Das letzte Gefecht

Almost time to wake up, Adam, and take your first look at the world. I know you're gonna make me proud.

Aah!

Spike, I want you to come with me. You're going to help me with my problem.

Spike

Slayer's got powers.

Take them away from her.

Spike

This all goes down, the chip comes out.

Scout's Honor.

Riley had a career. He had a future 'till he met you and yeah, I got a problem with that.

Thank you.

Buffy

Okay, Adam was at that cave, so maybe he was there for a reason. I'll go back, I'll scope it out--

Giles

You don't train with me anymore. He's going to kick your ass.

Buffy

Giles!

Xander

Stupid. So you finally had the guts to say it to my face.

Willow

What exactly do you mean by 'witch stuff'?

Buffy

You guys, what is happening?!

Willow

Buffy, things have been wrong for a while!

Buffy

I'm starting to understand why there's no ancient prophecy about a Chosen One and her friends.

Buffy

If I need help, I'll go to someone I can count on.

I've been waiting for you.

Riley

And now I'm here.

Buffy

Riley?

Buffy

Riley?

Your thoughts are troubled. In turmoil. I understand, brother. We have a lot to discuss. Speak.

Riley

What have you done to me?

Nothing. It was mother, Your...Professor Walsh. She implanted the behavior modifier.

Riley

A chip in my head. She really did it.

Actually, the chip is here. (points to his chest) Tied directly into your central nervous system through your thoracic nerve. This is Phase One of your preparation. It lay dormant until the time came. I simply activated it, brother.

Riley

Stop calling me that. I'm not your brother. You're a botched science experiment. I'm a human being, who's gonna do everything in his power to--

Sit.

You have no power. Not yet. Once you forget your old life and embrace your destiny as I have, you will know power you've never dreamed of. I think you're going to like it.

Demons claim to old ways and ancient feuds. And they're hopeless with technology. Unworthy. (he turns around)

Riley

Not really wanting a lecture right now.

Disappointed by demon-kind, we turned to humans. Smart, adaptive, (he turns around) but emotional and weak. Blind. There's imperfection everywhere. Something must be done. Who will deliver us?

Mother. She saw our future. Yours and mine. She saw that you were necessary. She saw the role you will play by my side. Stand up.

You see, we are brothers after all.

Spike

It warms the cockles of my non-beating heart seeing you lads together.

I didn't send for you, Spike.

Spike

Yeah, well...I'm not much the being-sent-for type.

Spike

I'm much more the "I did my part, now get this chip out of my head" kind of guy.

Spike

Slightly stiffer than usual.

Spike

Subtle, but I like it.

Spike

What's with him?

I activated his chip.

Spike

Oh, so, it's chips all around, is it? Someone must've bought the party-pack.

You get yours removed when the Slayer is where I want her.

Spike

She's separated from her friends.

Spike

They want nothing to do with her.

Spike

She's all alone.

That's how I want her. Where I want her is down in the Initiative. (stops walking) She will ensure that as many demons die as humans, she will achieve maximum carnage before she's too weak to go on.

Riley

No. You can't--

Stop talking.

Spike

Right. The Initiative. But getting her there--that's what the bleeding disks are for, isn't it? Our little witch gives her the info and pop--Alice heads back down the rabbit hole.

The witch.

Spike

Uh, Willow. (uses his hands to demonstrate height) About so high, perky, good with math. Natural choice.

A friend.

Spike

Right.

One of the friends from whom you so efficiently separated her.

Spike

Damn right I did. You should've seen her. They won't be talking to each other for a long, long--

Spike

Hang on. I think I might've detected a small flaw.

So you failed.

Spike

Well, hey, you're supposed to be so smart. (he stands up) You let me plan this thing. Okay, let's not quibble about who failed who. The important thing is make sure the Slayer is where we want--

Go.

Spike

Gone.

Spike

So, uh, we'll do this chip thing when I get back.

Giles

Oh...

Willow

Hey.

Giles

Hello. (looks down at his clothes) Um, oh, uh, pardon the robe. It's a bit of a late start.

Willow

Right.

Tara

I hope you're feeling all right, Mr. Giles.

Giles

Oh, yes, quite well, thank you. I'll--I'll probably have a brisk jog later on. Did you want something?

Willow

I forgot my laptop and the disks.

Giles

(takes off his glasses) Uh, yes, please, please come in.

Giles

Will you be working here? Uh, typing...talking? Because, um, that will be fine.

Willow

(smiling) No, that's okay.

Willow

Got 'em. So...see ya.

Giles

Right. Yes, well, good luck with--with all that.

Willow

Ok. Bye.

Tara

Bye.

Giles

Bye.

Anya

(o.s.) Xander?

Anya

You said you wanted to check the board at the unemployment office this morning.

Anya

You can't go like that. They won't even interview you if you're naked.

Xander

I'm not going. There's never anything good.

Anya

(sighs)

Xander

Maybe I should join the Army.

Anya

Don't they make you get up really early in the morning?

Xander

Oh, yeah.

Xander

Never mind.

Anya

Are you still upset about that fight you had with your friends? It was hours ago! Get over it.

Xander

Anya, you--Forget it.

Anya

So, they all think you're lost, directionless loser with no plans for his future? Pfft.

Xander

Anya, you can't "pfft" that stuff away.

Anya

Why not?

Xander

I don't know. 'Cause I think maybe they're right.

Anya

So what if they are? You're a good person, and a good boyfriend, and...and I'm in love with you. Whatever they think of you, it shouldn't matter.

Xander

Yeah. Yeah, it doesn't matter.

Buffy

(o.s.) Adam...where are you?

This is where it all happens. Where the new race begins.

Riley

Where are we?

In the Initiative. There are areas no one knew about beyond those that needed to. Mother kept her secrets well.

Didn't you?

This is all how she planned it, except she thought she would be alive.

Riley

Are you--

Riley

Is that what you were gonna do to me?

They're just workers. You know your destiny is much greater.

Riley

Forrest? Oh, God.

God has nothing to do with it.

Spike

Easy, Sheriff. Watch where you point that thing.

Buffy

What are you doing here?

Spike

Looking for a little weekend getaway place. Shove off.

Spike

(sigh) Oh, cripes. That's all I need. Runnin' into that goon.

Buffy

Yeah, well, Adam's cleared out of here. Whatever he's planning is about to go down.

Spike

Look at little Nancy Drew. What about those disks I nabbed? They ought to tell you something.

Buffy

Willow has the disks.

Spike

Well, then I'd get on that.

Spike

just 'cause you two birds fell out, now can you?

Buffy

Right.

Spike

Well, you do what you want.

Spike

No worry of mine, now is it?

Tara

Maybe you should rest. Clear your head?

Willow

Can't. (cut to the screen) Not now. I--I think I'm on to something. I've been assuming the (cut to the two)--the ciphertext was encrypted with an asymmetric algorithm. Then it hit me. A hexogonic key pattern. It's--

Tara

Hey, look, you did it.

Willow

I didn't. I haven't even finished typing in the new code.

Tara

Something's doing it.

Willow

Must be programmed to (cut to the screen) self-decrypt to a certain point. (cut back to Willow) That is so annoying. It's like someone blurting out the answer to a riddle just when you've--I mean Yippee! We have the information.

Tara

I'm not sure if "Yippee"'s the right response, either. Read that.

Tara

Hello? Yeah, she's right--I mean, let me check.

Tara

It's Buffy.

Riley

Professor Walsh. Professor Walsh, it's Riley Finn. Can you hear me?

Riley

So are you.

Mm-mmm (No). Got that wrong. I'm surging with life... and strength. Adam made me to be nearly as bad as he is. Really looking forward to trying out your girl again.

Riley

I'm sorry, Forrest.

Don't be. This is the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm free of all my weaknesses...my doubts. He's gonna fix you up too, soon as we got some choice parts. Then you and me will be back on the same side again. Moving toward a new future.

Riley

I'll never let that happen.

You don't get it brother, you don't have a choice. Your will belongs to us now.

Riley

No. That's not true.

Then why don't you get out of that chair and walk out of here?

Riley

You can't control my--

Riley, be a good boy.

Xander

Oddly, Anya decided not to join us, despite all the fun we had at our last meeting.

Willow

And I don't think Tara felt welcome.

Buffy

Why? Because of the things that we said?

Buffy

Will, who told you we were talking behind your back, specifically?

Giles

Well, uh...S--S--Spike can be very convincing when--when--when, uh...I'm very stupid.

Buffy

He played us. He wanted us to fight to split us up. That's where it came from. The stuff we said the other night.

Giles

Of course. Well, piffle, let's move on.

Xander

I'm movin'.

Willow

Me, too.

Buffy

Good. Great.

Willow

So...why do you think Spike made with the head games?

Xander

He's all dressed up with no one to bite. He's gotta get his ya-yas somehow.

Xander

Spike's working for Adam?! After all we've done--nah, I can't even act surprised.

Buffy

I just went to Adam's lair and he was gone. But, Spike just happened to be there. He made this big noise about getting information off those encrypted disks.

Willow

Oh, I decrypted them.

Willow

Well, they decrypted themselves, but I almost had it.

Giles

What did they say?

Willow

A bunch of stuff we already know about 314. But it also said there's some final phase where Adam manufactures a bunch of creepy cyber-demonoids like him. There's a special lab in The Initiative, but it didn't say where.

Buffy

Adam fed Spike those disks. It has to be. He wanted me to know about his evil-guy assembly line. This lab, it's in the Initiative?

Willow

Hidden somewhere.

Buffy

We'll give the demon his due. He thought this one out.

Willow

What do you mean?

Buffy

You know how overcrowded the containment cells have been at the Initiative?

Buffy

Those demons were just too easy to catch. It's like they wanted in that place.

Giles

(putting on his glasses) The Trojan horse.

Buffy

Adam's gonna make sure the demons attack the Initiative from the inside.

Xander

Demons versus soldiers. Massacre, massacre.

Willow

And Adam has a neat pile of body parts to start assembling his army. Diabolical, yet...(makes a face) Gross.

Xander

Does anybody else miss the Mayor, I just wanna be a big snake?

Buffy

I've got to shut him down, Giles. His final phase is about to start.

Giles

We need to warn the Initiative.

Buffy

They're not gonna listen to me.

Willow

Riley?

Buffy

He's a deserter. He got some bad news anyway, and kinda took off.

Xander

Okay, I'm confused again. Adam has this evil plan. Why is he so anxious for you to know about it?

Buffy

He wants me there. Probably figures I'll even the kill ratio.

Xander

He's not worried you might kill, oh say, him?

Buffy

No, he's really not.

She's coming. I can feel it.

Spike

Good on you. Got a chunk of prognosticating demon in there, right?

Spike

Now, (claps his hands) if you'll just get this chip out of my cranium...(he sits down) I'll be out of your way. And mind the hairline. I don't fancy fussing over a comb-over as I resume my killing ways. Come on, we had a deal.

When she's here.

Spike

(sighs)

Giles

Certainly no lack of supplies. I only wish I knew which ones would kill Adam.

Buffy

According to Riley, his power source is uranium core embedded somewhere inside his chest. Probably near the spine.

Xander

Great, so we just ask him to lie down quietly while we do some exploratory surgery.

Willow

What about magic? Some kind of, I don't know...uranium extracting spell?

Willow

I know. I'm reaching.

Giles

Perhaps a paralyzing spell.

Giles

Only I can't perform the incantation for this.

Willow

Right. Don't you have to speak it in Sumerian or something?

Giles

I do speak Sumerian. It's not that. Only a...an experienced witch can incant it, and you'd have to be within striking distance of this object.

Xander

See what you get for takin' French instead of Sumerian?

Buffy

What was I thinking?

Xander

So no problem, all we need is combo Buffy--her with Slayer strength, Giles' multi-lingual know how, and Willow's witchy power.

Xander

Yeah, don't tell me. I'm just full of helpful suggestions.

Giles

As a matter of fact, you are.

Willow

Nervous?

Xander

No way. I'm full of that good old kamikaze spirit.

Giles

Xander, just because this is never gonna work, there's no need to be negative.

Willow

The adjoining spell, is it powerful enough to defeat Adam?

Giles

It's very powerful. It's also extrodinarily dangerous.

Buffy

Game faces, guys. We're going in.

Buffy

How you doing?

Willow

Super. What was I thinkin', using stairs all this time?

Buffy

Okay. Will--

Willow

No, really, Buffy. It's not as scary as I thought.

Buffy

No. It's not what I was gonna say. I just...I'm sorry. I hate that things have been so strained between all of us.

Willow

It's not your fault. Spike stirred up trouble.

Buffy

Yeah, but I think trouble was stir-uppable. I think we've all sort of drifted apart this year, don't you?

Willow

Maybe a little. But, you know, first year of college, it's hard to keep the old high school gang together.

Buffy

But I want it together. Will, I miss you. And Giles, and Xander. And it is my fault. I've been wrapped up in my own stuff, I've been a bad friend.

Willow

You're the Slayer, Buffy. Your stuff is pretty crucial.

Buffy

I mean Riley. And...Riley, mostly.

Willow

Well, I haven't been Miss Available either. I--I kept secrets. I hid things from everyone.

Buffy

That's not your fault. Will, you were going through something huge.

Willow

I wanted to tell you, but I was so scared.

Buffy

You can tell me anything. I love you. You're my best friend.

Willow

Me, too. I love you too.

Willow

(o.s.) Oh, falling now!

Buffy

Let's promise to never not talk again.

Willow

I promise, I promise.

Buffy

Xander.

Willow

Oh, wonderful Xander!

Buffy

You know we love you, right?

Willow

We totally do.

Xander

Oh God, we're gonna die, aren't we?

Willow

No, we just missed you.

Xander

Giles, hurry up!

Xander

You definitely wanna get down here for this!

Buffy

Okay, we stick together, then everything should be fine. Everybody ready?

Buffy

Let's...

Buffy

...do this.

Spike

Must-See-TV. Bait's been taken. Trap's all set. The Slayer has landed. So...

Spike

Hello??? Paging Dr. Owe Me One.

She's not alone.

(o.s.) You've failed me again.

Spike

Well, that's one way of looking at it.

What's the other way.

Spike

Oh, come on! It's not like I wasn't trying! That's worth something, isn't it?

I suppose. Yes. I will honor our agreement to remove your chip.

Take his head off.

(screams)

Let him go.

There's nowhere left to run.

Buffy

Colonel--

Shut up. You've got some nerve, lady. (unzips the bag) You think you and your friends can just keep waltzing into a government installation brandishing weapons like--

Like--

Willow

It's a gourd.

Giles

Magic gourd.

What kind of freaks are you people? (puts the gourd down)

Buffy

Adam is here, Colonel. In the Initiative.

Nice try.

Buffy

Those overcrowded containment cells of yours: courtesy of Adam. He's pulling a Trojan Horse on you, he's just waiting--

Everything in this installation is under 24-hour surveillance.

Willow

Including the secret lab?

Including everything! (a beat) What secret lab?

Buffy

The one Adam's been using. The one built for the final stage of the 314 project.

Buffy

And you have no idea what I'm talking about.

I know everything that goes on around here. A tick on a mouse couldn't get in without my knowing it. And if Adam wants to try we're ready for him.

Giles

Jolly good. How--How exactly do you plan to get close enough to Adam to remove his power source?

Hit him simultaneously with multiple taser blasters. Incapacitate him with as much voltage as we can muster.

Xander

Great plan. That's right up there with "duck and cover".

Buffy

I've seen Adam hit with taser blasts. He feeds on it. And now you're gonna provide him with an all-you-can-eat buffet?

You telling me my business?

Buffy

This...is not your business. It's mine. You, the Initiative, the boys at the Pentagon--you're all in way over your heads. Messing with primeval forces you have absolutely no comprehension of.

And you do?

Buffy

I'm the Slayer. You're playing on my turf.

Up there, maybe. But down here, I'm the one who's in control.

Sir, the power grid's down. Backup's not responding.

We're locked in.

This will be interesting.

(scared) What's going on?

Go!

(screaming)

Containment area's been breached. Hostiles are loose.

How many?

All of 'em, Sir.

Buffy

(o.s.) It's Adam.

Buffy

Look, I'm the only one who can stop him now. Just let me handle this. Get your people out of here.

All right, you men follow me. We gotta take the Armory now.

Buffy

Colonel.

These people are under arrest, do you understand?

Buffy

We've gotta find Adam.

Willow

On it.

Giles

The enjoining spell (cut to Buffy) is extremely touchy. It's, uh, (cut to Willow) volatile. We--We can't risk it (cut to Buffy) being interrupted. We need a place that's (cut to Giles and Xander) close to you and quiet.

Xander

(o.s.) Uh...quiet?

Buffy

How we doing, Will?

Willow

Done. Hold on. According to this, there's air ducts and electrical conduits (cut to the screen) all running into there.

Buffy

So?

Willow

So, there's no there there. Look.

Buffy

It's Adam.

Giles

You sure?

Buffy

Right behind 314.

Willow

I don't have to. All--All the locks in the Initiative have been disengaged...except for the exits.

Xander

Demon open house.

Buffy

Great. So we know we're going to 314. Now all we have to do is get there.

Buffy

Willow, down!

Willow

Go!

Buffy

Okay, it should be over here.

Buffy

Once I'm in, barricade the door behind me. Is this place okay to be Magic Central?

Giles

It, uh, should do.

Willow

As long as we don't get blowed up or nothin'.

Xander

What're the odds of that?

Buffy

How long before the ritual kicks in?

Giles

Five minutes, give or take.

Xander

Buffy, I still don't like you going in alone.

Buffy

I won't be.

Buffy

Riley.

Buffy

Are you hurt? (no answer) Say something!

Buffy

What is this?

Buffy

Why won't you talk to me?

(o.s.) He can't.

He hasn't been programmed to. He's part of the final phase now...as you were supposed to be.

Buffy

Sorry. I don't jump through hoops on command. I've never really been one to tow the line.

Oh. (beat) Kill her.

I thought you'd never ask.

Willow

(chanting) "The power of the Slayer and all who yield it. Last to ancient first, we invoke thee. Grant us thy domain and primal strength. Accept us in the power we possess. Make us mind and heart and spirit joy. Let the hand encompass us. Do thy will."

Riley

Buffy.

Shut up, and watch me kill your girlfriend, Finn. That's an order.

Willow

Spiritus...Spirit.

Xander

Animus...Heart.

Giles

Sophus...Mind.

Willow

And Manus...

Willow

(o.s.) The hand.

Riley

(groans)

Willow

We enjoin that we may inhabit the vessel--the hand...daughter of Sineya...first of the ones...

Is that it? Is that all you got?

Riley

No.

Riley

She's got me.

Look who's come off the bench.

Buffy

I need to get to Adam. Like, now. Are you able?

Riley

Go.

Fall back! Fall back! Protect the flank! Walk down that pit!

Buffy

Fun, isn't it?

I do appreciate violence.

Buffy

Good.

Buffy

Broke your arm.

Got another.

I've been upgrading.

Willow

We implore thee, admit us, bring us to the vessel, take us now.

You can't last much longer.

Buffy

(speaking simultaneous) We can. We are forever.

Buffy

(Speaking Sumerian)

Interesting.

Buffy

(Continues speaking Sumerian)

Very interesting.

What're you makin' me do this for?

Not that I'm not enjoyin' myself.

But Adam's not gonna like it if I--

(growls)

Buffy

(Sumerian) Kur.

How...can you--

Xander

You could never hope to grasp the source

Buffy

of our power.

Buffy

But yours is right here.

(groans)

Riley

Buffy.

Willow

Wow. That was--

Spike

Nasty sort of fellow. Lucky for you blighters I was here, eh?

Giles

Yes, thank you.

Giles

Although your heroism has been slightly muted by the fact that you were helping Adam to start a war that would kill us all.

Xander

You probably just saved us so we wouldn't stake you right here.

Spike

Did it work?

Spike

Well, then everything's all right. And we all get to be not staked through the heart. Good work, team.

Giles

Buffy.

Willow

Wasn't it amazing?

Xander

You were great.

Buffy

We were great.

Riley

We still got men out there.

Spike

Well, let's go save 'em, by gum.

Buffy

You guys get to the exits, get 'em open.

Buffy

You, organize the soldiers, pull 'em back. I'll take point.

Willow

Are you up to this?

Buffy

I am.

It was an experiment. The Initiative represented the Government's interests in not only controlling the otherworldly menace, but harnessing its power for our own military purposes. The considered opinion of this counsel is that this experiment has failed.

It is therefore our recommendation that this project be terminated and all records concerning it expunged. Our soldiers'll be debriefed. Standard confidentiality clause. We will monitor the civillians and usual measures prepared should they try to go public. I don't think they will.

(o.s.) The Initiative itself will be filled in with concrete. Burn it down, gentlemen. Burn it down, and salt the Earth.