Transcriber's Notes:
TeaserGILES VOICEOVER: Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
Giles in the Sunnydale High library in "Welcome to the Hellmouth."
GILES: You are the Slayer. Into each generation a Slayer is born.
A series of scenes from "Welcome to the Hellmouth"...
BUFFY: Why don't we start with 'Hi, I'm Buffy.'
XANDER: Xander.
CORDELIA: Cordelia.
Shot of Willow at the water fountain.
BUFFY VOICEOVER: Willow, right?
GILES: Mister Giles.
ANGEL: Angel.
Giles thumping the book "VAMPYR" onto the library counter.
A quick series of scenes from the first season: the Master with the Anointed One; Buffy and Angel kissing; Angel vamping out, Buffy screaming; the possessed ventriloquist dummy; Buffy punching someone; Buffy dying; Buffy killing the Master, etc...
Moves into a series of scenes from the second season. They go by faster and faster. I can't possibly detail every one, but they include all the major demons and recurring characters: Spike, Ethan, Drusilla, Kendra, Ted, etc. We see Xander kissing Cordelia, Willow kissing Oz, Angel killing Jenny Calendar, Willow in the hospital doing the spell to restore Angel's soul, Buffy killing Angel.
Continues to a series of scenes from third season. Includes Mr. Trick, Xander and Willow kissing, Giles and Joyce kissing, Spike, Gwendolyn Post, Amy turning into a rat, Faith and the Mayor, Wesley, Vampire Willow, Angel feeding on Buffy, the climactic battle with the Mayor, the high school blowing up, Angel walking away.
Moving even faster, a series of scenes from fourth season. Buffy going to college. The Initiative. Kathy, Vamp Harmony, Oz, the Gentlemen, Anya dressed as a bunny, Giles in Mexican costume, Spike getting zapped, Willow and Tara doing a spell in "Hush," Giles as a demon, Adam, the Initiative, Faith waking up, Faith in Buffy's body, the destruction of the Initiative, Buffy/Xander/Willow/Giles doing their unification spell, the First Slayer, etc.
And finally a series of scenes from fifth season that go by very fast. Buffy and Dawn, Joyce, Spike, Glory, Riley, the helicopter taking Riley away, Ben morphing into Glory, the April-Bot, Joyce dying, Willow and Tara kissing, Glory taking Tara's brain, the return of the First Slayer, the Buffy-Bot, Willow zapping Glory, Glory tearing down the dorm wall, the fight between the Winnebago and the knights on horseback.
You should realize that all of the above flashes by much too fast to really see. The scenes from first season probably last for about ten frames each and by the time it gets to fifth season, they flash by two frames at a time.So the sense of increasing speed and urgency carries us into an alleyway as the "previously" scenes meld into the episode. The camera moves down the alley as from the POV of someone running. Fast, urgent music.
We go around a corner and see the person who's running. It's a teenage boy. He rounds the corner and stops, seeing that he's in a dead end. Slowly, fearfully, he turns.
Shot of the corner he just came around.
The kid moves very slowly back toward the corner, very scared.
Suddenly someone steps around the corner. It's a large male vampire. The kid starts, takes a step back.
The vampire strides forward with a small smile.
VAMP: Gave me a pretty good run there. Bet the blood's just pumpin'.
The boy backs away, frightened.
VAMP: (advancing) Bet it's hot.
KID: (voice breaking) Don't hurt me.
VAMP: Don't hurt you? (laughs)Suddenly one of the doors along the alley opens and Buffy's head pops out.
BUFFY: (innocently) Hey, what's going on?
The vamp turns his head to glare at her.
KID: Help me! Call the police!
VAMP: Get outta here, girl. (turns back to the kid)
BUFFY: (emerging from the doorway) You guys havin' a fight? 'Cause, you know, fighting's not cool.The vampire turns to glare at her again.
KID: Get out of here!
VAMP: No. (turns fully toward Buffy) No, she wants to stay. I don't mind a little appetizer.
BUFFY: (small frown, walks forward) Have you ever heard the expression, 'biting off more than you can chew'?The vamp frowns, shakes his head.
BUFFY: Okay. Um ... how about the expression, 'vampire slayer'?
VAMP: What the hell you talkin' about?
BUFFY: Wow. Never heard that one. Okay. How about, 'Oh god, my leg, my leg'?The vampire growls and lunges at her. She ducks his grab, punches him in the face and kicks his leg. His knee buckles and he falls to the ground.
VAMP: Oh god! My leg! Uhh...
BUFFY: See? Now we're communicating.The vamp surges up, grabs Buffy and throws her against the wall. He grabs her again but she pushes his arms away, punches him in the face, knees him, then goes around behind him and kicks him into the wall. He lands against a dumpster, turns and backhands Buffy, who stumbles forward toward the boy. The boy leaps out of the way. The vamp punches Buffy again, picks her up and slams her down on top of another dumpster.
Shot of the kid cowering in the corner.
Buffy kicks the vamp, cartwheels off the dumpster and kicks him again, then again, and then yet again. On the final kick he lands on his back among a pile of wooden boxes. They all shatter.
One of the shards of wood flies toward Buffy and she catches it. As the vampire lunges up out of the boxes, she stakes him with the piece of wood. The boy watches in shock.
The vamp turns to dust. Buffy drops the makeshift stake and stares at the pile of dust as the boy continues to cower in the background.
BUFFY: Wow. Been a long while since I met one who didn't know me.
She turns to go, pauses and looks at the kid.
BUFFY: You should get home.
She begins walking back toward the door she came out of.
KID: H-how'd you do that?
Angle on Buffy's back as she walks toward the door. She doesn't turn or stop as she replies.
BUFFY: It's what I do.
KID: But you're ... you're just a girl.Buffy pauses in the doorway.
BUFFY: That's what *I* keep saying.
She walks through the door.Wolf howl. Opening credits.
Guest starring Clare Kramer, Charlie Weber, Amber Benson as Tara, and Joel Grey as Doc. Written and directed by Joss Whedon.
Act I
Open on Buffy coming in the back door of the magic shop, walking down the hall and into the main room. We see Xander sitting at the round table with Giles beside him looking at books, and Spike sitting behind them on the ladder leading up to the loft, smoking a cigarette.
XANDER: Something goin' on out back?
BUFFY: (walks over to table) Vampire.
XANDER: Oh.
BUFFY: (sighs) Anything?Angle on Giles sitting at the table with a few books open in front of him.
GILES: Nothing you want to hear. The ritual is, uh...
BUFFY: Explain it again.
GILES: There's nothing new to-
BUFFY: Go through it again.Everyone looks nervously at Buffy. We see Willow sitting at the table on Xander's other side. Giles slowly removes his glasses.
Shot of Anya standing to the side.
GILES: The key was ... living energy. It needed to be channeled, poured into a specific place at a specific time. The energy ... would flow into that spot, the walls between the dimensions break down. It stops, the energy's used up, the walls come back up. Glory uses that time to get back into her own dimension, not caring that all manner of hell will be unleashed on earth in the meantime.
Buffy looks grim.
ANYA: Um, but only for a little while, right? The walls come back up, uh, n-no more hell?
WILLOW: That's only if the energy is stopped. And now the key is human ... (looks over her shoulder at Buffy) ...is Dawn.
GILES: (reads from book) "The blood flows, the gates will open. The gates will close when it flows no more." (removes his glasses) When Dawn is dead.Pause.
TARA: I have places to be!
Everyone looks over at Tara, who is curled up in a chair to the side. She falls silent again and they return to their conversation.
XANDER: Why blood? Why Dawn's blood? I mean, why couldn't it be like a, a lymph ritual?
SPIKE: 'Cause it's always got to be blood.
XANDER: We're not actually discussing dinner right now.
SPIKE: Blood is life, lackbrain. Why do you think we eat it? It's what keeps you going. Makes you warm. Makes you hard. Makes you other than dead. (quietly) Course it's her blood.
BUFFY: Pretty simple math here. We stop Glory before she can start the ritual. We still have a couple of hours, right?
GILES: If my calculations are right. But Buffy-
BUFFY: I don't wanna hear it. (turns away)
GILES: I understand that-
BUFFY: (whirls back) No! No, you don't understand. We are not talking about this.
GILES: (jumps up from the table, yells) Yes, we bloody well are!Beat. Everyone looks shocked by Giles' outburst.
GILES: (quieter) If Glory begins the ritual ... if we can't stop her...
BUFFY: Come on. Say it. We're bloody well talking about this. Tell me to kill my sister.
GILES: (whispers) She's not your sister.
BUFFY: (pause) No. She's not. She's more than that. She's me. The monks made her out of me. I hold her ... and I feel closer to her than ... (looks down, sighs) It's not just the memories they built. It's physical. Dawn ... is a part of me. The only part that I- (stops)
WILLOW: We'll solve this. We will. Don't have another coma, okay?Buffy gives a small smile.
GILES: (quietly) If the ritual starts, then every living creature in this and every other dimension imaginable will suffer unbearable torment and death ... (looks up at Buffy) including Dawn.
BUFFY: Then the last thing she'll see is me protecting her.
GILES: (quietly) You'll fail. You'll die. We all will. (turns away from the table)
BUFFY: I'm sorry.Shot of the others looking at her as Giles walks slowly away.
BUFFY: I love you all ... but I'm sorry.
She turns away too. Giles turns back to look at her. Beat.
ANYA: (loudly) Okay. (raises her hand) All in favor of stopping Glory *before* the ritual. Suggestions, ideas? (snapping her fingers) Time's a-wastin'.
SPIKE: Uh ... when you say you love us all...
XANDER/GILES: (unison) Shut up.
ANYA: Willow. I bet you've got some dark spell a-brewin'. Uh, make her a, a, a toad? Little hoppy toad, we can hit her with a hammer?
TARA: (giggling) Hoppy toad.
XANDER: What about Ben? He can be killed, right? I mean, I know he's an innocent, but, you know, not like Dawn innocent. We could kill a ... regular guy.Pause while everyone considers this and Xander realizes what he's said.
XANDER: (softly, in self-disgust) God.
GILES: It's doubtful he'll surface again this close to the ritual. We can expect it's Glory we're dealing with.
WILLOW: We don't have to kill her. Uh, we just have to stop her from doing the ritual. I mean, there's only the one time that she can do it, right?
SPIKE: Yeah. We get her on the ropes, we just gotta keep her occupied till it's too late.
ANYA: Okay. But I'm still not hearing enough ideas. She's a god. Let's think outside the box.
SPIKE: Why don't *you* go think outside the bleeding box.
GILES: Yes, Anya, apart from your incredibly uninfectious enthusiasm, have you anything else to contribu-
ANYA: The Dagon sphere!
GILES: Sorry?
ANYA: When Buffy first met Glory, she found that magical ... (gestures) glowy sphere that was meant to repel Glory. We've got it in the basement. (everyone looks surprised) It might drive her away or hurt her. Ooh!Anya hurries over to a display case, gestures like a game-show hostess.
ANYA: And Olaf the troll god's enchanted hammer.
We see the hammer (episode "Triangle") on a shelf.
ANYA: You wanna fight a god, use the weapon of a god.
Buffy walks over to check out the hammer.
SPIKE: Uh, nah, that thing's too heavy to- (Buffy picks it up easily) Yeah. Good.
BUFFY: I like this. (to Anya) Thanks.
ANYA: Here to help. Wanna live.
XANDER: Smart chicks are soooo hot. (looking fondly at Anya)
WILLOW: You couldn't have figured that out in tenth grade?Willow and Xander exchange a smile.
GILES: Well, we have some ideas, if we could actually get Glory on the run, but, um...
BUFFY: But, we still have no idea how to find her.
TARA: Big day. Oh, it calls me! I have to be there!Everyone looks at Tara, then at Buffy. Buffy looks thoughtful.
TARA: Big day!
Cut to: Ben entering the back room at the warehouse. He still wears the ceremonial robe and is holding a pile of clothing. A few minions are in the background.
Shot of Dawn sitting on the floor with her knees up to her chest, eyes closed. Ben walks over to her.
BEN: They, uh ... said you have to put this on ... for the ceremony.
DAWN: What if I don't?
BEN: Come on, just-
DAWN: What if I don't like the color?
BEN: Look, I ... I wish there was another way.
DAWN: And I wish you'd fall on your head and drown in your own barf, so ... (shrugs) I guess we're both disappointed.
BEN: I think ... it'll be quick.
MINION: Actually, sir, the bleeding is quite a slow process to give the portal time to-
BEN: (annoyed) Thank you ... for the information. (to Dawn) I'll do what I can to-
DAWN: Change.
BEN: What?
DAWN: Change. Be her. I don't wanna look at you.
BEN: (shakes head) Dawn, I don't think you wanna-
DAWN: Be Glory. Be Glory. (yelling) Glory! Glory! Glory!
BEN: Will you just stop- (morphs into Glory)
GLORY: -shouting already?Dawn scowls.
GLORY: Huh.
Glory shakes out the garment she's holding. It's a medieval-style dress. She examines it, then turns to Dawn.
GLORY: So, what's the hubbub, bub? (sits in a chair) What do you got against old Benjy?
DAWN: He's a monster. At least you're up-front about it.
GLORY: (picking at the hem of the dress) Don't be so hard on the boy. He just wants to live. Most guys would do the same. Besides, he's probably the reason your sis and her little cartoon pals are still alive. That little nagging pinch of humanity that makes me go for the hurt instead of the kill. (looks at Dawn) Lowering myself to trade blows with the Slayer when I should have just put my fist through her heart.Glory stands up and holds up the dress to look at it.
GLORY: It's gotta be Ben.
DAWN: Or maybe you just can't take her.Glory tosses the dress to Dawn, who takes hold of one end. Glory is still holding the other end and she suddenly yanks on it, pulling Dawn to her feet. They face off.
GLORY: Hmm, funny thing. You've been here for a few hours now, and I haven't seen big sis galloping in to save you. She probably knows what a terrible mistake that'd be.
DAWN: She's not afraid of you.
GLORY: Oh no, sweetie baby. I'm talking about the ritual. 'Cause you know I bleed you, the portals open, but once you die they close. The faster you die, the better for your sorry species.Glory puts her hand on the side of Dawn's face. Dawn looks scared.
GLORY: I'm bettin' Buffy knows that. Since she's not really your sister, I'm guessin' she isn't gonna show. And if she does...
Dawn winces in pain as Glory's fingers tighten on her head.
GLORY: ...it might not be to save you.
Glory shoves Dawn aside. She falls to the floor on top of a grating. Glory smirks at her.
Angle on Dawn's face, shooting up from below as her face is pressed against the grating.
DAWN: (whispers) Buffy.Cut to Buffy in the workout room, punching the punching-bag. She alternates hands and hits it with a steady rhythm. The camera pulls out and reveals Giles entering, walking toward her.
GILES: You sure you're not going to tire yourself out?
BUFFY: (stops punching) I'm sure.She resumes punching. Close shot on Buffy's face with Giles out of focus in the background.
GILES: We're ... still working on ideas. (Buffy stops punching) Time's short, but, uh, best leave it to the last moment. (Buffy stretching her arms) If we go in too early and she takes us out, no chance of getting her to miss her window.
BUFFY: Then we wait.Buffy gives one last punch that breaks the punching bag off its chain. It falls to the floor. Buffy stares at it, gives her arm a shake.
GILES: I imagine you hate me right now.
Same angle on Buffy with Giles in the background, her back to him. She sighs but doesn't answer. Giles takes a few steps closer.
GILES: I love Dawn.
BUFFY: I know.
GILES: But I've sworn to protect this sorry world, and sometimes that means saying and doing ... what other people can't. What they shouldn't have to.Buffy turns to face him.
BUFFY: You try and hurt her, and you know I'll stop you.
GILES: I know.Overhead shot of the two of them. Buffy walks slowly over to the sofa in the corner and sits. Giles paces slowly over to the sofa as well.
BUFFY: This is how many apocalypses for us now?
GILES: Oh, uh, well... (sits, takes off his glasses) six, at least. (sits back slowly) Feels like a hundred.
BUFFY: I've always stopped them. Always won.
GILES: Yes.
BUFFY: I sacrificed Angel to save the world.Cut to close angle on Buffy's face.
BUFFY: I loved him so much. But I knew ... what was right. I don't have that any more. I don't understand. I don't know how to live in this world if these are the choices. If everything just gets stripped away. I don't see the point. I just wish that... (tearfully) I just wish my mom was here.
She gets up, walks a few paces away, turns to face Giles.
BUFFY: The spirit guide told me ... that death is my gift. Guess that means a Slayer really is just a killer after all.
GILES: I think you're wrong about that.
BUFFY: It doesn't matter. If Dawn dies, I'm done with it. I'm quitting.She walks out, leaving Giles sitting on the sofa alone.
Cut to the warehouse. Dawn is now wearing the ritual dress. She has her other clothing folded in a neat pile and carries it over to the chair, lays the clothing down on the chair, kneels beside the chair.
Shot of Glory off to the side, writing something. A minion goes to her and whispers.
Dawn kneels by the chair and arranges her sneakers neatly in front of the chair. She looks up when Glory begins to speak.
GLORY: Okay, campers, it's almost stab time. (smiling) You two, get her.
Two minions move toward Dawn, who looks scared and backs away.
DAWN: No. No! Aah! (screams) Buffy!
She continues to scream as the minions grab her arms and drag her away. Glory watches them go with a smile.
GLORY: See you in a few.
Cut to outside. The minions drag Dawn into the courtyard area where the crazy people are still working. Sparks fly from someone's welding. Dawn looks up apprehensively.
Shot of a huge metal tower, basically build out of scaffolding. It stretches into the air above the warehouse. At the top, a narrow walkway protrudes out into the air. We see the tower first from Dawn's perspective, on the ground looking up; and then a longer shot from the side.
Dawn continues to stare up at the tower as the minions lead her to some stairs at the base of the tower and they begin to climb.
Blackout.
Act II
Open on Giles in the magic shop, walking over to a door and opening it. It leads down some stairs into the basement, which is cluttered as any basement tends to be.
GILES: (calling) Any luck? Have you found the Dagon sphere?
Pan down to the basement. Anya emerges from behind the stairs, wearing a bra, quickly putting on her blouse.
ANYA: (calling) Um, I'm sure it's here, just be a minute!
Xander emerges as well, fastening his pants.
XANDER: (calling) Yeah, we're on it! Let's look over here, where we didn't look yet.
Xander and Anya continue fastening their clothing. The angle is such that Giles can't see them.
GILES: (OS) Time is a factor.
ANYA: Yes. Yes. Not to worry.Sound of the door closing. Anya picks up a clipboard and examines it.
XANDER: So, are you more, uh ... relaxed?
ANYA: (looking through boxes) No.
XANDER: No? I mean, it sounded like you, uh ... (paces past her) arrived.
ANYA: (distracted) No. (tunes back in to the conversation) Yes. Um, I had the pleasure moment, and the blissful calm that comes right after it. But that only lasted a couple of seconds, and now I'm terrified again.
XANDER: Well, you don't have to be.Anya moves toward another pile of stuff. Xander turns and pulls down a drop-cloth, revealing the Buffy Bot.
XANDER: Gah!
He leaps back, making Anya jump as well.
ANYA: What?
They both stare at the bot. It sits there with eyes open, unmoving.
XANDER: Spike's sex-bot. Why didn't they just melt it down into scrap?
Anya moves away as Xander continues staring at the bot.
ANYA: Maybe Willow wanted it.
XANDER: (turns to her) I don't think Willow feels that way about, about Buffy. I mean, I know she's gone through a lot of changes, but-
ANYA: To study it.
XANDER: Right. Robotics. (embarrassed ) Science.Xander moves to another pile of stuff and they both continue looking, separately.
ANYA: Pervert.
XANDER: Other pervert.
ANYA: And don't frighten me like tha-aah!She shrieks as she sees something in another box. Xander comes over to look.
ANYA: God, who, who would put something like that there? Is this supposed to be some sort of sick joke?
She picks it up. It's a small toy bunny.
ANYA: I mean, things aren't bad enough! (pause) This is an omen.
XANDER: Hey, hey, shh. (rubs her shoulders)
ANYA: No, no, it's an omen. It's a higher power, trying to tell me through bunnies that we're all gonna die. Oh god.
XANDER: No it's not.Anya puts the bunny back in the box as Xander puts his arms around her waist from behind.
XANDER: It's okay.
ANYA: No, you see, usually when there's an apocalypse, I skedaddle. But now I love you so much that instead I have inappropriately timed sex and try to think of ways to fight a god ... and worry terribly that something might happen to you. And also worry that something'll happen to me. And then I have guilt that I'm not more worried about everyone else, but I just don't have enough! I'm just on total overload, and I honestly don't think that I could be more nervous than I am right now.
XANDER: Care to wager on that?Xander lifts his hand into the shot. He holds a small box, open to reveal the ring inside.
Anya stares at it. Xander lets her go and she turns to face him, still looking at the ring.
XANDER: Anya ... you wanna marry me?
Anya stares at him a moment, then slaps him across the face.
XANDER: Can I take that as a "maybe"?
ANYA: You're proposing to me!
XANDER: Yes...
ANYA: You're proposing to me 'cause we're gonna die! And you think it's romantic and sexy and, and you know you're not gonna have to go through with it 'cause the world's gonna end!
XANDER: I'm proposing to you, Anya, because it's not.
ANYA: You can't know that.
XANDER: I believe it. I think we're gonna get through this. I think I'm gonna live a long ... and silly life, and I'm not interested in doing that without you around.
ANYA: (softly) Oh. Okay.
XANDER: (wide-eyed) Okay?
ANYA: Yes. (small smile) I mean, yes.They both smile happily and look down at the ring. Xander begins removing the ring from the box as Anya holds up her hands. Then she stops him.
ANYA: No.
XANDER: No?
ANYA: After. Give it to me when the world doesn't end.Xander smiles slightly. Anya puts her arms around his neck and they kiss.
Cut to the main magic shop room. Willow sits at the table reading books while Tara naps behind her. Buffy walks up.
BUFFY: Will, what do you got for me?
WILLOW: Some ideas. (Buffy goes to sit on the stairs leading up to the loft) Well, notions. Or, theories based on wild speculation. Did I mention I'm not good under pressure?
BUFFY: I need you, Will. You're my big gun.
WILLOW: (alarmed) I'm your - no, I-I was never a gun. Someone else should be the gun. I, I could be a, a cudgel. Or, or a pointy stick.
BUFFY: You're the strongest person here. You know that, right?
WILLOW: (frowns) Well ... no.
BUFFY: Will, you're the only person that's ever hurt Glory. At all. You're my best shot at getting her on the ropes, so don't get a jelly belly on me now.
WILLOW: Well ... I, I ... do sort of have this one idea. But, last few days, I've mostly been looking into ways to help Tara. I-I know that shouldn't be my priority....Buffy leans over and puts her hand on Willow's knee.
BUFFY: Of course it should.
Willow smiles gratefully. Buffy leans back.
WILLOW: Well, I've been charting their essences. Mapping out. I think ... if I can get close enough, I may be able to reverse what Glory did. Like, take back what she took from Tara. It might weaken Glory, or ... make her less coherent. Or it might make all our heads explode.
GILES: (OS) Buffy.Buffy looks up. Across the room we see Giles, Xander, and Anya gathered around something.
WILLOW: I'll try to work it.
Buffy gets up and walks away, putting her hand briefly on Willow's shoulder as she passes.
Willow gets up and goes to crouch beside Tara's chair.
WILLOW: Don't worry, love. It won't be long.
Tara slaps her hard across the face.
TARA: (angrily) Bitch! I'm supposed to work on the factors!
Willow just looks at her sadly. The anger passes and Tara becomes anxious.
TARA: I'm, I'm not ... I'm not....
Tara puts her hand gently on Willow's cheek and begins to cry. Willow looks at her with tears in her eyes as well.
WILLOW: I'm gonna bring you back.
Cut over to the others gathered together. Giles is holding the Dagon sphere.
BUFFY: No. No, no, that's good. That could be pivotal. (to Anya and Xander) Thank you guys.
GILES: Well, um, you're gonna need some-
BUFFY: Way ahead of you. We have time?
GILES: Yes, if you hurry.
BUFFY: Okay. I'll grab some weapons too. (we see Spike appearing behind Giles)
XANDER: I'm looking for something in a broadsword.
SPIKE: Don't be swingin' that thing near me. (Buffy takes the sphere from Giles, examines it)
XANDER: Hey, I happen to be-
SPIKE: A glorified bricklayer?
XANDER: (looks around at the others) I'm also a swell bowler.
ANYA: Has his own shoes.
SPIKE: The gods themselves do tremble.
BUFFY: Spike, shut your mouth, come with me.Buffy hands the sphere to Giles and strides out. Spike looks surprised, follows her.
Cut to Buffy entering the Summers house with Spike behind her. It's dark outside.
BUFFY: The weapons are in the chest by the TV, I'll grab the stuff upstairs.She moves toward the stairs, not realizing that Spike has stopped at the door.
SPIKE: Uh, Buffy...
She turns back to him. Spike lifts his hand in a little wave. Buffy frowns, still not getting it.
SPIKE: If you wanna just hand them over the threshold, I'll...
BUFFY: Come in, Spike.Spike looks surprised and pleased. He takes a slow step over the threshold, smiles.
SPIKE: Hmm. Presto. No barrier.
They look at each other for a moment, then Spike breaks away, walks into the living room.
SPIKE: Um, won't bother with the small stuff. Couple of good axes should hold off Glory's mates while you take on the lady herself. (opens the chest, begins taking stuff out)
BUFFY: We're not all gonna make it. You know that.
SPIKE: Yeah.He takes a few weapons from the chest and walks back toward Buffy.
SPIKE: Hey. Always knew I'd go down fightin'.
BUFFY: I'm counting on you ... to protect her.
SPIKE: Till the end of the world. Even if that happens to be tonight.
BUFFY: I'll be a minute.
SPIKE: Yeah.Buffy turns to go up the stairs. Spike watches her go.
SPIKE: I know you'll never love me.
Buffy pauses halfway up the stairs, turns back to look at Spike.
SPIKE: I know that I'm a monster. But you treat me like a man. And that's...
Buffy gazes silently at him.
SPIKE: Get your stuff, I'll be here.
She turns and continues up the stairs.
Cut to the top of the tower. The minions are tying Dawn to the tower with rope. She stands there looking scared. The wind blows her hair around.
Angle downward from Dawn's POV. We see her bare feet on the edge of the platform, and far below we can see the crazy people moving around.
The minions finish tying Dawn up and turn to leave. One of them looks back.
MINION: She will come to you soon.
The camera pulls slowly back on Dawn standing at the end of the platform with the city lights behind and below her.
Cut to the magic shop. Pan quickly across Xander and Anya looking at each other, Tara looking at stuff in a display case. Willow appears from the back as Buffy and Spike enter, carrying weapons. They walk over to the office area.
BUFFY: We on schedule?
Spike goes to put the weapons down on the desk beside Giles, who is also holding an axe.
GILES: Yes, it's time.
Pan back over to Buffy.
BUFFY: Will?
Willow nods, goes over to Tara who is still staring at the merchandise.
WILLOW: Tara, baby? Is there somewhere you should be?
Tara looks over at Buffy, doesn't look at Willow.
TARA: They held me down.
WILLOW: No one's holding you. It's the big day, right?Both Willow and Tara look at Buffy. Shot of Buffy looking concerned.
WILLOW: Do you wanna go?
Tara looks anxiously from Buffy to Willow and back again. She turns and begins to walk toward Buffy and the door. She passes Spike and Giles in the background, Spike packing up weapons as Giles unsheathes a sword.
TARA: (points to Giles) You're a killer. (Giles and Spike look at her in surprise) This is all set down.
Tara continues walking out. Giles puts his axe in Spike's bag.
Willow, following Tara, draws alongside Buffy as Tara heads for the door.
BUFFY: (quietly) Stay close but don't crowd her. We'll follow in a minute.
Willow starts out again, stops when Buffy begins to address the others.
BUFFY: Everybody knows their jobs. Remember, the ritual starts, we all die. And I'll kill anyone who comes near Dawn.
Buffy turns and walks off. Willow turns to the open door and leaves.
Angle on Giles and Spike. Giles is clutching his side where he was speared in "Spiral." Spike glances at Giles, then back in the direction Buffy went.
SPIKE: Well, not exactly the St. Crispin's Day speech, was it?
GILES: We few...Giles goes past Spike as Spike gathers up the bag of weapons.
GILES: ...we happy few.
SPIKE: We band of buggered.They exit.
Cut to: exterior city street, night. Tara walks along the sidewalk, picking at the cast on her hand. The camera pulls out to reveal Willow walking a few paces behind, with the others following farther behind that.
Tara comes around a corner, pauses to gaze upward for a moment, then continues. The others follow, now all in a group. Spike carries a crossbow, Anya a baseball bat. Spike also has the bag of weapons on her back. They all stop walking and look up.
Shot from below of the tower rising up into the air above them.
They all stare at it.
XANDER: Shpadoinkle.
ANYA: What is that?
GILES: The portal must open up there.
BUFFY: Will, you're up.Close angle on Willow's face.
GILES: Need anything?
WILLOW: Could use a little courage.Spike's hand comes into the shot, holding a small flask in front of Willow's face.
WILLOW: The real kind.
Spike looks over at her. She looks at him.
WILLOW: But thanks.
Spike nods, puts the flask away.
Shot of the tower. People are walking toward it as sparks (from welding) come from the yard below.
Cut to the warehouse. The crazy people are still doing various things with machinery and metal. Pan over to the entrance as Tara enters, finally pulling the cast off her hand and tossing it aside. She walks in muttering to herself, goes over to a pile of bricks and picks one up.
A hand grabs Tara's shoulder from behind and spins her around.
GLORY: You. What are you doing here?
Willow appears beside Glory.
WILLOW: She's with me.
Willow grabs both Glory's and Tara's heads. They all scream as blue lightning begins to flicker around them. Bright blue light appears to stream from Glory's head to Tara's.
Suddenly a blast of power separates them. All three go flying in different directions. Willow crashes into a pile of wood.
Glory lands on her back on the concrete, sits up as several minions run over.
GLORY: What the frickin' hell did that bitch do to me?
The minions look at each other, then at Glory.
MINION: (anxiously) You look fine. Truly.
GLORY: (clutching her head) She made a little ... she made a hole. Uh, I need a brain to eat.
MINION: Oh, take mine, oh groove-tastic one! (bows)
GLORY: I said a brain, you worthless dirt!She puts a hand to her forehead and begins to walk, distractedly, as the minions follow her with concern.
GLORY: Big day. I got places to be, big day. Need a brain.
She looks at something directly in front of her, scoffs.
GLORY: Suppose I could always use yours.
BUFFY: (OS) Okay then.Buffy stands there with her hands clasped behind her back. The camera zooms in on her.
BUFFY: Come and get it.
Blackout.
Act III
Open on Glory still staring at Buffy. Glory starts to smile, then looks away and moves her arms as if in pain.
BUFFY: (innocently) You don't seem very well.
GLORY: Your little witch bitch ... gave me kind of a headache there. (removes her ceremonial robe, revealing the simple black dress underneath) But if you think this is gonna last more than eight seconds-
BUFFY: I noticed you're talking, whereas in your position, I would attack me.The minions have taken Glory's robe as she continues to stand there looking weakened.
MINION: Oh, most sweaty-naughty-feelings-causing one, should we...
GLORY: Go guard the girl. This is a ... this is a, a...
MINION: Diversionary tactic?
GLORY: Go guard!The minions scurry away. They pull a bunch of crazies away from their work and gather them around the base of the stairs leading up to the tower.
Cut back to Glory still standing there unsteadily.
BUFFY: It's strange, you're not as blurry with speed as usual either.
GLORY: The witch...
BUFFY: It's not her.Buffy produces the Dagon sphere from behind her.
BUFFY: Might be this.
Glory looks alarmed.
BUFFY: I heard it's supposed to repel you. So my guess is ... you probably shouldn't touch it, either.
Buffy tosses the sphere at Glory, who catches it instinctively. The sphere lights up and seems to warp the air around it when it touches Glory's hand. She makes a pained face, drops her hand to her side.
Close shot on Glory's hand holding the sphere. She slowly crushes the sphere and the light goes out as it crumbles.
GLORY: You're gonna wish you-