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Transcriber's Notes:
TeaserGILES VOICEOVER: Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
Monks running in fear.
The dying monk talking to Buffy.
MONK: We had to hide the key ... made it human...
Monks chanting.
MONK: ...and sent it to you.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: Dawn.
Glory smashing through the warehouse.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: Tell me what kind of demon I'm fighting.
QUENTIN TRAVERS VOICEOVER: Glory isn't a demon, she's a god.
GLORY: Did you know your sister took my key, Dawnie, and she won't give it back. I bet you know where she put it, don't you?
Spike and Dawn in the magic shop.
SPIKE: (reading) 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.
BEN: You're the key. Go. Before she finds you, she's here!
Ben morphing into Glory.
Spike talking to Buffy in his underground cavern.
SPIKE: I love you.
BUFFY: The only chance you had with me was when I was unconscious.
Buffy kneeling atop Orlando in "Checkpoint."
BUFFY: Let's see what you are.
Buffy removing Orlando's mask.
BUFFY: Or who you are.
ORLANDO: One soldier in a vast army.
The knights chanting in a circle.
KNIGHTS: The key is the link. The link must be severed.
Glory talking to a tied-up Orlando.
GLORY: Where ... is ... the key?
ORLANDO: I'd die a thousand deaths before I'd tell you.
Glory putting her fingers into Orlando's brain.
Willow running through crowds of people.
WILLOW: No!
Glory putting her fingers into Tara's brain.
WILLOW: Tara! No!
Tara sitting on the bench. Willow running over to her.
WILLOW: Tara, I'm so sorry.
BUFFY: What are you gonna need?
WILLOW: They gave me a lot of stuff to keep her calm.
Willow kissing Tara on the forehead.
Glory breaking down the wall. Dawn and Buffy jumping up.
GLORY: I told you this wasn't over.
TARA: (gasping, staring at Dawn) Oh, look at that, look at that. Such pure green energy!
Glory smiling.Episode opens where "Tough Love" left off. Buffy and Dawn stand staring at Glory. Willow kneels on the bed next to Tara who is still staring up at Dawn.
Buffy whirls, grabs Dawn by the hand and runs straight through the door into the dorm hallway. They crash to the floor amid broken pieces of door.
Glory laughs and starts after them. Willow holds up a hand. Glory suddenly can't move. She makes an angry face.
Buffy and Dawn get up, run down the hall.
Willow wraps her other arm around Tara, continues holding up her right hand while speaking some Latin.
Glory goes flying backward, off the side of the building into some bushes.
Willow and Tara get up and run out.
Buffy and Dawn run through the lobby of the building. It's full of students walking, sitting, standing, talking, reading, etc. Buffy still has Dawn by the hand. They run to the doors and outside.
Glory comes crashing through the wall into the building. People scream and run away. Glory walks forward, looks around, sees the door Buffy and Dawn just exited.
Glory turns into a blur as she moves forward at superhuman speed.
Buffy and Dawn run across grass. More students are all around, staring as they go by.
DAWN: Buffy!
BUFFY: We have to keep moving!
DAWN: I can't!Dawn falls to the ground. Buffy hauls her back up and scoops Dawn up in her arms, jumps over a bench and continues running. She crosses the lawn, goes across a paved pathway, heading toward the street.
Glory, still a super-fast blur, moves across the lawn toward them.
Buffy, still carrying Dawn, comes out onto the sidewalk and suddenly Glory is in front of them. Buffy puts Dawn down and they both stare fearfully at Glory.
GLORY: I really hate it when people touch my things.
Buffy and Dawn just stand there looking scared.
GLORY: Last words, slay-runt?
BUFFY: Just one. Truck.Glory looks to her right, too late, as a huge semi smashes into her.Buffy and Dawn run off in the other direction.
Glory lands on her back on top of a parked car, smashing its roof in. She starts to sit up, then stops with a jerk.
GLORY: No! Not now, you idiot! Let go-
She morphs into Ben.
BEN: -of my body!
Ben rolls off the car onto the ground, looks around. He's wearing Glory's dress.
BEN: Oh, god.
Wolf howl. Opening credits.
Guest starring Clare Kramer, Charlie Weber, Wade Andrew Williams, Karim Prince, and Amber Benson as Tara. Written by Steven S. DeKnight, directed by James A. Contner.
Act I
Open on Xander's apartment. Dawn stands in the middle of the room telling the story.
DAWN: A-and then whoosh! All of a sudden Glory's standing right there in front of us, (we see Giles standing listening, and Buffy peering out through the closed window blinds) all skanky and blonde and thinkin' she's all that (shot of Xander and Anya sitting, listening) just 'cause some bumpy heads kiss her stinky feet ... (pauses, very quietly) She does have nice feet. (louder) A-and she's comin' right at us, and- (shot of the whole room. Willow and Tara sitting on the sofa) Buffy's just standing there not even blinking, like "Bring it on," and then, wham! (smacks one fist into the other hand) Hell-bitch in orbit.
XANDER: Go, Buff!
GILES: I knew you'd best Glory eventually, I mean all-all our years of training-
BUFFY: (still staring out the window) A truck hit her.
GILES: Oh.
ANYA: You threw it at her?
DAWN: Well, no. She more kind of waited for it to hit Glory. Uh, but then Buffy ran really fast and we got away. (Shot of Willow and Tara on the sofa. Tara still stares blankly at Dawn.)
BUFFY: I don't know how we got away. That truck couldn't have slowed her down for more than a second.
GILES: Well, how isn't important, all that matters is that the two of you are safe.Buffy scoffs, turns to look at him.
BUFFY: Safe? (angrily) We've barely been able to manage not getting seriously dead every time we've crossed paths with Glory. Now that she knows that Dawn is the key?
Giles and Dawn look chastised.
GILES: There must be something in the Book of Tarnis that we've missed, something we can use against Glory.
Buffy turns to look out the window again.
ANYA: Piano!
XANDER: Because that's what we used to kill that big demon that one time!Buffy turns to look at them with a confused frown.
XANDER: No wait, that-that was a rocket launcher. (turns to Anya) Ahn, what are you talking about?
ANYA: We should drop a piano on her. Well, it always works for that creepy cartoon rabbit when he's running from that nice man with the speech impediment.
GILES: (rolls his eyes) Yes, or perhaps we could paint a convincing tunnel on the side of a mountain. Let's just keep thinking, everyone. (to Buffy) Perhaps we should reassemble at the magic shop, see if there's anything-
BUFFY: We can't fight her.
GILES: (surprised) W-well not yet, no, but-
BUFFY: No, not ever. She's too strong, Giles. We're not gonna win this with, with stakes, or spells, or pulling out some uranium power core. She's a god and she's coming for us. So let's just not be here when she starts knocking.
ANYA: Run away?Buffy looks at her.
ANYA: Finally, a sensible plan.
XANDER: That's not what she meant. (to Buffy) Is it?
BUFFY: Well, we can't stay here! She'll just kill us off one by one until there's no one left standing between her and Dawn.
GILES: Buffy, we all understand the severity of the situation, but there must be another way.
BUFFY: (harshly) No. We stay, we die. Show of hands for that option.Everyone is silent.
BUFFY: All right. Nobody goes home, nobody tells anybody we're leaving. Just pack up whatever supplies we need and that's it, we're gone.
DAWN: (quietly) Cool. Don't have to study for that geometry test.
XANDER: (quietly) What about wheels? I don't think everybody's gonna fit in the Xandermobile.
BUFFY: Just get your stuff together. I'll handle the rest.She turns to look out the window again.
Cut to: Glory's apartment. Ben comes down the stairs to the main room, wearing regular clothes, followed by a minion, Gronx. Gronx holds Glory's dress and speaks with a female voice (although she looks just like the others).
GRONX: This is, this is terrible. I'll never be able to mend this.
BEN: Not really my color anyway. (sits on the arm of a sofa)
GRONX: Oh, yes. Inappropriate humor. (fake laugh) Most amusing. Don't suppose you know what led to this sartorial tragedy.
BEN: That's not how it works, you know that.
GRONX: Yes, of course. I just thought maybe after her magnificent incandescence was returned to this ... manly and ... (looking Ben up and down) painfully handsome assemblage ... you might have noticed something interesting? A key in human form, perhaps? Lounging about unattended?
BEN: If I did, do you really think I would tell you?
GRONX: Why do you insist on fighting the inevitable? No one can stand against her blindingly scrumptious luminescence.
BEN: Glory. Her name is Glory, and she's your god, you little scab, not mine.
GRONX: With all due respect and-and fear of sharp objects, you exist, sir, only because of her divine greatness.
BEN: You mean her divine failure, don't you?Gronx squints angrily at him. Ben gets up to pace.
BEN: I didn't ask for any of this. I just want to be normal.
GRONX: We play the hand we're dealt.
BEN: Nothing's mine, is it? This life, this body, it's all infected. The only thing I ever cared about she's taken away from me. You know why I wanted to be a doctor?
GRONX: Flattering drawstring pants?
BEN: To be close to people. To witness their lives and their deaths, to be there alongside them, a part of everyday humanity. (sighs) Maybe it's the drugs. (walks past)
GRONX: Drugs, sir? (follows him)
BEN: Find the right combination, keep her buried where she belongs.
GRONX: Impossible! Her magnificence can never be fully contained! She is a perfect, all-encompassing light, one you should feel honored to be bathed in.
BEN: Oh, yeah, I'm thrilled. Especially with the part where she gets her key back and I cease to exist.
GRONX: True, this oh-so-appealing form will of necessity be shrugged off.
BEN: Not if I get the key first. (turns to leave but Gronx stops him)
GRONX: And if you did ... what then? Could you do it? (Ben looks annoyed) Take a human life with your own hands? (comfortingly) Oblivion is such a small inconvenience in the service of a deity. Accept your fate. I mean, you said it yourself. This life was never really yours anyway, was it?
BEN: It doesn't matter how I came by it. It's mine. And I plan on keeping it.Cut to: city street, day. Willow and Tara sit on a bench while Giles, Anya, and Xander stand. They all have bags of stuff and are watching the cars go by.
ANYA: Anybody else feel that?
WILLOW: What?
ANYA: Cold draft of paralyzing fear.
GILES: We just need to stay calm.
WILLOW: (skeptical) Calm, right.
XANDER: Hey, we gotta be like Sergeant Rock. Cool and collected in the face of overwhelming odds.
ANYA: *Over*whelming? (turns to him) How much more than whelming would that be exactly?
GILES: Look, everything will be all right, we just need to stay here calmly. As soon as Buffy arrives-A large Winnebago (RV, motor home) drives up and screeches to a halt in front of them. The windows are all covered with aluminum foil. The door swings open.
GILES: -we'll feel oddly worse.
They all pick up their stuff and climb into the Winnebago.
Cut to inside. Looking from the driver's seat back, on the left there's a small kitchen area with sink; on the right, a booth with a table. Farther back there's a door leading into a back bedroom.
Willow and Anya look with interest at the driver's area as they and Tara move to sit around the table. We see Buffy sitting at the table already, studying maps.
Giles and Xander enter. Giles looks at the driver's area too, does a double-take.
We see Spike sitting in the driver's seat, wearing a large pair of black goggles.
GILES: (grimly) What's he doing here?
SPIKE: Just out for a jaunt. Thought I'd swing by and say howdy.
GILES: Out.
BUFFY: (looks up from the table) He's here because we need him.
XANDER: The hell we do.
BUFFY: If Glory finds us, he's the only one besides me that has any chance of protecting Dawn.
XANDER: Buffy, come on-
BUFFY: (jumps up angrily) Look, this isn't a discussion! He stays. Get over it.She takes one of the maps and storms into the back room, slamming the door. Dawn watches anxiously.
Spike grins hugely. Giles glares at him.
SPIKE: Buckle up, kids. Daddy's puttin' the hammer down.
Spike puts the RV in gear and begins driving. Everyone clutches the walls and each other for balance.
Shot of the RV rolling down the street. The front windshield is completely covered with foil except one small rectangle that has been cut out in front of the driver's seat.
Cut to: interior hospital. A nurse hands a clipboard and pen to a guy wearing a baseball cap.
NURSE: Sign here.
Shot of the paper on the clipboard. The guy signs: first name Dante, last name illegible.
We see two other guys standing behind him, also wearing baseball caps.
NURSE: Okay, that should do it.
Dante nods, turns to the other men. They start to walk off. The taller man is Orlando. He stares blankly ahead of him.
DANTE: (to the other man) See. Did I not tell you how easy it would be for us to-
NURSE: Hey!The men stop walking as in the background the nurse comes out from behind her counter. Dante and the other man exchange a look. The second man begins to pull a dagger out of his jacket. The nurse comes over to them.
NURSE: (pointing at Dante's hand) My pen.
Dante hands her the pen with a slight smile. She takes it and goes back to her desk. The other man puts away his dagger as he and Dante lead Orlando away.
Cut to a forest. Dante, Orlando, and the other man move carefully down a slight rise. Orlando looks around at the sunny sky and the trees with wonder.
ORLANDO: The trees are singing water.
Dante ignores him, stops walking, looks around. Rustling noise from some bushes. They look over as a man emerges from the bushes, wearing battle armor. He has the mark of the Knights of Byzantium on his forehead and several long scars running down the side of his face.
GREGOR: You have him.
DANTE: Yes, General.Dante and the other man remove their baseball caps, revealing the marks on their foreheads. General Gregor comes forward.
DANTE: Our brother has returned to the fold.
GREGOR: Welcome home, Orlando. (puts his hand on Orlando's shoulder) I swear by my sword your sacrifice ... will not go unavenged.
Orlando seems fascinated by the medal or amulet hanging around the general's neck. He reaches out to touch it.ORLANDO: Shiny.
GREGOR: Yes, I suppose it is.
ORLANDO: Pretty little girl, she's shiny too.
GREGOR: (to Dante) Watch him, make sure he's comfortable.
ORLANDO: So shiny. Pretty little shiny key.
GREGOR: The key? You've seen it?
ORLANDO: Pretty ... little shiny girl.Gregor and Dante stare at Orlando.
GREGOR: The monks, they've made it human.
DANTE: We know the Slayer's protecting the key. If what Orlando says is true...Gregor turns back to the bushes. We see a large number of knights standing in formation. One knight stands closer, guarding.
GREGOR: Prepare to advance!
KNIGHT: Yes sir.
GREGOR: (turns back) We end this now.He stalks off with the knights following. The camera rises so we can see them emerging from the trees. Some are on foot, some on horseback. Hard to tell exactly how many there are, but there are a lot.
Blackout.
Act II
Open on the Winnebago driving down residential streets. The hole in the foil is larger than before. It screeches around a corner.
Cut to inside. Giles is driving. Dawn, Willow, Tara, Anya, and Xander sit around the table. Spike sits on the floor beside Dawn, looking irritated. Willow is studying a book.
ANYA: Shouldn't somebody be asking, "Are we there yet?"
Willow looks up from her book briefly, then returns to it.
ANYA: (to Xander) Isn't that what small entertaining children do?
Xander doesn't reply. He looks ill.
DAWN: That kinda only works if you know where you're going.
Anya nods, ponders. Xander groans softly.
ANYA: (calls to Giles) Do we know where we're going yet?
SPIKE: We'd already be somewhere if Captain Slowpoke would give up the wheel. (Giles looks annoyed) Hey! Gramps! Bloody step on it!
GILES: Step on what? I've driven tricycles with more power.Everyone looks up as the vehicle jostles and bumps.
XANDER: (groans) Is anybody else queasy?
ANYA: (rubs his arm sympathetically) He doesn't travel well. He's like fine shrimp.
SPIKE: (to Dawn) I shoulda nicked that Porsche I had my eye on. There's just enough room for me, you, and big sis.Xander gives Spike a queasy glare.
SPIKE: What?
XANDER: Would you give it a rest, or...
SPIKE: Or what, you're gonna toss your cookies on my shoes?
XANDER: Or you can be undead man walking. See how fast you can hitch a ride with a flaming (gulps) thumb.
SPIKE: Fine. (quietly) Shrimp.Xander gags, gets up and stumbles to the front, falls into the passenger seat beside Giles.
XANDER: That guy is bloodsuckin' the last nerve right outta me.
GILES: Well, Buffy has a point. In a confrontation, Spike may prove...Giles looks back as Spike gets up off the floor and takes the seat Xander just vacated.
GILES: ...useful.
XANDER: (still queasy) I don't know if Buffy's thinkin' too clear on that one, or anything else right now. (gulps) I've never seen her so...
GILES: She's ... been through more than her fair share of late. She just needs a chance to catch her breath, regroup. She'll be all right.
XANDER: Yeah. She'll ... (gulps) Yeah.Shot of the RV going down the road. It seems to have left the city and is now on a highway.
Cut to back inside. Willow continues studying her book. Dawn peers over her shoulder.
DAWN: Any luck?
WILLOW: Uh, if you define luck as the absence of success, plenty. (shot of Anya and Spike listening) There's a couple barrier spells, but... (we see Tara next to Willow, staring past her at Dawn) they only work on a fixed locus. Haven't found anything that'll work while we're still moving.
TARA: So pretty, can I have one?Tara tries to reach past Willow to touch Dawn. Willow gently pushes Tara's arm back.
WILLOW: (to Tara) Come on. (pushes Tara back into her seat)
DAWN: Anyone hungry?
ANYA: Ooh! Snacks! The secret to any successful migration.Anya reaches into her backpack and pulls out a frying pan, reaches in again.
ANYA: Who's up for some tasty fried meat products?
She holds up a can of SPAM. No one looks interested.
Tara reaches over to the window and opens the blinds. Sunlight streams in, hitting Spike's hand.
SPIKE: Hey! Aah!
Spike jumps away from the table as Willow pulls Tara back from the window.
WILLOW: Tara, no! What did I tell you?
Tara whines loudly in protest. Spike cradles his smoking hand.
WILLOW: Shh.
Tara continues whimpering. Willow pulls Tara's head to her chest to comfort her, looks over at Spike.
WILLOW: I'm sorry. She, she didn't mean to.
Spike nods understanding.
WILLOW: She doesn't know what she's doing. (Tara continues whimpering)
DAWN: We know.
SPIKE: No biggie. Look, the skin's already stopped smoking. You go ahead and play ... peek-a-boo with Mister Sunshine all you like. It keeps the ride from getting boring.
TARA: (upset) All the light is gone. (crying)
WILLOW: No, shh, baby. The light's still outside, okay?Dawn watches with concern. Willow continues trying to comfort Tara.
TARA: All dark. All dark.
Cut to the psych ward at Sunnydale Hospital. All the patients, strapped down in their beds, are also saying "All dark." They repeat this over and over. Then one of them says "Soon" and they all start saying "Soon, soon."
Cut to a section of floor with candles set out and symbols written on the floor in red dirt. A pair of hands throw runestones onto the symbols. The camera pulls out and we see we're in Glory's apartment. Gronx and Murk sit on the floor casting the runes.
GRONX: It's coming. The signs are in alignment, and soon victory will be in our grasp. (they smile) All we need do is seize the moment ... and squeeze until it bleeds.
They both smile happily.
Cut to the RV driving through the desert on what looks like a dirt road. Mountains in the background.
Cut to inside. Buffy sits in the back room, leaning against the wall. The door opens and Dawn peeks in.
DAWN: Hey. I think Anya's gonna try to cook. Wanna come watch the tears and recriminations?
BUFFY: (small smile) Maybe later.Dawn starts to retreat, pauses, leans back in and gathers her nerve.
DAWN: Thanks.
BUFFY: (looks up) For what?
DAWN: You know. Pretty much everything.
BUFFY: (sarcastic) Yeah. I'm doin' a great job.
DAWN: (firmly) You are.
BUFFY: (scoffs) I'm the Slayer. The chosen one. All mythic and defender-y. Evil nasties are supposed to flee from me. Not the other way around.
DAWN: You're not fleeing. You're ... moving at a brisk pace.
BUFFY: Quaintly referred to in some cultures as the big scaredy runaway.Dawn comes fully inside, closes the door and walks over to sit beside Buffy.
DAWN: It's the most amazing thing anyone's ever done for me.
Buffy looks over at her with a pained expression, then away.
BUFFY: (voice breaking) It just keeps coming. Glory ... Riley ... Tara ... Mom.
DAWN: (pause) I know. But there's a bright side.
BUFFY: There is?
DAWN: At least things can't get any crazier. Right?Suddenly they both jump as an arrow shoots through the window and lands in the wall a little ways from Buffy's head. Dawn stares at it in horror. Buffy gives her an almost amused look.
BUFFY: You know this is your fault for saying that.
Dawn doesn't seem to see the humor.
Buffy pulls down a corner of the Venetian blinds to peek outside.
KNIGHT: Come on now!
We see a bunch of knights riding horses up alongside the Winnebago, swinging their weapons.KNIGHT: Bring up the rear! Let's go!
Buffy and Dawn stare for a moment, then Buffy turns away from the window and sighs.
The RV drives on. The knights are about a hundred feet back but closing fast.
Buffy and Dawn rush into the main cabin.
BUFFY: Giles!
GILES: I see them.
SPIKE: See who?Shot of the side mirror with the knights reflected in it.
Several knights ride up alongside the RV on either side. One has a crossbow and shoots another arrow into the side.
Spike jumps aside as the arrow appears in the wall beside him.
XANDER: Arrows!
SPIKE: Bloody hell!
XANDER: They're throwing arrows!Tara peeks out the window.
The knights continue to ride up alongside the vehicle. They shoot more arrows.
BUFFY: Dawn, get down under the table.
Buffy pushes Dawn to the floor. Anya also ducks under the table.
TARA: (peeking out) Horsies!
The knights shoot more arrows. Willow pulls Tara away just as an arrow appears in the wall beside her.
WILLOW: Tara!
Willow and Tara duck under the table. Arrows appear in the wall beside Giles.
GILES: Weapons?
Buffy tosses a bag to Spike.
SPIKE: Hello! You're driving one!
WILLOW: Don't hit the horsies!
BUFFY: Oh, we won't!Buffy moves up next to Giles.
BUFFY: Aim for the horsies.
Shot of the horsemen reflected in Giles' mirror.
Giles turns the wheel trying to hit them, but the horses move out of the way. Giles swings the wheel again to get back on the road. Shot of Spike looking grim.
Long shot of the RV being pursued by the horsemen.
Cut closer as one of the men rides up alongside the back of the RV, grabs onto the ladder on its side and climbs on, letting his horse gallop away. He climbs up onto the roof.
Cut inside. Xander sits by the table.
XANDER: Did we shake 'em?The knight's sword stabs through the ceiling inches from Xander's head, making him jump. Giles and Buffy look up.
Shot of the knight pulling his sword free.
Buffy moves back toward the rear. Spike continues looking in the bag of weapons.
The knight stabs down again.
BUFFY: Stay low!
The knight stabs again.
BUFFY: Watch out for the-
The sword point comes in directly at Buffy's head. Spike reaches up with both hands and grabs the sword, stops it from stabbing Buffy in the head. She ducks.
The knight tries to pull his sword free but can't. Spike continues holding onto it with both hands.
SPIKE: Now might be a good time for something heroic.
The knight continues trying to free his sword.
Buffy looks around.
BUFFY: Xander! Hatch!Buffy climbs up on the table and opens the hatch in the roof. Xander boosts her up and through it. She emerges behind the knight. We see the other horsemen still riding alongside.
The knight sees Buffy, pulls his sword free. We hear Spike yelling in pain.
The knight thrusts at Buffy. She ducks, backs away from his second swing, wheels and kicks his legs out from under him. He goes down and Buffy gets on top of him, blocks another swing, punches him. He drops the sword.
Cut to inside. Spike sits at the table beside Dawn. His hands are bloody and he has some rags. He tries to use his teeth to rip them up.
Cut to above. Buffy punches the knight in the face a few times, then he blocks and punches her. They grapple, he kicks her in the head and she falls over the side, holding onto the railing along the top of the RV. She hangs there as a knight rides alongside holding a mace.
Cut to inside. Spike holds his bloody hands on the table as Dawn rips up the rags. Tara and Willow emerge from under the table. Giles continues driving. They all look up as we hear the sounds of fighting on the roof.
Cut to outside. The knight crouches above Buffy to hit her, but she kicks upward and he falls back. Buffy vaults back up onto the roof. They both stand and face off.
Another knight rides alongside and throws a grappling hook onto the railing. He begins climbing up the side.
Buffy punches the first knight, whirls around and kicks him. He falls off the side with a scream.
The second knight reaches the roof as another grappling hook catches on the railing.
Cut to inside. Dawn ties the rags around Spike's hands.
DAWN: Keep the pressure on.
SPIKE: I always do, sweet bit.A knight busts through the window and they both shriek and jump aside. The knight tries to grab Dawn. Spike yells in pain from the sunlight.
Giles looks back. Shot from outside of the side of the van with the knight hanging on it, his upper half inside the window. Sounds of Spike and Dawn and the knight yelling.
Cut back inside. Tara and Willow cower as Anya appears and begins hitting the knight in the head with her frying pan. He loses his grip and falls to the ground below.
ANYA: Not a piano, but hey.
Giles glances back, continues driving.
Cut to the roof. Two soldiers now face Buffy, one with an axe, the other with a mace. She punches the one with the axe, kicks the other one, kicks the first one, ducks to take a mace blow on her back, punches the mace-wielder, does a back-flip and kicks them both in the faces.
Cut to inside. Willow and Anya sit on either side of Tara trying to comfort her as she looks anxious.
Cut to above. Buffy picks up the first knight's sword from where he dropped it, twirls it around. The mace chain wraps around the sword blade and she uses it to pull the knight closer. Behind him the knight with the axe tries to attack but Buffy kicks him away. She spins the mace-holder around, knees him in the stomach and throws him off the side of the RV, taking the mace and the sword with him.
Buffy ducks an axe swing, kicks the knight in the chest, grabs his axe hand and hits him with her other hand. He gets hold of her from behind as another knight climbs up the ladder. Buffy hits the axe hand. The knight yells and lets go of the axe, which Buffy grabs. She swings it at him and he ducks, then she kicks him and he falls over the side.
Buffy throws the axe and it slams into the chest of the knight on the ladder. He screams and falls backward off the RV.
Cut to inside. It seems quiet. Spike is on the floor with Dawn crouching over him, Willow and Anya and Tara on the other side of the table, all listening. Giles peers out at his mirror.
Shot of the back end of the RV with the road retreating away, clear of all knights.
Giles lets out a sigh of relief. Xander does the same although he still looks queasy. Giles glances back.
GILES: Everyone all right?
Everyone seems to be all right.
Giles smiles slightly as he turns back to the road.
Only to see another knight on horseback coming straight at him, holding a spear.
Giles looks horrified and tries to twist the wheel.
The knight throws the spear. It flies through the window and into Giles' side, impaling him. He gasps and is thrown forward onto the steering wheel. Everyone shrieks and gasps as the RV jostles, out of control.
Shot of Buffy still on the roof, struggling to keep her balance. She leaps off the roof, lands on the ground and rolls.
She sits up in time to see the RV go careening off the road, fall over onto its side, and come to a stop in a huge cloud of dust.
Blackout.
Act III
Open on the Winnebago still lying on its side with dust drifting slowly around it. It's on a dirt road in the desert, just a few trees and telephone poles on either side. In the background we can see the gang walking along. Spike has a blanket covering his head. Buffy and Xander support Giles with his arms over their shoulders.
XANDER VOICEOVER: We gotta find shelter.
SPIKE VOICEOVER: Yeah, right bloody quick. I'm burning up out here.Cut to: overhead shot of an abandoned gas station with a rusting old truck in front of it. The gang walks up to the building.
Cut to the entrance. Spike goes first, kicking the door open and hurrying inside. The others follow.
BUFFY: Careful.
Dawn coughs from the dust, watches with concern as the others bring Giles in. Anya closes the door behind them. Inside, it looks like an empty room with little or no furniture. The windows are boarded up but incompletely, so stripes of light enter the room. There's a long sort of counter halfway in.
BUFFY: Spike.
Spike and Xander help Buffy bring Giles over to the counter. Giles groans in pain. The lower left side of his stomach is covered in blood.
XANDER: Careful. Up.
BUFFY: Okay, Will?
WILLOW: I'm on it.Giles groans more as Xander and Spike lift him onto the counter. Spike also groans in pain from his wounded hands.
WILLOW: Oh, careful!
Spike finishes helping Giles onto the counter and hurries out of the sunlight. Willow and Tara come up next to Giles. Willow puts a bag under Giles's head. He is sweaty and panting.
Buffy goes over to Dawn.
BUFFY: Are you sure you're okay?
DAWN: Yeah. B-but Spike's hurt.Buffy turns to Spike, grabs his wrist to look at his injured hands.
SPIKE: Ow! Easy with the delicates.
BUFFY: (to Dawn) They'll heal.Xander and Anya exchange a look as they put down their stuff.
SPIKE: Florence bloody Nightingale to the rescue.
Buffy goes to the window and looks through the boards. Shot of the view outside: no one in sight.
ANYA: Um, you have another plan, right? (Buffy turns from the window to look at her) One that doesn't involve pointy knives and a Winnebago?
BUFFY: We-we-we'll rest here for a minute, but then we have to keep moving.
XANDER: Where?
BUFFY: (desperately) I don't know! (puts her hands to her face) We just, we, we, we can't, can't stay here. I-it's too close to the wreck, we're too easy to find.
WILLOW: Buffy!Buffy runs over to where Willow is standing over Giles.
BUFFY: Will, how is he?
Willow has her hands on Giles's wound. Shot of Giles's face, still sweaty with blood coming out of his mouth.
BUFFY: Will?
WILLOW: I-I think I slowed the bleeding, but...Giles continues breathing shallowly, his eyes closed.
BUFFY: Okay. Okay, just-just give me a minute.
Buffy turns away trying to think.
Suddenly a flaming arrow shoots through a boarded-up window and embeds in the wall opposite. Everyone turns.
BUFFY: Dawn, get down!
Another fiery arrow breaks through some glass that's left in a window.
Xander pulls the first arrow out of the window and stomps out the fire on the ground.
Buffy pushes Dawn behind the counter. Dawn sits on the floor, protected on three sides.
More fiery arrows come shooting through the windows.
Willow pushes a whimpering Tara down to a crouch.
Xander peeks out the hole made by one arrow.
Shot of the outside. A bunch of knights are setting up, mostly hiding behind the abandoned truck and gas pumps with their bows and arrows. There are a few garbage barrels with fires lit in them.
XANDER: (OS) We got company.
More arrows shoot through the windows. Xander turns back inside.
XANDER: And they brought a crusade.
Cut to outside. The knights continue firing their arrows. The general rides up on horseback.
Cut to inside. Everyone's crouching down. Buffy runs toward the wall.
BUFFY: Willow!
We see Willow crouching beside the counter, with one hand stretched up to keep pressure on Giles's wound while her other hand is flipping the pages of a magic book. Tara huddles next to her whimpering and covering her head.
WILLOW: I'm working on it!
Buffy and Spike together shove a large coffee machine in front of the door and tip it over on its side.
Cut to outside. The general sits on his horse watching the action.
KNIGHTS: Go! Go! Go! Let's move! Come on, move it!
We see multiple knights attacking the boarded-up windows of the building with various weapons, trying to break in.
Cut to inside. A knight's axe breaks through the wall right next to Dawn's head. She screams.
The knight continues hacking and then reaches an arm in. Dawn screams again.
DAWN: Buffy!
Buffy runs over to help, but a knight comes through the door beside the counter. He punches Buffy and she falls aside.
Xander and Anya hide behind something (looks like an old heater).
Spike lunges at the knight, punches him, then screams in pain and clutches his head. The knight lifts his weapon to strike Spike but Buffy intervenes, kicks him and then punches him. He punches her back.
The boards on the windows rattle as more knights pound on them and the glass shatters. Spike covers his head as glass falls on him.
Buffy kicks the knight again and he stumbles back, turns and thrusts his weapon at her but she blocks it, kicks him, then twists around and flips him over her shoulder. He falls unconscious on the floor.
Xander runs out from his hiding place and grabs the unconscious knight, begins dragging him away.
The other knights continue beating on the walls and windows, knocking out the glass with their weapons.
KNIGHT: It's clear! (?)Dawn stands up cautiously from behind the counter and is confronted by the bleeding Giles. She looks at his wound in dismay.
The general enters. Buffy turns to look at him. He points his sword.
GREGOR: The key.
Dawn looks frightened.
Buffy picks up the knight's weapon from the ground and throws it at Gregor, hitting him in the hand, making him drop his sword. He lunges at Buffy and she hits him, making him reel aside into a pillar. He hits it face-first and falls down unconscious.
WILLOW: Enemies, fly and fall.
We see Willow sitting on the floor beside the counter, with her legs crossed holding the book. Her eyes are all black again as they were in "Tough Love."
WILLOW: Circling arms, raise a wall.
She raises her arms and a circle of light emits from them, expanding outward.
Cut to outside. The sphere comes through the walls and all the knights are forced backward, flying through the air. They land several feet away from the building as the bubble holds.
Dante hits the barrier with his sword. It shimmers but he can't get through.
DANTE: (angry growl) They have the general. Clerics!
Two elderly men in long black robes come forward. They walk up to the barrier and hold up their hands to it. One begins to chant while the other turns back to Dante.
CLERIC: Energy barrier. A most powerful one.
DANTE: Can it be breached?
CLERIC: The witch's magic pales to the might of our god. The infidels' wall ... shall tumble before us.Cut to inside. Willow and Tara get to their feet as Buffy comes to check Giles's wound.
BUFFY: Will? How long will it hold?
WILLOW: (uncertain) Half a day maybe.Buffy and Dawn watch as Willow goes to the window and peeks out.
Shot of the view through the window. We can see the two clerics chanting while the knights wait behind them.
WILLOW: Or till Heckle and Jeckle punch a hole through it.
Buffy and Dawn look nervous.
Spike walks forward, looking down at the ground.
SPIKE: So. What's the story with these role-playing rejects?
Shot of Gregor lying unconscious on the floor.
BUFFY: (OS) Let's find out.Cut to Gregor tied to a pillar in a rear room of the building. Buffy stands in front of him with her arms folded.
Shot of Dawn by the door watching.
Shot of Spike off to the side.
SPIKE: You sure Scarface here can habla the English?
BUFFY: He understands me. (to Gregor) Don't you?
GREGOR: You were warned we would return, Slayer.
BUFFY: Took you long enough. What are you supposed to be, some kind of chief?
GREGOR: (sneers) General.
BUFFY: General. (takes a step forward) In charge of what, getting captured?
GREGOR: You do not frighten me, child. (looks at Dawn) The instrument of chaos must be destroyed.Buffy steps forward to him and puts her hands firmly on either side of his face.
BUFFY: (angrily) Look at her that way again, and she will be the last thing you ever see.
She lets go and steps back.
GREGOR: As I've been told, you protect the key of the beast.
Shot of Xander watching.
BUFFY: It's not that simple.
GREGOR: Yes. The key has been transformed, given ... breath, life. Yet, this makes no difference. The key is the link. The link must be severed. (Shot of Dawn looking scared) Such is the will of god.
BUFFY: (upset) She doesn't remember anything about being this key you're all looking for. The only thing that she remembers is growing up with a mother, and a sister that love her. What kind of god would demand her life for something that she has no control over?Shot of Gregor looking unmoved.
BUFFY: We are not your enemy. (Shot of Spike watching) Tell your men to stand down.
GREGOR: (looks at Dawn) No.
BUFFY: It is not her fault! She's human now! (Shot of Dawn)
GREGOR: The key is too dangerous ... to be allowed to exist. No matter what form it has been pressed into.
BUFFY: I will not let anyone tell me-Buffy breaks off as we hear a wailing from the next room and Willow saying "Shh, shh." Xander turns to look through the door.
Buffy, Dawn, Spike, and Xander go into the other room where Anya is watching helplessly as Willow tries to calm Tara.
WILLOW: Shh, shh, shh.
BUFFY: What happened?
ANYA: I-I don't know, she just went nuts.Tara whimpers frantically and struggles to get free from Willow who is holding her still. Tara finally breaks free.
TARA: Time! Time, time!
She runs over to the boarded-up windows and claws at them. Willow runs after her and tries to pull her away. Tara breaks free and runs to another part of the wall, whimpering in agitation. The others watch helplessly.
Willow grabs Tara around the torso, pinning her arms to her sides as Tara continues whimpering.
WILLOW: Tara! (to Buffy) We have to do something! (shot of Dawn and Spike watching with concern) She, she can't stay this way. Buffy!
TARA: Time... time... time...Cut to the hospital psych ward. All the patients are muttering "Time, time" as well, and struggling against their bonds. One of them is the man who accosted Dawn on the street in "The Real Me."
PATIENTS: Time. Time.
The nurse comes in.
NURSE: No, it's not time for your meds, just lie back-
The guy from "The Real Me" rips free of his restraints and the nurse rushes over to try to force him back into bed.
NURSE: (yelling over her shoulder) Doctor! Doctor McCarthy!
Another patient hits her over the head and she falls down unconscious. The other patients begin to break free and get up out of bed. They all walk off toward the door, muttering "Time" over and over again.
Cut to outside the gas station. Orlando is among the knights in the encampment. He walks forward, staring at the building.
ORLANDO: It's time. It's time.
DANTE: No, no, shh. There's nothing to fear, my brother.Orlando looks unhappy. Behind Dante we can see the clerics still standing by the barrier chanting.
DANTE: The beast may have taken your mind, but I swear to you, she will never know the taste of your heart.
Dante pulls Orlando sharply toward him. Orlando groans and grabs Dante's shoulders but then slumps to the ground. Dante looks sadly down at him. We see a bloody dagger in his hand.
DANTE: Clerics! (The clerics turn) I want the witch's barrier down. NOW!
The clerics exchange a look, return to their chanting.
Cut to: closeup of Buffy's face.
BUFFY: I'm sorry.We see she's standing beside Giles, holding his hand with both of hers. Giles is conscious.
GILES: For what?
BUFFY: We should have stayed. If we had, none of tto this transcript on the Psyche site 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.You can use my transcripts in your fanfiction stories; you don't have to ask my permission. (However, if you use large portions of episode dialogue in your fanfic, I recommend you give credit to the person who wrote the episode.)
TeaserGILES VOICEOVER: Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
Glory talking to her minions.
GLORY: So it's her. Under our noses all this time.
Slook the minion in the magic shop.
SLOOK: Glorificus will find the witch.
ANYA: Witch?
WILLOW: Tara.
Glory and Tara on the park bench.
GLORY: You're not the key, you're nothing!
WILLOW: No!
Willow trying to get to Tara through crowds of people.
Glory putting her fingers in Tara's brain.
WILLOW: Tara!
Buffy, Willow, and Tara in the hospital.
BUFFY: I'm so sorry.
Buffy hugging Willow.
TARA: (smiling) They kill mice.
Ben in Glory's apartment.
BEN: Not if I get the key first.
GRONX: Could you do it? Take a human life with your own hands?
Glory breaking down the wall to the dorm room.
GLORY: I told you this wasn't over.
TARA: (staring at Dawn) Such pure green energy!
GLORY: The key!
BUFFY: Just pack up whatever supplies we need and that's it, we're gone.
Knights on horseback chasing the Winnebago.
BUFFY: Giles!
GILES: I see them.
The knight's spear impaling Giles.
The Winnebago crashing.
Giles in the gas station.
WILLOW: Buffy!
BUFFY: How is he? Will?
BEN: I think I got him stabilized, but there's a lot of damage. We need to get him out of here.
Flaming arrows shooting into the gas station.
The knights gathered outside the gas station.
XANDER:ening the door, peeking in, then nodding and gesturing behind him. He enters, followed by Dawn and Glory and two other minions. We're in what looks like a construction office. Glory pushes Dawn into a chair and turns away, putting a hand to her head. She sits on something as Murk and Gronx hover near her. The third minion stays near Dawn. He's larger than the others and wears more ornate robes. The machinery noises resume.GLORY: Unbelievable how annoying those groupies can be.
MURK: Uh, they merely sense that tonight at last, the dimensional portal shall open.We see that the third minion is putting some kind of paste on Dawn's forehead, while chanting in a foreign language. Dawn looks very scared.
GRONX: (OS) Ushering in the long and bloody reign of the great...Glory looks over, sees the priest minion chanting over Dawn.
GLORY: What's he doing?
PRIEST: I must anoint the key.
GLORY: Really don't. Go.
PRIEST: But-
GLORY: Out! Get out, get out!
Murk hurries forward and ushers the priest out. Dawn continues to look frightened. In the background we can see a window through which the crazy people are visible, going back and forth as they do whatever they're doing with the machinery.GLORY: You know ... you recapture your godhood and unleash Armageddon... (picks up a rag from a table, uses it to rub the stuff off Dawn's forehead) all of a sudden everybody wants to be a part of the inner circle.
Glory wets the cloth with her tongue and rubs at Dawn's forehead some more. Dawn scrunches up her face in disgust. Glory straightens up, tosses the cloth aside, sighs.
GLORY: You okay?
DAWN: (weakly) I wanna go home.
GLORY: Sweetie ... ohh...
Glory takes another chair, pulls it over in front of Dawn, and sits on the back of the chair with her feet on the chair's seat.GLORY: You're about to.
Dawn looks up hopefully.
GLORY: Not that fake suburban nightmare the monks cooked up for you. I mean your real home. (Dawn begins to cry) As the key! You fit the lock. Well, it's like a lock. Hey! (pats Dawn's knee) You want a pizza?
DAWN: (softly) No.
GLORY: Pillow? (looks around) I don't know if this thing gets cable. Doubtful.
DAWN: (crying) Please. Stop.
GLORY: You nervous?
DAWN: (crying) Yes.
GLORY: (smiles, gets down to sit on the chair seat) I know how you feel. It is your last night.
Dawn's eyes widen in horror.GLORY: As, you know ... a human. (picks up Dawn's hand by the wrist and shakes it around) This body ... it's just a rental, Dawnie. Being human? It's like a costume for girls like you and me. Being something else, *that's* what we are.
DAWN: (firmly) Don't.
GLORY: (smiling) What?
DAWN: Don't call me Dawnie.
Glory gives a surprised laugh, lets go of Dawn's hands and sits back.GLORY: Huh. Wow. You know, that actually hurt my feelings.
DAWN: (whispers) I'm sorry.
GLORY: (lifts a hand) Not the point.Glory gets up and walks past Dawn, who continues to look very scared.
GLORY: I'm just thinking, here I am trying to make you feel better, when comforting others ... not part of my life. (frowns) And I'm doing it, so I can stop ... feeling so ... (pats her chest) um ...
Angle on Dawn in the foreground with Glory in the background, her back turned. Glory snaps her fingers at Dawn.
GLORY: Help me out.
DAWN: (nervous) Guilty?
GLORY: Guilty. (laughs) That's it! (laughs some more, then stops) But I'm not supposed to feel guilty. I'm not supposed to feel anything. I'm, I'm ... I'm a god. I'm above it. I'm ... (looks over at Dawn) You.Dawn looks frightened. Glory strides back over to her.
GLORY: You did this to me, didn't you? Some sort of spell, you've been hanging with the wicca, you could've- (pauses) But no. It's not magic. It's something else. (puts her hand to her head, then looks angrily at Dawn) Still, it is you doing this.
DAWN: (shakes her head) I ... I'm not doing anything. I swear.
GLORY: We'll see.
Glory opens the door to reveal the minions waiting outside.GLORY: (glaring at Dawn) Anoint this thing now!
The priest minion comes in, followed by Murk and Gronk. Dawn still looks scared.
GLORY: Know what they're all chanting for out there, Dawnie? Blood. 'Cause we found out your blood is the key to the key! (The priest begins marking Dawn's forehead again) All I gotta do is bleed you dry, the portal opens up, and I can go home! (priest continues chanting and marking Dawn's forehead) So knock yourself out, girlfriend. Make me feel bad as you can.
Glory moves forward and gets in Dawn's face.
GLORY: (softly) 'Cause tomorrow ... you bleed, little girl.
Cut to: exterior of Xander's apartment building, night.
ANYA VOICEOVER: You sure you know what you're doing?Cut to inside. Willow is taking candles out of a small leather bag and putting them on the table.
WILLOW: I think so. (pause) I don't know. It's ... not exactly well-explored territory, but ... I gotta try.
ANYA: A spell like this could be really dangerous for Buffy. And you.
TARA: Time ... oh, time is coming.
Willow goes over to Tara, who is sitting cross-legged on a chair beside another table.WILLOW: Shh. It's okay. I'm here.
Tara whimpers softly. Anya comes over.
WILLOW: You'll look after her while I'm...
ANYA: Sure. What do I do?
WILLOW: Mostly ... just ... be here for her. (Anya nods) And, and there's some pills in my knapsack. Half of one every two hours keeps her ... pretty mellow.
ANYA: Y-you think you'll be gone more than two hours?
WILLOW: (shrugs) Wish me luck.
ANYA: Okay.
Anya reaches over to give Willow a punch on the arm.ANYA: (with forced enthusiasm) Good luck!
WILLOW: Thanks. (turns to Tara, turns Tara's face to look at her) Okay. Be good now, sweetie. I-I'll be back as soon as I can, okay? We're good?Tara stares at Willow while she talks, but doesn't reply. Willow kisses her on the forehead, smiles at her, then turns away. Tara whines softly and holds out her hand toward Willow.
Willow gathers up the stuff from the table and walks toward a closed door.
ANYA: (softly) Good luck.
Willow opens the door, goes through it, closes it.
Cut to the bedroom. It's dark. Willow closes the door behind her, puts a candle on the small table beside the bed, and lights the candle. She goes around the bed to the other side. We can see a poster on the world that says, "There's MONEY in arc welding!" with a picture of a person arc-welding. Willow puts two more candles on another small table and lights them. As she turns away, we see Buffy sitting in a chair against the wall, still catatonic.
Willow sits on the corner of the bed, facing Buffy.
Shot of Buffy's unseeing face.
Shot of Willow looking at Buffy.
Flash to Willow in a clean, brightly-lit room. She blinks in confusion, looks around.
Pan across a couple of rooms full of flowers, knick-knacks, furniture, etc. It's all done in bright cheerful colors and very tasteful.
Willow walks slowly forward, looking around. She comes into another room with a fireplace. On the wall we see a picture of a woman with a baby. On a side table are more pictures, and a statue of a man, woman, and child. Willow turns away.
Pan across shelves with more sculptures, records, etc. Behind Willow we can see a sofa. Then a voice comes from behind her.
VOICE: Hi, Willow.
Willow turns to reveal a little girl, about six years old, with blonde hair in two pigtails. She is holding a doll and sitting at a child-sized round table with some toys on it.
Willow smiles.
WILLOW: Hello, Buffy.
Close shot of Young Buffy gazing at Willow.
Blackout.
Act II
Open on a shot of a door. A foot appears and kicks the door open.
Cut out to reveal Spike in the doorway. It's the entrance to Glory's apartment. Spike turns on the light and looks around. The apartment appears empty.
Spike walks in slowly, putting a cigarette in his mouth, lighting it, looking around. His hands are no longer bandaged. On the floor remains a circle of twigs and symbols from Gronx and Murk's rune-casting. Spike continues walking around, pauses, looking off to the left.
Spike walks toward an arched doorway underneath the stairs. He goes slowly through it, finds a door, opens it cautiously.
He walks slowly through the door, reaches up to turn on the light which is just a bare bulb hanging from the ceiling. Underneath the bulb we can see a small sink.
We see a small, dark room with just a bed (unmade) and a small table that holds a lamp and some books. Pan across to some blue clothing hanging against the wall. Zoom in on Ben's hospital ID tag (with photo) attached to one blue shirt.
Spike stares at the room with a small frown.
YOUNG BUFFY VOICEOVER: What are you doing here?Cut to Young Buffy looking up at Willow.
WILLOW: Actually, I'm, uh...
Shot of Willow and Buffy sitting in Xander's dark bedroom.
WILLOW: ...looking for you.
Cut back to Young Buffy.YOUNG BUFFY: Do you like dolls? (stroking her doll's hair)
WILLOW: Buffy ... what are you doing here?
YOUNG BUFFY: I like it here.
WILLOW: But ... (kneels by her) You know we need you. You have to come out.
YOUNG BUFFY: Why?
WILLOW: To be with your friends.
YOUNG BUFFY: It's a big day for me.She looks over at the door. Sound of the front door opening.
WOMAN: (OS) Hello!
YOUNG BUFFY: (big smile) Mommy, Daddy!Young Buffy gets up and runs toward the door, handing her doll to Willow. Willow stands up to watch.
YOUNG BUFFY: You're back! You're back!
We see Joyce and Buffy's father (Hank) entering. Joyce carries a bundled-up baby.
JOYCE: Hello, Buffy.
HANK: (leans over with hands on his knees) How's my girl?Young Buffy smiles at him.
JOYCE: Are you ready to meet your new baby sister?
Shot of Willow watching.
Young Buffy looks upset, frowns, backs away and folds her arms across her chest.
HANK: Oh, come on now, Buffy. She's nothing to be afraid of.
YOUNG BUFFY: Who's afraid?
JOYCE: Don't you want to be the big sister?
YOUNG BUFFY: No, I want to be the baby.
HANK: Buffy.
YOUNG BUFFY: You're gonna pay more attention to her and forget all about me!
JOYCE: Ohh...
Joyce kneels down beside Young Buffy. Shot of the baby in her arms. The baby makes baby noises.Young Buffy turns to address Willow.
YOUNG BUFFY: Doesn't she look funny? Like a wrinkly old grandpa.Young Buffy turns back to Joyce. Joyce gently puts the baby in Young Buffy's arms.
JOYCE: Like this ... okay, support the head ... there you go! We're calling her Dawn.
WILLOW: (softly) Dawn.
YOUNG BUFFY: (smiling) I ... I could be the one to look after her sometimes ... if you need a helper. (Joyce smiling at the baby) Mom? Can I take care of her?
JOYCE: (smiling, stroking Young Buffy's hair) Yes, Buffy, you can take care of her.
As Willow watches this scene, she hears something and turns to look.
We see (adult) Buffy #1 wearing a sleeveless blouse and pale skirt, with her hair loose, carrying a book. She walks over to a bookshelf, puts the book on it with other books, pauses for a moment, turns and walks away.Willow watches in some confusion as Buffy #1 walks past her. Willow glances over toward where Young Buffy was.
Cut to Willow standing by an open fire, night. She looks around in confusion.
WILLOW: Ohh...kay.
Cut to: Giles sitting on a hospital bed, putting on his jacket. His left arm is stiff by his side and he can only get his jacket onto the right arm. He gets up, putting his right hand to the place on his stomach where he was speared, and walks forward.GILES: Uh, can you, uh...
Xander appears and helps Giles put the jacket on as they walk out into the hallway.
XANDER: There. How you doing?
GILES: It only hurts while I answer pointless questions. Where's Buffy?
XANDER: Willow's on it. Or ... in it. She's workin' some spell, trying to reach Buffy psychically.
GILES: Uh, she's gone into Buffy's mind?
XANDER: (nods) Pretty tricky stuff.
GILES: It's extraordinarily advanced. Um, I was thinking we should check on Glory's victims while ... we're here.As they continue to walk, we see the view in front of them. Around a corner we can see Spike looking at a medical cart. He takes a bag of blood from the cart and puts it in his pocket as he approaches Xander and Giles.
XANDER: Oh, the mental ward? I already been. The vegetable section's closed. Nobody there. It's like they all just got up and walked away.
Xander and Giles reach Spike and they all stop walking. Xander looks pointedly at Spike's purloined bloodbag but says nothing.
SPIKE: Checked out Glory's flat. Looks like the great one has scampered.
GILES: Gone to, uh, perform her ritual with Dawn and leaving us entirely clueless.
SPIKE: Not entirely. (they look at him) I know this bloke. Well, not so much a bloke so much as a demon. But still, bookish. All tuned in to the nastier corners of this our magic world. (looks around, takes out a cigarette) It's a bit of a last resort really, but still, we might persuade him to suss out Glory's game plan.Spike lights his cigarette as we see a "No Smoking" sign prominently displayed on the wall right behind him.
SPIKE: Sound worthy?
Giles sighs and shrugs.
SPIKE: (nods) Off we go then. Meet back at the shop.
Spike turns to go. Xander pats Giles on the arm and then falls into step with Spike.
SPIKE: Found Ben's room at Glory's. Didn't learn much.
XANDER: Wait, wait, wait. Ben? At Glory's? (Spike rolls his eyes) You're saying all this time he's been subletting from her?
SPIKE: This ... is gonna be worth it.
Spike bitch-slaps Xander upside the head.
Shot of the two of them from the rear as they both grab their heads in pain.
SPIKE/XANDER: Ow!!Cut to the front again. They both stumble, use each other to regain their balance, and continue walking.
SPIKE: Last time. From the top.
They walk off together.
Cut to: Glory leaning her arm against the wall of the warehouse, pinching her nose with her fingers. She sighs.
GLORY: I'm hating this, Murk.
GRONX: And this would be what exactly, your holiness?
GLORY: Memories. I'm starting to remember the things Ben did. People he spoke with, stuff he wore... (the minions look alarmed) Hmm! (calling to Dawn) Kid!The minions part to reveal Dawn still sitting in the chair with the priest minion next to her. Glory walks toward her.
GLORY: I came ... he came to see you, didn't he?
DAWN: Ben?
GLORY: Yeah, Ben. You called him to the desert when you were hiding from me. And he came. And then he was me, you remember?
DAWN: (nervously) Yes.
GLORY: (whirls to face the minions) See? She's not supposed to remember that! Nobody should! (rubs her chest anxiously) The cloak between Ben and me is fading! I almost helped her! He ... (turns back toward Dawn) I wanted to. (groans) I can't do this!She walks past Dawn and grabs the priest minion by the front of his robe.
GLORY: Get him out of me.
PRIEST: What?
GLORY: (crying) Ben! The human meat-sack who's infecting me. (turns to lean against the wall) Do your mojo, make an incision, or removal, or whatever you've gotta do. (sniffles) Help me! (pacing) I'm ... I'm thinking Ben's thoughts, and ... and I'm feeling his feelings! And ... uh! I...She morphs into Ben.
BEN: ...can't kill the girl.
Morphs back into Glory.
GLORY: Damn it.
She collapses to the floor. Supporting herself on her arms, she looks up at the priest.
GLORY: Help me!
PRIEST: Th-this I cannot do. You risk terrible magicks in opening the portal. Nothing comes without a price. This ... is yours.
GLORY: (gets up with a scowl) Gods don't pay.She goes to Dawn, grabs Dawn by the throat and pulls her to her feet. Dawn gasps.
GLORY: We do this *now*!
Cut to Willow still standing by the fireside. She looks to her right. Shot of Buffy sitting on a rock (from episode "Intervention"). Willow looks to her left. Shot of the First Slayer on the other side of the fire opposite Buffy.
WILLOW: Hey ... I know you. You're, you're the first original Slayer who tried killing us all in our dreams.
The First Slayer gazes at Buffy.
WILLOW: (shrugs) How've you been?
FIRST SLAYER: Death is your gift.Willow looks over at Buffy.
BUFFY: Death is my gift?
WILLOW: Wait, death is her what?
FIRST SLAYER: Death is your gift.Willow turns her head to look at Buffy again. As she does so, flash-cut back to the previous scene.
Buffy #1 again walks past Willow, over to the bookcase, puts the book on the bookcase, pauses.
Willow watches in confusion.
Closer shot of Buffy #1 standing by the bookcase, staring at it but not really seeing it, lost in thought.
Willow watches this with a small frown. Then she turns to her right and we see the back of (adult) Buffy #2. This Buffy wears jeans and a black tank top, has her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and is walking away from Willow down a hallway. At the end of the hall we see a door that is slightly ajar with sunlight coming from behind it.
Willow begins to follow Buffy #2.
WILLOW: Where are you going?Cut to the warehouse. Dawn is still gasping and choking as Glory holds her by the throat. The three minions gather around.
MURK: Glorificus, wait! Kill the key now and all will be lost!
GRONX: We'll be stuck on this mortal plane forever!
GLORY: All right, you're right. (releases Dawn) It's cool. (Dawn staggers back, clutching her throat) I'm just a little emotional right now... (small laugh) which, if you're into irony, funny.Shot of Dawn grabbing a pillar for support, gasping.
GLORY: (OS) Leave. We need a little girl time.The minions begin bowing and Glory makes an impatient gesture.
GLORY: Goodbye!
They hurry out. Dawn glares angrily at Glory. Glory puts her hands to her face, then rubs the sides of her neck.
GLORY: How do they do it?
DAWN: (hoarsely) Do what?
GLORY: People! (walking toward Dawn) How do they function here like this in the world with all this bile running through them? Every day it's whoo-oo (wiggles her hand at Dawn) You have no control. They're not even animals, they're just these meatbaggy slaves to, to hormones and pheromones and their, and their feelings. Hate 'em!Dawn stops rubbing her neck, stares at Glory. Glory goes behind a drafting table and leans her arms against it.
GLORY: I mean really. Is this what the poets go on about, this? (thumps her chest, shakes her head, sighs) Call me crazy, but as hard-core drugs go, human emotion is just useless! People are puppets! Everyone getting jerked around by what they're feelin'. Am I wrong? (looks at Dawn) Really, I want to know.
Shot of Dawn leaning against the pillar, looking at the floor.
GLORY: Gonna bleed you either way.
DAWN: (opens her eyes, looks at Glory) Depends on the person.
GLORY: So you're saying some people like this.
DAWN: (defensively) Some.
GLORY: Funny. 'Cause I look around at this world you're so eager to be a part of ... and all I see is six billion lunatics looking for the fastest ride out. (smiles) Who's not crazy? Look around. Everyone's drinking, smoking, shooting up ... shooting each other, or just plain screwing their brains out 'cause they don't want 'em anymore. (looks at Dawn) *I'm* crazy? Honey, I'm the original one-eyed chicklet in the kingdom of the blind. (sighs) 'Cause at least I admit the world makes me nuts.Glory comes out from behind the drafter's table, walks toward Dawn.
GLORY: Name one person who can take it here. That's all I'm asking. (in Dawn's face) Name one.
DAWN: (firmly) Buffy.Cut to Buffy sitting unresponsive in the chair in Xander's bedroom.
Cut to Willow sitting on Xander's bed staring at Buffy.
WILLOW VOICEOVER: I can't keep following you around like this, Buffy. We have to go.Cut to the dream-hallway. Willow is still following Buffy #2 down the hallway. Adult Buffy pushes through the door and continues walking.
WILLOW: You have to talk to...
Willow enters the room, sees something on the floor.
WILLOW: ...me.
Willow walks slowly into the room as we see what she's looking at. It is Joyce's graveyard plot complete with a mound of fresh dirt, sprinkled with fallen leaves, and a fringe of grass. The headstone reads "Joyce Summers 1958-2001."
Buffy #2 stands staring at the grave with her arms folded. Willow walks up next to her, also looking at the grave.
Overhead shot of the two of them and the grave. The room appears to be Joyce's bedroom; the grave is where the bed should be, and the entire room is carpeted in grass. The other furniture (bedside table, chair, etc.) is as it should be.
WILLOW: I'm sorry.
BUFFY #2: (shakes her head, doesn't look at Willow) Don't be. Death is my gift.
WILLOW: Y