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Transcriber's Notes:

• I do not own the characters or situations of BTVS and I claim no credit for the content of this episode. I have merely transcribed what appeared on my screen, with help from the closed captions.
• I prefer that you link to this transcript on the Psyche site (www. psyche.kn-bremen.de) rather than post it on your site, but you can post it on your site if you really want, as long as you keep my name and email address on it. Please also keep my disclaimers intact. DO NOT POST MY TRANSCRIPT ON YOUR SITE WITHOUT MY NAME ON IT!
• I apologize in advance for my lame transcription of the fight scenes. I don't know the names of different punches and kicks. Use your imagination.

Teaser

GILES VOICEOVER: Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
Buffy sitting on the steps of Hemery High in "Becoming."
WATCHER: You are the chosen one.
Brief montage of several of the monsters Buffy has fought.
WATCHER: You alone can stop them.
BUFFY: Who?
WATCHER: The vampires.
Buffy timidly staking a vampire, looking shocked when it dusts.
WATCHER: You see your power.
BUFFY: Why can't you people just leave me alone?
GILES: Into each generation a Slayer is born.
WILLOW: You're the Slayer, and we're like the Slayerettes.
XANDER: The three of us have been together from the beginning. We've always gone on patrols, and, uh, done demon research with her and everything.
BUFFY: We're talking about two very powerful witches (shot of Willow and Tara doing a spell) and a thousand-year-old ex-demon (shot of Anya)
XANDER: Anya, you wanna marry me?
Willow and Tara slow-dancing at the Bronze.
Buffy and Angel sitting on Angel's bed in "Becoming"
BUFFY: Angel.
ANGEL: I love you.
Buffy and Angel kissing.
BUFFY: So don't go.
Angel walking away at the end of "Graduation Day"
Spike driving his car over the "Welcome to Sunnydale" sign.
SPIKE: Home sweet home.
DOCTOR: That chip was deeply imbedded in your cerebral cortex.
Spike trying to bite Willow, yelling in pain.
SPIKE: I can't bite anything. I can't even hit people.
GILES: What are you saying?
SPIKE: Spike had a little trip to the vet, and now he doesn't chase the other puppies any more.
Spike talking to Buffy in "The Gift"
SPIKE: I know you'll never love me. I know that I'm a monster, but you treat me like a man.
Spike reading a book to Dawn.
SPIKE: They had to be certain the Slayer would protect it with her life, so they sent the key to her in the form of a sister.
GREGOR: You were created to open the gates that separate dimensions.
Various shots of Dawn.
GREGOR: The little girl. The key.
Dawn crying out as Doc cuts her in "The Gift"
GREGOR: Destroy it, and the will of the beast will be broken.
Spike attacking Doc.
Doc stabbing Spike, throwing him off the tower.
DAWN: No!
Spike hitting the ground.
DAWN: I have to jump.
BUFFY: It'll kill you.
DAWN: Look at what's happening!
Lightning destroying downtown Sunnydale.
Buffy doing her determined expression.
DAWN: Buffy, no.
BUFFY: Dawnie, I have to.
Buffy swan-diving into the vortex.
The Scoobies gathering around Buffy's dead body.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: You have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Be brave. Live.
Long shot of Buffy's gravestone.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: For me.

Episode opens on feet running through the graveyard, night.

We see a very large (both tall and chubby) vampire running steadily between the headstones.

Then we see Spike running after him.

Then we see Tara running after them, and Giles behind her, carrying an axe.

They come up to a fence and the vampire is gone. Spike yells in frustration.

SPIKE: I'm never gonna get anything killed with you lot holding me back.
TARA: (panting) I thought the big ones were supposed to tire more easily.
SPIKE: No, that's over-the-hill shopkeepers.
GILES: (leaning against a gravestone, panting) I'm fine. I just need to ... to die for a minute.
SPIKE: (to Tara) It was that powder you blew at him made him rabbit off.
TARA: It's sorbis root, it was supposed to confuse him, but ... it just kinda made him peppy.

Spike rolls his eyes.

TARA: It's not supposed to mix with anything, you think he might be taking prescription medication?
SPIKE: (sarcastic) Yeah, that must be it.
GILES: Good god, I hope he doesn't try to operate heavy machinery.

Giles and Spike laugh.

SPIKE: Yeah, we could all be in real-
WILLOW: (telepathically) Guys, heads up.

They all look up.

Cut to a large crypt. Zoom up and we see Willow standing on top of it. Zoom in on her.

WILLOW: (telepathically) The vampire's circling back towards you, six o'clock.

Cut back to the other three looking around for the vamp.

WILLOW: (telepathically) Try to drive him back towards the Van Elton crypt.
SPIKE: (telepathically) Van Elton.
TARA: (aloud) Is that the one with the cute little gargoyles?

The vampire runs back across their field of vision, sees them, turns and starts back the way he came.

WILLOW: (telepathically) Left, make him go left!

Giles throws his axe. It thuds into a tree right by the vampire's face. The vamp turns and heads left. Tara and Spike look at Giles, then they all run after the vampire.

The vampire winds up at a dead-end, turns to go back. Suddenly a fist comes out and punches him in the face. He falls down.

A pair of feet walk over and stand by the prone vampire's feet. He stares up at the person.

Pan up to reveal Buffy.

BUFFY: Big, fast, and dumb. Just the way I like 'em.

The vampire sits up and she kicks him in the face, thrusts out with her stake, but he grabs her arm, hits her with his other arm, and gets up.

Tara and Giles appear, grab the vamp's arms and hold him while Spike punches him in the face twice. Then Spike moves for another punch but the vampire head-butts Spike and he staggers back.

Cut to Xander and Anya running through another part of the graveyard.

XANDER: Sounds like the other units are engaged.
WILLOW: (telepathically) Xander, Anya, stop!

Xander and Anya stop running, look startled.

XANDER: Great googly-moogly, Willow, would you quit doing that?
WILLOW: (telepathically) I told you I was going to get the lay of the land.
XANDER: But not the lay of my brain.
ANYA: It's kind of intrusive. You could knock first or something.
WILLOW: (telepathically) Xander-
XANDER: I know, I know, I don't have to talk when I answer you. But I saw "The Fury," and that way lies spooky carnival death.

We see a vampire hiding behind a tombstone a few feet away from Xander and Anya.

WILLOW: (telepathically) Xander! Vampire! Other side of that tomb. You can get the jump on him if you go the other way.
XANDER: Why didn't you just say so?

Xander and Anya head around the side of the tomb.

Cut back to the other battle. The big vampire throws both Tara and Giles off him. Buffy runs at him, tries to punch but he blocks, picks her up over his shoulders, swings her around so that her feet kick Spike in the face. Then he throws her toward Tara.

WILLOW: (telepathically) Tara, down!

Tara ducks and Buffy goes flying over her, lands against a wall.

Giles grabs the axe, gets up and swings at the vampire, who grabs it and spins Giles around, pins him against the iron fence with the axe handle on his throat.

GILES: (choking) Spike!

Spike jumps on the vamp's back but he's so big he barely notices. He shrugs Spike off a couple of times. Spike steps back, sighs.

GILES: Spike!
WILLOW: (telepathically) What are you doing? Help him!
SPIKE: (lighting a cigarette) I did.

We see that the back of the vampire's shirt is on fire.

The fire spreads up to the rest of his shirt. He lets go of Giles and staggers back, bursts completely into flame and dusts. Giles puts his arm over his face as the dust showers over him.

Spike takes a drag on his cigarette, saunters over to Giles and holds out his hand. Giles takes it and Spike helps him up.

GILES: You might have let me in on your plan while he throttled me.
SPIKE: Oh, poor Watcher. Did your life pass before your eyes? Cuppa tea, cuppa tea, almost got shagged, cuppa tea?
WILLOW: (telepathically) Guys, help Xander and Anya over by the Anderson tomb.

They head off.

Cut to Xander being held in a headlock by the other vampire.

ANYA: Xander!

Anya lunges with a stake but the vamp merely steps aside. She swings again, misses. The vamp hits her and she falls down.

The vampire continues growling and struggling with Xander.

BUFFY: I got it!

Buffy kicks the vampire, and he goes down, letting go of Xander who lands on the grass beside Anya. The vamp gets up, blocks a kick, punches Buffy, they exchange a few more punches and kicks. He gets her on the ground, picks her up over his head, and Spike comes in and punches him in the stomach. The vampire drops Buffy, and Spike kicks him. He shoves Spike away, and Spike lands beside Xander and Anya.

Buffy kicks the vamp onto the ground, then stakes him as he starts to sit up.

BUFFY: (triumphantly) That'll put marzipan in your pie plate, bingo!

Shot of the entire gang (Spike, Tara, Xander, Anya, Willow, Giles) staring at her as they help each other up.

She smiles and walks over to them.

SPIKE: (to Willow) What's with the Dadaism, Red?
TARA: Yeah, she says that pie thing every time she stakes a vamp now.
WILLOW: I-I don't know, I was trying to program in some new puns and I kinda ended up with word salad.
BUFFYBOT: (brightly) I think it's funny.

They all roll their eyes and start walking.

WILLOW: It's a glitch, I'll fix it.
GILES: We just can't have her messing up in front of the wrong person. Or the wrong thing. We, we need the, the world and the underworld to believe that Buffy is alive and well.
WILLOW: And I will therefore fix it. I got her head back on, didn't I? And I got her off those knock-knock jokes.
BUFFYBOT: Ooh, who's there?
XANDER: You know, if we want her to be exactly-
SPIKE: She'll never be exactly.
XANDER: I know.
TARA: The only really real Buffy is really Buffy.
GILES: And she's gone.

They all walk on, leaving the Buffy Bot behind as she has stopped walking.

BUFFYBOT: 'If we want her to be exactly she'll never be exactly I know the only really real Buffy is really Buffy and she's gone' who?

She continues walking after them.

Wolf howl. Opening credits. Anthony Stewart Head is no longer shown in the opening credits.

Special Guest Star Anthony Stewart Head. Guest starring Franc Ross and Amber Benson as Tara. "Bargaining Part 1" written by Marti Noxon, "Bargaining Part 2" written by David Fury, both parts directed by David Grossman.

---

Act I

---

Open on exterior shot of the Summers house, day.
WILLOW VOICEOVER: Where's my clog?

Cut to inside. Willow is in Joyce's room, crouched on the floor looking under the bed.
WILLOW: I think there's a clog-eating monster under the bed. (gets up) It's really those lesser-known monsters that make living in Sunnydale so hard.

We see Tara looking in the closet. She turns to watch Willow. Willow goes around to look under the other side of the bed.

TARA: I believe that that is a Dawn monster. She borrowed them yesterday.
WILLOW: Dawnie? (knocks on Dawn's door, which is ajar) Hey, you up?

Dawn's bed is piled with clothes but she's not there. Willow turns away with a sigh.

TARA: You okay? (They walk out into the hall)
WILLOW: (nods) Besides terror about today and a general feeling of impending doom, swell.
TARA: Breakfast will make all things better.

They stop walking and Tara puts hands on Willow's shoulders.

WILLOW: (smiles, takes Tara's hands) Ooh, pancakes could go in bellies.

They kiss, then Tara goes back down the hall and Willow knock on the bathroom door, which is also ajar.

WILLOW: Dawnie?

The door swings open more and we see Dawn brushing her teeth.

WILLOW: Hey, you! Today's the big day, huh? Kinda day that makes you wanna return clogs, don't you think?
DAWN: (very garbled through her toothbrush) I didn't take your clogs.

Willow sighs, rolls her eyes, turns away.

Cut to the kitchen. BuffyBot is making peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches. Tara is in the background by the stove. Willow enters.

WILLOW: Morning.
BUFFYBOT: (cheery) Morning!
WILLOW: I was thinking we could go over your programming again.
TARA: Again? You've done enough, sweetie. She's either ready to face this thing or she's not.

Dawn enters, sits at the counter with a small smile.

TARA: Oh, um, here's some juice, and... (gives Dawn a glass of orange juice) pancakes are on the way. Funny shapes or rounds?
DAWN: Rounds are fine. Uh, what's up with the mega-witches?
TARA: Oh, I don't know if you can call us mega, Willow maybe-
DAWN: No, I mean ... who's gonna eat all that?

We see that BuffyBot has made a huge pile of sandwiches. Actually, several huge piles. Tara grabs the bot's hands.

TARA: Oh! Oops, um ... she wanted to help, and I got her started, but then I forgot to un-start.

The bot nods understanding.

Xander enters.

XANDER: House of chicks, relax. I am a man, and I have a tool.

They all look at him. He holds up his toolbox.

XANDER: Tools. Lots of plural tools. (Dawn grins) In my, uh ... (pats toolbox) toolbox. (sees the sandwiches) Ah! Sandwiches. Excellent. Men like sandwiches.

BuffyBot smiles and gives him a stack of sandwiches.

WILLOW: Help yourself. Really. (Xander eating a sandwich) So what brings you so early, your macho-ness?
XANDER: I brought that soldering wire you wanted for BuffyBot's tune-up.
TARA: (serving pancakes to Dawn) You got funny shapes anyway, sorry.

The phone rings. BuffyBot looks excited.

BUFFYBOT: I'll get it!
WILLOW/TARA/DAWN: No! (all move to intercept her)
DAWN: Um ... it could be my dad. (to Willow) He said he'd call today.
BUFFYBOT: I'll just say hello. He's my biological ancestor.
WILLOW: (into phone) Hello? Hey, Anya. (The bot looks disappointed, goes back over toward Xander) Really? That's fantastic! (to others) Uh, Anya found that thing, for tonight.
XANDER: (looks nervously at BuffyBot) Yeah? Great.
WILLOW: (listens) And you're her sweet cookie-face.
XANDER: I go by many names. (The bot looks at him in confusion)
DAWN: Well, what's tonight?
TARA: Oh, just a Scooby meeting. Spike'll be here with you.
WILLOW: You know, Buffy ... bot ... maybe you should let the machine - uh, the other machine, answer the phone from now on. Okay?
BUFFYBOT: Is my phone manner not correct?
TARA: It's perfect. It's just ... we can't take the chance that Mr. Summers might talk to you and know something's wrong.
XANDER: See, if he thought the real Buffy was gone, he could take Dawn away.
DAWN: And I wanna stay here, with you and Willow and Tara. Understand?
BUFFYBOT: (big smile) I do! I want you to stay here as well. You're my sister!

The bot goes around the counter and hugs Dawn, a little too hard. Dawn looks surprised, but pleased.

Xander and Tara watch with concern. Willow looks uncomfortable.

XANDER: So. Excellent. We're agreed. Sit your robo-self down so we can get to work. (The bot sits next to Dawn) We gotta fix up those fighting skills pronto.
WILLOW: Actually, we have bigger worries than her fighting skills today.
TARA: Way bigger.
XANDER: I guess. Depends on how highly you prize punning.
WILLOW: I'm serious, Xander. Buffybot is about to face her most dangerous challenge ever.

Cut to: exterior of the Sunnydale Junior High. A big sign reads, "Welcome to Parent Teacher Day."

Various tables are set up with displays, people walking around. Dawn and BuffyBot walk among the crowd. BuffyBot looks around at everything with great interest. Dawn just looks nervous.

DAWN: Okay. So we'll make a quick lap so people can see you're here.

The bot stops to look at a display. It's a table-top model of a city, made with paper cups and cardboard and such.

DAWN: Then we'll-
BUFFYBOT: What is this?

We see a young male teacher sitting behind the display. He looks up.

DAWN: Oh, um, this is our city of the future. (We see a boy Dawn's age on the other side, listening in) I made the hover-cars. They're orange-juice cans, see?
BUFFYBOT: They're very nice. (frowns) But I-I still don't understand.
TEACHER: We're reading Walden. This is, uh ... a kid's version of a utopian society. You'll notice there are no schools but an extraordinary number of pizza parlors. (Dawn grins)
BUFFYBOT: I don't think I know of a breed of humans this small. Who's going to live here?

The boy gives Dawn and BuffyBot a scornful look.

Dawn gives a fake laugh. The teacher looks uncertain, but he laughs too.

DAWN: Ha ha ha! Oh ... god, she's always like this. Ha ha! Come on, wacky Buffy. (takes the bot's arm) See ya, Mr. Davis.

The teacher watches them go with some confusion. Sound of a school bell ringing.

Cut to a classroom. A bunch of parents and kids sit in chairs while a woman stands at the front talking to them.

MS. LEFCORT: As you can see, we've provided the best in progressive learning. But we can't teach your children unless you do. As parents, you have a responsibility to create the right attitude. To teach your child what school can mean.

BuffyBot raises her hand.

MS. LEFCORT: Ms. Summers.

The bot stands up. Dawn looks very nervous.

BUFFYBOT: School is where you learn.

Beat. Dawn continues looking anxious.

MS. LEFCORT: Exactly.

Dawn is very relieved. BuffyBot sits.

MS. LEFCORT: Parents let kids focus on school as a social experience rather than a learning experience. We want you to get your kids just as excited about education as they are about the lunch hour.
BUFFYBOT: I helped make lunch today.
MS. LEFCORT: (uncertain) Oh.
BUFFYBOT: (cheery) Yes, before school. Peanut butter and jelly. I don't eat, but Dawn takes one every day.

A father in the back row speaks up.

DAD: Tell me about it. (Everyone turns to look at him) My kid's been brown-bagging it even though I pay for the lunch program.

A mother on the other side joins in.

MOM: It's true. Something has to be done about the quality of the food.

All the people in the room murmur and chatter in agreement. BuffyBot smiles happily. Dawn looks at her and can't help smiling a little too.

Cut to: overhead shot of downtown Sunnydale. Cars and people go by.
Cut to closer shot of the front of the magic shop.
Cut to inside. The camera follows Xander as he carries a large box into the back office area. Anya is dusting merchandise while Giles sits in the background doing paperwork.

GILES: Anya, this register report for January looks a bit off. (Anya turns to him) Pull the files again.

Anya puts down her duster and walks quickly over to him, frowning anxiously.

ANYA: Are you mad at me?
GILES: (confused) Mad? No, I'm-I'm-
ANYA: Well then why are you torturing me? You know, I used to punish people like this when I was a demon. (Giles rolls his eyes) I made them double-check spreadsheets for all eternity.
GILES: I'm sorry if you resent my authority, but I won't feel comfortable leaving here until I know that absolutely everything-
ANYA: (grabs a small statue from the desk) You're taking the Ramadan effigy?!
GILES: (rolls his eyes again) It's not inventory, it's my personal collection. (takes the statue)
ANYA: (indignant) Oh, huh. Aren't you Mister Dicey Semantics. So, what, you think you can just take anything you want?

She grabs the statue back from Giles. He looks angry, tries to grab it back, and they both pull at it.

ANYA: Give it!
GILES: No, you give it!

Anya begins smacking his hand with her free hand.

GILES: Ow! Ow!

He tries to fend off her smacking hand with his other hand. In the other room, Xander hears them fighting and comes to look.

GILES: Ow!
XANDER: Okay, when *I'm* marveling at the immaturity ... (they pause and look at him) be scared.

They stop fighting but both still hold the statue.

XANDER: Anya, Giles is gonna leave the store to you when he goes. What more do you want?
GILES: I'm not *leaving* the store to anyone. I'm going to England. I'm not dead, I'm still a partner. (yanks the statue away from Anya)
ANYA: (sullen) Silent oversees partner.
XANDER: Who you should be very nice to, unless you want to end up working at Video Hut.

Giles gives Anya a tentative smile. She gives him a big fake smile and turns away. As soon as her back is to Giles she drops the smile and scowls, walking to the other room. Xander follows, grabs her arm.

XANDER: What are you doing? What kind of gratitude is that?
ANYA: (quietly) I know, I know. It's just ... he keeps saying he's going, and then he doesn't. And I keep almost being in charge, but then I'm not. And maybe he shouldn't be going at all, but we can't talk about that. (agitated) And it all just leaves me with this stress and bossiness stored up, and it just ... leaks out.
XANDER: Just give it time, Ahn. This is hard for all of us. Just ... be patient.
ANYA: I *was* being patient, but it took too long. I mean, I-I miss Buffy. I do. But life shouldn't just stop because she's gone. I'm sick of waiting to take over here, and I'm sick of waiting to tell everyone about us.

Xander looks nervously over his shoulder, lowers his voice.

XANDER: We've talked about this. We can't announce our engagement while things are so up in the air.
ANYA: Why not? It's happy news. Happy news in hard times is a good thing.
XANDER: It is, but ... if things go as planned, everything could be different. (Anya sighs) Let's just hold on.
ANYA: You've been saying that all summer.
XANDER: Please, Anya. We'll know more after we talk to Willow and Tara tonight.
ANYA: Fine, whatever. Just remember that this whole marriage thing was your stupid idea. I didn't ask to be all crazy.

She walks off. Xander watches her go.

Cut to: exterior of the Summers house, night.

Cut to inside. Dawn comes out of the kitchen holding a cup and walks down the hall.

DAWN: So my homeroom teacher, Ms. Lefcort, was like, "Your sister's an example to us all." Hmm! She wanted to make it National Buffy Day.

She puts the glass on the coffee-table and sits on the sofa next to Spike. There's a pizza box on the coffee-table, and a plate with a half-eaten slice of pizza.

SPIKE: Makes sense.
DAWN: It does?
SPIKE: Yeah, she responded to BuffyBot because a robot is predictable. Boring. Perfect teacher's pet. That's all schools are, you know. Just factories, spewing out mindless little automatons.

He sees Dawn's raised eyebrows.

SPIKE: (quickly) Who go on to be ... very ... valuable and productive members of society, and you should go. (quieter) Because Buffy would want you to.

Beat. They both look pensive.

DAWN: Check. One mindless automaton coming up.

They sit quietly on the sofa for a moment.

SPIKE: So, uh, what do you fancy, bit, uh, game of rummy? (gets up)
DAWN: Well, uh, Willow and Tara said they'd be back early. (Spike goes to a side table, opens a drawer) You don't really have to hang. I mean, if you're bored.
SPIKE: I'm not, and yeah, I do.

Spike gets a pack of cards out of the drawer, pulls a chair over to the coffee table opposite Dawn.

DAWN: But I'm fine alone. It's not like anyone's coming after me. I'm not the key. (Spike sets the chair down) Or if I am, I don't open anything any more. It's over. Remember?
SPIKE: (softly) I'm not leaving you here by yourself, so forget it.

He sits in the chair.

DAWN: Well, I'm just saying-

Spike slams the cards down hard on the table. Dawn jumps.

SPIKE: (not looking at her) No. I'm not leaving you ... to get hurt. (softly) Not again.

They look at each other. Spike points to the cards.

SPIKE: Now deal.

Dawn picks up the cards.

Cut to: the street, night. A young woman closes up a shop and turns to walk down the street, putting keys in her purse. It's dark and very quiet. She pauses, looks behind her, walks on. She pauses again, looks back again, resumes walking very quickly.

She enters an alley and a vampire grabs her from behind. She screams. The vampire pulls her back against him and prepares to bite.

BUFFYBOT: (OS) Don't be scared.

The vampire looks up in surprise.

BUFFYBOT: I'm going to kill him.
VAMP: Slayer!
BUFFYBOT: You can run away now.

The girl does just that.

The vamp tries to edge away too. Buffybot rolls her eyes.

BUFFYBOT: Not you!

She runs after him. He pushes a Dumpster into her path. She vaults over it and lands on top of him, knocking him down. They both get up and she brings him down again with a circle-kick. He gets up and she punches him, kicks him down again. He crawls toward an empty glass bottle, grabs it and hits BuffyBot in the face with it. She stumbles back and the vamp gets up.

The broken glass has torn a hole in the bot's forehead and we can see sparks flying around it.

VAMP: You're ... you're ... you're, you're a machine!
BUFFYBOT: (smiles) Thank you!

He scrambles to his feet and begins backing away.

BUFFYBOT: Stop!

She walks forward, directly into a stack of large kegs. She backs up a few steps and walks into them again.

The vamp watches, begins to smile. She continues walking into the kegs again and again.

BUFFYBOT: Vampires ... beware.

Grinning, the vamp turns and runs off. The bot continues walking into the kegs.

Cut to: overhead shot of Sunnydale, night.
Cut to: exterior shot of Xander's apartment building.

Cut to inside. Willow is holding a small urn and gazing at it. Tara sits beside her.

TARA: The urn of Osiris.
WILLOW: (looks up) You really found it.
ANYA: (sits opposite Willow) Yeah. It wasn't easy. I went through every supplier the Magic Box has.
WILLOW: (alarmed) You used a Magic Box supplier? What if Giles finds out?
ANYA: He's too busy not leaving to pay attention to me. (We see Xander standing beside Anya) Besides, I ended up getting it on eBay.
TARA: You found the last known urn of Osiris on eBay?
ANYA: Yeah, from this desert gnome in Cairo. He drove a really hard bargain, but I finally got him to throw in a limited edition Backstreet Boys lunchbox for a -

Xander coughs. Anya pauses. Xander looks nervous.

ANYA: ...a friend.

Tara looks at Xander with a little smile.

XANDER: So you got your somber on, Will, is the urn not up to spec?

Willow studies the urn with a frown, doesn't seem to have heard. She looks at Tara.

WILLOW: It's the one. (puts it down) Which means it's time.
XANDER: (anxious) It's time? (sits) Like, *time* time? With the... (vague hand gestures) timeliness?
ANYA: (quietly) Are you sure?
WILLOW: I am.
TARA: Mercury's in retrograde, and we have... (to Willow) Do we have everything?
WILLOW: (nods) Just about.

Willow gets up, goes over to another table and begins putting things in a bag.

XANDER: But why the sudden rushy-rush? I mean, did the bot blow our cover at school?
TARA: No, she did great, she impressed all the teachers.
XANDER: And they still thought it was Buffy?
WILLOW: (turns back to them) Tomorrow night, we'll meet back here.
XANDER: (jumps up) Whoa! Let's apply the brakes and check the rear- and side-view mirrors here.

They all look at him.

XANDER: (more calmly) This is deep stuff, Willow. We're talking about raising the dead.
WILLOW: It's time we stop talking. Tomorrow night ... we're bringing Buffy back.

Blackout.

---

Act II

---

Fade back in on the same scene.

XANDER: (nervous) Tomorrow? I don't know.
ANYA: (gets up to stand beside him) Um, Di-Discovery Channel has monkeys. And our tape machine's all wonky.
WILLOW: Guys, I need you on board here.
XANDER: It's just ... (fidgets nervously) It feels wrong.
TARA: It is wrong. (Willow looks surprised) It's against all the laws of nature, and practically impossible to do, but it's what we agreed to. If-if you guys are changing your minds-
WILLOW: Nobody's changing their minds. Period.
XANDER: Excuse me? Who made you the boss of the group?
ANYA: You did.
TARA: You said Willow should be boss. (Willow moves away)
ANYA: And then you said "let's vote," and it was unanimous...
TARA: ...and then you made her this little plaque, that said "Boss of Us," you put little sparkles on it...
XANDER: Valid points, all. But we ... I mean...

Xander comes out from behind the coffee-table, goes over to Willow who is again at the other table putting stuff in a bag.

XANDER: We were just talking then.
WILLOW: Xander, I can do this, I promise. But not without you.
ANYA: Should we maybe tell Giles? You know, now that we're really ready? It's not like he's going anywhere. Ever.
WILLOW: No. No one else can know. Not Giles, not Spike, not Dawn. (quietly) They might not understand.
TARA: What if something does go wrong?
WILLOW: I'm telling you it won't.
XANDER: Scenario -- We raise Buffy from the grave, she tries to eat our brains. Do we, a) congratulate ourselves on a job well done-
WILLOW: Xander, this isn't zombies.
ANYA: Zombies don't eat brains anyway unless instructed to by their zombie masters. A lot of people get that wrong.
WILLOW: This isn't like Dawn trying to bring Mrs. Summers back, or anything we've dealt with before. Buffy didn't die a natural death. She was killed by mystical energy.
TARA: Which means we do have a shot.
WILLOW: It means more than that. (to Xander) It means we don't know ... where she really is.
XANDER: We saw her body, Will. We buried it.
WILLOW: Her body, yeah. But her soul ... her essence ... I mean, that could be somewhere else. She could be trapped, in-in some sort of hell dimension like Angel was. (tearfully) Suffering eternal torment, just because she saved us, and I'm not gonna let ... I'm not gonna leave her there. (intensely) It's Buffy.

Xander looks at her for a long moment.

XANDER: What time do we meet?

Cut to Willow entering the Summers house. She sees Spike and the BuffyBot in the living room.

BUFFYBOT: (shouts) Willow!

The bot walks toward Willow, knocking over a side table with a vase on it. Spike catches the vase. Willow comes into the room as the bot walks into a wall.

WILLOW: What happened, where's Dawn?

Willow grabs the bot and pulls her away from the wall, giving Spike a questioning look.

SPIKE: Upstairs, in bed. But the bot here seems to have got into a scrape while she was on patrol.

Willow positions the bot in front of her and looks at the cut on her forehead.

BUFFYBOT: I think my feet are broken.
WILLOW: Eh, looks more like a short in the navigational system.

She steers the bot over to the sofa and sits her down while talking to Spike.

WILLOW: Can you get me a flashlight? It's in the, uh, kitchen.
SPIKE: (heads for the kitchen) She wanted to go out and look for you again, but I figured there are enough things in Sunnydale that go bump in the night. (exits)
WILLOW: (sits facing the bot) Good thinking.
BUFFYBOT: But my homing device locates you when I am injured. I am programmed to go to you.
WILLOW: (nods) Right, I know. Still, I think just this once, it was a good idea to stay put.

Willow lifts the bot's shirt and peels back the skin over her stomach, revealing various wires and circuitry.

WILLOW: Spike was right. (pokes at the bot's innards)

The bot looks up and smiles at Spike as he comes back in with the flashlight.

BUFFYBOT: Sorry I questioned you, Spike. (Spike looks surprised) You know I admire your brain almost as much as your washboard abs. (big smile)

Spike looks pained.

SPIKE: (quietly to Willow) I told you to make her stop doing that.
WILLOW: I did. I mean, I thought I got all that stuff out of the program.

We see that Willow has the bot hooked up to a laptop computer.

SPIKE: Well, you've got her opened up, fix it.
WILLOW: (typing) Sure. I mean, I have a lot of work here, but I'll see what I can do.

Focus on the bot's face watching with interest as Spike crosses into the frame and off to the left. Willow doesn't see him moving.

WILLOW: Can you shine the flashlight right here?

Willow turns but Spike is gone.

WILLOW: Spike!

We see Spike opening the front door. He grabs his coat and leaves.

BUFFYBOT: Did I say something wrong?
WILLOW: (typing) No, it's not your fault.
BUFFYBOT: (pensive) I think Spike stopped liking me.
WILLOW: That's not true, he-he thinks you're swell.
BUFFYBOT: Then how come he never looks at me any more? Even when he's talking to me.

Beat. The bot seems anxious for Willow to explain.

WILLOW: (nervous) He just gets cranky, the way vampires do. Now, just relax. I am gonna make you good as new.

The bot continues to stare at Willow with a small frown. Willow continues typing.

WILLOW: I promise.

Fade to: exterior of the house, night.
Cut to Willow and Tara asleep in Joyce's bed, snuggled up together.

Cut to Dawn in bed, wide awake, staring at the ceiling. After a long moment, she gets up.

Cut to Dawn walking down the hall, pushing open the door to Buffy's room. The bot lies on Buffy's bed, eyes open, with some wires coming out of her body and some equipment blinking and beeping steadily.

Dawn walks farther into the room.

Pan across what looks like a battery or electric generator on the floor at the foot of the bed. Wires extend out of it and into the bot's stomach. She lies on her back with her shirt pushed up. Her eyes are open.

Dawn goes over and lies down on the bed beside the BuffyBot, cuddling up against her. The bot doesn't move, just lies there. Dawn closes her eyes.

Cut to: aerial shot of Sunnydale, day.

Cut to the workout room. Buffybot is practicing with Giles. He has padded targets on both hands and she punches them in a rapid sequence.

GILES: That was splendid. (she stops hitting) Now ... try it again ... (panting) only this time, remember your breathing.

The bot looks confused for a moment, then takes a deep breath and blows it out through her lips in one long breath as she hits the targets again and again.

GILES: No, uh, that's good, but, uh ... (We see Anya come in and stop in the doorway, watching) ...think of the breath as chi. Air as a, a life source.
BUFFYBOT: I don't require oxygen to live.
GILES: Of course, strictly speaking, but-
ANYA: Um ... (walks into the room) Maybe you should stick to the standard drill. You know, you don't want her to blow another gasket.
GILES: I'm testing her responses after her injury. I see no harm in imparting a little Eastern philosophy.
ANYA: Well, I just think that, the concept of chi might be a little, you know, hard for her to grasp.

Giles drops his arms, in exasperation, then puts hands on hips.

ANYA: You know, she's not the descendant of a long line of mystical warriors. She's the descendant of a toaster oven.
GILES: Yes, well, I appreciate your input, Anya, but I think Buffybot has responded nicely to our sessions.

Buffybot smiles happily. Giles lifts his hands and she prepares to resume.

ANYA: Well, you're the boss. (to herself) Still.

Anya turns and walks out. Giles drops his hands again, annoyed.

BUFFYBOT: Would you like to test me again?
GILES: No, perhaps we should call it a day. Your ... your responses are fine.

He takes off the targets, puts them down, picks up a bottle of water. The bot stands in place and watches him. Giles turns back and sees her looking at him.

GILES: Perhaps Anya's right. Perhaps I am trying to teach you as if you were...
BUFFYBOT: Human?
GILES: (uncomfortable) Yes.
BUFFYBOT: I like your teachings. Every Slayer needs her Watcher.
GILES: I'm not so sure about that.
BUFFYBOT: (frowns) What do you mean?
GILES: Nothing.

Giles wipes his face with a towel, looks at the bot again, sighs.

GILES: (looking away) I just can't help but wonder if ... she would have been better off without me. Buffy.
BUFFYBOT: I don't think that's true. You were very helpful to her.
GILES: (laughs) Right. Yes, I was a perfect Watcher. I did what any good Watcher would do. Got my Slayer killed in the line of duty.
BUFFYBOT: Oh, that wasn't your fault.
GILES: Of course not. That's how all Slayer/Watcher relationships end, isn't it?

He puts his glasses on, turns to face the bot again, calmer now.

GILES: She's gone. I did my job.
BUFFYBOT: (frowns innocently) Well, then why are you still here?

Giles looks at her sadly.

Cut to: demons on motorcycles. They drive up to a large building with a lot of other motorcycles parked outside. Loud rock music.

Cut to inside. It's a bar. Many large, muscular, leather-clad demons are walking around, drinking beer, etc. Several of them wear leather jackets with the word "Hellion" on the back. There are also some humans. Pan across to the bar.

VAMP: So I got her cornered in this alley, see...

We see the vamp who injured the BuffyBot. He sits at the bar talking to one of the leather demons (Mag).

MAG: (skeptical) You get the Slayer cornered.
VAMP: Yeah. I figured it's my duty. She's a menace to our society. So we fight, and I'm like, pow pow pow! (makes punching gestures) And I got her on the ropes.

Mag turns and grabs him by the throat, growling.

MAG: You're lying to me.
VAMP: (high, choked voice) I swear on all that's unholy! You haven't even heard the best part. I cut her, right? And she's -- I don't know, some kind of machine. She's not human!

Mag looks into his eyes for a moment, lets him go.

MAG: You're high.
VAMP: I'm tellin' you, it wasn't even the Slayer, man. It was like a trick. (Mag looks at him) A robot.

The vamp starts to drink his beer, but Mag grabs him again and hustles him across the room. He pushes through the crowd of demons to where the head demon, Razor, is sitting in a booth, surrounded by his cronies. Razor is very large and ugly.

RAZOR: What's with the blood rat?
MAG: (to the vampire) Talk!
VAMP: (nervous) Okay, uh, so, I was over in Sunnydale, minding my own beeswax, when I see the Slayer-
MAG: (shakes him) The part about the robot.
VAMP: We fought, right? And I was like all over her, (punching gestures) boom boom boom....
MAG: He says the Slayer's been replaced by some kind of machine.

The vamp stops making punch noises. Razor looks interested.

VAMP: A robot, yeah! And I kicked her synthetic ass. You shoulda seen the sparks-

Razor gets up, towers over the vamp.

RAZOR: You tellin' me there's no Slayer in Sunnydale?

Longer shot of them from across the room, other demons watching.

VAMP: That's what I'm saying, they got some kind of decoy standing in for her. (false bravado) Town is wide open.
MAG: Nowhere like the Hellmouth for a party. There's all kinds of bad in that place.

Razor nods thoughtfully. He and his cronies all laugh. The vamp laughs too, pats Razor on the chest.

VAMP: I guess with your muscle, uh, you could own it in no time. (nervous chuckle) Hey look, I know you guys don't usually let vampires join the gang, and I got the whole (air quotes) sunlight issue. But I was thinking, you know, as thanks for the 4-1-1, you could let me go-

Razor grabs him by the neck.

Shot of the vamp's headless body hitting the floor and dusting.

Razor brushes dust off his hands.

RAZOR: I'll think it over.

He looks around. All his demon buddies are watching.

RAZOR: Let's ride!

They all cheer and turn to go.

Cut to the demons getting on their bikes and riding off in a cloud of dust.

Blackout.

---

Act III

---

Open on a peaceful pond surrounded by grass and trees. It's a bright sunny day. Soft meditative music.

WILLOW: Adonai, Helomi, Pine.

Pan across to discover Willow kneeling on a blanket on the grass. She pours something from a small pot onto the ground.

WILLOW: Adonai, Helomi, Pine. The gods do command thee from thy majesty. (puts the lid on the jar, puts it down) O Mappa Laman, Adonai, Helomi. Come forward, blessed one. Know your calling.

She looks around.

A young deer comes around a tree and toward her.

WILLOW: Come forward, blessed one.

The fawn walks over to her. Willow pets it gently, puts her arm around its back.

Shot of a large knife lying on the blanket. Willow's hand grabs it and thrusts.

Intercut shots of the fawn's legs struggling with shots of Willow's distressed face. After a moment the struggling stops.

We don't see the dead fawn but we see the blood all over Willow's hands. She looks ready to cry.

WILLOW: (panting) Accept our humble gratitude for your offering. (puts knife down) In death ... you give life. (voice breaking) May you find wings to the kingdom.

She looks around, breathing raggedly.

Cut to the magic shop. Xander and Tara sit at the round table reading. The door jingles as Willow enters, wearing different clothing. Anya appears from the side.

TARA: Hey. You're late.
WILLOW: Oh. (too casual) I, uh, had to get that thing.

Willow goes to the counter, holding a small leather bag.

XANDER: Giles isn't around, you can dump the cryptic.
WILLOW: (nervous) The last spell ingredient.
XANDER: Okay, right. What is vino de madre anyway?
WILLOW: (walks over to them) Wine of the mother. Kind of ... black market stuff.
TARA: Black market, you-you didn't tell me that. You shouldn't have gone alone, it could have been dangerous.
WILLOW: Sorry. I didn't ... I was careful.
ANYA: Well, it must be something pretty intense. The black market's all baby teeth and spooky fluids. (moves toward counter)
WILLOW: (moves toward bookshelves) All I know is we have to have it to finish the spell, so, it's good stuff in my book. (takes a book from the shelf, returns to sit at the table) How come you guys are here anyway? I thought we weren't gonna meet till later.
XANDER: Oh, we were. It just felt weird hanging out on our own.
TARA: It's better if we stay together.
WILLOW: (takes Tara's hand) Aw, you got butterflies, baby?
TARA: More like bats.
ANYA: Y-you wanna look at the money? I find it always calms me.

Xander smiles fondly.

TARA: That's okay, thanks.
WILLOW: You tell those bats that everything is gonna be all right. I promise. We couldn't be more prepared.
TARA: I know, I just wish it was time, I-

We see Anya behind the counter picking up a piece of paper, reading it with a frown, coming out from behind the counter.

TARA: (OS) -I can't stand worrying about it anymore.
ANYA: Um ... well, it's your lucky day then. I have something that will distract you.

Everyone looks up. Anya gives the paper to Xander.

WILLOW: What?
XANDER: (reads) "I've gone. Not one for long good-byes." (Shot of Willow and Tara looking dismayed) "I thought it best to slip out quietly. Love to you all, Giles."

Cut to the airport. Giles sits in the terminal, reading a book, with a small bag on the floor beside him. He stops reading, looks off into space.

WILLOW: (OS) You really think we'd let you get away with that?

The gang, plus Dawn, walks up to him.

GILES: (smiles) I was trying to avoid a scene, really.

We see that Dawn is holding a greeting card. Willow produces a large sign with the words "BON VOYAGE GILES!" inside a heart, with balloons attached to the corners.

WILLOW: Like we'd make a scene.
GILES: (quietly) Not you. Me.

They all look like they don't know what to say. Anya steps forward.

ANYA: Um, we, uh, brought you some lovely parting gifts. (holds something out) It's American. Get it? Apple pie?

It's a packaged snack pie such as you might get at McDonald's. Giles takes it with a smile.

ANYA: To remind you of all the good food you won't be eating.
TARA: A-and a monster, sort of a Sunnydale souvenir we thought.

Tara has a small rubber monster attached to her finger. Basically a thimble with arms and a scary face. She bounces it up and down.

TARA: Grr! Argh!
GILES: (smiles) Thank you.

Giles takes the monster.

XANDER: And I wanted to buy you a can of Old English 800, 'cause, you know, England, and you, and ... because at the time it sounded really funny. But the guy who lives in the box in front of the store, he, uh, wouldn't buy it for us.

Xander smiles nervously. Dawn steps forward.

DAWN: We got your presents at the gas station. (sits beside Giles) We were kind of in a hurry.

Giles continues smiling nervously. Dawn looks uncertain, then hands him the card.

DAWN: Um, we made this in the car. That's why the letters are all shaky.

They all look on anxiously as Giles opens the card and reads it.

GILES: (touched) This is, uh ... impossible, really.
WILLOW: We just wanted you to know that ... we'll miss you. Uh, but we'll be okay. (softly) We'll miss you, but, (very softly) we'll be okay.
ANYA: I'll take really good care of your money.
GILES: (laughs) Yes, I have no doubt.
P.A. ANNOUNCER: ...passengers, Flight 3982, leaving for Los Angeles, and continuing to London. Rows 20 through 30...

Giles gets up, gathers his stuff.

GILES: That's me.
WILLOW: Now? We just made it.
GILES: Just, yes.

They all look at each other.

GILES: Well, if we're going to do this, let's do it properly.

He puts down his bag, goes over to Xander. They hold out hands toward each other, look awkward for a moment, then hug.

Giles turns away from Xander, and Anya grabs Giles tightly. He hugs her back. Then he hugs Tara, then Dawn.

GILES: I'm just a phone call away ... if you need anything. (holds Dawn's face in his hands) You must promise me.
DAWN: I do. I promise.

Giles turns to Willow. She smiles nervously.

GILES: Willow. I don't know where to start. (they hug)
WILLOW: (tearful) Well, maybe you shouldn't. (lets him go) I'm trying to be stiff-upper-lippy.
GILES: Right, right. (removes his glasses)
WILLOW: Well, you should get going. (taps him on the shoulder) Don't you have a life or something?
GILES: (replaces glasses) Um, well, I suppose that's the question really.

Tara puts her arm around Willow as Giles gathers his stuff up again.

GILES: Just, uh ... be careful. Please.

He gives them a last look, turns toward the gate.

Pan across the Scoobies standing in a row watching him go. Giles gives his ticket to the flight attendant and goes through the door.

Cut to a shot of a plane flying overhead.

WILLOW: (OS) There he goes.

We see the Scoobies standing on the sidewalk looking up. Willow still holds the big sign. Tara and Dawn have their arms linked.

XANDER: It's a good thing. My face was getting sore from all that faux smiling.
WILLOW: It was right, though, wasn't it? Giving him the no-tears sendoff? I mean, we don't want him goin' off all worried about us.
ANYA: He'd still be all worried, just ... eight hours ahead.
WILLOW: What's he gonna do over there by himself? (they all start walking) I mean, he never talks about people from England. What if he's lonely?
TARA: He won't be lonely. He used to live there before, remember?
DAWN: And I'm sure we'll talk to him, right? It's not like he's-
TARA: We'll call him tomorrow, how 'bout that? (puts arm around Dawn's shoulder) See how his flight was? Yeah?

Tara and Dawn walk on ahead as the other three pause.

XANDER: (to Willow) Can you believe the timing? I mean, he's leaving right when we're ready to... (Willow glances nervously toward Dawn) ...do the thing tonight.
WILLOW: (still looking at the sky) I know, I had hoped we'd figure it out before he, uh ... before he left.
ANYA: Maybe we should have told him. I mean, what if it works?
WILLOW: (still looking at the sky) He'll come back.

Beat. Xander fidgets.

XANDER: It'll be dark soon.
WILLOW: Yeah, we should get Dawn home. I want to go over everything one more time. Nothing can go wrong tonight.

She walks on. Xander and Anya follow.

Lingering shot of the front of the airport building.
Fade to aerial shot of Sunnydale, twilight. The sun is just setting.

Fade to a curvy two-lane highway on a hill. The demons on motorcycles come roaring around a bend and down the road. They go past a sign reading "Welcome to Sunnydale" as we see the town spread out below.

Fade to the forest, night. Tara, Willow, Xander, and Anya are standing in a semicircle beside Buffy's grave. Willow is directly at the foot of the grave. Xander and Tara hold lit candles.

WILLOW: Does everybody have their candles?
ANYA: I'm trying, my lighter won't stay lit. (flicking lighter continuously)
WILLOW: Well, hurry, it has to-
TARA: What time is it?
XANDER: (checks watch) A minute till midnight.
WILLOW: C'mon, Anya, do you have it?
ANYA: (gets the lighter lit, lights her candle) I got it, I got it. I got it.
WILLOW: Okay. Start the circle. Now.

They all kneel, holding their candles, except Willow who holds the Urn of Osiris.

Lingering shot of the headstone.

Willow produces a small jar containing (presumably) the fawn's blood, and pours it into the urn. Tara and Xander look nervous.

WILLOW: Osiris, keeper of the gate, master of all fate, hear us.

She dips her finger into the urn and marks her forehead and both cheeks with the blood.

WILLOW: Before time, and after. Before knowing and nothing.

She pours the contents of the urn onto the earth.

WILLOW: Accept our offering. Know our prayer.

Suddenly she jerks backward, panting, and her arms go out at her sides. Deep ugly gashes appear on her arms.

XANDER: Willow! (reaches for her)
TARA: No! (stuttering) She t - she told me ... she'd be tested. This is supposed to happen.
WILLOW: (louder) Osiris! Here lies the warrior of the people. Let her cross over.

Willow winces in pain. We see blood running from the cuts on her arms, and round shapes moving under her skin. She gives a little moan of pain.

The round things move up her arms and over her chest toward her neck.

XANDER: She needs help!
TARA: Xander, she's strong! She said not to stop, no matter what. If we break the cycle now, it's over.

They all watch anxiously. Willow continues breathing heavily. Suddenly they hear a loud rumbling and they all look around nervously.

ANYA: Oh god, what is that noise?

Cut to Main Street Sunnydale. People scream in fear as the demons on motorcycles roar through the downtown area. The rumbling noise (motorcycle engines) continues. The demons drive over cars, through curbside restaurant tables, between pedestrians. At least one demon grabs a woman and pulls her onto his bike. We see them throwing garbage cans through windows, hitting cars with baseball bats, etc.

A demon lights a Molotov cocktail and throws it through a store window. Pedestrians continue screaming and running away.

Another demon throws another flaming bottle directly at the camera. Blackout.

---

Act IV

---

Fade in on the scene by the grave. Willow still kneels with her arms held out, panting. The others watch with concern.

WILLOW: (yelling) Osiris, let her cross over! Aah...

Willow makes choking noises as we see the round things under her skin moving up her neck.

TARA: Oh my god, oh my god.

Willow leans forward putting her hands on the ground, gagging. A snake head appears in her open mouth. Shot of her fingers clutching the grass. The snake slithers out her mouth and onto the ground. The others look horrified.

TARA: (anxious) It's a test. It's a test. Willow...

Linger on Willow leaning over the ground with her mouth still open.

Cut to Spike sitting in the Summers living room, in the dark in front of a television. He looks across at the sofa. Shot of Dawn asleep on the sofa. Spike looks back at the TV.

Sound of motorcycle engines rumbling, tires screeching, crashing noises. Spike jumps up and goes to the window, looks out.

We see the demons riding on people's front yards, throwing trash around, etc.

Dawn comes up behind Spike, peers out the window.

DAWN: What's going on?
SPIKE: (whispers) Stay away from the window.

Spike takes Dawn's shoulders and moves her away from the window. He walks toward the foyer. Dawn follows.

DAWN: What is it, what's happening?
SPIKE: Just do as I say.

He checks to make sure the front door is locked, takes Dawn's shoulders again.

SPIKE: I'm going to check the rest of the house.

He moves off.

SPIKE: (OS) Don't move!

Dawn stands where he placed her, looking around nervously.

Cut to downtown Sunnydale. The demons are still running rampant, and various things are burning. A demon is smashing the windows of a car with the logo "Espresso2U.com" on it. He turns and goes off, waving his weapon. Sounds of demons yelling, people screaming.

We see a couple of demons looking through a woman's purse.

Mag is taking stuff out of a store window display where the glass has all been smashed.

BUFFYBOT: (OS) That doesn't belong to you.

Mag turns and sees BuffyBot standing there with hands on hips.

BUFFYBOT: Put it back.

Mag opens his mouth and lets out a high-pitched squeal.

All the other demons turn to look. BuffyBot looks around nervously as the demons begin to converge on her.

Razor comes right up to her as the others form a circle around them.

RAZOR: Slayer. I've been hearing interesting things about you.
BUFFYBOT: Yes. I am interesting. (looks around) These your friends?
RAZOR: They're my boys, yeah.
BUFFYBOT: Good. Now tell them to get back on their loud bicycles and go back wherever they came from.
RAZOR: Or what? You'll electrocute us?

He punches her in the face. She staggers back into a couple of other demons, who catch her and hold her arms.

RAZOR: Hold her.

The bot struggles as Razor comes forward and lifts his hand, revealing a set of ugly claws. Then an even uglier set of serrated metal claws pop out at the ends of his fingers.

He reaches out and swipes at the BuffyBot. The claws rip slashes in her shirt and shoulder. Blue sparks sizzle from the wound.

RAZOR: You're nothing but a toy. A pretty toy. Wanna play?

He moves a little closer and the bot knees him in the groin. As he doubles over, she goes into a backflip, kicking him in the face with both feet and breaking free from her captors.

BUFFYBOT: I would, but you've injured me. I have to return to Willow.

She turns and delivers spin-kicks to two of the demons, lays out four or five more of them in quick succession with mostly kicks and a few punches. She leaps over the prone bodies and runs off. Razor lifts up onto an elbow.

RAZOR: Get her!

A few more demons try to stop BuffyBot but she punches them out of the way. The rest of the demons that she already fought all get up and get on their bikes, and tear off after her.

Cut back to the grave. Anya, Xander, and Tara continue staring as orange light swirls around Willow, who is kneeling up again, panting loudly.

WILLOW: Osiris, release her!

BuffyBot runs up behind Tara.

BUFFYBOT: Willow! I need service!

Sound of motorcycles revving. The bot looks behind her and runs off as the motorcycle demons ride up.

The demons ride around the bot, trapping her. They also ride around the others. Anya yelps. Anya, Xander, and Tara get up and clutch each other, looking around at the demons.

Willow is still encased in a tube of reddish-orange light, panting. The demons ride around and around.

TARA: Willow!

One of the demons runs his bike over the Urn of Osiris, shattering it.

WILLOW: (screams) No!

The red light dissipates and Willow falls to the ground.

TARA: Willow!

Tara runs forward but Mag rides in front of her, cutting her off. She screams and moves back

MAG: Look what I found!

The demons continue riding circles around BuffyBot.

Xander sees an opening and dashes forward, grabs Willow and pulls her out of the way just as Mag rides his bike through the spot where Willow was lying.

XANDER: (yells to Anya and Tara) Take off! Go! Go!

Tara and Anya run off.

Xander lifts Willow by the shoulders and pulls/shoves her into the underbrush.

Tara and Anya run through the forest together with Mag pursuing them. He grabs Anya as he rides by, pulls her onto his bike.

TARA: Anya!

Tara stops running.

TARA: Dissolvo!

A ball of blue light flashes from Tara to the motorcycle, knocking Anya free. She hits the ground and rolls as the motorcycle continues on. Tara runs to Anya, helps her up and they continue running.

Cut to Xander in a different part of the forest, carrying Willow. He stops, puts her down with her back against a tree. She begins to regain consciousness.

XANDER: Willow. Willow, are you okay?
WILLOW: (weakly) Did it work?
XANDER: (shakes head) I'm sorry.

Willow passes out again.

Xander kneels there on the ground with Willow lying across his lap. He looks around nervously. We can still hear the motorcycles all around.

Pan down to the ground, into blackness. Fade in on a wrinkled, desiccated hand. Pan up across a body encased in black clothing. The orange mist from before swirls around the head, which is a skull with much of the skin rotting off and the hair decaying.

As the mist moves around the body, the eyeballs reappear, the skin and hair repair themselves, and it resolves into Buffy, wide-eyed and gasping. She's inside her coffin. She looks around, panting, with an expression of extreme fear.

Blackout.
Note: This point marks the end of "Bargaining Part 1."

---

"Bargaining Part 2," Act I

---

Open on the BuffyBot with the demons still riding in circles around her. Every now and then they hit her as they pass.

BUFFYBOT: Oh, I'm dangerously close to- (a demon hits her in the face) -systems failure! Must - oh! - disengage from combat - so - oh! - Willow can service me.

RAZOR: (swinging a length of chain) I'll service ya, girl toy!

He throws the chain and the bot goes down. He stops his bike beside her and gets off.

Cut to Xander and Willow. Xander seems about to pick her up again when Anya and Tara come running up.

TARA: Willow!

Tara goes to her knees and takes Willow's head on her lap.

XANDER: I'm pretty sure she's okay. (gets up and goes to Anya) Or as okay as someone who's just had snakes coming out of their mouth. What the hell was that all about, Tara? (Tara looks up at him)
ANYA: Less talk, more running away.
XANDER: I'm sure the woods'll give us cover. Their motorcycles can't follow us in here.

The motorcycles noises get closer, and we see the light from their headlights.

ANYA: Someone should tell them that.
XANDER: New plan. (goes to Willow, kneels and starts lifting her) Let's split up.
ANYA: No, bad plan.

Xander and Tara have the unconscious Willow upright, each supporting one side of her.

TARA: I'll take her.
XANDER: No, I can carry her. (Tara looks anxious) I'll keep her safe.
TARA: (nods reluctantly) We should meet up somewhere.
XANDER: The Magic Box. Whoever gets there first, call Dawn and Spike.

Tara and Anya start off, but Anya pauses.

ANYA: Wait. What about the Buffybot?
XANDER: (indecisive for a moment) We can't. It's lost. (lifts Willow) Go!

Xander picks Willow up and heads off. Tara and Anya go off together in another direction.

Cut back to the grave. The bot is on the ground and the demons surround her, kicking her and yelling happily.

Pan down across Buffy's headstone, to the grass.

Cut to inside the coffin. Buffy pounds frantically on the sides, tries to scream but no sound comes out. She looks terrified. She continues pounding, bangs on the inner lid just inches from her face. She begins to rip away the cloth that covers the inside of the lid. She grunts with exertion as the cloth rips.

Cut to the forest. Xander walks along carrying Willow, moving at a fast walk. He pauses, puts her down on the ground. Willow comes to again.

WILLOW: (loudly) Xan ... Xander, where - where-
XANDER: Shh! We're using our quiet voice, Will.
WILLOW: (whispers) Wh-wh-where's Tara?
XANDER: (panting) Off and running. Like we need to be. We gotta keep moving.
WILLOW: (panting) Oh ... right. Demons ... on bikes.
XANDER: Yeah. We got trouble. Right here in Hellmouth City. And our very own robo-Buffy led them right to us.
WILLOW: Buffy! The ritual! We have to go back. (sits up)
XANDER: (pushes her back) Will. I told you.
WILLOW: We have to try again.
XANDER: No, we can't.
WILLOW: We have to, Xander! I - she - she's waiting! She's counting on us, on, on me! I can't leave her there any more, I won't. We have to finish.
XANDER: Shh!

They both hush and look around nervously as a motorcycle goes by near them.

XANDER: (whispers) Will .. .the urn of cirrhosis...
WILLOW: Osiris?
XANDER: Yeah. It got kind of...
WILLOW: (remembers) Broken. It's broken. I remember.
XANDER: So we'll find another one. Better made. Anya and I will jump back on the web-
WILLOW: There is no other one. (closes her eyes)
XANDER: Okay, we'll fix this one. A little tape, a dab of Crazy Glue.
WILLOW: No. It's no use. (tearful) The urn's defiled. It's gone. Nothing, it was all for nothing. Buffy's gone. She's really gone.

Willow begins to cry, buries her face in Xander's chest.

Cut to Buffy still ripping the cloth from the coffin. She bangs her hands against the lid, punches it and her fist goes through the wood. Dirt begins to rain down on her as she pulls at the wood, widening the hole.

Cut to Anya running through the woods, looking around.

MAG: (OS) Over here! Stop your moanin'.

Anya suddenly falls down as Tara pulls at her from behind a rock.

ANYA: (annoyed) Was that really necessary? A simple "psst"-

Tara puts her hand over Anya's mouth. They both fall silent as two demons walk up near them.

CLYED: I'm just saying it's rank.
MAG: Get off it, Clyed.
CLYED: Razor and the others head back to town, leave us here to hunt down strays. It's bullsh-
MAG: Hey! (grabs Clyed) You got a bug up your crack, you take it up with Razor.

The two girls huddle behind their rock listening.

MAG: Until then you do as he says, and shut your hole, before I rip you a new one.

Mag lets go of Clyed and looks around, snarling.

MAG: Ah, screw this, let's get out of here. (they both turn away) Let's go hit some stores.

Tara and Anya relax a little as the demons move away.

TARA: Doesn't sound like they found Willow and Xander.
ANYA: Did he say stores? Hitting stores? Does that mean looting?
TARA: I think, I think the woods let out over this way (points) We should keep off the streets, take alleys if we can.
ANYA: They can't loot the magic shop, not now! I just got it.
TARA: (puts hand on Anya's shoulder) Let's go.

They get up and start to walk.

ANYA: You don't think they'll cause a lot of damage, do you?

Cut to the demons still wrecking houses and cars on residential street. One demon throws a Molotov cocktail at a front door, jumps up and down triumphantly as the porch bursts into flame.

Shot of a wooden mailbox labeled "Summers." A demon rides past and smashes it with a baseball bat.

Cut to exterior shot of the Summers house. The demons have not yet ventured onto its lawn
Cut to inside the house. Dawn is looking out the front window.

SPIKE: (OS) A couple of stakes...

We see Spike looking through Buffy's weapon chest.

SPIKE: ...holy water, one cross - (reaches in to grab the cross) Ow! (stumbles back, shaking his hand in pain) Brilliant.

He looks at his injured hand, then over at the window, notices Dawn.

SPIKE: Here! (starts toward her) You want me to bloody thump you? I told you to stay away from the window. (pulls her away)
DAWN: Who are they?
SPIKE: (peers out) Hellions. Road pirates. (shot of a demon throwing rocks through a house's windows) They raid towns ... use 'em up, burn 'em down. It's usually backwaters, any place... (looks back at Dawn, realizing) Any place they think is vulnerable.
DAWN: They know. The Slayer's gone.

Spike looks back out the window. The demons continue to ride up and down the street, setting various things on fire.

SPIKE: Can't stay here. (gets up, grabs Dawn by the hand)
DAWN: W-well, I'm not going out there!
SPIKE: (pulling her toward the door) Got no choice, bit, I can't protect you here.
DAWN: (stops) Well, we can lock the doors, turn out the lights.
SPIKE: And what, hide under the bed linen? Not really my style.
DAWN: But we need to wait for the others, and Buffy.

Spike frowns at her, confused.

DAWN: ...bot. You know, the-the Buffybot.

Spike sighs in frustration, looks around.

DAWN: (agitated) We-we have to wait for the others-
SPIKE: (grabs her roughly by the shoulders) Look! (pauses, more quietly) Dawn, I get that you're scared. But I'm your sitter, so mind me. (lets go her shoulders) I'm not gonna let any of those buggers lay so much as a warty digit on you. Right?
DAWN: (whispers) Right.
SPIKE: Right, then. We can't wait around to see if the others will pop in. We're on our own. No one's coming to our rescue.

He takes Dawn's hands and leads her toward the back door.

Cut to Buffy's grave. Zoom in on the ground, which is already churned up from the motorcycles riding over it.

Suddenly a hand bursts out from below, then another hand, then Buffy's head and shoulders. She gasps for air, pulls herself up onto the grass, lies there panting. She looks around at the dark forest, very fearfully.

Blackout.

---

Act II

---

Open on the same scene. Buffy slowly gets to her feet, turns and stares at the headstone with her name on it. She frowns in confusion, then her eyes widen in shock as she gets it.

Cut to downtown. A car sits there burning, half burnt away. Buffy walks up, stares. Pan to a wider shot and we see her walking down a street that's littered with debris. Buffy wears a black dress with dark hose and black heeled shoes. Her hair is shaggy and mostly covers her face.

Cut to a shot from Buffy's point of view. Everything is blurry and indistinct. She continues walking, squinting and frowning at the burning cars.

She stops walking to stare at a car. A demon on his motorcycle goes roaring past, throws something as he goes by. Buffy watches him go, backs away.

Cut to interior of the magic shop. The door opens and Tara and Anya run in. They go down the steps into the main room.

TARA: Willow, Xander!

Tara goes to look in the back room, comes back. Anya looks around the store.

TARA: They're not here.
ANYA: Thank god. (Tara looks confused) No, I mean, my store hasn't been looted.

Loud banging noise from outside. They both turn to look.

TARA: Yet.

They go to the window, peek out.

Shot of a bunch of demons looting a store across the street.

ANYA: (softly) Xander.
TARA: They're all right.
ANYA: Then where are they? Why aren't they here?
TARA: I don't know.

Anya turns away from the window, walks into the store. Tara follows.

ANYA: (getting agitated) They could be hurt. Xander could be lying somewhere broken and bleeding, calling out my name.
TARA: Anya.
ANYA: Like that, oh god! (walks on) What if, what if they're really hurt, what if they're dead?
TARA: (firmly) They're not.
ANYA: How do you know?
TARA: Because he's with Willow. And if something ... happened, I'd know. (softly) And so would you.
ANYA: (calmer) You think?
TARA: I'm sure of it. (hugs her) They're fine.

Shot of Tara over Anya's shoulder as they hug. She strokes Anya's hair.
TARA: (trying to convince herself) They're both fine.

Tara pulls back to look at Anya.

TARA: Maybe they got lost, in the woods.
ANYA: The woods? Are we going back to the woods? I hate the woods. All those woodsy trees.
TARA: (excited) No, it's okay. Lost is good. Willow and I always know how to find each other!

She runs to the round table, shoves all the stuff off of it and climbs up on it, sits cross-legged and puts her hands on her knees. (See episode "Fear Itself")

ANYA: With yoga?
TARA: Ssh! (eyes closed) Aradia, hear my words.

Cut to the forest. Xander and Willow are walking along. Willow is panting, leans on Xander for support.

XANDER: Okay, this is really starting to grate my cheese. These woods aren't that big. Now, I know we've been going straight because I've been following the North Star.
WILLOW: (looks up) Xander. (they stop) That's not the North Star. It's an airplane.

Willow makes a pained face, staggers over to a tree and leans against it.

XANDER: Nah, that's not an airplane, it's definitely ... (looks harder) ...a blimp! (embarrassed) But I can see how one ... could make that airplane mistake.
WILLOW: (panting) I, I can't walk any more. I need to rest.
XANDER: It can't be much further.
WILLOW: You said that an hour ago. I just ... that spell took a lot out of me.
XANDER: As for example, snakes? How come you didn't tell us how much-
WILLOW: No. Not now.
XANDER: What were we into back there, Will?
WILLOW: It doesn't matter anyway.
XANDER: Do not get all avoidy on me.
WILLOW: I'm not avoidy, I just ... we have bigger problems. Demons?
XANDER: Demons! Ah. There's something you don't see every day. (sarcastic chuckle) Unless you're us.
WILLOW: (annoyed) Yeah, and now we're lost, so can we - (sees something ahead) What's that?
XANDER: See? Avoidy.
WILLOW: (points) Over there, that-that light.
XANDER: (looks) That one moving towards us?

We see a blue light in the distance.

XANDER: Incredibly fast?
WILLOW: (calls) Hello?
XANDER: "Hello"? We're being hunted, and you're hello-ing a strange fast-moving light in the dark? It could be anything.

The light comes closer but is still hard to see through the trees.

XANDER: It's a motorcycle headlight.
WILLOW: (smiling) No, too small.
XANDER: Stay behind me. (picks up a stick from the ground, moves forward)
WILLOW: Xander, I don't-
XANDER: Stay down. I'll take care of this.

The light flies right up to Xander and circles his head. It's a small blue ball of light.

WILLOW: Xander, it's-
XANDER: A bug! A big fiery bug! (trying to shoo it away)
WILLOW: Xander-
XANDER: Get off! Do fireflies bite? No, they probably burn, don't they? They - yaa!
WILLOW: (smiling) Xander, it's not a bug. (as it flies around her face) It's Tara.

Willow pushes away from the tree and follows the light as it moves off.

WILLOW: Come on.

She moves past Xander and on through the trees. Xander follows.

XANDER: And how long have you known that your girlfriend's Tinkerbell?

Cut to Buffy walking down residential streets. A siren wails in the background. Buffy goes to a car that's parked on a driveway, leans against it.

The car's lights come on and its security system begins to wail and honk. Buffy presses her hands over her ears in pain. The house lights come on. The front door opens and a man comes out.

HOMEOWNER: What are you doing?

Buffy peers at him through her fingers. Her vision is still very blurry. The man is holding a shotgun.

HOMEOWNER: Get away from there!

Buffy squints at him.

HOMEOWNER: Do you hear me? (walks onto the porch) I said get off my property!

Buffy continues frowning and squinting.

HOMEOWNER: Leave us alone. (yells) Get outta here!

He fires into the air. Buffy turns and runs off.

Cut to Dawn and Spike running around the side of the Summers house, crouching down behind a bush against the wall. Spike looks out at the street. Dawn tries to move forward to look too, but he shoves her behind him.

SPIKE: Get back.

We see some demons riding their bikes up onto the porch of a house across the street. Spike gets up a little so he can see better. The demons break some windows and go into the house. We can see people inside.

Spike continues watching as we hear a woman screaming. A small smile flicks across Spike's face. Dawn peers over his shoulder.

DAWN: I-it looks like they're just ... wrecking stuff. No thought other than just destruct-o-rama.

The demons throw some chairs out through the windows.

Spike grins. Dawn notices it.

DAWN: What?
SPIKE: Uh, oh, nothing, just, uh ... (nods toward the action) looked like fun. (Dawn gives him a look) I'm just sayin'. Yeah, it's just ... (looks around) with this kind of frolicking going on all around town, we're not gonna get very far without...

Spike spies something, moves away from the wall. Dawn watches.

There's a kid-sized football helmet and a baseball bat lying on the ground. Spike picks up the helmet, tosses it to Dawn. She catches it, looks confused. Spike points at her, walks away.

Cut to a demon on motorcycle coming around a corner at a high rate of speed. The tires screech.

In the foreground we can see Spike's hand twitching as the demon rides toward him.

Long shot of Spike standing in the middle of the street. The demon keeps coming. Spike doesn't move.

At the last second, Spike leaps up into the air, kicking the demon off the bike. The demon lands hard. Spike runs over to the crashed bike, picks it up and gets on it.

SPIKE: Let's fly, pigeon!

Cut to Dawn beside the house. She puts the helmet on and runs off.

The demons come running out of the house just in time to see Spike and Dawn go roaring away on the motorcycle.

Cut to the magic shop. Frantic knocking on the door. Anya and Tara go to it.

ANYA: (calls) Already been looted, sorry! Uh, try the appliance store down the block, they've got great toasters.
XANDER: (OS) Anya!
ANYA: Xander?

Anya opens the door. Willow and Xander come in. Willow hugs Tara. Xander closes and locks the door.

ANYA: I knew you weren't dead. (hugs him)
XANDER: Wow, then why was I so worried?
TARA: (leading Willow to a chair) Are you-
WILLOW: Uh, not yet. But, but I will be.

Willow eases into the chair with a pained expression. Tara stands behind her stroking her hair.

WILLOW: Where's Dawn and Spike?
TARA: We've been calling the house, but-
XANDER: Maybe they're on their way here. I mean, this place is NORAD, and we are at DefCon One.

The women all look at him in confusion.

XANDER: Okay, I so need male friends.
WILLOW: We have to go out and look for them. (tries to get up but Tara pushes her back down)
XANDER: There's this guy at work I kind of hit it off with. Tito. I mean, he seems like a good...

Once again they all give him a look.

XANDER: (embarrassed) You were talking about Dawn and Spike, of course.
ANYA: Um, question. (to Willow) You want us to go back out there?
WILLOW: Well, yeah. Uh, unless somebody's got a better idea.
ANYA: Well, um, it's just ... we're minus a Buffybot. And, uh, Spike is missing in action somewhere with Dawn, and Giles flew away, and, uh, well you, you're looking a little magicked-out.
XANDER: Ahn honey, we're nearing your point, right?
ANYA: It's just, how are we supposed to fight these guys? (Everyone looks at her) I mean, we can take a vampire or two, sure, but there's a whole cavalcade of demons out there ... (uncertainly) I mean, I think this, you know ... it, it takes, um ... I mean, I ... we need...
XANDER: Buffy.
ANYA: (softly) Buffy.
WILLOW: (harshly) Buffy...

They nod expectantly.

WILLOW: ...is not coming back. (sadly) We failed.

Anya looks dismayed. The others look sad.

WILLOW: So ... we're it, gang. (gets painfully to her feet) Xander, grab the weapons. We're gonna look for Dawn and Spike.

Sound of glass breaking. They all turn to look.

TARA: If we're gonna go, we should go now, they're just getting more and more worked up by the moment.
XANDER: Well, they can't keep it up forever. I mean, maybe they'll party themselves out, you know, tire of this place and move on.

Cut to Razor addressing his minions.

RAZOR: Say hello to your new home, boys.

The demons cheer. Several of them have bottles of beer. One of them takes a mouthful of beer and blows it at his torch, creating a huge flame.

We see that they're gathered in an open space (parking lot?) with a few barrels full of fire. A burning pile of trash in the background.

RAZOR: This here is a momentous occasion, the beginning of a new era.

We see Buffy walking slowly toward them, looking around.

RAZOR: Now, no question, the open backroads and highways have been good to us. But we've got ourselves a juicy little burg here, just ripe for the picking. And I ain't in no hurry to leave it, you?

The demons all yell "no" as Buffy walks closer. We see them from her point of view, about a hundred feet away and still blurry.

RAZOR: So I figure, what better way to kick off our ... semi-settling-down, than with a little christening?

The demons cheer.

We see a couple of demons attaching chains to their motorcycles. They grin at each other as the cheering continues. Buffy walks closer.

RAZOR: A symbolic act commemorating the new order around here ... and ridding ourselves of any not-so-pleasant reminders of the old.

Razor is holding a gun. He holds it up and theatrically puts a bullet in.

RAZOR: All in one quick, really, *really* violent fell swoop.

Buffy comes right up behind a couple of the demons. She still looks very muddled. They don't notice her.

RAZOR: (holds up the gun) Gentlemen, start your engines.

The demons start up their bikes. We get a very quick look at the bikes with chains attached, and the BuffyBot among them. The demons sit still on their bikes, engines rumbling.

We see the bot standing there with chains attached to both her arms.

The real Buffy catches sight of the bot, and her eyes widen in shock.

The bot sees Buffy and also looks surprised.

RAZOR: Bye-bye, slayer!

Buffy takes a step closer. We see the bot's mouth say "Buffy" but we can't hear her over the engines.

Razor fires into the air. The bikes begin to move.

BUFFY: (screams) No!

The demons nearest Buffy hear her scream and turn around.

The four motorcycles all move off in four different directions. Each bike is attached to one of the bot's limbs. Her arms and legs are ripped from her body and her torso goes flying. Razor grins.

Buffy looks around anxiously. The demons near her move aside so that all the demons can see her.

RAZOR: (looking at Buffy) Another one for the fire, boys.

Buffy looks alarmed.

RAZOR: Tear it up.

Buffy backs away, turns and begins to run.

Blackout.

---

Act III

---

Open on Buffy running down the street. A demon on a motorcycle comes from behind and cuts in front of her, cutting her off. She turns to see another one coming at her, swinging a chain over his head. Buffy runs toward that demon as the first one follows. She ducks, and the chain hits the first demon, knocking him off his bike.

DEMON: Sorry. Sorry.

Buffy gets up and runs off.

Cut to Xander and Anya walking down the street. Xander has an axe over his shoulder. Pan forward to reveal Tara and Willow walking ahead of them. Willow carries a crossbow.

TARA: It wasn't your fault. We, we don't know if the spell would have worked, even if the demons hadn't-
WILLOW: It would have worked.
TARA: Well ... maybe...
WILLOW: What?
TARA: Maybe it wasn't supposed to. I mean, those demons showing up at the exact wrong time? Maybe we really were in over our heads. Invoking forces that we have no right to. Maybe the fates sent down all that destruction on us to stop us. I mean...
WILLOW: You mean, maybe it was my fault.
TARA: No. No.

They put their arms around each other, continue walking.

Cut to Buffy leaping over a pile of stuff and flinging herself over a fence. A motorcycle screeches to a stop behind her. The demon growls angrily.

Cut back to the Scoobies still walking.

ANYA: (softly to Xander) I'm not saying we announce it this second.
XANDER: (whispers) Anya!
ANYA: Well, I think it would please them to know we're engaged. And I think Willow in particular could use a real morale-booster right now.
XANDER: Can we talk about this later?
ANYA: Well, but it's just all the excuses for not telling everyone we're engaged are gone now. I mean, aside from hell bikers, there's nothing standing in our way. This is it. No more surprises.

Suddenly they all stop walking as something drops to the ground in front of them.
XANDER: Watch it!

It's Buffy. She crouches there staring at them through her hair. She rises to her feet.

ANYA: It ... it's the Buffy Bot.
XANDER: Ah, peachy. No doubt to lead the wild bunch right to us again. Hey Will, next time this thing's damaged, couldn't ya program it to find the nearest Radio Shack, or...

Xander breaks off when he sees the look on Willow's face.
Zoom in slowly on Willow, staring at Buffy in wonder.

WILLOW: Buffy?

Buffy stares fearfully, then turns and runs away.

WILLOW: Buffy!
XANDER: Buffy!

The gang runs after her.

WILLOW: Buffy!

Cut to the Scoobies coming around a corner into another alley.

ANYA: Where is she?

Willow stops. We see Buffy crouched in a corner between a wall and some random junk.

WILLOW: Buffy? (moves toward her) Buffy, are you...

Buffy sits huddled in on herself with her hair obscuring her face. The Scoobies walk toward her.

WILLOW: It's Willow. Can you hear me?

Buffy looks up, back, and all around, very nervously.

ANYA: (whispers) What's wrong with her?
WILLOW: Nothing! She - she's ... she's in shock.
TARA: Her hands are bleeding. Her fingers.

Close-up of Buffy's hands, which are covered with blood.
ANYA: (OS) Oh, she's filthy.

Xander shakes his head in dismay.
XANDER: Oh no.
WILLOW: (OS) What?
XANDER: No. How could we ... so stupid!
WILLOW: Xander!
XANDER: Our spell. Our resurrection spell worked like a magic charm. We brought you back to life, Buffy. (looks at Willow) Right where we left her.

Willow and Tara look shocked.

WILLOW: Oh god.
XANDER: In her coffin.

Willow turns in anguish to Tara, who hugs her.

TARA: She had to ... dig out of her own grave.

Buffy continues crouching there fearfully.

Shot of the group from Buffy's POV, still blurry. Xander bends over to look in her face.

XANDER: (muffled) Buffy.

Shot of Buffy from their POV.
XANDER: (loudly) Buffy, it's Xander.

Back to Buffy's POV.
XANDER: (muffled) We're sorry. We didn't know.

Buffy turns her head away, letting her hair cover her face again.

XANDER: Buffy.
TARA: You aren't reaching her, she's too traumatized.

Anya touches Xander on the back, and he moves aside so Anya can take his place.

ANYA: Hey, Buffy. Uh, here's some good news that might perk you right up. Uh, Xander and I have an announcement.
XANDER: Anya!

Xander grabs her arm, pulls her away.

ANYA: What? Just trying to help.

Xander bends over in front of Buffy again.

XANDER: Buffy .... it's gonna be all right. We brought you back. You're home now.

Buffy slowly raises her head, looks at him. Shot of Xander from Buffy's POV.

XANDER: (muffled) Yeah, that's it. You're home.
RAZOR: Yeah, welcome home, Slayer.

The Scoobies turn to see several demons behind them.

RAZOR: Alive and kickin' after all!

The Scoobies look alarmed. So does Buffy.

RAZOR: Well, alive, anyway.

Shot of the demons from Buffy's POV.
RAZOR: (muffled) Not looking too good, though, is she?
XANDER: (muffled) I don't see you winning too many beauty contests.

Cut to front view of Xander with the axe over his shoulder.

XANDER: ...unless the Miss "My Face Fell Off" pageant gets going.
RAZOR: Big axe you got there.
XANDER: The better to cut you down to size, grandma.

The other Scoobies look nervous. Razor grins, takes a step forward.

TARA: Incindere.

A gout of flame spurts up from the ground between Razor and Xander. Razor steps back.

RAZOR: Ah. So you got a witch in the mix.
TARA: More than one.
XANDER: I happen to be a very powerful man-witch myself. (Razor looks amused) Or ... male... (over his shoulder to Willow) Is it a warlock?

Willow nods. Xander turns back to Razor.

XANDER: Warlock.
ANYA: Plus, we have a Slayer here, uh, who might actually be looking to eat some brains, so, I think a little quiet moseying, no hard feelings, and I'm sure your demon horde won't think any the less of you.
RAZOR: (shakes head) Now, my boys, see, that's tricky. They came looking for a massacre...

We see Buffy looking a bit more aware, starting to rise.

RAZOR: (Buffy's POV, muffled) ...and I think you got exactly enough magic between you for a kiddie birthday party.

Willow steps forward.

WILLOW: Then you'd be wrong.
RAZOR: Whoa. Well, I better back off, or you might, what? Pull a rabbit out of a hat?
ANYA: (horrified) Don't, don't do that! (to Tara) Why would she do that? (Tara shakes her head)
WILLOW: We don't want trouble ... you don't want trouble.
RAZOR: Of course we want trouble, we're demons. We're really all about trouble.
WILLOW: Not this kind.
RAZOR: Oh. I get your point.

He backhands Willow, who flies backward and lands on top of some boxes. Xander charges but Razor shoves him aside and he falls to the ground.

Anya and Tara each go to their respective partners.

RAZOR: Now let me tell you something, children. We're not gonna fight you. We're just gonna hold you down and enjoy ourselves for a few hours.

Shot of Tara gently turning over an unconscious Willow. In the background, Buffy rises to her feet, looking at Willow.

RAZOR: (OS) You might even live through it. (Buffy walks forward) Except that certain of my boys got some...

Shot of Razor grinning evilly.
RAZOR: ...anatomical incompatibilities that, uh, tend to tear up little girls. (grins) So, who wants to go first?

Buffy comes over to stand directly in front of him.

RAZOR: I was really hoping it'd be you.

He hits her in the face. Her head whips to the side but she doesn't otherwise move. Razor looks a little uncertain.

Slowly, she turns her head back to face him again. There's blood on her lip. Her face hardens into her famous "I'm gonna kick your ass" expression.

Razor throws another punch but Buffy stops it, grabbing his fist and holding it immobile. With her other hand she punches him in the face twice, then she kicks him. He falls to the ground unconscious.

The other demons look on nervously.

Willow sits up, stares.

Pan across Razor's inert body to Buffy standing over it looking confused.

Xander and Anya stare.
ANYA: Does this mean we win?

The other demons yell and attack Buffy. She kicks one of them back. Xander and Anya get up. Buffy blocks another demon's weapon and kicks him in the stomach.

Another demon attacks Xander who blocks with his axe, then punches the demon.

Buffy blocks a punch and punches the demon in the face, then punches another one.

Willow loads her crossbow and fires, hitting a demon in the middle of the chest.

A demon attacks Buffy with a knife and she grabs his arm in both hands, pauses to kick another demon away behind her, swings the one with the knife around and throws him into another demon, shoves another one away, ducks and punches, ducks and punches again.

Then Buffy is surrounded by demons hitting her with various weapons, and she huddles down on the ground under their blows. Suddenly she springs back up again, throwing them off her. She kicks one in the groin and he takes two more down with him.

Another demon thrusts a baseball bat at Buffy and she grabs it, uses one end to hit a demon behind her, then uses the other end to hit the first demon.

Cut to Main Street. It's deserted but littered with debris, some of which is on fire. A motorcycle comes roaring down the street.

Cut closer and we see that it's Spike and Dawn. Dawn sees something up ahead.

DAWN: There. What's that?

Spike looks, turns toward it. They pass a flaming barrel, then drive into the open space where the demons were partying. It's deserted now too. Spike brings the bike to a stop next to the pile of flaming rubble.

They both dismount, staring at something on the ground. Dawn takes the helmet off and tosses it aside as they move forward.

Shot of Buffybot's torso lying on the ground, wires dangling everywhere from her arm and leg sockets.

SPIKE: It's just a machine, Dawn.
DAWN: I know.

Dawn kneels beside the bot. Spike turns, walks away a bit.

Dawn reaches out to close the bot's eyes, but suddenly the head turns and looks at her. Dawn gasps.

BUFFYBOT: Dawn. You're my sister Dawn.

Dawn doesn't know what to say. She gives a tentative smile.

BUFFYBOT: (looks around in confusion) Where did I go?
DAWN: What?
BUFFYBOT: Where did I go? I was here. Here. But then I ran away.
DAWN: (confused) I-I don't...
BUFFYBOT: No. Not me. The other Buffy.

Dawn's eyes widen in shock.

BUFFYBOT: Yes. The other Buffy.
DAWN: Buffy?
BUFFYBOT: I don't ... I don't ... know where she ran off to. Maybe-

She freezes in mid-word, staring blankly.

Dawn backs away, gets up, still shocked. She stares at the lifeless bot, turns and runs away.

Cut to Spike picking up a piece of twisted metal from the scrap pile. It's one of the bot's legs.

SPIKE: Tsk. Look what those filthy buggers done to you. (loudly, to Dawn) Willow's slap-and-paste job's not gonna do the trick this time. Robot's done.

He looks up, notices Dawn is gone.

SPIKE: Hey. (looks all around, alarmed) Little bit? (yells) Dawn!

Cut to Dawn running down the street.
SPIKE: (OS) Dawn!

Cut to Tara being held against the wall by a demon who has her by the throat. Willow hits him in the head with her crossbow and he falls back.

Another demon has Xander down on a pile of wood but he manages to get his feet up and kick the demon away. Xander leaps to his feet and slams his axe down into the demon.

Buffy turns from fighting one demon with the baseball bat and another one flings a length of chain, which wraps around the bat. The demon uses it to pull the bat out of Buffy's hand. Then he attacks her with a knife. She blocks, grabs the knife-wielding arm, and uses it to stab another demon as he charges. Then Buffy kicks out behind her, kicking away another demon, and as for the one she's holding, she twists his head around, breaking his neck.

Buffy stops, looking around. All the demons are defeated. The Scoobies approach from their various places.

TARA: Well, they wanted a massacre.

They stand in a row staring at Buffy.

XANDER: She's Buffy. She's herself again. (She looks at him) You're back, Buffy, you really are.

Xander moves as if to hug her, but she takes a quick step back, looking fearful.

XANDER: Whoa. (gently) Whoa.

Buffy looks around in anguish. She lifts her bloody hand to her mouth, wipes the blood from her lip, looks at her hand. She looks about to cry. She walks forward. The others watch uncertainly.

Buffy goes past Xander and breaks into a run, taking off around the corner.

WILLOW: Buffy!

The Scoobies watch her go.

ANYA: Where's she going?
TARA: Should we follow her?
WILLOW: I don't know.
XANDER: She just ... needs some time is all.

Shot of Razor lying on the ground, apparently dead. Suddenly his eyes open.

XANDER: (OS) The important thing is that she's back. She'll be fine.

Shot of Razor's hand. The metal claws shoot out of his fingers.
Blackout.

---

Act IV

---

Open on Razor getting to his feet with a snarl. We see that he's standing behind Xander.

ANYA: Xander, look out!

Anya shoves Xander to the ground as Razor attacks. The blow misses as Xander hits the ground butt-first.

The others watch fearfully as Razor advances on Xander, who scrambles backward on his butt.

RAZOR: Now what kind of Slayer is it runs out on her buddies just when they need her the most?

Xander grabs a trash-can lid and holds it up as a shield as Razor attacks again. The metal claws slice right through the shield. Xander looks scared.

Cut to Buffy walking quickly down an alley. Suddenly she stops, turns as a demon swings a piece of metal at her. She ducks and hits him, kicks him in the groin, grabs him and throws him against a wall where another piece of metal impales him. He falls dead.

Buffy stares at him, then looks up. Above the roof of the nearest building we see the tower that Glory's minions built. Buffy runs off.

Cut back to Razor about to strike Xander again. Suddenly he's struck from behind. He turns and all three women attack him -- Willow and Anya with sticks, Tara with a piece of chain. He covers his head with his hands as they beat on him.

Then Razor does the same move that Buffy did earlier, straightening up and flinging them off of him. They all fall back.

Willow holds up her hand.
WILLOW: Obfuscate.

A gray ball appears in her hand and she throws it at Razor. It covers his face with some kind of goo, so he can't see. He roars and pulls at it with his hands.

Cut to Dawn running around a corner, hearing Razor yell in the background. She sees the impaled demon and comes to a stop, staring in disgust. She edges around him, looks up and sees the tower. She starts forward with determination.

Cut to Buffy at the foot of the tower, looking up. Shot from her POV of the tower with the narrow walkway extending out.

Cut back to Razor still trying to pry the stuff off his face as the others resume hitting him. Xander sits up.

Razor finally pulls the stuff off, grabs Anya by the shoulders and shoves her away. She lands on the ground. Xander gets up and rushes Razor, gets elbowed in the face and falls back.

Tara rushes Razor and he grabs her by the throat.

WILLOW: Fragilis.

Another ball of light appears in Willow's hand and shoots over to Tara. Razor swipes his claws across Tara's chest but the metal claws break off and fall away without harming her. Razor stares at his fingers, thrusts Tara away. She falls among some trash.

Razor grabs Willow by the throat and lifts her up.

RAZOR: So, witch, got a little power after all. Well, let's see what tricks you can manage while I choke the life outta-

Suddenly he gasps and lets Willow go. She falls to the ground. Razor falls face-first beside her, with the axe buried in his back.

Willow looks up to see Tara standing there. Tara bends over and helps Willow up.

WILLOW: Tara!
TARA: Nobody messes with my girl.

Xander and Anya come over.

XANDER: Tara, nice axing.
TARA: My first.

They all look at the dead demon.

WILLOW: Buffy.

They all turn and walk off.

Cut to: Shot of the tower from afar.
Cut to the top. Buffy stands at the end of the platform looking down. We hear creaking noises.

Shot of the view from the platform. The ground below is just an open space.

Buffy frowns slightly.

Flashback of Dawn's blood dripping, opening the hole in midair, lightning flashing.
Flashback of Buffy running down the platform, swan-diving into the thing.

Cut back to now. Buffy stands staring, presses her eyes shut tightly.

Flashback of Buffy standing on the tower with Dawn, turning away from Dawn to look at holes opening in the sky. Buffy turning back to Dawn.

Cut back to now. Buffy still has her eyes closed.
DAWN: (flashback) Buffy, no.
BUFFY: (now) Dawnie, I have to.
DAWN: (now) Buffy?

Buffy frowns, opens her eyes, turns. Dawn is standing at the other end of the platform, in the little arch at the top of the tower.

DAWN: Buffy...

Buffy looks apprehensively at her.

DAWN: Buffy ... (amazed) how....

Buffy frowns at her in confusion.

DAWN: Is it you? I mean really?

Dawn smiles tentatively, starts to take a step forward.

DAWN: What are you do-

The tower creaks and shudders under Dawn's feet. She grabs the pole beside her for support, looks down fearfully.

Shot from below as the whole tower shakes.

Cut back to above. Buffy turns back to the end of the platform.

DAWN: (shrieks) No!

Buffy looks down at the ground below.

DAWN: Don't!

Buffy turns back to Dawn.

DAWN: Don't jump, Buffy, don't move! Just walk to me. Please!

Buffy looks uncertain, turns away again.

DAWN: Please?

Buffy continues staring down. The tower continues to creak.

DAWN: I'm your sister. Dawn. We were up here ... together, and then ... you went away. And you don't wanna do that again. I don't know how you're back, but you are, and please, just stay still.

The tower shakes again, making Dawn shriek and fight for balance.

DAWN: Or-or move. But-but towards me. Because the tower was built by crazy people and I don't think it's holding up very well.

Beat. Buffy continues staring down.

DANW: Talk to me. Say something!

The tower creaks.

BUFFY: (quietly) Is ... this hell?
DAWN: (confused) What?

Buffy turns to face Dawn with an anguished frown.

BUFFY: Is this hell?
DAWN: No! Buffy, no! (taking a tiny step closer) You're here ... with me. (another tiny step) Whatever happened to you, whatever you've been through, it's ... it's over now. You're-

The tower shakes again. Dawn shrieks

DAWN: We have to get off this tower!

Buffy turns to look down again.

BUFFY: (quietly) It was so ... clear ... on this spot. I remember ... how ... shiny ... and clear everything was. (shakes her head) But ... now ... now...
DAWN: Buffy ... please ... listen to me.

Buffy closes her eyes, doesn't turn around.

DAWN: You told me I had to be strong ... and I've tried. (tearful) But it's been so hard without you.

Buffy still has eyes closed, frowning.

DAWN: I'm sorry. I promise I'll do better, I will! (still tearful) If you're with me. Stay with me ... please. I need you to live. Live! For-

The tower shakes again, hard. Dawn screams and crouches down. Piece of the tower fall off.

DAWN: Buffy!

Buffy whirls around.

BUFFY: (softly) Dawn.
DAWN: Buffy!
BUFFY: (louder) Dawn!

Buffy runs across the platform to Dawn, pulls her up and into the body of the tower. They run around one bend, pause and look around.

Shot of a pulley with a rope going through it.

Buffy holds onto Dawn, leaps off the tower and grabs the rope. They hang there for a moment, then the rope begins to move and they plummet downward. Dawn screams. Shot of the pulley with the rope zooming through it, sending up smoke. Shot of a bolt working its way loose.

They fall for a while and then something catches and they stop. They both look toward the ground, still a long ways off.

The bolt holding the pulley secure breaks off, and they fall the rest of the way, Dawn screaming the whole time. They land on some cardboard on the ground.

They both lie on their backs gasping. Buffy looks up and sees the entire platform break off the tower and fall toward them. Buffy grabs Dawn, they both get up and run off an instant before the platform falls on the cardboard.

Long shot of the entire tower crumbling and falling to the ground. It makes a huge sustained noise.

Buffy and Dawn go around a corner and collapse on the ground, panting. Dawn winces in pain, looks up at Buffy's face. The noise dies away.

DAWN: (tentatively) Buffy?

Buffy looks at her apprehensively. Dawn smiles in disbelief.

DAWN: Buffy. You ... you ... (touches Buffy's cheek) ...you're really here.

Dawn hugs Buffy.

DAWN: (crying) You're alive, and you're home. You're home.

Shot of Buffy's face over Dawn's shoulder. She doesn't look very happy.
Blackout.
Executive Producers: Joss Whedon and Marti Noxon.