself. Besides, I could use a little action anyway.

Angel

Don't underestimate the Anointed One just because he looks like a child. He has power over the rest of them. They'll do anything for him.

Buffy

Is that it? Is that everything? Y'know, 'cause you woke me up from a really good dream. She turns away from him and lies back down.

Angel

Sorry. I'll go. (turns around to go, but pauses) I missed you.

Buffy

(turns to the window) I missed you? Angel is already gone. "It Doesn't Matter", by Alison Krauss, plays in the background.

It doesn't matter what I want / It doesn't matter what I need Cut to Joyce's Jeep the next morning on the way to school.

Buffy

Good.

Don't matter if I bleed Joyce: Good. Is there the slightest chance that if I asked you what was wrong you would tell me?

Course not. It would take all the fun out of guessing.

Don't know where it goes or where it leads Cut to the halls at Buffy's locker.

Willow

Angel stopped by? Wow. Was there... Well, I mean, was it having to do with kissing?

Buffy

Willow, grow up. Not everything is about kissing.

Xander

(to Willow) Yeah. Some stuff's about groping. (to Buffy) It wasn't about groping?

Buffy

Okay, hormones on parade here? It was pure shoptalk. Remember vampires, pointy teeth, they walk by night, am I ringing a bell?

Willow

What did he say?

Buffy

Oh, something's up. (closes her locker) Nothing I can't handle. They begin to walk down the hall to class.

Xander

Oh, hey, did you guys hear that Cibo Matto's gonna be at the Bronze tonight?

Willow

Cibo Matto? They're playing?

Xander

No, Willow, they're gonna be clog dancing.

Willow

Cibo Matto can clog dance? (gets a look from Xander) Oh, sarcasm, right.

Xander

We should attend, no? Cordelia comes out of class and engages them in the hall.

Cordelia

Oh, look, it's the Three Musketeers. They look at each other, not sure what to make of that.

Buffy

(to Xander) Was that an insult?

Xander

Kinda lacked punch.

Willow

The Three Musketeers were cool.

Cordelia

I see your point.

Xander

I woulda gone with Stooges.

Cordelia

Well, I just meant that you guys always hang out together. So, did you guys fight any demons this summer?

Willow

Uh, yes! Our own personal demons.

Xander

Uh, such as, as, as lust and, uh, thrift!

Buffy

I would have to go with Stooges also.

Cordelia

What are you guys talking about? I'm talking about big squiggly demons that came from the ground? Remember? Prom night? With all the vampires.

Buffy

Cordelia, your mouth is open and sound is coming from it. This is never good.

Xander

No. (takes Cordelia aside) It's, see, we can't mention that stuff in front of other people, Buffy being the Slayer and all.

Willow

You haven't been talking about our little adventure all summer, have you?

Cordelia

Are you nuts? Do you think I would tell people that I spent the whole evening with you? Besides, it was all so creepy. That Master guy? And all the screaming? I don't even like to think about it. (to Buffy) So your secret's safe with me.

Buffy

Well, that works out great. You won't tell anyone that I'm the Slayer, and I won't tell anyone you're a moron. (leaves) Xander: Now, that was a good insult.

Willow

A little too good.

Cordelia

What's up with her? Cut to the Bronze that night. People are gathering and going in. Cut inside. Cibo Matto is on stage playing "Spoon".

Don't, don't want the boys Cut to Willow and Xander sitting at a table. She has a cup of ice cream.

Willow

I just think something's up is all.

Don't, don't note the heat Xander: Willow, you're paranoid.

Willow

Buffy's never acted like this before. Ever since she got back she's... different.

Can't find a spoon...

Xander

Buffy's always been different.

Willow

She's never been mean.

...that we have had Xander: (exhales) Any sign of her? She said she was coming.

Willow

No. The band's cool, though.

Xander

Yeah, cool.

...can melt our mouth / We belong, yes, to-to-together Willow dips her nose into her ice cream and smiles, trying to get Xander's attention.

(to the other two) Don't just stand there. Dig! We have to hurry. The other two get on their knees and begin to dig. The ground burns their hands.

The ground is consecrated! It burns!

Dig. The two vampires continue digging by hand. The grave is shallow, and they soon unearth the Master's skull. Cut to the Bronze. The band starts their next number, "Sugar Water".

The velocity of time... turns her voice into... sugar water Buffy walks into the Bronze. Angel sees her come in and goes over to her.

Buffy

Hi.

Angel

Hi.

Buffy

So, is there danger at the Bronze? Should I beware?

Angel

I can't help thinking I've done something to make you angry. And that bothers me more than I'd like.

Buffy

I'm not angry. I don't know where that comes from.

Angel

What are you afraid of? Me? Us?

Buffy

Could you contemplate getting over yourself for a second? There's no 'us'. Look, Angel, I'm sorry if I was supposed to spend the summer mooning over you, but I didn't. I moved on. To the living. She heads over to Willow and Xander's table. Cordelia watches her go by, and wonders about her attitude.

I'm on a concrete way / The wind is blowing...

Buffy

Hey!

Willow

Hi.

Xander

Hey.

...to the north-northwest Willow: What's wrong with Angel?

Buffy

Beats me.

It smells like sands of the southern island Buffy: (to Xander) Let's dance. (pulls at his shirt) Xander: Ooo-kay. (is pulled by his shirt to the dance floor) Lyrics: When a black cat crosses my path Buffy and Xander begin to slow dance. Her movements are very sensual.

Buffy

Xander? Did I ever thank you... for saving my life?

When a black cat...

Xander

No.

...crosses my path Buffy slowly slithers around him, making sure not to lose contact with his body.

Cordelia

Buffy. (Buffy stops) You're really campaigning for bitch-of- the-year, aren't you?

Buffy

(turns to face her) As defending champion, you nervous?

Cordelia

I can hold my own. You know, we've never really been close, which is nice, 'cause I don't really like you that much, but... you have on occasion saved the world and stuff, so I'm gonna... do you a favor.

Buffy

And this great favor is...

Cordelia

I'm gonna give you some advice. Get over it.

Buffy

Excuse me?

Cordelia

Whatever is causing the Joan Collins 'tude, deal with it. Embrace the pain, spank your inner moppet, whatever, but get over it. 'Cause pretty soon you're not even gonna have the loser friends you've got now.

Buffy

I think it's about time you start minding your own business.

Cordelia

It's long past.

Buffy

(turns and goes) Nighty-night. (flips up her hood) Cordelia: I'll just see if Angel feels like dancing. She is suddenly grabbed by two vampires coming out of the shadows and dragged into an adjacent building. ~~~~~~~~~~ Part 3 ~~~~~~~~~~ A basement. The two vampires force Cordelia down the stairs. At the bottom they shove her into the room. She's frightened and looks around. She takes a step sideways and bumps into a hand. She looks down and sees that it's Jenny. She crouches down to see if she's okay, but Jenny is unconscious.

Cordelia

Ms., Ms. Calendar? Oh, God, Ms. Calendar? Cut to the cemetery. Buffy is going to check out the Master's grave. When she gets there she finds it dug open and his bones exhumed. She steps back slowly, and thinks she sees the Master out of the corner of her eye. She quickly turns to look, but no one's there.

Willow

She's possessed! Cut to the student lounge. Giles is getting a soda from the vending machine.

Giles

Possessed?

Willow

That's the only explanation that makes any sense. I mean, you should've seen her last night. That wasn't Buffy.

Xander

Are we overlooking the idea that she may be very attracted to me? (gets looks from the others and concedes) She's possessed.

Giles

Possessed by what?

Willow

Aaaaa possessing thing!

Giles

(sarcastically) Well, that narrows it down. He takes a sip of his soda and winces at its sweetness.

Xander

Well, you're the expert. Hey, maybe when the Master killed her some... mystical bad guy transference thing happened.

Willow

That's what it was! I mean, why else would she be acting like such a b-i-t-c-h?

Giles

Willow, I think we're all a little too old to be spelling things out.

Xander

A bitca?

Giles

(not surprised by Xander's misunderstanding) Yes. I suggest that, uh, the explanation for her behavior may be something more, more mundane. The bell rings and the students around them begin to leave for class.

Xander

(interrupts) That's a very interesting point about trout, you just brought up now. Buffy walks up to them.

Giles

Trout? (notices Buffy) Trout! Yes, trout, i-is a fish. Good morning. Did you sleep well?

Buffy

Like a rock. Master's gone.

Giles

I'm sorry?

Buffy

The Master. I went by his grave last night, and they have a vacancy.

Giles

Good God!

Willow

What would somebody want with Master bones?

Xander

A trophy, a horrible conversation piece?

Buffy

They're gonna bring him back. They're gonna bring the Master back to life, and I seem to recall you telling me he was history.

Giles

Buffy, I-I-I've never heard of a-a revivification ritual being successful.

Buffy

But you've heard of them? Thanks for the warning.

Willow

Well, Buffy, Giles did bury him and...

Buffy

Look, this is Slayer stuff, okay? Could we have just a little less from the civilians, please?

Xander

Okay, that's just about enough! Buffy shoots Xander a look.

(interrupts) I believe some of us have class? And some of us have jobs.

Giles

Y-yes, well, I'll, uh, I'll see you all, uh, in the library later. We'll, we'll continue this discussion.

Willow

About trout. The kids leave. Snyder watches them go.

There're some things I can just smell. It's like a sixth sense.

Giles

No, actually that would be one of the five.

That Summers girl. I smell trouble. I smell expulsion, and just the faintest aroma of jail.

Giles

Well, before you throw away the key, you might consider giving her the benefit of the doubt. She may surprise you.

You really have faith in those kids, don't you?

Giles

Yes, I do.

Weird. Cut to the library after school.

Giles

Alright, alright, I-I-I've got something. It's Latin, so bear with me. Uh, to revive the vampire they need his bones, uh... w-which they have, and, um, the blood... this is very unclear, of the closest person... uh, someone connected to the vampire.

Buffy

That'd be me.

Giles

Perhaps.

Buffy

We were close. We killed each other. It really promotes togetherness.

Xander

Well, is there anything on when the ceremony might take... A rock comes crashing through a window.

Buffy

This is Cordelia's. (takes off the note) 'Come to the Bronze before it opens, or we make her a meal.' Xander: They're gonna cook her dinner? (gets looks from everyone) I'll pretend I didn't say that.

Willow

What do we do?

Buffy

(exhales) I go to the Bronze and save the day. (starts to go) Xander: I don't like this.

Giles

Nor I!

Buffy

(turns back) Yeah? Well, you guys aren't going.

Willow

What do you mean?

Buffy

I can't do it anymore. I can't look after the three of you guys while I'm fighting.

Willow

Well, what about the rest of the note?

Buffy

What rest of the note?

Willow

The part that says, 'P.S. This is a trap'?

Giles

You'll be playing straight into their hands. (takes off his glasses) Buffy: I can handle this.

Willow

Stop saying that! God, what's wrong with you?

Xander

Cordelia may be dead.

Buffy

This is my fight. She leaves and grabs her coat and bag on the way out. Willow just watches her go. Xander shakes his head. Giles puts his glasses back on. Cut to the alley outside the Bronze. Buffy senses Angel as she nears the entrance.

Angel

(behind her) You need help. Someone to watch your back.

Buffy

Sure you don't mean my neck?

Angel

(comes around her) Why are you ridin' me?

Buffy

Because I don't trust you. You're a vampire. (gets a look) Oh, I'm sorry, was that an offensive term? Should I say 'undead American'?

Angel

You have to trust someone. You can't do this alone.

Buffy

I trust me.

Angel

You're not as strong as you think.

Buffy

(gives him a challenging look) You think you can take me?

Angel

What?

Buffy

Oh, c'mon! I mean, you must've thought about it. What would happen if it ever came down to a fight, you vampire, me the Slayer, I mean, you must've wondered! Well, why don't we find out?

Angel

I'm not gonna fight you.

Buffy

Come on! Kick my ass!

Angel

Don't you have somewhere to be?

Buffy

I do.

Angel

Well, you're wasting time.

Buffy

Just stay out of my way. (walks around him to the entrance) Angel: Happy to oblige. Cut inside. Buffy comes in and looks around as she slowly walks through an empty Bronze. She comes upon a girl crying in a corner. She stops. Angel appears behind her.

Cordelia couldn't make it.

Buffy

Where is she?

I'm not supposed to tell.

Angel

I don't like this.

Buffy

Don't like what?

Angel

There's the bait. Where's the hook? The vampire attacks, and Buffy flips her over onto her back on the floor and pins her down with her foot.

Buffy

You're right. Why would they send just one? Cut to the library. Giles is continuing his research.

Willow

I still think we should've gone with her.

Xander

Buffy's about to lose it. I think we should be trying to reach minimum safe distance.

Willow

Xander, you know it's a trap!

Giles

Ah! Ah, ah, ah! Uh, uh, the Latin is, is translated from the Sumerian, a-a-and rather badly. Closest to the Master actually translates as 'nearest'. Physically. The, the, the person or persons who were with him... when he... (looks up) It is a trap. Several vampires appear on the mezzanine level above.

Buffy

I'll be back. Cut to the library. Buffy comes rushing in, and stops short when she sees that the place is a shambles. The camera pans through the room to the center table, which has been tipped over onto its side. Behind it Xander regains consciousness and gets up, using the table for support.

Xander

(out of breath) Vampires. The ones you could handle yourself.

Buffy

Where are the others?

Xander

I don't know. (angry) I don't know what your problem is, what your issues are. But as of now, I officially don't care. If you'd worked with us for five seconds, you coulda stopped this.

Buffy

(turns away) We, we just have to think. Where would they have taken them?

Xander

(vehemently) If they hurt Willow, I'll kill you. She turns back to him and looks at him seriously.

Buffy

Why did they take them and not you?

Xander

Giles said the ritual was, um... They needed people who were close to the Master. Physically close. When he, uh...

Buffy

The ones who were with the Master when he died.

Xander

Giles, Willow, Cordelia...

Buffy

Ms. Calendar.

Xander

Odds are they've got a complete set by now.

Buffy

We need to find out where.

Xander

How? Cut to the Bronze. Buffy is interrogating the female vampire. She throws her down onto the floor.

Buffy

One more time: where are they?

You're too late. Your friends are dead.

Buffy

(lifts her back up) Tell me where they are!

(laughs) What are you gonna do? Kill me?

Buffy

As a matter of fact... She throws the vampire onto a pool table.

Begin. Another vampire starts pulling on a chain, and Willow, Giles, Cordelia and Jenny are moved along an overhead conveyor to hang upside down and unconscious above the Master's bones.

Xander

(in a low voice) Buffy! Buffy! (she faces him) We gotta do something now!

Buffy

You two get the others out of here.

Angel

We need you to distract the vampires.

Buffy

Right.

Xander

What are you gonna do?

Buffy

I'm gonna kill them all. (turns to her task) That oughta distract them. Cut to Absalom, holding a Kuhkri, a long, curved knife.

For the old one. For his pain. For the dark.

For the dark! Absalom kisses the blade. Cut to one of the vampires. A stake is suddenly thrust through him from behind, and he instantly turns into ashes. Buffy stands there now in a fighting stance. Absalom looks at her in disbelief and then roars. Three vampires begin fighting her. She easily keeps them at bay. Angel and Xander seize the opportunity to climb the ladder to the platform above to get the others off of the conveyor. Buffy continues to fight the vampires below. Absalom takes Collin and ushers him out of the warehouse. He comes back in and sees Angel and Xander pulling on the chain, bringing the others back over to the platform.

The sacrifices! Stop them! A vampire responds to Absalom's command and runs to the ladder to the platform. Buffy continues to fight below as Angel and Xander keep pulling on the chain. Absalom looks around and then rushes out of the warehouse. Buffy keeps fighting. She does a flip over some wooden boxes, grabs one on the way and smashes it onto a vampire's head. She kicks the vampire in the face, knocking him down and breaking a few pieces of wood off of the box. She gets tackled by another vampire. On the platform above Giles, Jenny and Cordelia are already off of the conveyor. Angel and Xander lift Willow off as well. Giles rolls on the floor in semi- consciousness. They lay Willow down and tend to them all. A vampire finally makes it up to the platform and growls. Angel looks at him with his game face on and growls back. The vampire attacks, and Angel rushes to meet him. They fight. Below one of them is on top of Buffy. She reaches up with a broken piece of wood and jams it into the vampire's back, and gets ash all over herself. The vampire she knocked down before with the box gets up and rushes to attack her. Above, Angel and his opponent fall through a poorly covered hole in the platform. Jenny is awake now and crawls over to Giles, who is also awake now and trying to sit up.

Giles

Are you alright?

Yeah, I'm okay.

Giles

Where's Buffy? Xander is at the edge of the platform holding a still unconscious Willow with his arm and watching the fight below.

Xander

Uh, she's working out her issues. Buffy is still fighting a vampire below. Underneath the platform Angel's attacker tries to jam a piece of wood into his chest, but Angel stops him and jams it into his instead. Buffy kicks the vampire she's fighting into a storage rack, and he goes down with it. Absalom shows up again in the doorway with a large sledgehammer.

ENOUGH! Buffy turns to look at him. The other vampire gets back up.

Buffy

So, are you gonna kill me or are we just making small talk? Absalom raises the sledgehammer in indignation and yells as he begins his attack. The other vampire rushes at her from the other side. Buffy calmly looks at the tall wooden torch post in front of her, breaks it off and turns it a few times in her hands. The vampire impales himself on the broken end and crumbles into ash. Absalom runs into the burning end and is set ablaze. He backs up and screams as the flames spread over him. He makes a last desperate attempt to get Buffy and raises the sledgehammer over his head, but is too late as the flames engulf him and instantly burn him up. The sledgehammer falls to the floor with a loud clang. Buffy drops the post and looks over at the Master's skeleton. Cut to the platform above. Willow is awake now.

Willow

It's over.

Xander

No, it's not. Cut below. Buffy bends down and picks up the sledgehammer. She slowly walks over to the Master's skeleton and looks at it a moment. Then she swings the hammer back behind her and arcs it directly into the Master's skull, shattering it to pieces. She keeps whaling on the Master's skeleton as Willow, Xander and Giles look down from above. Angel comes up behind her and watches her continue until there's nothing left on the table. She stops and bursts into tears, dropping the sledgehammer to the floor.

Angel

It's okay. It's okay. Buffy turns around and leans into him, crying into his shoulder. Angel gently holds on to her as she cries. Xander, Willow and Giles continue to watch from above. Willow briefly looks up at Xander. Cut to the school the next day. Jenny and Cordelia walk across the quad.

Cordelia

What an ordeal. And you know what the worst part is?

What?

Cordelia

It stays with you forever. No matter what they tell you, none of that rust and blood and grime comes out. I mean, you can dry clean till judgment day, you are living with those stains.

Yeah that's the worst part of being hung upside down by a vampire who wants to slit your throat: the stains.

Cordelia

I hear ya! Giles and Buffy come walking the other way on the other side of the quad.

Buffy

I don't think I can face them.

Giles

Hmm? Of course, you can.

Buffy

I can't! What am I supposed say? 'Sorry I almost got your throat slit. What's the homework?' Giles: Punishing yourself like this is pointless.

Giles

What are you gonna do? Crawl inside a cave for the rest of your life?

Buffy

Would it have cable?

Giles

Buffy, you acted wrongly, I admit that. But believe me, that was hardly the, the worst mistake you'll ever make. Uh, that wasn't quite as comforting as it was meant to be.

Buffy

Well, points for effort. (the bell rings) See ya. Cut to class. Buffy comes in, sees Willow and Xander and stops. Willow sees her come in. Xander, facing Willow, notices her look up and looks over, too, but goes back to what he's doing on Willow's desk. Buffy walks over to an empty desk next to Willow.

Willow

Hey, Buffy.

Buffy

Hey.

Willow

We saved you a seat. Buffy looks at them both and sits down.

Xander

There's a rumor going around that, uh, Mr. Cox is the most boring teacher in the entire world. Like, I think he won a belt or something.

Buffy

Like, yes.

Willow

Well, I hear he nods off a lot. So that's a plus.

Xander

So, we Bronzin' it tonight?

Willow

Wednesday, it's kinda beat.

Xander

Well, we could grind our enemies into talcum powder with a sledgehammer, but, gosh, we did that last night. The two of them give Buffy big smiles. She smiles back.

Willow

There's no course here.

Xander

Okay, uh, miniature tennis! A very tiny form of tennis that we could invent... They make small talk until class begins. The camera slowly pans around them. Cut to the warehouse. Collin surveys the damage Buffy has wrought. He looks all around him at the pieces of bone strewn all over the place.

I hate that girl.