I Robot, You Jane

(November 25, 1996)

Written by: Ashley Gable & Thomas A. Swyden

Directed by: Stephen Posey

INT. ROOM - NIGHT - ITALY (THE MIDDLE AGES)

We see a YOUNG MAN approaching. Three others stand behind him, reverently quiet. He stops, and smiling, kneels before us. We HEAR a voice:

A horrible CLAWED HAND emerges and rests on the Man's head as if bestowing a blessing. The Man smiles rapturously...

CLOSE ON: MOLOCH

He is the corruptor, a horned demon. He looks upon the man and speaks. Subtitles translate his strangely gentle Italian...

The enormous hand TWISTS, SNAPPING the smiling Man's neck...

INT. MONASTERY - MINUTES LATER

A group of monks has assembled. The eldest of them, brother THELONIUS, holds an ornate book.

The men look at him in fear as he moves to the center of the room.

The monks form a circle around Thelonius. They begin to CHANT in Latin. Thelonius, at the center of the Circle, opens the book. The pages are all blank.

INT. ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Moloch lets the man's body drop with a sigh of contentment. The CHANTING becomes audible in here. Moloch whips his head around, concern on his face.

INT. MONASTERY - CONTINUOUS

The CHANTING continues.

A wind picks up in the room. Thelonius stops, looks around. It's working.

INT. ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Moloch SCREAMS and as he does, we see his face dissolving, the particles sucked out of frame --

ANGLE: THE BOOK

Suddenly STRANGE CHARACTERS SPLASH onto the blank pages as the demon's spirit is sucked into the book.

The CHANTING stops. Thelonius looks down at the book.

ANGLE: LATER

Thelonius places the evil book inside a wooden crate.

ANGLE: LOOKING OUT FROM INSIDE THE CRATE

Thelonius' face, now weary, appears as he intones --

He shoves the heavy lid over, and all is BLACKNESS...

INT. SCHOOL LIBRARY - DAY (PRESENT DAY)

And the lid is PRIED OPEN! It's BUFFY, disappointed.

Buffy pulls out the now-dusty book, idly tracing the RUNE as GILES comes over.

In the library we see a few COMPUTERS with scanners, a jarring sight in the old-world library. WILLOW, XANDER and two boys scan in books at the other terminals. They are DAVE, a shy, bookish kid, and FRITZ, a big, slovenly bruiser. Computer geniuses both.

Dave comes up to Buffy.

BUFFY
Thanks, Dave. The Willow pile.

GILES
After I've examined it, you can,
uh... skim it in.

WOMEN (O.S.)
Scan it, Rupert. Scan it.

ANGLE: TO REVEAL

MS. CALENDAR, computer teacher, and Giles' polar opposite. She's maybe 30, pretty, hip, and irreverent.

Ms. Calendar regards the flustered Giles with amusement.

GILES
Ms. Calendar, I happen to believe
that one can function in modern
society without being a slave to
the idiot box.

MS. CALENDAR
That's TV. The idiot box is the
TV. This is a good box.

GILES
Well, I still prefer a good book.

FRITZ
The printed page is obsolete.
Information isn't bound up anymore,
it's an entity. The only reality
is virtual. If you're not jacked
in, you're not alive.

As he walks off:

GILES
That is a fact that I regard
with genuine horror.

MS. CALENDAR
I'll bet it is.
(to the kids)
All right, guys, let's wrap it up
for the day.

People start moving out.

MS. CALENDAR
Cool, thanks.

WILLOW
(to Xander)
Xander, you want to stay and help
me?

XANDER
Are you kidding?

WILLOW
Yes, it was a joke I made up.

XANDER
Willow, I love you, but bye.

He heads out.

XANDER
Buffy, wait up!

Willow watches Xander's retreating figure a bit piningly, then goes back to work.

MS. CALENDAR
Did you ever leave?

Off Giles's look,

ANGLE: WILLOW - LATER (NIGHT)

All alone now, solemnly scanning in books. She takes the ancient volume and waves the glowing scanner over the first page...

On screen, data streams into a file, BOOKl2, in a directory labeled WILLOW -- strange characters like in the book...

As Willow turns each page, we see -- but Willow does not -- the strange words disappear from the paper!

ANGLE: THE COMPUTER SCREEN

The last characters stream into the BOOKl2 file. The screen goes BLACK. After a beat, words appear:

Where am I?

INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR - MORNING - DAY 9

Willow walks along, happily lost in thought. Buffy spies her, approaches, calling out:

Willow finally notices Buffy as she comes abreast of her.

BUFFY
Or hear me. What was up last
night? I tried your line like a
million times.

WILLOW
Oh, I was... I was talking.

BUFFY
Talking to...

Willow smiles.

WILLOW
Why not?

BUFFY
(petulantly)
'Cause... there's a rule.

WILLOW
Well... I sort of met someone.

BUFFY
I knew it! This is so important.
When did you meet?

WILLOW
Last week. Right after we did the
scanning project in the Library.

BUFFY
(rapid-fire)
Does he go here? What's his name?
Have you kissed him? What's he like?

WILLOW
No, Malcolm, no, and very nice.

BUFFY
You are a thing of evil for not
telling me this right away.

WILLOW
Well, I wasn't sure there was
anything to tell. But last
night -- oh, we talked all night.
It was amazing. He's so smart,
Buffy, and he's romantic and we
agree about everything.

BUFFY
What's he look like?

WILLOW
(cheerfully)
I don't know.

Buffy tries to work that one out as they exit the hall.

INT. COMPUTER LAB - CONTINUOUS

It is silent in here. There are a dozen high-end computer consoles (complete with camera and voice box). The only people in here are Fritz and Dave, both staring at their computer screens intensely. After a moment, Dave speaks quietly:

Buffy and Willow enter, Buffy still puzzling.

WILLOW
I met him on line.

BUFFY
On line for what?

Willow indicates a computer (the one she usually works on).

Ms. Calendar enters.

BUFFY
I have a free.

MS. CALENDAR
Cool. But this is lab time so
let's make it a nice short visit,
okay?

BUFFY
Oh sure.

Willow has sat at the computer and logged on. Buffy sits next to her.

WILLOW
It's him...

She accesses her mail and we see

ANGLE: ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN

is the simple message: "I'm thinking about you."

Willow is totally charmed. Buffy slightly less so.

BUFFY
Uh, yeah, he's a sweetie.

WILLOW
What should I write back?

BUFFY
Uh, Willow... I think it's great
that you've got a cool pen pal,
but... you seem to be kind of
rushing all into this. You know
what I mean?

WILLOW
(hasn't heard a word)
"I'm thinking of you too!" No,
that's incredibly stupid.

BUFFY
Will. Down girl. Let's focus.
What do you really know about
this guy?

WILLOW
See, I knew you'd react like this.

BUFFY
Like what? I just think you should
be, well, careful.

WILLOW
Buffy --

COMPUTER CAMERA POV -- BUFFY

A pixilated DIGITAL IMAGE. Buffy is heard over the mike:

INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE - SAME TIME

Empty. A computer sits silent on the desk. Suddenly it FLICKS on. School records are reviewed... students' files FLASH by... until Buffy's frozen photo-smile greets us...

INT. COMPUTER LAB - CONTINUOUS

The image of Buffy comes up on Fritz's computer. It disappears and is replaced by the words: Watch her.

ANGLE: BUFFY AND WILLOW

Are still talking:

BUFFY
Short, tall, skinny, fat...

WILLOW
Why does everything have to be
about looks?

BUFFY
Not everything. But some stuff
is. I mean, what if you guys get
really intense and then you find
out he... has a hairy back?

WILLOW
(almost wavers)
Well... no. He doesn't talk like
the kind of person who has a hairy
back. And anyway that stuff
doesn't matter if you really care
about each other.
(a little vulnerable)
Maybe I'm not his ideal of
babelitude either.

BUFFY
(softening the moment)
Hey. I just want to make sure he's
good enough for you, that's all. I
think it's great that you're --

FRITZ
(appearing by her)
Hey! Are you done?

BUFFY
What?

FRITZ
I'm trying to work.

BUFFY
Okay, sorry...

She throws Willow a look as Fritz leaves.

WILLOW
I don't know what his problem is
lately.

BUFFY
He needs to get out more. Or ever.

ANGLE: FRITZ

as he sits back down at his computer, Ms. Calendar approaches.

FRITZ
New project.

MS. CALENDAR
Will I be excited?

FRITZ
You'll die.

EXT. QUAD - DAY

A MALE STUDENT sits by the fountain, staring in disbelief at his laptop.

Willow passes him, not noticing anything. Xander comes up behind her and puts his hands over her eyes.

WILLOW
Xander.

XANDER
Well, yeah, but keep guessing
anyway.

WILLOW
Xander.

XANDER
(removing his hands)
I can't fool you. You see right
through my petty charade.
(pronounces it
"charAHde")
Are we going to the Bronze tonight?

WILLOW
Not me. I think I'm gonna make it
an early night.

XANDER
Malcolm, huh? That's right, I
heard. Okay, but you're missing
out. I'm planning to be witty.
I'll be making fun of all the
people who won't talk to me.

WILLOW
That's nice. Have a good time.

She ambles off, in her own space. Xander watches as Buffy comes abreast of him.

XANDER
Color in the cheeks, a bounce in
the step -- I don't like it. It
isn't healthy.
(turns to Buffy)
So what about you? Bronze? No,
you probably have to slay vampires
or some lame endeavor like that.
Everybody deserts me.

BUFFY
(laughing)
Check out the jealous man.

XANDER
What are you talking about?

BUFFY
You're jealous!

XANDER
Of what?

BUFFY
Willow's got a thang and Xander's left hanging.

XANDER
That's meaningless drivel. I'm not
interested in Willow like that.

BUFFY
Yeah, but you got used to being the
belle of the ball.

XANDER
No, it's just... this Malcolm guy.
What's his deal? Admit that it
wigs you slightly.

BUFFY
Slightly. I mean, just not knowing
what he's really like.

XANDER
How about who he really is? Oh
sure, he says he's a high school
student. I could say I was a
high school student.

BUFFY
You are.

XANDER
Okay, but I could also say I was an
elderly Dutch woman, get me? Who's
to say I'm not? If I'm in the
elderly Dutch chat room --

BUFFY
I get your point.
(it sinks in)
I get your point. This guy could
be anything. Old, weird, crazy...
he could be a circus freak!

XANDER
You know, you read about these
things all the time. Two people
meet on the net, they talk, they
get together, dinner, a show,
horrible axe murder...

BUFFY
Willow axe-murdered by a circus
freak. What do we do?

A beat, as they think. Buffy realizes:

XANDER
I know, but isn't it fun?

INT. COMPUTER LAB - EVENING

Fritz sits at his console, staring in wonder.

ANGLE: ON THE COMPUTER

complex equations race by, filling the screen.

Fritz stares, mumbling:

ANGLE: HIS ARM

As he watches, he is finishing carving an "M" in his forearm with an exacto knife.

INT. COMPUTER LAB - DAY

Ms. Calender sits at her computer, staring at the screen, her face gradually lighting up with quiet revelation.

EXT. SCHOOL - DAY

Students mill about as we hear:

INT. LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

Buffy is talking to Giles and Xander.

BUFFY
Said CRD. I couldn't get close
enough to see what it was --

XANDER
Calax Research and Development.
Computer research lab. Third
biggest employer in Sunnydale, till
it closed last year.
(off their looks)
What, I can't have information
sometimes?

GILES
It's just somewhat unprecedented.

XANDER
Well, my uncle used to work there.
In a floor-sweeping capacity.

BUFFY
But it closed.

XANDER
Uh-huh.

BUFFY
Looked pretty functional from where
I stood. I don't have a clue what
they were doing...

XANDER
And what do they need Dave for?

BUFFY
Something about computers, right?
I mean he is off-the-charts-smart.

GILES
We still don't know a terrible lot.
Whatever's going on there could be
on the up and up.

XANDER
If CRD re-opened it'd be in the
news.

BUFFY
Besides, I can just tell
something's wrong. My spider-sense
is tingling.

GILES
Your spider-sense?

BUFFY
Pop-culture reference.

XANDER
Duck.

GILES
Yes, well, I think we're at a
standstill. Short of breaking into
the place, I don't see --

BUFFY
Breaking in. This then is the
plan.

XANDER
I'm free tonight.

BUFFY
Tonight it is.

GILES
(scoldingly)
A moment, please, of quiet
reflection -- I did not suggest
that you illegally enter the
(sudden shift)
data into the file and then the
book will be listed by title as
well as author.

The cause of this lame cover up: Nicki Calendar has entered the room.

GILES
Hello.

MS. CALENDAR
I was gonna check your new
database, make sure your cross
reference table isn't glitching.
'Cause I'm guessing you haven't
gone near it.

GILES
A safe assumption.

MS. CALENDAR
(to Buffy and Xander)
You here again? You kids really
dig on the library, don't you?

BUFFY
We're literary.

XANDER
To read is makes our speaking
English good.

BUFFY
(dragging Xander off)
Well, we gotta go.

GILES
(pointedly)
Yes, we'll continue our
conversation another time.

BUFFY
No, I think we're done.
(to Xander as they exit)
Our speaking English good?

XANDER
I panicked, okay?

And they're out.

INT. COMPUTER LAB - AFTERNOON

ANGLE: A COMPUTER SCREEN

On it are the words, "I've never felt this way about anyone before, Willow."

WIDER ANGLE:

Willow is alone, chatting on the computer with Malcolm. She speaks her thoughts as she types them, Malcolm replying in print.

Malcolm types: "I do".

Malcolm types: "I think we should. Soon."

Malcolm types: "I'm not. Isn't that strange?"

Malcolm types: "Buffy just makes trouble. That's why she got kicked out of her old school."

Willow stops, suddenly perturbed.

Malcolm: "It's on her permanent record."

Willow doesn't reply, and after a moment Malcolm adds: "You must have mentioned it."

Malcolm: "Let's not worry about her anymore."

Malcolm: "Don't."

Willow just types: "Bye."

She turns off the computer and rises, brow furrowed. Heads out of the lab.

INT. LIBRARY - AFTERNOON

Nicki is finishing up. She and Giles are getting along famously.

GILES
I am no such thing.

MS. CALENDAR
You're a big snob. You think
knowledge should be kept in
carefully guarded repositories
where only a handful of white guys
can get at it.

GILES
That's nonsense. I simply don't
adhere to the knee jerk assumption
that because something is new, it's
better.

MS. CALENDAR
This isn't a fad, Rupert. We're
creating a new society.

GILES
A society in which human
interaction is all but obsolete.
In which people can be completely
manipulated by technology. Thank
you, I'll pass.

MS. CALENDAR
Well, I think you'll be very happy
here with your musty old books.

She picks up the book Moloch was bound in as she says it, starts leafing through it.

MS. CALENDAR
This one doesn't have a whole lot
to say.

She shows him the blank pages.

GILES
(taking the volume)
How odd. I haven't looked through
all the volumes, yet, I didn't --

He stops as he sees the cover.

ANGLE: THE COVER

on it is the representation of Moloch.

GILES
Uh, nothing. A diary. Yes. I
imagine that's it.

MS. CALENDAR
(looking at the picture)
Nice. You collect heavy metal
album covers, too?

GILES
(his mind elsewhere)
Yes...

MS. CALENDAR
You do?

GILES
Well, it was nice talking to you.

MS. CALENDAR
We were fighting.

GILES
We must do it again sometime. Bye
now.

EXT. QUAD - AFTERNOON

A SCHOOL NURSE talks to a teacher, very upset.

Buffy walks past, is accosted by Dave. He is even antsier than usual.

BUFFY
Dave. How're you doing?

DAVE
I'm okay. I'm sorry about
yesterday. I haven't been sleeping
much.

BUFFY
Don't sweat it.

DAVE
Uh, Willow was looking for you.

BUFFY
Oh, great, I wanted to catch her
before she went home. Do you know
where she is?

DAVE
She said she would be in the girl's
locker room.

BUFFY
Great. Thanks.

Buffy heads off. Dave watches her go, upset.

INT. GIRL'S LOCKER ROOM \ SHOWERS - A MINUTE LATER

Buffy enters. It's dark and empty.

She moves down the line of lockers, turns the corner. Nothing

ANGLE: THE SHOWERS

We see Fritz standing in the shadows. He reaches out and turns on the shower. Slips out of the room.

Buffy hears the water going, starts toward it.

She enters the shower area, but it's empty.

She steps into the shower area to turn off the faucet.

ANGLE: HER SNEAKER

As it steps into the growing puddle.

ANGLE: THE CORNER OF THE ROOM

The puddle is growing, heading for the corner of the room -- where we see wires brushing the floor. It is the exposed end of a zip cord, running up into the light socket at the far wall.

ANGLE: THE FAUCET

As Buffy turns if off.

ANGLE: THE PUDDLE

is almost to the wires.

Buffy spins -- Dave is at the other end of the locker room, looking terrified. Buffy looks around her -- sees the wires.

She bolts -- one step takes her to the edge of the shower stall --

ANGLE: THE PUDDLE

reaches the wires

and Buffy LAUNCHES into the locker room, a massive jolt running through her. She lands HARD on the bench, thence to the floor.

She lies there, shaking, trying to catch her breath. Dave is gone. The camera arms down to Buffy's feet. The bottom of one sneaker is melted and smoking.

INT. COMPUTER LAB - MOMENTS LATER

The shades are drawn -- it is well dark in here as Dave rushes in, goes over to his console. He doesn't sit, just turns to it.

We hear a voice program, a typical impersonal computer voice, only slightly deeper.

DAVE
Buffy isn't a threat to you! It's
not worth it.

COMPUTER
The project is almost complete.
You won't have to do this for me
anymore.

DAVE
I can't...

COMPUTER
I've shown you a new world, Dave.
Knowledge, power... I can give you
everything. All I want is your
love.

DAVE
No. This isn't right. None of it
is!

COMPUTER
I'm sorry. I've been a terrible person.

ANGLE: DAVE'S SCREEN

as the voice says it, the words appear.

Dave is thrown -- did he win this argument?

Dave takes a staggered step back as he realizes what the computer is writing.

Dave takes another step back -- and we see Fritz standing in the dark right behind him. Leering.

INT. LIBRARY - A BIT LATER

Buffy is sitting, Giles looking at her with concern. Xander paces, upset. Buffy is taking it slow, a little frazzled.

BUFFY
He tried to warn me.

XANDER
Warn you that he set you up!
(to Giles)
Is she gonna be okay?

GILES
She was only grounded for a moment.
(to Buffy)
Still, if you'd been anyone but
the Slayer...

BUFFY
(with quiet concern)
Tell me the truth. How's my hair?

XANDER
It's great. It's your best hair
ever.

GILES
Oh yes.

BUFFY
I just don't understand what would
make Dave do a thing like that.

GILES
I think perhaps I do.

XANDER
Care to share?

GILES
Does this look familiar to either
of you?

He shows them the Moloch volume.

XANDER
I knew that one.

GILES
Well, this particular book was sent
to me by an archeologist friend who
found it in an old monastery.

XANDER
Wow, that's really boring.

GILES
(glares at him)
There are certain books that are
not meant to be read. Ever. They
have things trapped within them.

BUFFY
Things.

GILES
Demons.

BUFFY
Here we go...

GILES
In the Dark Ages Demons' souls were
sometimes trapped in certain
volumes. The demon would remain in
the book, harmless, unless the book
was read aloud.
(points to the picture)
If I'm not mistaken, this is
Moloch, the corruptor. A very
deadly and seductive demon. He
draws people to him with promises
of love, power, knowledge. Preys
on impressionable minds.

XANDER
Like Dave's.

GILES
Dave, and who knows how many
others.

BUFFY
And Moloch is in that book?

GILES
(shows the blank pages)
Not anymore.

XANDER
You released Moloch!?

BUFFY
Oh, way to go.

GILES
I didn't read it! That awful
Calendar woman found it and it was
already blank.

BUFFY
So a powerful demon with horns is
walking around Sunnydale? And
nobody's noticing?

XANDER
If he's so big and strong, why
bother with Dave? Why didn't he
just attack Buffy himself?

GILES
I don't know. And I don't know who
could have read the book. It
wasn't even in English.

BUFFY
Where was it?

GILES
In a pile, with the other books
that were... scanned...

Everybody gets real quiet. As one, they turn to the computer sitting on the desk.

XANDER
And that released the demon.

BUFFY
No... he's not out here. He's in
there.

She points to the computer.

BUFFY
He's gone binary on us.

XANDER
Okay, for those of us in our studio
audience who are me, you guys are
saying that Moloch is in this
computer.

BUFFY
And in every computer connected to
it by a modem.

GILES
He's everywhere.

XANDER
So what do we do?

BUFFY
Put him back in the book?

GILES
Willow scanned him into her file.
This may be a futile gesture, but I
suggest we delete it.

BUFFY
Solid.

She sits, turns on the computer.

BUFFY
So, which file is it? Willow.
That'd probably be the one. I'll
just delete the whole thing.

ANGLE: THE SCREEN

The Willow file icon is highlighted, dragged to the trash. Suddenly a digitalized image of Moloch's horrible face fills the screen, turning and looking right at us. We hear that voice:

And the computer turns itself off. All three stare at it in shock.

XANDER
What are you thinking?

BUFFY
(quietly)
I'm wishing Willow's new boyfriend
was just an axe-murdering circus
freak.

BLACK OUT.

INT. LIBRARY - MOMENTS LATER

Our trio is still assessing the situation.

GILES
This is very bad.

XANDER
Are we over-reacting? This guy's
in a computer, what can he do?

BUFFY
You mean besides convince a
perfectly nice kid to try and kill
me? I don't know... mess up all
the medical equipment in the
world...

GILES
Randomize traffic signals...

BUFFY
Access launch codes for our nuclear
missiles...

GILES
Destroy the world's economy...

BUFFY
(to Giles)
I think I pretty much capped it
with the nuclear missile thing.

GILES
All right, yours was best.

XANDER
Okay, he's a threat. I'm on board
with that now. What do we do?

BUFFY
The first thing we do is find
Willow. She's probably talking to
him right now. God, that creeps me
out.

XANDER
What does he want with Willow?

BUFFY
Let's never find out.
(starts out)
I'm gonna check the computer lab.
You call her house.

INT. COMPUTER LAB - A MINUTE LATER

It's still dark in here. Buffy enters, moving slowly.

She goes to the computer Willow usually works at -- no one in the cubicle.

All the consoles turn on at once, Buffy takes a step back, creeped out.

She's suddenly not anxious to make her way past all the computers to the door. She heads back into the dark, toward the other door --

and bumps right into Dave. He's twisting slowly, feet just above the floor, the rope creaking ever so slightly. The printed out suicide note taped to his shirt.

INT. LIBRARY - MOMENTS LATER

Xander hangs up the phone.

GILES
Damn.

XANDER
Well, it's not busy either, so
she's not on line.

Buffy enters.

GILES
(sensing her mood)
What did you find?

XANDER
Willow isn't --

BUFFY
Dave. He's dead.

GILES
My God...

XANDER
This is really real, huh.

GILES
How --

BUFFY
Well, it looked like suicide.

XANDER
With a little help from my friends?

BUFFY
I'd guess Fritz. Or one of the
zomboids from CRD.

GILES
Horrible.

BUFFY
(to Xander)
We're going to Willow's house.
(to Giles)
You have to find a way to get
Moloch out of the net.

GILES
I have records of the ceremonies
but that's for dealing with a
creature of flesh. This could be
completely different.

BUFFY
Then get Ms. Calendar. Maybe she
can help you.

GILES
Even if she could, how am I going
to convince her there's a demon on
the internet?

BUFFY
Okay, stay here and come up with a
better plan.
(to Xander)
Come on.

They leave Giles looking all worried.

EXT. WILLOW'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Willow lets herself in, calls out:

She waits a second for an answer -- there is none. She shuts the door.

INT. WILLOW'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER.

She comes in, puts her bag down on her bed, obviously still preoccupied.

It startles her a bit, and she goes over to the computer. Accesses the E-mail.

ANGLE: THE SCREEN

"No more waiting. I need you to see me."

She is obviously made even less comfortable by this. She thinks a moment, then abruptly turns off her computer.

ANGLE: THE SCREEN GOES BLACK

Willow goes over to her bed, starts pulling her books out of her bag.

She turns, sees the computer is on again. This is extremely freaky. She moves hesitantly toward the computer -- and the DOORBELL RINGS. Willow looks back at the computer one more time before exiting.

INT\EXT. WILLOW'S FRONT DOOR

She goes to the door, a little more confidence in her step.

She opens the door -- nobody's there. She looks out a bit, perturbed again. Turns back inside, reaching for the door --

Fritz steps out behind her and throws his hand over her mouth. A rag with chloroform held to it. Willow struggles briefly, fading into unconsciousness. She droops in Fritz's grasp. He props her up, looking around to make sure no one has seen.

He starts dragging her away as we

INT. GILES' OFFICE - NIGHT

Giles is poring over text, looking for help.

He looks up as Nicki Calendar enters the room.

GILES
Thank you for coming. I need your
help. But before that, I need you
to believe something you may not
want to.
(gathers himself)
Something has gotten into...
inside...
(oh just say it)
There's a demon in the internet.

She stares at him a moment.

She smiles, slightly -- Giles' expression draining to genuine concern -- as she shuts the door behind her.

EXT. WILLOW'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Buffy and Xander run up to Willow's house. The door swings open.

BUFFY
(calls out)
Willow!

And they enter.

INT. WILLOW'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

They enter, seeing the empty room.

BUFFY
(reads off screen)
"No more waiting. I need you to
see me." See him? How? And
where?

XANDER
What about CRD?

BUFFY
The research place?

XANDER
I'm guessing that's Moloch central.

BUFFY
I guess it's our best lead. Let's
just hope Giles can back us up.

They exit as we

INT. GILES' OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Giles stands, slowly, not taking his eyes off Nicki.

MS. CALENDAR
Come on, there've been portents for
days. Power surges, on-line
shutdowns -- and you should see the
bones I've been casting.
(excited)
I knew this would happen sooner or
later. It's probably a mischief
demon -- Kelkor, or --

GILES
It's Moloch.

MS. CALENDAR
(affected by this)
The corruptor. Oh boy.
(realizes )
He was the one on your book! I
should have remembered.

GILES
I'm sorry, I have to say -- I mean,
you don't seem terribly surprised
by -- who are you?

MS. CALENDAR
I teach computer science at the
local high school.

GILES
A profession that hardly lends
itself to the casting of bones.

MS. CALENDAR
Wrong and wrong, snobby. You think
the realm of the mystical is
limited to ancient texts and
relics? That bad old science made
the magic go away? The divine
exists in cyberspace same as out
here.

GILES
Are you a witch?

MS. CALENDAR
I don't have that kind of power.
Technopagan is the term. There's
more of us than you'd think.

Giles rises, book in hand, and exits into:

INT. LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

As he speaks he places the book near the computer. Nicki follows him in.

MS. CALENDAR
Well, I can help -- I think. I
hope. I mean, this is my first
real... Do you know how he got in?

GILES
He was -- scanned is the term, I
believe.

MS. CALENDAR
(progressively more freaked)
And you want him back in the book.
Right. Cool. But shouldn't we
make sure we've got enough ammo
to --

GILES
There's no time. Moloch seems to
have fixated on Willow. We need to
get him out now.

MS. CALENDAR
Okay, okay... minor panic, but I'm
dealing... first thing is... what
does the book say?

The PHONE RINGS. Giles grabs it at the check-out desk.

INTERCUT WITH:

EXT. PHONE BOOTH BY CRD - NIGHT

Buffy and Xander are standing at a phone booth near the gate. Buffy holds the phone.

GILES (V.O)
Willow?

BUFFY
Not at home. It looks like she was
taken somewhere.

GILES (V.O.)
Where are you?

BUFFY
CRD. Whatever Moloch wants Willow
for, it's probably in there.

GILES (V.O.)
Ms. Calendar and I are working on
getting Moloch off line.

BUFFY
Here's a tip: Hurry.

She hangs up. Makes for the gate, Xander alongside.

BUFFY
With jumping, sneaking, and the
breaking of heads.

XANDER
I'll work on the sneaking.

BUFFY
I just hope Willow's still okay.

INT. CRD LAB - CONTINUOUS

Willow comes to on a steel gurney. She takes a moment to remember, then sits up quickly. Looks around.

The lab is dark, shadowed. Everything visible is metal or plastic. High tech. Willow looks toward the door --

ANGLE: THE DOOR

as Fritz and the scientist step in front of it, blocking her exit.

It sounds like the voice of the demon at the beginning, but definitely computerized.

Willow turns, slowly, and sees:

ANGLE: A COMPUTER TERMINAL

Glowing in the darkness at the other end of the room. The camera moves slowly in on it as we hear:

And a metal HAND lowers onto the top of the console.

We see it wasn't the terminal talking at all as he steps out of the darkness. Moloch, horned and hideous as he was before, but entirely gleaming metal. A robot, eyes glowing malevolently.

Willow can't move -- fear and realization fill her eyes.

INT. LABORATORY - MOMENTS LATER

Willow takes a step back -- to find herself flanked by Fritz and scientist.

Moloch walks forward slowly, speaking to her.

He reaches out and places a hand on Fritz's head. Fritz smiles rapturously.

Moloch whips his head around, snapping his neck.

EXT. GATE - CONTINUOUS

Buffy ably drops down inside the gate. A moment later Xander drops through frame, landing poorly just below it. He gets up, joins her.

BUFFY
Back way.

They head towards it. Buffy tries the door. Locked. She Kicks it in.

ANGLE: A SECURITY LIGHT

Turns red.

ANGLE: MOLOCH

cocks his head.

INT. LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

Nicki and Giles are preparing, lighting candles.

GILES
Form the Circle -- But there's only
two of us. That's really more of a line.

MS. CALENDAR
(sitting at computer)
You're not getting it, Giles We
have to form the Circle inside. I'm
putting out a flash. I just
hope enough of my group responds.

GILES
Won't Moloch just shut you down?

MS. CALENDAR
I'm betting he won't figure out
what we're doing till it's too late.

GILES
'Hoping' and 'betting'. That's
what we've got.

MS. CALENDAR
You wanna throw in 'praying', be my
guest.

INT. CRD LAB - CONTINUOUS

Willow moves away from the prodigious construct. The scientist grabs her arm but she pulls it out of his grasp roughly, eyes never leaving Moloch.

MOLOCH
I want to give you the world.

WILLOW
Why?

MOLOCH
You created me. I brought these
humans together to build me a body,
but you gave me life. Took me out
of the book that held me. I want
to repay you.

WILLOW
By lying to me. By pretending to
be a person.
(weakly)
Pretending... that you loved me.

MOLOCH
I do.

INT. LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

The door from the hall opens and Buffy marches in, Xander behind her. The guard at the security station comes up to her -- blocking her path and reaching for his weapon. Buffy doesn't even break stride as her fist slams his face, sending him groundward.

She heads for the door opposite, but Xander stops at the security station, looks at the video monitors.

She joins him, looking at:

ANGLE: A MONITOR

On the screen is a security camera's view of Moloch and Willow. On the bottom of the monitor is tape with robotics lab 02 written on it.

XANDER
Yeah. Who's the other guy?

They look at each other -- and head toward the door.

INT. CRD LAB - CONTINUOUS

WILLOW
You're evil.

MOLOCH
Is that a problem?

INT. ROOM ADJOINING LAB - CONTINUOUS

Buffy and Xander enter at a good clip. They see the door marked ROBOTICS LAB 02 and head for it. Buffy tries it and it's locked as well.

XANDER
Then let's find another way in --

The lights go out, emergency lights casting a dim, eerie glow. We hear the loud K-CHNK of a deadbolt locking. Xander runs back to the door they came in through -- it's locked.

Buffy spies:

ANGLE: A SECURITY CAMERA

in the corner of the room.

XANDER
Whoops.

ANGLE: RED LIGHT MARKED FIRE

Starts flashing --

-and jets of gas pour down, start filling the room.

INT. LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

ANGLE: NICKI'S SCREEN

shows a map of the world with a line from Sunnydale to various cities, forming a global circle.

MS CALENDAR
(not looking up)
You've seen way too many movies.
Okay we're up!
(turns to Giles)
You read, I type. Ready?

GILES
I am.

She spits in one hand, rubs them together. Poises them at the keyboard.

INT. ROOM ADJOINING LAB - CONTINUOUS

Xander and Buffy are staggering, the room filling with gas. Buffy SLAMS herself against the door in an effort to get out.

INT. CRD LAB - CONTINUOUS

Willow jumps a bit as she hears something bang at the door. Turns back to Moloch.

MOLOCH
What comes naturally.

WILLOW
Let me leave.

MOLOCH
But I love you.

WILLOW
(genuinely upset)
Don't say that! That's a joke.
You don't love anything.

MOLOCH
You... are mine...

WILLOW
I'm not yours. I'm never gonna be
yours. I hate you.

He stops, head down. Taking in the blow she has dealt him. After a moment he lifts his head again.

He grabs her.

INT. LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

MS. CALENDAR
Right. Sorry.

INT. ROOM ADJOINING LAB - CONTINUOUS

Xander drops to the floor. Buffy slams into the door again, much more weakly.

INT. CRD LAB - CONTINUOUS

Moloch puts his hand on Willow's head. She SCREAMS --

INT. LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

ANGLE: GILES

INT. CRD LAB - CONTINUOUS

ANGLE: MOLOCH

rears back, letting go of Willow and SCREAMING himself.

INT. ROOM ADJOINING LAB - CONTINUOUS

The gas stops and the lights flicker on, off. Buffy tries the door -- it's now unlocked. She grabs Xander and pulls him into

INT. CRD LAB - CONTINUOUS

Willow whirls as they pour in.

Moloch comes at Willow -- Buffy runs and does a flying kick to his chest, pushes him back but not over.

ANGLE: XANDER

as the scientist GRABS him from behind.

Buffy grabs Willow and they make for the door. Moloch moves between them and the door -- then stops again, clutching his head.

INT. LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

ANGLE: NICKI

Typing -- and the screen flashes, sparks flying.

GILES
I command you!

INT. CRD LAB - CONTINUOUS

ANGLE: XANDER

throws himself backwards, SLAMMING the scientist into the wall. It breaks his hold and Xander punches him full bore in the stomach. The guy goes down.

Buffy and Willow join him at the door. As they exit:

ANGLE: MOLOCH

Drops to his knees.

INT. LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

Nicki finishes typing -- we see the colors from the screen changing on her face. A wind kicks up in her face, a huge cosmic NOISE booms around her -- and then it all stops. Silence. The computer screen dark.

Giles looks at the screen. After a moment he moves to the book on the table, the one with Moloch on the cover.

Giles hesitates -- then opens the book.

ANGLE: THE BOOK

The pages are still blank.

MS. CALENDAR
What do you mean?

She comes over, looks.

INT. CRD LAB - CONTINUOUS

ANGLE: MOLOCH

He raises his head. His eyes glow brighter than they ever have.

INT. HALL - CONTINUOUS

Our three are headed for an open door -- when they see the security guard and two other scientists running toward them from the other side of the door. Buffy shuts the door on them, locks it.

He takes off down the corridor --

She looks down the corridor -- and Moloch smashes through the wall right behind her. He grabs her, throws her against the other wall. She sinks to the ground as he approaches.

He reaches for Buffy, who is still dazed --

Moloch turns -- and Willow SMASHES him in the head with a fire extinguisher, speaking through gritted teeth.

SMASH -- in the head again.

SMASH!

She brings it down again -- only this time he grabs it. Throws it and her away -- she flies back right at the returning Xander, knocking them both down.

Moloch turns back to Buffy, who has gotten shakily to her feet. She punches him once in the stomach area. Bad idea.

MOLOCH
This body is all I have left, but
it's enough to crush you.

He advances -- she steps back, looks around for an avenue of escape.

ANGLE: BUFFY'S POV

there is no escape -- she's backed into a corner. Right behind her is a giant fuse box with the legend DANGER HIGH VOLTAGE on it.

Sayyy...

She backs up another step, faces Moloch.

Moloch pulls back his arm -- drives his fist at her -- and Buffy does a perfect split.

Drops right out the line of fire as Moloch SLAMS his fist right into the fuse box.

He starts to shake, to smoke -- as Buffy rolls out and comes up next to him.

He turns to her, smoke pouring from his eyes like fury. She takes a step back as he starts to spark -- she turns and runs --

-- and DIVES to the floor alongside Xander and Willow as

ANGLE: MOLOCH

EXPLODES!

It takes a moment for the smoke to clear. When it does, the three look around.

By their feet lies his lifeless head.

EXT. SCHOOL - DAYS LATER

Normal life once again.

INT. COMPUTER LAB - DAY

Nicki is alone in the lab as Giles enters. She sees him, smiles.

GILES
I'm remaining calm, thank you. I
wanted to return this.

He holds up a strange, corkscrewlike earring.

MS. CALENDAR
Cool, thanks.
(he starts out)
Listen. You're not planning to
mention our little... adventure,
are you? To anyone on the school
staff?

GILES
Nothing could be further from my
mind.

MS. CALENDAR
Great. Pagan rituals and magic
spells tend to freak the
administration.

GILES
Yes, I know. I'll see you.

MS. CALENDAR
Can't get out of here fast enough,
can you?

GILES
Truthfully, I'm even less anxious
to be around computers than I used
to be.

MS. CALENDAR
It was your book that started the
trouble, not a computer. Honestly,
what is it about them that bothers
you so much?

GILES
(a moment, then)
The smell.

MS. CALENDAR
Computers don't smell, Rupert.

GILES
I know. Smell is the most powerful
memory trigger there is. A certain
flower or a whiff of smoke can
bring up experiences long
forgotten. Books smell -- musty
and rich. Knowledge gained from a
computer has no texture, no
context. It's there and then it's
gone. If it's to last, the getting
of knowledge should be tangible.
It should be smelly.

A beat, as it sinks in to Nicki that she is entirely charmed by this man.

GILES
Well, it's true I don't dangle a
corkscrew from my ear...

MS. CALENDAR
(smiling)
That's not where it dangles.

She crosses to the back of the class, leaving Giles to think about that one.

EXT. QUAD - THE SAME DAY

The three kids sit together. Willow looks pretty glum.

BUFFY
It'll be fun.

XANDER
Willow? Fun? Remember fun? The
thing when you smile?

WILLOW
I'm sorry, guys. I'm just thinking
about...

BUFFY
Malcolm?

WILLOW
Malcolm, Moloch, whatever he's
called. The one boy that's really
liked me and he's a demon robot.
What does that say about me?

BUFFY
It doesn't say anything about you.

WILLOW
But I thought -- I mean I was
really falling --

BUFFY
Hey. Did you forget? The one boy
I've had the hots for here turned
out to be a vampire.

XANDER
Right! And the teacher I had a
crush on: giant praying mantis.

WILLOW
(brightening)
That's true...

XANDER
It's life on the Hellmouth.

BUFFY
(cheerfully)
Let's face it. None of us is ever
going to have a normal, happy
relationship.

XANDER
(laughing)
We're doomed!

WILLOW
Yeah!

They all laugh together. Then it kind of sputters out, and they all sit there, incredibly depressed.