Potential
Buffy Episode 7x12 (#134)
"Potential" Transcript
Written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner
Original U.S. Air Date: January 21st, 2003
Transcribed by: CariCranberry
Originally transcribed for: http://www.buffyworld.com/.
NB: The content of this transcript, including
the characters and the story, belongs to Mutant Enemy. This transcript
was created based on the broadcast episode.
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GILES (V.O.)
Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
1 INT. BUFFY'S
HOUSE - NIGHT
Dawn's sitting on the living room floor in front of the couch, hugging a pillow,
amid the destruction from her earlier encounter. Willow comes to talk to her.
WILLOW
Dawn, what happened here?
DAWN
I saw Mom.
WILLOW
It's the Big Bad, Dawn. The one we knew was coming.
2 INT. BASEMENT
AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Spike hands and feet chained to the wall. He lunges at Buffy, who stares him
straight in the eyes.
BUFFY
(in his face) I believe in you, Spike.
Spike looks at her with a face full of hope and amazement. Just then, the
lights flicker and go out. Someone bursts into the basement and pushes Buffy
away from Spike. She falls to the ground.
Cut to:
3 INT. BUFFY'S
HOUSE - NIGHT
Robed men break into the house from all angles, smashing windows and breaking
down doors. Covered head to toe in long, black, hooded robes, these people have
batons and no eyes
Cut to:
4 INT. BASEMENT
AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Buffy goes down the stairs to the basement, followed by Xander. She stops dead
in her tracks when she sees the empty shackles that Spike was supposed to be in.
BUFFY
They were after Spike all along.
Cut to:
5 INT. BASEMENT
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Spike is tied to the wheel-like construct with all four corners of his body
pulled in opposite directions. Spike's body has symbols carved into his chest.
Spike/First morphs into Buffy's form. A Harbinger cranks a wheel attached to a
mechanism that hoists the wheel Spike's tied to into the air. Spike is now
hanging from the wheel about ten feet from the ground, bleeding steadily from
his ritualized symbol-shaped cuts.
BUFFY (V.O.)
You know what we're up against. The First.
BUFFY/FIRST
Now, Spike, wanna see what a real vampire looks like?
Spike's blood is falling on the Seal of Danthazar that's right below him.
It's pooling in the grooves and being absorbed into the seal. The seal starts to
glow. One by one, the pointed tips of the pentagram at its center fold up,
forming a pyramid. Light comes out from under it. The pyramid sinks into the
ground. The remaining pieces of the seal follow suit. A monster climbs out
wearing black leather. Pan up to show its horrible disfigured face. It's bald
with a distinct vampire forehead and brows and trademark fanged teeth. It looks
gaunt, with extremely hollow cheekbones. It raises its hands toward the sky and
looks around the room, growling menacingly.
Cut to:
6 EXT. STREET IN
SUNNYDALE - NIGHT
The UberVamp has caught up to Buffy, grabbing her from behind and throwing her
into a concrete wall. She steps back, still standing, as the UberVamp literally
crawls up the wall to gain momentum and height to kick her in the face, knocking
Buffy to the ground. Then he kicks her in the head again before grabbing her arm
and throwing Buffy through a concrete block wall. The wall crumbles down on top
of her, the roof caves in, and there's blackness.
GILES (V.O.)
As Neanderthals are to human beings, the Turok-Han are to vampires—ferociously
powerful killing machines, as single-minded as animals.
Cut to:
7 INT. KITCHEN
AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Buffy and Giles are in the kitchen talking to the three slayers in training, who
are already up and eating breakfast.
GILES
They are the vampires that vampires fear.
Cut to:
8 INT. BUFFY'S
HOUSE - DAY
Buffy opens the front door to leave, but sees Giles standing there on her front
porch when she opens it. Buffy goes to hug Giles, but is cut off when three
girls she's never met walk right into her house.
MOLLY
(in a Cockney British accent) Nice place. Bit of a mess. (walks inside the
house)
Cut to:
9 INT. LIVING
ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Dawn's standing in front of the three girls Giles brought with him. The three
girls are lined up against the wall, and Dawn's inspecting them, arms crossed in
front of her.
DAWN
They're all slayers?
GILES
Potential slayers. Waiting for one to be called. There were many more like them
all over the world, but, um, now there's just a handful, and they're all on
their way to Sunnydale.
Cut to:
10 EXT. SUNNYDALE
BUS STATION - NIGHT
A charter bus opens its doors, and a couple of people walk down the steps to
exit the vehicle. The last person to exit is a young African-American girl,
wearing denim overalls and carrying a backpack. She looks around.
Cut to:
11 INT. WILLOW'S
BEDROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Kennedy is lying on the foot of the bed, with one arm bent at the elbow,
propping her head up on her hand, talking to Willow, who's on the floor in a
sleeping bag.
KENNEDY
Right. How many girls arriving this time?
WILLOW
Just one. But since Giles has the coven searching for other slayers in waiting,
I bet we'll be seeing a lot more soon enough.
Cut to:
12 EXT. SUNNYDALE
BUS STATION - NIGHT
When Rona looks up, she sees two black-robed, hooded, eyeless men, the bringers,
coming toward her with knives in their hands. She backs up against the wall,
panicked and breathing heavily, and sinks down to the ground. Just then, the
pair of bringers between the buses is lifted off the ground and goes flying
apart, revealing Buffy, who had thrown them to the ground. Buffy walks up to
Rona, who is still cowering on the ground.
BUFFY
Rona, right? (Rona nods)
RONA
(takes Buffy's hand, stands) You're her!
Cut to:
13 INT. DINING
ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Willow is talking to Buffy and Xander.
WILLOW
Another potential arrived in town the day before yesterday.
Cut to:
14 EXT. SUN SPOT
MOTEL - DAY
Buffy and Xander walk up to Room 25.
Cut to:
15 INT. SUN SPOT
MOTEL - DAY
Buffy kicks the door in and enters, followed by Xander. She sees a girl lying on
the floor, face down in a pool of blood. Buffy kneels to touch her, and looks
back up at Xander.
BUFFY
She's cold. Been dead for days.
XANDER
Poor kid. She made it all the way to Sunnydale just to get herself killed. (Buffy
rolls the girl over)
BUFFY
(looks at the girl's face) Eve.
XANDER
Eve, who's in our house?
Buffy and Xander stare at each other, wide-eyed and incredulous.
Cut to:
16 INT. BASEMENT
AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Buffy rushes down the stairs to the basement.
BUFFY
Get away from them.
DAWN
Buffy, what did Eve do?
XANDER
That's not Eve.
All the girls stand and back away from Eve. Eve stands and faces Buffy.
EVE/FIRST
One more down. Oh, well, can't save 'em all, can ya, Buffy? Bye.
Eve disappears in a flash of light (like a television being turned off).
Cut to:
17 EXT. CONSTRUCTION
SITE - NIGHT
Buffy's fighting the Turok-Han. The Turok-Han pushes her into the wall of the
construction office trailer. Buffy falls to the ground. Buffy keeps going and
finally injures and overpowers it. Buffy grabs some nearby barbed wire and slips
it around the Turok-Han's throat. It falls to the ground, and Buffy pulls on the
wire hard enough to sever its head. The Turok-Han explodes in a cloud of dust in
front of her.
BUFFY
(to the slayers-in-training) I don't know what's coming next, but I do know it's
gonna be just like this. Painful. Believe it, we'll be the ones left standing.
Cut to:
18 INT. UNDERGROUND
CAVE - NIGHT
Still shackled to the rocky cave wall, Spike sees someone walking toward him.
White-shirted, but and bruised Buffy is standing before him holding a bringer's
knife in her hand. Buffy approaches him slowly and cuts him loose of his chains.
He collapses forward and catches himself, bracing with his hand on her shoulder.
When he touches her and realizes she's real, he smiles and squints, searching
her face. She looks into his eyes, tapping an emotional connection between them.
SPIKE
You. Oh.
He puts his arm around her, and she puts her arm around his waist.
Although Spike is weak and limping, they walk out of the cave together.
Fade to black.
End Recap.
The Start Of Episode
PROLOGUE:
19 EXT. SUNNYDALE
CEMETERY - NIGHT
Rona and Vi are walking through the cemetery nervously, holding stakes, being as
quiet as they can be.
Something behind them steps on a branch and makes a cracking sound, and
the girls turn to look. It's Spike—in vampire visage. He punches Rona to the
ground. Vi tries to stake him, but Spike catches her hand and grabs her, and
twists her arm behind her back. He puts his arm around her throat, growls and
goes to bite her neck. Vi screams. Spike stops before biting her, looks up, and
lets his vamp face fade away. Vi squeaks with fright. Still holding her, he
looks up, and talks to people in front of him.
SPIKE
OK, these two are dead. Why?
RONA
(stands, dusts herself off, to Spike) 'Cause the black chick always gets it
first?
VI
(to Spike) Ow!
BUFFY
What was that, Rona?
RONA
I'm dead because he's a vampire. I don't have slayer strength, slayer speed—i-it
wasn't a fair fight.
SPIKE
(still holding his arm to her neck) Vi, do you think I care about a fair fight?
VI
(tentatively) No, no sir. You don't play by the rules, and I have learned a
valuable lesson of some sort. (Spike twists her arm behind her back) Ow!
BUFFY
OK, Spike. (he lets Vi go; she walks up to Molly and Kennedy who are standing
near Buffy) You're right. You don't have slayer strength. But that doesn't mean
that you're not strong. You have inherent abilities that others do not have.
MOLLY
(taking notes on a pad) Not like you do.
BUFFY
No, not yet, but it's there. You have the potential. You have strength, speed,
instinct. You just have to learn to trust yourself. Rona, what did your
instincts tell you to do just then?
RONA
(half-heartedly) Block his attack, keep him off balance, gain the advantage...?
BUFFY
No, they didn't.
RONA
(frankly) They told me to run.
BUFFY
Vi?
VI
(rubbing her wrist) They told me to run. They're still sort of telling me to run.
BUFFY
Don't fight on his terms. Your gut's telling them to run, run. OK? Regain the
higher ground. Make the fight your own. Spike, what did your instincts tell you
to do just then?
SPIKE
Hunt. Kill.
BUFFY
(walks out in front of the girls) Come at me, (Spike raises his eyebrows and
smiles a little) full speed. (to slayers-in-training) He needs to kill to live.
That tells you everything you need to know.
Spike growls and lunges at Buffy. She ducks, and he ends up lunging
face-first into a headstone. He falls to the ground, lying flat on his back, and
Buffy straddles him, holding one hand to his throat and pointing a stake above
his heart with the other.
BUFFY
(to slayers-in-training) Instinct. Understand his, but trust yours. You were
chosen for a reason. (Spike groans softly, to Spike) Are you OK? (lets go of his
throat)
SPIKE
I'm... fine. (tries to sit up) Couple of ribs ain't quite set right since— I'm
fine.
BUFFY
Lemme see. (lifts up his shirt a little to inspect his ribs)
SPIKE
No, it's just—
BUFFY
(sweetly, concerned) Spike. (touches his skin)
SPIKE
(reaches for her hand, holds it) I'm gonna be OK.
RONA
That's hot.
MOLLY
(still taking notes) So, we're supposed to, like, make out with them or
something?
VI
(still rubbing her wrist and holding a stake) Careful, Buffy. Just when you
think it's part of the lesson, he'll (gestures to her hurt wrist) hurt your arm.
BUFFY
(stands, offers her hand to Spike, helps him stand) Molly, Kennedy, let's go.
You're up. Next lesson.
Fade to black.
Opening credits.
ACT I:
20 INT. BASEMENT
AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Buffy, carrying a battle-axe, is pacing back and forth disapprovingly in front
of the girls while they chatter. Rona and Kennedy are talking, and Molly and Vi
are talking. Dawn's sitting on the stairs, watching them through the stair rail.
RONA
No way. One armed pushups are bull.
KENNEDY
I can do 'em. I can do the kinda way you clap between.
RONA
I'm more of a chin up kinda girl. I can do chin-ups 'til the cows come home.
VI
You're saying demon, and I don't mean to ... Oh, bananas! Imagine yourself
covered in human viscera.... (Molly and Vi giggle and squeal as they continue
talking)
Buffy stops pacing and hurls the battle-axe at the bull's-eye target hung
on the wall. The axe point lands in the center, a perfect bull's-eye. Everyone
stops talking and looks at her, a little frightened. She glares at them sternly.
BUFFY
You're all gonna die. But you knew that already. (paces in front of them) 'Cause
that's the cool reward for being human. Big dessert at the end of the meal.
Don't kid yourselves, you guys. This whole thing is all about death. (stands
still) You think you're different 'cause you might be the next slayer? Death is
what a slayer breathes, what a slayer dreams about when she sleeps. Death is
what a slayer lives. My death could make you the next slayer. (walks back to
retrieve her axe from the target) Oh, goody. Rapt attention. I love that so much.
(pulls out the axe) Now, where was I? Ah. (sets down the axe, walks back to the
front) If we go with what Anya's resources are telling us, then The First is in
remission for a while, which we think means advantage us.
RONA
Well, what does that mean? About The First?
BUFFY
(crosses her arms) As best we can tell, he—or precisely "it"—was
putting a lot of stock in that UberVamp thing, the Chaka Khan.
DAWN
(from the stairs) Turok-Han?
BUFFY
(doesn't acknowledge Dawn, pacing) So when I kicked its ass, the whole Firsty
circus decided to back off for a while. Good news? Means we probably don't have
to worry about it pulling Spike's strings for a while. (stands still) Here's the
half-empty. Time away means time to regroup. And part of that regrouping is
coming back stronger than ever. The odds are against us. Time is against us. And
some of us will die in this battle. Decide now that it's not going to be you. (walks
closer to the girls) I know you're all tired, far away from home, anxious. But
you're all special. Most people in this world have no idea why they're here or
what they want to do. You do. You have a mission, a reason for being here.
You're not here by chance. You're here because you are the chosen ones. (turns,
walks upstairs, commenting on the way) Dawn, you better hurry up and eat
something so you're not late for school.
Cut to:
21 INT. BUFFY'S
CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Buffy's sitting at her desk, talking on the telephone in her cubicle.
BUFFY
Xander, I know. I'm sorry—If you're gonna take a shower at my house, lock the
door. Of course they're curious. (a student walks up to her cubicle, Buffy
gestures and mouths "oh, come in") Hey, I gotta go. Uh, has Giles
checked in yet? (Amanda sits in a chair across from Buffy) I thought he was
picking up that Chao-Ahn girl in Shanghai yesterday. OK, well, uh, let me know
if he does. Bye. (hangs up, sighs) Amanda, right? I'm all yours.
AMANDA
Do people ever think you're weird?
BUFFY
Um, (flutters eyelashes, shrugs) I guess. Sure, in a charming, endearing,
loveable... Yeah.
AMANDA
I feel like people think I'm weird, and so they pick on me. But I might be—weird.
BUFFY
(chuckles) Amanda, why do you think that you're weird?
AMANDA
One of the boys who picks on me, I kind of—See, if a guy picks on you, is it
weird to think he's cute?
BUFFY
(grins uncomfortably, leans back in her chair) Oh.. (sighs)
AMANDA
It's just, the last few times I've seen him, I've wanted to, you know, pick on
him....extra. More.
BUFFY
(stifles a laugh) Uh-huh.
AMANDA
The thing is, I can't tell. My mom says when a guy teases you, it means he likes
you.
BUFFY
(nods) Sometimes that's true.
AMANDA
Is it weird? We're mean to each other, and we like each other.
BUFFY
Well, it depends. Sometimes that's how people relate. Being mean to each other.
Even mortal enemies— (increasingly emphatic) Then with the— And that leads
to no good, absolutely no good. And much confusion. A-and then it's over.
Absolutely, seriously, definitely over. And that's confusing too. The over part.
Which it is. Over! (catches herself, calms a bit) So, maybe.
Amanda looks somewhat confused. Buffy smiles.
Cut to:
22 INT. LIVING
ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Buffy comes home through the front door only to find Vi and Rona in a loud
discussion with Xander. Andrew's also in the room. Xander appears to be
chastising the girls and gesturing emphatically to the destruction that
surrounds him. The cushions and chairs are on the floor, furniture is broken—even
the pictures on the walls are crooked.
XANDER
...there might be an appropriate place to do that, like maybe outside.
ANDREW
(yelling) Why do we always have to yell?
BUFFY
(crosses her arms and scowls) I was only gone a couple of hours.
WILLOW
(walks in from the dining room) Buffy?
BUFFY
(cocks her head and smirks at the arguers) Oh, look everybody. It's Willow.
Perhaps with a blunt weapon of some sort.
WILLOW
Buffy, we just got news. (turns back to the dining room, Buffy follows)
Cut to:
23 INT. DINING
ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Buffy, Xander, Willow, and Anya are gathered around the dining room table.
Andrew is standing behind Xander, and Dawn is leaning on a door jamb.
BUFFY
And she's sure?
WILLOW
Positive. Althenea said the seers located another potential slayer here in
Sunnydale. Someone that already lives here.
BUFFY
(sighs) Oh, God...
ANYA
All these girls flocking to town, and this one's already here and under our
noses?
XANDER
Wait, the seers couldn't find out her name or, like, her address or anything? Am
I getting the definition of seer wrong?
BUFFY
I was gonna take the girls out tonight, a little show and tell, but maybe now I
shouldn't.
ANDREW
They were so excited. (softly) You're gonna break their little hearts.
BUFFY
This town is lousy with Bringers. I don't want to risk that they find this new
girl first.
WILLOW
No, you should go. I can do a spell to find her tonight. I just have to get
together a few ingredients. But you-you shouldn't skip your training, it's too
important.
BUFFY
(looks at Willow) You think you can handle it?
XANDER
No problemo.
DAWN
(fidgets in the doorway) Yeah, and you guys have more important things to do.
BUFFY
(doesn't acknowledge Dawn) OK, I'll take 'em.
ANDREW
(pumps his fist) Yes!
BUFFY
Andrew, (shakes head) you're not going.
Andrew grunts softly as his expression deflates into a pout.
Cut to:
24 INT. KITCHEN
AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Molly, Vi, and Rona are going through the pile weapons that are laid out on the
island countertop.
MOLLY
(picks up a crossbow) Ooh, crossbow! Got to love it. (points it around the
kitchen) Feels like I'm storming a castle.
RONA
You do a lot of that, do you?
MOLLY
I might, I had a beauty like this. (Dawn walks into the kitchen, Molly points
the crossbow at her) Halt!
DAWN
OK, see, that's why we don't point the weapons in the kitchen.
VI
It's not loaded.
DAWN
That's always the lead quote under the headline "Household Crossbow
Accident Claims Teen".
VI
Oh, a mace! (picks up a mace)
DAWN
(rolls her eyes) Yeah, that's better.
RONA
(picks up a stake) Gotta go with the stake. It's classic. I like the feel of
wood in my hand.
KENNEDY
(walks into the kitchen) Lost me there. (sees the pile of weapons) Hey, we
gearing up already?
DAWN
Oh, right. You guys are going on your little group patrol.
VI
More than that, it's an outing.
KENNEDY
(picks up a dagger, smiling) I'm thinking tonight we might actually get to kill
things.
DAWN
I-I've killed things sometimes.
Buffy walks into the kitchen, followed by Andrew.
ANDREW
(whining) I'm not begging.
BUFFY
You're like a small dog dancing for Snausages.
ANDREW
You don't want me coming along 'cause you think I'm evil.
VI
He doesn't seem evil, exactly.
BUFFY
(crosses her arms) He's not evil, but when he gets close to it, he picks up its
flavor like a mushroom or something.
ANDREW
But I'm reformed. I'm like Vegeta on Dragonball Z. I used to be a pure
Sayan, and now I fight for the side of Goku.
BUFFY
(shakes her head) Still not coming.
ANDREW
(whining) It's not fair. Spike just killed people, and he gets to go.
BUFFY
Spike didn't have free will and you did.
ANDREW
(sighs) I hate my free will.
SPIKE
(enters the kitchen) This is where you're all hiding. You ready to go, or what?
(the girls greet him)
BUFFY
Let's go, girls. Grab your weapons.
Rona, Vi, Kennedy and Molly each grab a weapon and follow Buffy and Spike
out of the house.
RONA
All right. Let's do it. I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to kick some
serious....
ANDREW
(to Dawn) You wanna play Dragonball Z? (Dawn just glares at him)
Cut to:
25 INT. LIVING
ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Willow, Dawn, and Andrew are gathered around the coffee table, taking inventory
of Willow's spell ingredients.
WILLOW
OK, I got my tumbleweed, my eggs...got my chrysalises—chrysali? My butterfly
transformer pods. Hey, wh-where's my snakeskin?
ANDREW
(holding the snakeskin as if it were a live snake and hissing) At your
ssssservice, Miss Rosenberg, ssssir. (Willow stares disapprovingly, Andrew hands
the skin to her) Can you imagine if every once in a while, people just wriggled
out of their skin and left it behind them like—like on the sidewalk. Talk
about embarrassing.
DAWN
(to Willow) Hey, do you think this girl, this potential, goes to Sunnydale?
WILLOW
Hmm. Well, I guess probably, huh? I mean, she's got to be about that age.
DAWN
Could be anybody. Could be that glamazon in gym class, what's her name? Oh, my
lab partner, Margot, the freak. Boy, I hope not, because she totally fainted
right in the middle of our fetal pig dissection. Somehow I just don't think
she's cut out for the slayage biz.
ANDREW
(pained) Killing pigs is just so wrong. (nods knowingly) And also hard. (Dawn
looks at him funny)
WILLOW
Well, we'll know soon enough who the next potential is. Somebody's life is about
to change.
DAWN
How long will it take? Will we find out who it is right away?
WILLOW
Pretty much. The spell will conjure up this brilliant light, a-and the light
will find the potential and it'll illuminate her with a glowing aura.
ANDREW
Cool.
WILLOW
I've enchanted this map (gestures to a map on the coffee table) so we can track
her basic location. We'll have to hot-foot it, but I'm betting we find her
tonight.
DAWN
You know, if it is Margot, she's so gonna faint.
Later now, Willow is sitting in front of the lit fireplace. She's got a
mortar and pestle on the hearth and her ingredients are laid out. Dawn, Anya and
Xander are also in the room. As she recites the spell, Willow throws each item
she mentions into the fire.
WILLOW
To light the aura of the new, skin of snake and chrysalis too.
To indicate the fresh reborn, tumbleweed and rosebush thorn.
An egg that means the life to come.
Take this, oh spirit, and my spell is done.
As Willow finishes the spell recitation, an orange haze emanates from the
fireplace. Everyone in the room wrinkles up their noses and starts coughing.
XANDER
Oh, good God, what is that smell?
ANYA
(covering her nose with her hand) I'm fairly sure that's the smell of a
hardboiled egg being thrown into a fire.
XANDER
Uh-huh.
WILLOW
(covering her mouth and nose with her hand) The smell will lead us to the
potential.
XANDER
Or some poor soul who ate too many chimichangas.
WILLOW
She'll also be lit with a brilliant aura.
The orange haze from the fire has gathered in the center of the room,
making a mass of glowing light. Willow, Anya, Dawn and Xander are standing in a
circle almost, and the light is moving around in the middle of their circle.
DAWN
Is it supposed to be shimmying all over like that?
WILLOW
I don't know. I don't think so.
ANYA
So you messed up the spell again. At least it smells, you know, other-worldly.
(Willow looks at her, hurt. Anya realizes this and changes the subject, pointing
to the light) Oh, look, pretty.
WILLOW
I suck. I'm sorry, you guys, I— Maybe we could figure something out on the
computer?
DAWN
Good call. I'm gonna open the door and let this place air out. (waves at the air
in front of her as she walks to the front door)
XANDER
(walks up to Willow, puts his arm around her) Don't worry, Will. It's really no
big.
WILLOW
I just—I was sure that it was gonna work.
Suddenly, the mass of light congeals and forms into a solid beam and heads
straight for Dawn.
WILLOW
Dawn!
The light hits Dawn with such a force that it picks her up and pins her to
the door. The light goes straight into her, then she drops to the ground, her
chest still glowing orange. Somewhat disoriented, Dawn looks at Willow, Xander,
and Anya with wide eyes.
WILLOW
(staring at Dawn) I think it worked.
Fade to black.
ACT II:
26 INT. LIVING
ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Resume. Dawn collapses at the door.
XANDER
(goes to her side) Dawn!
WILLOW
(Willow and Anya step forward) Dawn, are you OK?
DAWN
(stands, walks into the living room, the others follow) Maybe y-you did it
wrong? Was it a-ambiguous in any way? Did you maybe say potential sailors?
'Cause I-I do like the water.
WILLOW
I did it right.
XANDER
(staring at her) Wow, she—you're a potential. You could be the next slayer.
DAWN
(eyes growing wider) Whoa. (goes to sit on the sofa)
ANYA
(kneels in front of her) Wow, it's like one second you were this klutzy teenager
with fake memories and a history of kleptomania, and then—then suddenly you're
a hero, a hero with a much abbreviated lifespan.
XANDER
This is huge. We have to think about this.
DAWN
I-I can't think about this. (stands, paces) It doesn't fit in my head.
WILLOW
A slayer. Makes sense, I guess. Remember that thing about they share the same
blood or whatever?
ANYA
(shrugs) Yeah, I never got that.
DAWN
She has to die. (sits on a chair) I mean, if I was ever the slayer, it would
mean she died.
ANYA
Well, it's a lot like being the Pope in that way, except you don't have to be
some old Catholic.
WILLOW
I've got to call Buffy. She's gonna be so excited. (goes to the phone)
XANDER
(blocks her) No, we can't. She didn't bring a cell phone.
DAWN
Well, sure, 'cause all the important people are with her.
XANDER
(points to Dawn) You are important now.
DAWN
(stands) Wh-wha-what happens now?
ANYA
Well, you could start by maybe sitting still for a sec.
DAWN
(paces) I-I cant. I-I need to know what happens to my life.
WILLOW
Well, I guess Buffy trains you.
DAWN
Right, I train with the potentials—other potentials. Learn to do the stuff
they're learning.
ANYA
Right, we also have to protect you from the, uh, eyeless guys, the ones with the
sharp, sharp knives.
DAWN
Bringers.
WILLOW
It's OK, we'll protect you.
DAWN
(worried) What if they saw the spell?
XANDER
Saw the spell? Dawn, they can't see flashcards. Big ones.
DAWN
(getting upset) We did a big orange powerful spell. What if they sensed it? What
if they're on their way?
ANDREW
(enters the room) Are we gonna replace the microwave? 'Cause I was thinking some
Orville Redenbacher with fresh butter flavor— What's going on?
ANYA
Dawn's gonna be a slayer.
ANDREW
Holy crap! (Xander gives him a look) Excuse me. Plucked from an ordinary life,
handed a destiny—
XANDER
(points at Andrew) Say Skywalker, and I smack ya.
ANDREW
Does Buffy know?
XANDER
She didn't take her phone.
ANDREW
Incommunicado.
WILLOW
Well, we'll tell her soon as she gets back.
DAWN
Let's not.
WILLOW
What? Dawn, she has to know.
DAWN
I-I know, just not right away. Guys, when mom appeared to me, she said—
WILLOW
Dawnie...
DAWN
No, please. She said something about Buffy, and I'm thinking... I'm just not so
sure Buffy will be happy for me.
WILLOW
Of course she will.
DAWN
Will she? I mean, I'm not even sure I'm happy for me. Everything's different for
me now.
ANYA
That's because you're a part of something larger. Like being swallowed. By
something larger.
DAWN
(stands) This-this is too much for my head again. (runs upstairs) I can't. I—I
need to be—
XANDER
Nice job with the "getting swallowed" analogy.
ANYA
Well, it is a mixed bag, you know. If she gets to be the slayer, then her life
is short and brutal. And if she doesn't, then it smells of unfulfilled
potential. My swallowed analogy looks pretty sweet right now, doesn't it?
WILLOW
It's not like that. It's like, she's part of this huge power. I know what that
feels like. It feels wonderful.
ANDREW
Yes, Willow so captured it. It's like—well, it's almost like this metaphor for
womanhood, isn't it? The sort of flowering that happens when a girl realizes
that she's part of a fertile heritage stretching back to Eve, and—
XANDER
(covers his face with his hands, then gestures to Andrew) I'll pay you to talk
about Star Wars again.
ANYA
This isn't about womany power. This is about the fact that Dawn just might have
bought herself an early death.
WILLOW
We don't know that.
XANDER
Right, all we know is that everything just changed.
Cut to:
26a INT. DAWN'S
ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
From the door to her room, Dawn listens to the others argue downstairs.
WILLOW (O.S.)
Someone should go find Buffy. I still think she needs to know.
XANDER (O.S.)
Hey, Will, what if she doesn't like it?
WILLOW (O.S.)
Are you worried about what Dawn said? About the ghost? Xander, we don't even
know if that really was Joyce. And we don't know what she meant about Buffy.
Cut to:
XANDER
I'm not talking about that. I mean, what do you think Buffy's going to do with
this information? Jump up and down? Teach Dawn the secret handshake? She know
what this means.
ANYA
Short, brutal life. Sharp, sharp knives. I covered this.
XANDER
Right. You think Buffy really wants that for Dawn? And besides, Dawn doesn't
want us telling her yet.
Cut to:
26b INT. DAWN'S
ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Dawn walks to her mirror and stares while listening to the others talk
downstairs.
WILLOW (O.S.)
Dawn's freaking out. Her input—not worth that much right now.
ANYA (O.S.)
She's a child. Of course she can't handle this.
XANDER (O.S.)
Hey, something out there says she can handle this and a hell of a lot more.
Something out there chose her.
DAWN
I'm chosen.
WILLOW (O.S.)
Sure, she can handle it. Is that why she's hiding out in her room right now?
XANDER (O.S.)
She's just getting used to it. Let it happen. She doesn't have to rush.
Cut to:
ANYA
He's right. We shouldn't rush her. Rushing's only gonna get her killed.
Cut to:
26c INT. DAWN'S
ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Dawn opens her bedroom window and climbs out.
Cut to:
27 INT. DEMON
BAR - NIGHT
Buffy and Spike lead the slayers-in-training into the demon bar. The place is
dimly lit, filled with disgusting-looking patrons that could never be mistaken
for humans. As Buffy and crew walk in, some of the patrons turn to look at them
as the young girls gawk at what they see.
RONA
(laughs) This is a bar.
KENNEDY
(grinning widely) Best damn field trip I ever took.
MOLLY
Look, they're all—
VI
(incredulous) They're demons! It's a demon bar. It's like a gay bar, only with
demons.
One of the patrons at the bar stands and greets Spike. In appearance, this
demon is reminiscent of a walrus with smaller teeth and long droopy warts
dangling from its face.
DEMON
Spike! Long time. Nice of you to bring snacks.
SPIKE
Thouch them, and lose your privates.
VI
I didn't like him.
SPIKE
Nice job of blending in, girls.
RONA
We're a bunch of 15 year olds in a demon bar. How much blending did you think we
were gonna do?
BUFFY
Look, it's ok. Ususally you come to a place like this, you wanna be seen. You
wanna scare someone, or make contact—-
MOLLY
(eagerly) Or have a strong drink?
BUFFY
Not usually that.
KENNEDY
You don't drink?
BUFFY
Sure I do. I mean, no. That would be wrong.
VI
Do they card?
BUFFY
Nope, go ahead. (the girls walk up to the bar) Down all the yak urine shots or
pigs blood spritzers you like. (Spike smirks)
VI
Gross. (the girls back away from the bar)
SPIKE
Got that right. Prices they charge, you could get human blood straight from the
body. (Molly stares at him) Vampire...
BUFFY
Look, if I come here, it's 'cause I gotta wring some information out of
something large, scary, drunk, with a room full of friends who don't care much
for the slayer. Remember that. Not a being in here wouldn't be glad to rip your
throat out.
CLEM
(walks up to Buffy while she's talking to the girls) Buffy? Girl, how ya been?
BUFFY
(taken aback) Clem! (gets a good look at him) You look great, so toned. (they
hug)
KENNEDY
(under her breath, to Rona) He's ripping out her throat right now.
CLEM
(to Buffy) Oh, my God! It is so good to see you! I saw this great show on the
History Channel the other night that I knew you would love, and then something
went all flooey with my TiVo.
BUFFY
You know what? Can I talk to you for a second over here?
Buffy and Clem step away from the group, and Buffy whispers something in
Clem's ear.
KENNEDY
(under her breath, to Rona) You think she dated him too?
Buffy and Clem rejoin the group.
BUFFY
OK, everyone. These are the girls.
CLEM
Howdy. So, you girls are gonna deal with demons, huh? Just lemme tell you this.
Clem leans in as if to whisper something to them, and the girls crowd
around, following suit and leaning in. Then Clem does something with his face
that makes the girls scream and jump back with fright. From behind, it looks as
though his ears spin, and snakes jump out of his face.
VI
I could use a shot of that yak urine right about now.
Cut to:
28 EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD
STREET IN SUNNYDALE - NIGHT
Dawn's walking down the street alone, arms crossed and looking at the ground.
Then she hears someone approaching down the sidewalk. She looks up. It's Amanda
walking toward her.
DAWN
Hey.
AMANDA
Hey, Dawn. Whatcha doing?
DAWN
(shrugs) Uh, just walking. You?
AMANDA
Um, yeah, just walking too. K, well, have a good walk. I guess I'll see you
Monday morning?
DAWN
Yeah.
They walk past each other, still going in opposite directions, then Amanda
turns to Dawn.
AMANDA
You all right?
DAWN
Sure. Just walking, you know? (looks closely at Amanda's face) A-are you all
right? (points to her own forehead) You've got a thing.
AMANDA
(Amanda touches her head where there's a bloody gash above her eye, she laughs
nervously) I guess I— I had a bit of a— It's been a bizarre night.
DAWN
What happened? Who did that to you?
AMANDA
(biting her nails) Uh, nobody...exactly. I don't think you'd exactly believe me.
DAWN
Try me.
AMANDA
I-I was at school late because of, you know, Swing Choir, and I tore my sweater,
you know, the striped ones we wear. So I went to Home Sciences to sew it up.
DAWN
Uh-huh.
AMANDA
And by the time I was finished, the place was empty, so it was all echoy and
lonely. And then there was this guy—or thing. And it was—it scratched me,
and I kinda dodged it, and it kinda hit its head.
DAWN
What kind of thing?
AMANDA
I don't know. It was messed up. In the face. 'Round here abouts. (runs her
finger between her brows, and down the bridge of her nose)
DAWN
And when it scratched at you, did it—was it scratching with its teeth?
AMANDA
Is it real? Was it really a vampire? I bet you think I'm crazy.
DAWN
I—I believe you.
AMANDA
Well, cool. The thing is, after it hit its head, I kinda freaked out. I trapped
it in a room, and it's still there, and now I don't know what to do.
DAWN
It's OK. This is totally dealable. Don't worry.
AMANDA
Well, I was thinking of getting your sister.
DAWN
You know something about my sister?
AMANDA
Well, I've heard people talking. A lot of 'em think she's some kind of
high-functioning schizophrenic. But I also heard that maybe—like, maybe she
could help with this kind of thing. Do you think we should go get her?
DAWN
She's out. I'll take this one.
Cut to:
29 INT. CLASSROOM
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Dawn and Amanda climb into the school through classroom window. Dawn pulls a
muscle as she climbs over the window ledge.
DAWN
(yelps, rubs her back) Whew. I think I strained something. Maybe something I'll
need later in life. Uh…
AMANDA
Come on. The vampire's upstairs. Are you spooked out?
DAWN
No. I'm all right. I-I can do this. It's mostly instinct. I think.
As they walk out, the window slams shut, scaring Dawn. She jumps and
squeals, but when she turns to see what it was, she is able to collect her cool.
Dawn and Amanda walk out into the hall.
AMANDA
So, if he scratched me with a tooth, am I—I'm not gonna turn into one, am I?
DAWN
(shakes her head) Uh, only if he slashed open one of his own veins and led you
to drink deep of his blood.
AMANDA
Nope.
DAWN
Good. You're lucky he didn't hurt you way more than that.
AMANDA
Right. He can do that. (stops walking, turns to Dawn) So, I was thinking... we
don't have to kill the vampire, do we?
DAWN
What?
AMANDA
Just suppose he got out and was maybe like encouraged toward the gym while the
marching band was playing because the way they look down on the Swing Choir. It
might be, you know, funny. (Dawn stares in disbelief, Amanda chuckles) I'm just
saying.
Cut to:
30 INT. HALLWAY
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Dawn and Amanda walk up to a classroom door, and they both stop and stand in
front of it.
DAWN
Well, he didn't break down the door, anyway.
AMANDA
Yeah. Can they do that?
DAWN
They're very strong and, although they feel pain, they don't hold back because
of it.
AMANDA
Guess you're some kind of monster expert too?
DAWN
Let's just say it runs in the family. (takes a deep breath and then tries the
doorknob; it's unlocked, and the door swings open) I thought you said it was
locked. (peers into the classroom)
AMANDA
It was. It was here.
DAWN
(walks into the room) Amanda, it got out.
Widen the shot to show Dawn and Amanda near the doorway and a growling
vampire suspending himself between two air ducts near the ceiling.
Fade to black.
ACT III:
31 INT. CLASSROOM
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Resume. Dawn and Amanda are standing just inside the classroom door, looking
around the room.
AMANDA
Where'd it go?
DAWN
I dunno. But we have to get out of here.
Right as Dawn reaches to close the door, the vampire drops from the
ceiling and rushes her. They struggle over the door as she tries to shut him
inside the room. Ultimately, they wrestle the door off its hinges, and Dawn and
Amanda run away screaming.
Cut to:
32 INT. HALLWAY
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Dawn and Amanda run down the hall, away from the vampire. They go down the
stairs and head for an exit door, but it's locked. They turn to try a different
route, but the vampire has already caught up to them, blocking them from
escaping. Dawn looks around, and spots the fire extinguisher. She runs up to it,
breaks the glass cabinet with her elbow, and reaches in for the extinguisher
canister.
AMANDA
What are you doing?
DAWN
(fussing with the extinguisher mechanism) I can't remember, does it have to be
upside down or right side up to work? Which is it?
The vampire approaches before Dawn can figure out how to work the fire
extinguisher, so she hoists up the huge metal canister and swings it at the
vampire's head, knocking him down. He gets up, and Dawn hits him again, throwing
the canister at him where he fell. Dawn and Amanda run down the hall away from
him and head back upstairs.
Cut to:
33 INT. CRYPT AT
SUNNYDALE CEMETERY - NIGHT
Holding up a flashlight and looking around, Buffy and Spike lead the
slayers-in-training inside a crypt.
BUFFY
A vampire is an animal. Sometimes they run in packs, sometimes alone. Who can
tell us where we are?
RONA
It's a nest.
BUFFY
How can you tell? (hands flashlight to Spike)
KENNEDY
Only a vamp could live like this.
SPIKE
Some, yeah. As a group, we're not known for our tasteful decor, but in all
fairness to the race, (looks around) this place is seriously lacking in style.
BUFFY
Thank you, Spike.
SPIKE
I'm merely saying...
BUFFY
He has a point. Vampires can live anywhere. Any way they want. Taste, fashions,
living conditions—they can vary. The animal inside, always the same. (Spike
looks at Buffy and frowns)
MOLLY
(to Spike) Where'd you live?
SPIKE
What, you mean before? (Molly nods) A crypt actually, but nicer. A bit more—I
don't know if posh is the right word, but it was more like—
BUFFY
Comfy.
KENNEDY
Excuse me? When did you find it comfy?
BUFFY
Moving on. (the girls try not to laugh) You want to stay alive, you have to spot
and identify a nest on site. Look around, all of you. Look for signs that just
last night maybe a dozen, two dozen vampires were right where we're standing. Go
ahead.
The girls reluctantly break up and start looking around the crypt.
SPIKE
(to Buffy) Work, work, work. This little excursion was just in danger of being
interesting.
BUFFY
You know what, Spike— (looks over to see the girls have gathered around,
inspecting something on the floor) Interesting is not a problem.
RONA
Buffy, I think we found something.
MOLLY
(stares with her mouth open, then) It's a body.
BUFFY
(walks over, kneels to take a look, pulls on its shoulder, then lets it go) It's
not a body. It's leftovers.
The body starts to move, then growls as it looks back over its shoulder at
Buffy. It's a vampire now.
Cut to:
34 INT. HALLWAY
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Dawn and Amanda are running down the hallway at top speed. Dawn finds a
classroom, and opens the door.
DAWN
In here!
Cut to:
35 INT. CLASSROOM
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Dawn goes into the room, followed by Amanda, then shuts the door.
DAWN
Help! We need to barricade this! (Amanda grabs a lab chair, but Dawn shakes her
off) Too small.
Dawn goes for the 4' wide by 6' tall filing cabinet, and starts pulling it
toward the door. Amanda goes to help push.
AMANDA
Too big.
They finally get the filing pushed up to the door, and with their backs
against it, they sink to the floor.
DAWN
Stay down.
AMANDA
Think we're safe?
Just as the words cross her lips, the vampire starts trying to break into
the classroom. He growls at the door, opening it a little and pushing it against
the filing cabinet.
Cut to:
36 INT. CRYPT AT
SUNNYDALE CEMETERY - NIGHT
Buffy, stake in hand, is having a face-off with the vampire while the girls
watch from behind her.
BUFFY
No one's safe. Not here, not ever. See this guy?
KENNEDY
B-but he was dead a minute ago.
BUFFY
That was a minute ago. Now... (punches him in the face)
VAMPIRE
(angrily) Hey!
BUFFY
... he's the enemy.
The vampire lunges at Buffy from across the room.
Cut to:
37 INT. CLASSROOM
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Still sitting on the floor with their backs to the filing cabinet, and
frightened, Dawn and Amanda try to hold the cabinet against the door to keep the
vampire out.
DAWN
Amanda?
AMANDA
Yes.
DAWN
Listen.
AMANDA
I'm listening
DAWN
We're gonna get out of this. Both of us. Alive. (squeals in fright as the
vampire tries to get in) Alive! You believe me?
AMANDA
I believe you.
DAWN
Good. 'Cause I got a plan.
Cut to:
38 INT. CRYPT AT
SUNNYDALE CEMETERY - NIGHT
The vampire Buffy's fighting rolls across the floor. Buffy walks slowly after
him, still with stake in hand, talking to the girls.
BUFFY
You can't think too much. Reacting's better. Could be the difference between
staying alive and that other thing.
Buffy punches the vampire and drops the stake on the floor. They fight
hand-to-hand. Kennedy wants to come to Buffy's aid and join the fight, but Spike
holds her back.
Cut to:
39 INT. CLASSROOM
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Still sitting on the floor with their backs to the filing cabinet, and
frightened, Dawn and Amanda try to hold the cabinet against the door to keep the
vampire out.
DAWN
OK, this plan of mine, I'm not guaranteeing it'll work.
AMANDA
Better than mine about him eating the Marching Band. Besides, your plan'll work.
DAWN
In case you haven't noticed, I don't know what I'm doing here.
AMANDA
You're getting it done.
The vampire finally breaks through the glass on the door, sending a shower
of shards onto the girls below. They get up and go away from the door as the
vampire knocks over the cabinet and enters the classroom.
Cut to:
40 INT. CRYPT AT
SUNNYDALE CEMETERY - NIGHT
Buffy continues to fight the vampire in hand-to-hand combat.
BUFFY
The question is never "what do you think," it's always
"what do you know?" You gotta know it. If you don't, if you
make one mistake, |
|
Buffy punches the vampire, and he lands on his back
on a stone sarcophagus. He tries to kick Buffy, but she grabs his foot
and punches him in the face. Then she pushes his leg, flipping him over
and off the sarcophagus.
|
|
|
|
BUFFY
(V.O.) |
|
Cut to:
40a INT. CLASSROOM
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
|
it takes just one vampire to kill you. So you've got
to know you can take him. Know your environment. Know what's around you,
and know how to use it. In the hands of a slayer, everything is a
potential weapon. If you know how to see it. When you're fighting, you
have to know yourself, your brain, your body. Know how to stay calm,
centered. Every move is important, every blow's got to be part of your
plan 'cause you make that one mistake, and it's over. You're not the
slayer.
|
|
The vampire is stalking Dawn between the chemistry
lab desks. She backs up as he approaches, and ducks between the desks.
Amanda is cowering quietly in a corner. Dawn grabs a lab chair and
pushes it toward the vampire, who is undeterred. Dawn grabs an empty
flask and throws it at the vampire; it breaks on his head. She throws
another empty flask, but he keeps coming. Then she finds another flask
with something in it, and throws it at him; it breaks on his chest and
now there's smoke coming from his body. As he flinches inspect himself,
Dawn runs to the front of the classroom where she grabs the flagpole
with the California state flag on it. She struggles to break the
flagpole in half on the edge of a lab desk, but finally does splinter
it. She leaves the part that the flag is on and starts swinging the
jagged wooden pole at the vampire a few times, then loses her balance
and falls to the floor. The vampire pounces on her.
|
|
|
|
BUFFY |
|
Cut to:
40b INT. CRYPT
AT SUNNYDALE CEMETERY - NIGHT |
You're not a potential. You're dead. What
do you know? Right now, the only thing you know for sure is you got me. |
|
Buffy grabs her stake from the floor as
the vampire leaps toward her, kicking at her face. She ducks, then
defends against his fists as he comes at her. Finally, Buffy grabs him
by his shoulders and throws him to the back of the crypt as she stands
near the doorway. |
Buffy drops the stake and walks out of the crypt. She and Spike close the
doors, shutting the slayers-in-training inside with the vampire. The vampire
walks menacingly toward the girls, and their faces are full of fright.
Cut to:
41 INT. UPSTAIRS
HALLWAY AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Willow knocks on Dawn's door. Xander and Anya are standing behind her.
WILLOW
Come on, sweetie, open up.
ANYA
Want me to kick down the door?
XANDER
Anya.
ANYA
(laughing) What? It'd be funny. Besides, she's been sulking in there forever.
(Xander tries the doorknob, which is unlocked) Oh.
Willow, Anya, and Xander walk into Dawn's room.
Cut to:
42 INT. DAWN'S
ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Willow, Anya, and Xander look around the room, but Dawn's not there.
ANYA
Crap. (notices the open window) Double crap.
XANDER
Gone. We got to find her before the Bringers do.
WILLOW
I can do a locator spell, but we gotta hurry. And find Buffy.
Xander, Willow, and Anya leave the room.
Cut to:
43 INT. CLASSROOM
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
The vampire is attacking Dawn, pinning her down to the floor as she struggles
underneath him.
DAWN
(screaming) Help! Amanda, help me!
AMANDA
(frozen still in the corner where she hid) I can't!
DAWN
(the vampire's mouth is nearly on Dawn's neck now) Amanda!
Just then, Bringers burst in through the classroom's exterior windows. The
vampire sits back to see what's going on, and Dawn uses her feet to push him
away from her. The bringers walk past Dawn and go straight for Amanda.
DAWN
(screaming) No! You don't want her! (the Bringers hoist Amanda up by the arms,
Dawn's voice softens as her expression melts) You want me...
Fade to black.
ACT IV:
44 INT. CLASSROOM
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Resume. Amanda's face is one of sheer horror as two Bringers have her by the
arms and a third comes at her with a knife. Dawn stands and lights a gas jet on
one of the tables nearest the Bringers, causing a brief explosion and knocking
them down.
DAWN
(picks up the jagged broken flagpole) Amanda!
Amanda runs away from the Bringers toward Dawn. The girls quickly run out
of the room into the hallway.
Cut to:
45 INT. HALLWAY
AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Amanda and Dawn are running down the hallway. Dawn's still carrying the flagpole
shard. They stop running when they get to the top of the stairs.
AMANDA
(out of breath) What were those?
DAWN
Amanda, listen to me. Remember when you said I was special? Well, I'm not. But
the thing is, you are. This is your battle, Amanda.
AMANDA
(shaking her head) No, I can't.
DAWN
You can! You've got to. Look, I've got your back, but this is something you have
to do. It's something you were born to do. (Bringers have found them and are
approaching from the other end of the hall; Dawn hands Amanda the flagpole)
Here, this belongs to you.
Amanda reluctantly takes the flagpole fragment from Dawn. From the bottom
of the stairs, Xander sees Dawn and Amanda talking. He climbs halfway up the
stairs and calls below him.
XANDER
Buffy, up here.
Buffy and Spike follow Xander up the stairs toward Dawn and Amanda. As the
Bringers come toward Amanda, she uses the flagpole as a staff, knocking them
down and defending herself quite well. Dawn manages to stay out of the way and
avoid the crossfire. As Amanda knocks the Bringers down, Buffy and Spike go
after them on the stairs.
BUFFY
(stabs a Bringer with his own knife, then to Spike) Here! (hands the knife to
Spike)
Spike stabs another Bringer with the knife Buffy gave him. The vampire
that attacked Dawn and Amanda in the classroom is there now too, fighting
Amanda. She defends herself admirably with the flagpole before ultimately
pinning the vampire against the wall and staking him with it. Buffy walks
upstairs to the last Bringer that's still alive and breaks his neck. Amanda
turns to her, confused and perturbed.
AMANDA
(to Buffy) OK. One minute I'm in Swing Choir, and the next— What the hell's
going on? You tell me to come to you with problems. Turns out, a vampire
attacked me. Problem. So I go to your house, and when I get there, this orange
cloud hits me.
DAWN
(to Xander) She was at the doorway.
AMANDA
And I don't know if you're into the drugs, but that's not my deal, all right.
That cloud hit me, and I got a little dizzy and discombobulated.
DAWN
It was Willow's spell. She's the potential slayer.
Cut to:
46 INT. LIVING
ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Rona, Amanda, and Kennedy are sitting on the couch, talking with Molly, who's on
a chair, and Vi who is kneeling on the floor, near the coffee table; together
they form a circle.
RONA
I'm sure the vampire thought we were like, what, four helpless girls. And then
Vi—Vi actually yells, "We're just four helpless girls."
VI
That was part of my plan. (Kennedy rolls her eyes playfully at Vi)
RONA
When it all started going down, it was like we knew what we were doing. For
real.
MOLLY
(to Rona) Yeah, like when you dodged that first attack, and then cracked him
across the jaw.
RONA
Aw, no, no, no, no, no. (to Molly) See, I wouldn't have been able to do that if
you hadn't've pulled his legs out.
VI
I hurt his arm. (nods proudly) Yep. And an arm can be as lethal as a mouth.
MOLLY
(to Kennedy) When you staked him, seriously, the rush was like—
KENNEDY
(to Amanda) So you took one out solo?
MOLLY
Yeah, what was that like?
AMANDA
I don't know. I mean, when I saw the vampire, vamp—
KENNEDY
Vampire's good too.
AMANDA
Cool. Yeah, when that vampire attacked me, I felt this kind of charge, you know?
Dawn's standing on the periphery of the room, watching them talk. Her arms
are crossed and she's pouting a little.
KENNEDY (O.S.)
Like you realize in one instant that your whole life is different.
AMANDA (O.S.)
Exactly. It's that rush you're talking about.
BUFFY
(walks up to Dawn from the kitchen, followed by Xander) Hey. (Dawn turns to face
her, puts on a happy face) You OK?
DAWN
(nods) Yeah, I was thinking of hitting the books. Do some research on The First.
It's in retreat mode right now, but you're still gonna need to know how to fight
it.
BUFFY
(nods) Great. Sounds good. (to the slayers-in-training) Hey, you guys, wanna
head downstairs? Get our newest arrival up to speed?
The girls all stand and follow Buffy out of the room. As each
slayer-in-training passes by Dawn, they don't look at her, don't acknowledge her
at all, until Amanda walks by. Amanda pauses for a second and looks at Dawn,
smiles, and then continues to follow the other girls. After the girls have gone,
Dawn sits down at the desk, opens a book and starts to read it. Then she notices
that Xander hasn't left the room but is standing behind her, watching her.
DAWN
(looking over her shoulder, to Xander) What's up?
XANDER
(walks into the room) Aw, I'm just thinking about the girls. It's a harsh gig,
being a potential. Just being picked out of a crowd, danger, destiny, (grins)
plus if you act now, death.
DAWN
They can handle it.
XANDER
Yeah. (sits in a chair in front of the desk) They're special, no doubt. The
amazing thing is, not one of them will ever know, not even Buffy.
DAWN
Know what?
XANDER
How much harder it is for the rest of us.
DAWN
No way. They've got—
XANDER
Seven years, Dawn. Working with the slayer. Seeing my friends get more and more
powerful. A witch. A demon. Hell, I could fit Oz in my shaving kit, but come a
full moon, he had a wolfy mojo not to be messed with. Powerful. All of them. And
I'm the guy who fixes the windows.
DAWN
Well, you had that sexy army training for a while, and—and the windows really
did need fixing.
XANDER
I saw what you did last night.
DAWN
Yeah, I— (shakes her head embarrassed) I guess I kinda lost my head when I
thought I was the slayer.
XANDER
You thought you were all special. Miss Sunnydale 2003. And the minute you found
out you weren't, you handed the crown to Amanda without a moment's pause. You
gave her your power.
DAWN
(shrugs) The power wasn't mine.
XANDER
They'll never know how tough it is, Dawnie, to be the one who isn't chosen. To
live so near to the spotlight and never step in it. But I know. I see more than
anybody realizes because nobody's watching me. I saw you last night. I see you
working here today. You're not special. You're extraordinary. (stands, kisses
her forehead, stands to walk out of the room)
DAWN
(tears welling in her eyes, calls after him) Maybe that's your power.
XANDER
(pauses at the door) What?
DAWN
Seeing. Knowing.
XANDER
Maybe it is. Maybe I should get a cape.
DAWN
Cape is good.
XANDER
Yeah. (leaves the room)
Dawn gathers herself together, never letting a tear drop. She breathes
deeply, then goes back to work on the books at her desk.
Cut to:
Closing credits.