The Harvest

FADE IN:

INT. MAUSOLEUM - NIGHT

LUKE bears down on BUFFY, fangs bared. She struggles, but he's got her pinned. He rips open her shirt a bit to get at her throat. Grabs her - and SCREAMS.

He jumps back, SMOKE curling out of his hand.

ANGLE: BUFFY'S NECK

The cross Angel gave her has slipped out of an inside pocket.

Buffy takes the moment and KICKS with both legs, sends Luke flying back out of the tomb. She jumps up herself and before he can recover, she RUNS out of there.

EXT. GRAVEYARD - CONTINUOUS

As fast as she can -- stumbling a bit and breathing hard from the beating she took -- Buffy books through the graveyard. As she reaches the trees on the edge of it, she looks back at the Mausoleum.

Nobody's coming.

She hears WILLOW SCREAM.

Buffy runs to the sound of the voice -- comes to find:

ANGLE: WILLOW

on the ground, struggling with a vampire.

The vampire has Willow pinned, is going in for the neck -- then he looks up, hearing something.

Buffy's foot whips into his face, sending him flying way back.

He lands hard on his back and scrambles away, holding his nose.

Buffy is all business now, looking around her in quiet fury. Her senses alert.

She hears a CRACK, some SCUFFING on the ground. Takes off, leaving Willow wide-eyed and freaked. After a moment, she rises and follows.

ANGLE: XANDER

is unconscious, being dragged away by two other vampires. They hear something behind them, turn slowly around.

It's Willow, stumbling out from behind a tree. She looks extremely unthreatening.

They turn back and Buffy is right in front of them. She takes them both out with one punch. They fly back, then scramble to their feet.

Buffy grabs a branch, snaps it off the tree. She comes at them with this makeshift stake -- nails one in the chest.

The other flees.

Willow runs up to XANDER, cradles his head. He is just coming to.

XANDER
Man... something hit me...

Buffy is still looking around, unsatisfied.

WILLOW
I don't know -- they surrounded us -- he was really weak...

XANDER
That girl grabbed him. Took off.

BUFFY
Which way?

XANDER
I don't know.

Buffy looks into the night. The camera CIRCLES her as she looks around. There is nothing to see.

We open on a Globe. As we hear GILES begin to SPEAK, we PAN over to Xander and Willow, sitting in the middle of the library. Neither of them appears to have slept since last night.

Still we PAN, to find Giles on the upper level, standing at the railing. His expression is as grave as theirs.

BUFFY
And vampires...

She emerges from Giles' office, wrapping a bandage around her forearm. Xander rises, agitated.

WILLOW
Oooh... I need to sit down.

BUFFY
You are sitting down.

WILLOW
Oh. Good for me.

XANDER
So vampires are demons?

GILES
The books tell that the last Demon to leave this
reality fed off a human, mixed their blood. He
was a human form possessed -- infected -- by the
Demon's soul. He bit another, and another... and
so they walk the earth, feeding. Killing some,
mixing their blood with others to make more of
their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out,
and the Old Ones to return.

INT. A TUNNEL - MORNING

Not that you could see whether it was morning or night in this place -- it remains as dark and humid as the earth that swallowed it.

JESSE is being dragged through the tunnel by Luke, DARLA, by his side. Jesse is still staggering into consciousness, and the more he awakens, the less he likes it.

He looks about in fear at the two inhuman faces, at the end of the tunnel they are dragging him through. It seems to be an old cracked pipe, and it ends at:

INT. THE CHURCH - CONTINUOUS

Coming out of the pipe, the threesome makes its way down a pile of rocks to the floor of the wrecked church.

Jesse looks about, wonder tingeing the edges of his fear. He is stood before the altar, before the pool of blood.

From the darkness, something moves. Emerges.

THE MASTER regards his servants, his total authority obvious to all. He looks at Jesse.

LUKE
An offering, Master.

DARLA
He's a good one. His blood is pure.

THE MASTER
(quietly -- almost innocuously)
You've tasted it.

Darla starts back a step, afraid.

DARLA
I didn't mean to --

THE MASTER I've waited. For three score years I have waited.
While you come and go I have been stuck here,
(voice rising)
here, in a house of worship. My ascension is
almost at hand. Pray that when it comes... I'm in
a better mood.

DARLA
Master, forgive me. We had more offerings but
there was trouble. A girl.

LUKE
There was a girl. She fought well, and she knew
of our breed. It's possible that she may be...

The Master turns to him.

INT. THE LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

GILES
As long as there have been vampires, there has
been the Slayer. One girl in all the world --

BUFFY
He loves doing this part.

GILES
(speeding up)
All right: They hunt vampires, one Slayer dies,
the next is called, Buffy is the Slayer, don't
tell anyone. I think that's all the vampire
information you need.

XANDER
Except for one thing. How do you kill them?

BUFFY
You don't. I do.

XANDER
Well, Jesse --

BUFFY
Jesse's my responsibility. I let him get taken.

XANDER
That's not true.

WILLOW
If you hadn't showed up, they would have... taken
us too... Does anybody mind if I pass out.

BUFFY
Breathe...

WILLOW
Breathe.

BUFFY
Breathe.
(to Giles)
This big guy, Luke, he talked about an offering
to the Master. I don't know who or what, but if
they weren't just feeding, Jesse may still be
alive. I'm gonna find him.

WILLOW
This is probably the dumb question, but shouldn't
we call the police?

GILES
Do you think they'd believe us?

WILLOW
We don't have to say vampires. We could say there
was... a bad man.

BUFFY
They couldn't handle it if they did come. They'd
only show up with guns.

GILES
(to Buffy)
You've no idea where they took Jesse?

BUFFY
I looked around, but... soon as they got clear of
the woods they could have just
(indicating flight)
--whoom.

XANDER
They can fly?

BUFFY
They can drive.

XANDER
Oh.

WILLOW
I don't remember hearing a car...

GILES
Well, let's take an enormous intuitive leap and
say they went underground.

BUFFY
Vampires really jam on sewer systems. You can get
anywhere in town without catching any rays. I
didn't see any access around there, though.

XANDER
Well, there's electrical tunnels. They run under
the whole town.

GILES
If we had a diagnostic of the tunnel system, it
might indicate a meeting place. I suppose we
could go to the building commission --

BUFFY
We so don't have time.

WILLOW
Uh, guys? There may be another way.

INT. THE CHURCH - CONTINUOUS

LUKE
Only that she fought me and yet lives.

THE MASTER
Very nearly proof enough. I can't remember the
last time that happened.

LUKE
1843, in Madrid. And the bastard caught me
sleeping.

THE MASTER
She mustn't be allowed to interfere with the
Harvest.

LUKE
I would never let that happen.

THE MASTER
You needn't worry. I believe she'll come to us.
We have something that she wants. If she is a
Slayer, and this boy lives, she'll try to save
him.

Luke goes up to Jesse, smiling.

INT. THE LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

ANGLE: A MAP OF THE ELECTRICAL TUNNELS

On a computer screen.

WIDE ANGLE:

Willow sits at the computer, everyone else gathered around her.

XANDER
I don't see any access.

GILES
So all the city plans are just open to the
public?

WILLOW
Uh, well, in a way. I sort of stumbled onto them
when I accidentally... decrypted the city
council's security system.

XANDER
(still focused on the screen)
Someone's been naughty...

BUFFY
There's nothing here. This is useless!

GILES
I think you should ease up on yourself.

BUFFY
You're the one who told me I wasn't prepared
enough. Understatement. I thought I was on top of
it, and then that Monster Luke came out of
nowhere --

She stops. Pauses.

BUFFY
(working it out)
He didn't come out of nowhere. He came from
behind me. I was facing the entrance. He came
from behind me and he didn't follow me out.
(looks at them)
The access to the tunnels is in the mausoleum.

GILES
Are you sure?

BUFFY
The girl must have doubled back with Jesse after
I got out. God, I'm so mentally challenged!

XANDER
So, what's the plan? We saddle up, right?

BUFFY
There's no 'we'. Okay? I'm the Slayer, and you're
not.

XANDER
I knew you were gonna throw that in my face.

BUFFY
Xander, this is deeply dangerous.

XANDER
I'm inadequate. That's fine. I'm less than a man.

WILLOW
Buffy, I'm not anxious to go into a dark place
full of monsters, but I do want to help. I need
to.

GILES
Then help me. I've been researching this Harvest
affair. Seems to be some sort of pre-ordained
massacre. Rivers of blood, Hell on earth... Quite
charmless. I am fuzzy on the details, however,
and it may be that you can wrest some information
from that dread machine.
(off their uncomprehending looks)
That was a bit British, wasn't it?

BUFFY
Welcome to the new world.

GILES
(translates to Willow)
I want you to go on the Net.

WILLOW
Oh! Yeah. Sure. I can do that.

BUFFY
Then I'm out of here.
(to Xander and Willow)
If Jesse's alive, I'll bring him back.

GILES
Do I have to tell you to be careful?

Buffy looks at him a moment. Then she's out.

INT. SCHOOL GROUNDS - DAY

Buffy heads toward a gate that stands open. She is about to go through it when FLUTIE appears right behind her.

BUFFY
We? I? Me?

MR. FLUTIE We're not leaving school grounds, are we?

BUFFY
No! I'm just ... admiring the fence. This is
quality fencework.

MR. FLUTIE
Because if we were leaving school grounds on our
second day at a new school after being kicked out
of our old school for delinquent behavior -- do
you see where I'm going with this?

BUFFY
(it comes to her:)
Mr. Giles!

MR. FLUTIE
What?

BUFFY
He asked me to get a book for him. From the store
'cause I have a free period and I'm a big reader
did it mention that on my transcripts?

MR. FLUTIE
Mr. Giles.

BUFFY
Ask him.

Mr. Flutie shuts and locks the gate, saying:

BUFFY
We're clear.

MR. FLUTIE
That's the Buffy Summers I want in my school. The
sensible girl, with her feet on the ground.

He smiles, leaves.

ANGLE: BUFFY'S FEET

Standing before the fence. After a bit they jump up, leave the frame. A moment later we see her land on the other side, take off running.

INT. MAUSOLEUM - CONTINUOUS

But for the light from the doorway, it's just as dark in here as it was last night. Buffy makes her way cautiously, looking about her. She senses a lurking presence, but the shadows give up nothing.

She reaches the iron door on the other side. Tires it. It's locked. She stops, letting out a long breath.

ANGEL steps from the shadows, a smile in his eyes.

BUFFY
Why not?

ANGEL
They really don't like me.

BUFFY
(sarcastically)
How could that possibly be?

ANGEL
I knew you'd figure out this entryway sooner
or later. Actually, I thought it was gonna be a
little sooner.

BUFFY
I'm sorry you had to wait. Look, if you're gonna
be popping up with this cryptic wise man act on a
regular basis, can you at least tell me your
name?

ANGEL
Angel.

BUFFY
Angel.
(offhand)
It's a pretty name.

ANGEL
Don't go down there.

BUFFY
Deal with my going.

ANGEL
You shouldn't be putting yourself at risk.
Tonight is the Harvest. Unless you can prevent it,
the Master walks.

BUFFY
If this Harvest thing is such a suckfest, why
don't you stop it?

ANGEL
Because I'm afraid.

The unashamed openness of the statement catches her a bit off guard. She looks at him a moment.

She KICKS the door open.

BUFFY
I've got a friend down there -- or, a potential
friend.
(joking)
Do you know what it's like to have a friend?

He doesn't answer.

BUFFY
(gently)
That wasn't supposed to be a stumper.

ANGEL
When you hit the tunnels, head east, toward the
school. That's where you're likely to find them.

BUFFY
You gonna wish me luck?

He says nothing. She looks at him a moment more, then heads into the darkness.

He stands there, not moving. Quiet concern on his face.

INT. TUNNELS - DAY

They are dark, forbidding, and they run in all directions.

Buffy climbs down a ladder, drops into them. She looks about her, taking it in.

ANGLE: A RAT

Scurries by her foot.

Buffy doesn't flinch. She starts down a tunnel, moving slowly. The dark enveloping her.

She turns a corner, slowly. Nothing. Starts down it.

She hears something and spins, sneaks up and looks down another tunnel.

ANGLE: DOWN THE OTHER TUNNEL

Shadows. Noise. Nothing solid.

She pulls her head back and he's right behind her!

BUFFY
Xander! What are you doing here?

XANDER
Something stupid. I followed you. I couldn't just
sit around not doing anything.

BUFFY
I understand. Now go away.

XANDER
Jesse's my bud, okay? If I can help him, then
that's what I gotta do.

A beat, as she accepts this.

They make their way through the dark.

INT. THE LIBRARY - DAY

Giles has his arcane volumes out, is consulting them. After some digging, he finds something interesting. He looks closely at one passage, translating to himself from the Latin.

ANGLE: AN ENGRAVING

A bestial fellow holds his hand out, commanding a throng of villagers, all of whom are bleeding. Below, in what might be Hell, a demon glows with power.

Upon the bestial one's forehead, a crude symbol has been drawn, a star with three points.

He looks over at another passage.

INT. COMPUTER CLASS - DAY

Everyone is working, alone and in groups, devising programs. CORDELIA and HARMONY struggle mightily with theirs.

HARMONY
(typing slowly)
Are we going to the Bronze tonight?

CORDELIA
No, we're going to the other cool place in
Sunnydale.

Harmony looks at her inquisitively.

HARMONY
(re: program)
I think we did this part wrong.

CORDELIA
Why do we have to devise these programs? Isn't
that what nerds are for?
(quietly)
What did she do?

Harmony cranes over to look at:

ANGLE: WILLOW

Sitting next to them, but in her own world. She is bringing things up on the Net, typing intently, scrolling, searching...

CUT TO:

INT. TUNNELS - LATER

Buffy and Xander turn a corner, ready for anything.

Nothing. They keep walking, alert. Xander picks up the conversation they were in:

BUFFY
That'll get it done.

XANDER
Cool. Of course, I don't actually have any of
those things.

BUFFY
(hands him a cross)
Good thinking.

XANDER
Well, the part of my brain that would tell me to
bring that stuff is still busy telling me not to
come down here. I brought this, though.

He produces a flashlight, turns it on.

XANDER
(he does)
Okay, okay. So, what else?

BUFFY
What else what?

XANDER
For Vampire Slayage.

?

XANDER
(a little weakly)
So you've done some beheading in your time.

BUFFY
Oh, yeah. There was this one time, I was pinned
down by this vampire, he played left tackle for
the varsity -- I mean, before he was... well
anyway he's got one of those really thick necks
and all I've got is a little Exacto knife --
(off Xander's gape)
You're not loving this story.

XANDER
Actually, I find it oddly comforting.

INT. COMPUTER CLASS - DAY

Willow is busily bringing up relevant data from the Net, her brow furrowed in concentration. At the next terminal, Cordelia is struggling with a program while holding court.

HARMONY
Maybe... I think...

CORDELIA
Well, what does the book say?
(as Harmony looks it up)
So anyway, I come out of the bathroom and she
comes running at me with a stick, screaming, "I'm
gonna kill you! I'm gonna kill you!" I swear.

GUY
(leaning in)
Who?

CORDELIA
Buffy.

HARMONY
The new girl.

GUY
What's her deal?

CORDELIA
She's crazed!

HARMONY
Did you hear about her old school? Booted.

CORDELIA
I exhibit no surprise.

GUY
Why was she kicked out?

CORDELIA
'Cause she's a psycho-loony.

WILLOW
No, she's not.

Silence, as Cordelia registers the concept that Willow just contradicted her.

WILLOW
She's not a psycho. You don't even know her.

CORDELIA
Excuse me? Who gave you permission to exist? Do I
horn in on your private discussions? No. Why?
Because you're boring.

Willow looks down, hurt. She stands and takes some pages that have come up on the printer. The girls turn back to their project.

CORDELIA
Finally, the nightmare ends. Now how do we save
it?

WILLOW
(as she exits)
"Deliver."

CORDELIA
(staring at the screen)
Deliver -- where is that -- Oh!

ANGLE: A KEY

Marked "DEL". Cordelia hits it.

Long pause, the two girls staring at the screen, their smiles about to melt into perplexity as we

INT. TUNNELS - LATER

Buffy and Xander are still making their way through the dark. The banter quotient has plummeted -- they're both fairly tense.

Buffy looks around, brow furrowed.

XANDER
How can you tell?

BUFFY
No rats.

Xander doesn't love that information, but he says nothing. Still they progress, until:

He indicates a small, dark side-chamber. Nothing can be seen past the first few inches.

They come up to it. Xander pulls out his flashlight, shines it.

ANGLE: IN THE CHAMBER

A beam of light finds a body, lying face down. It looks like

BUFFY
Oh, no...

She starts forward, Xander keeping the light on her. Goes over to the body, reaches out --

and Jesse JUMPS UP, brandishing a pipe. He's about to slam her with it when Xander calls out:

JESSE
(stops, amazed)
Xander?

He drops the pipe and the two friends hug. Xander pulls away, looking him over.

JESSE
I'm not okay on an epic scale. We gotta get out
of here!

He indicates his leg -- he's been chained to the wall.

The superhero frowns at the chain, feels it.

She takes the pipe he dropped and SMASHES the look on his shackles. It's not a quiet operation.

ANGLE: A TUNNEL - CONTINUOUS

A few black shapes move in the shadows, hearing it.

ANGLE: BUFFY AND THE OTHERS

They start out.

XANDER
Oh, now you tell us.

JESSE
I've seen their leader.

The look in his eyes describes their leader in detail.

Buffy leads the two boys back through the tunnel. She stops.

Shadows move at the other end.

JESSE
Oh, no, no...

BUFFY
Do you know another way out?

JESSE
I don't, uh, maybe?

XANDER
Come on.

They truck out the other way.

INT. A JUNCTION OF TUNNELS - A SECOND LATER

They come into this one, moving at a good clip. Try one avenue --

Eyes gleam in the dark. Whispered LAUGHS drift at us.

They turn back, pause at a fork.

They take off.

INT. A SUBTERRANEAN ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

They run in, vampires approaching slowly behind them. Look around, horror growing on their faces.

There is no door. There is no exit. Buffy and Xander look about them, frantically.

She goes back to the doorway they came in, listens for the approaching vampires.

JESSE
I've got an idea...

And the CAMERA PANS over to Jesse standing right behind Xander. His visage grotesque, his smile icy. He's a vampire.

Xander backs away from Jesse. Buffy looks from him to the entrance, not sure what to do.

ANGLE: THE ENTRANCE

We HEAR approaching vampires, see shadows begin to move, thrown on the outer wall by figures down the hall.

JESSE
Sorry? I feel good, Xander. I feel strong.

Buffy grabs the door, tries to close it. But it's tick metal, rusted open.

XANDER
Well, that's a plus.

JESSE
I know what the Master wants. I'll serve his
purpose. That means you die. And I feed.

BUFFY
Xander! The cross!

Xander holds it up -- and Jesse stops coming toward him. The smiles leaves his face.

Buffy continues trying to shut the door -- it's beginning to budge. But coming down the hall are:

ANGLE: THE VAMPIRES

Making their way down the hall to the door. They most slowly, grinning -- sure of victory.

JESSE
You're like a shadow to me now.

Xander moves forward, cross in hand.

Jesse stumbles back, pissed. Xander backs him toward the door.

Buffy continues to strain. The vampires approach.

Jesse lashes out, knocks the cross from Xander's grasp. He grins -- and then Buffy grabs him from behind and HURLS him out of the room, knocking vampires over like bowling pins.

Xander snaps out of his shock and comes to the door with her. With both their backs to it, they slam it shut --

--an arm SHOOTS in, grasping for them. Buffy opens the door slightly and slams it again till the arm withdraws. She bolts the door, breathing heavily.

A resounding THUD shudders the door. The vampires are gonna break it down.

XANDER
There is no out of here!

Another THUD and the door begins to buckle on its hinges. Buffy looks around -- there is some junk lying around. She throws it out of the way to see if there is a doorway behind it. No joy.

Xander also looks around. He spies:

ANGLE: AN AIR VENT

We can see just a hint of an air vent's grating behind a metal sheet. It's high up in the shadows.

Buffy sees it too. She throws a box down, steps on it to reach the vent. Pulls away the metal sheet, revealing the grate. It's big enough to climb through.

She begins trying to pry the grate open with her bare hands.

Another THUD. Xander looks from Buffy to the door.

Buffy pulls, behind a corner.

The door comes off its hinges enough for a vampire to put his fingers through, grip it.

Buffy RIPS the grating loose, throws it aside.

And a vampire SHOOTS out of the air vent at her, grabbing her head.

The door comes out enough for a vampire to get its face in.

Buffy pulls the vampire all the way out of the vent, throws it to the floor. Jumps down on top of it.

He runs by, climbs on the box as Buffy sinks a stake into the vampire's back. He sticks the flashlight in:

ANGLE: IN THE AIR VENT

Nothing. Clear.

He crawls in, starts worming his way down it.

ANGLE: THE DOOR

Breaks down. Vampires pile in.

Buffy jumps up and pulls herself into the air vent.

INT. AIR VENT - CONTINUOUS

The two of them crawl along in the dark, the vampires at their heels.

They come to a wider space, with a ladder going up. Sunlight can be seen through the grating at the very top.

BUFFY
UP!

He starts climbing, Buffy right behind him.

He gets to the top and opens the grating, climbs into:

EXT. STREET - AFTERNOON

It's deserted as Xander rolls out, reaches in to help Buffy up. She is almost out when

ANGLE: A HAND

grabs her ankle, starts pulling her back down.

She pulls up, bringing the hand up into the sunlight. It beings to SMOKE -- we hear a SHRIEK and it is withdrawn.

Buffy rolls out, slams the grating shut.

For a moment both of them just lie there, catching their breath.

INT. THE LIBRARY - DAY

Giles is still pouring over his notes when Willow enters. He looks up, hoping to see

WILLOW
It's just me. So there's no word?

GILES
Not as of yet.

WILLOW
Well, I'm sure they're... great.

GILES
Did you find anything of interest?

She sits, shows him copied articles as she talks.

GILES
Great! I mean, not great in a good way... Go on.

WILLOW
They sound like the kind you were looking for.
Throats, blood. Months, and not even a clue.

GILES
It's all coming together. I rather wish it weren't.

INT. THE CHURCH - CONTINUOUS

We see a candle being lit, the last of a row. Darla steps back from it, the taper in her hand glowing softly.

As she does, another vampire does the same on the opposite wall. They are at the back of the church, staring ahead. The rows of candles run up to the altar, where the Master stands waiting.

CHANTING can be heard, a low, primal whisper.

Luke steps forward, pulling off his shirt. He steps forward, kneels before the Master. The Master holds out his hand. Luke leans forward and kisses it. The Master turn him open palm up and Luke kisses that as well. Gently, Luke takes the Master's wrist in his hand, brings his lips to that as well.

And bites it.

The Master winces, shuts his eyes. Luke feeds for a few moments, the rears his head back with holy pain.

LUKE
My body is your instrument.

The Master takes a drop of blood from his wrist, dabs it on Luke's forehead, painting the three-pointed star. He speaks to the assembled:

INT. THE LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS

Buffy and Xander enter, somewhat the worse for their adventure. Willow takes one look at their faces and doesn't have to ask. She does anyway.

XANDER
Yeah.

WILLOW
Was he dead?

BUFFY
Worse.

She sits heavily.

WILLOW
At least you two are okay.

Xander kicks a trash bin in frustration.

BUFFY
So, Giles, you got anything that can make this
day worse?

GILES
How about the end of the world.

BUFFY
I knew I could count on you.

GILES
This is what we know. Some sixty years ago a very
old, very powerful vampire came to this shore,
and not just to feed.

BUFFY
He came 'cause this town is a mystical whoosit?

GILES
Yes. The Spanish who first settled here called it
Boca Del Infierno -- roughly translated:
Hellmouth. A sort of portal from this reality to
the next. This vampire hoped to open it.

BUFFY
Bring the demons back.

XANDER
End of the world.

WILLOW
But he blew it. Or, I mean, there was an
earthquake that swallowed about half the town.
And him too -- or at least there were no more
vampire-type killings after.

GILES
Opening dimensional portals is tricky business.
Odds are he got himself stuck. Like a cork in a
bottle.

XANDER
And this Harvest thing is to get him out?

GILES
It comes once in a century, on this night. A
Master can draw power from one of his minions
while it feeds. Enough power to break free, and
to open the portal. The minion is called the
Vessel, and he bears this symbol.

He shows them a sketch of the three-pointed star.

GILES
Simply put, yes.

BUFFY
Any clue where this little get-together is being
held?

GILES
Well, there are a number of possibilities--

XANDER
They're going to the Bronze.

WILLOW
Are you sure?

XANDER
Come on, tasty young morsels all over the place.
Anyway, that's where Jesse's gonna be. Trust me.

GILES
Then we need to get there. The sun will be down
before long.

They head out toward the door.

GILES
What for?

BUFFY
Supplies.

ANGLE: THE SUN

Big and red, sinking low.

INT. BUFFY'S BEDROOM - DUSK

The last rays are streaming in as Buffy enters, starts going through her closet.

Buffy's mom, JOYCE SUMMERS, enters. Buffy keeps going through her clothes, picking out a good slaying outfit.

BUFFY
I have to.

JOYCE
I didn't hear you come in last night.

BUFFY
I was quiet.

JOYCE
It's happening again, isn't it?

Buffy stops, looks at her.

BUFFY
I was... running an errand.

She pulls an old trunk out of her closet. She opens it, starts going through it.

BUFFY
Mom, I promise you, it's not gonna be like
before. But I have to go.

JOYCE
No.

BUFFY
Mom...

Buffy looks at the window, at the growing dark.

BUFFY
This is important.

JOYCE
I know. You have to go out or it'll be the end of
the world. Everything is life or death when
you're a sixteen year old girl.

BUFFY
Mom, I don't have time to talk about it--

JOYCE
You've got all night, Buffy. You're not going
anywhere. Now you can stay up here and sulk if
you want. I won't hold it against you. But if you
want to come down, I'll make us some dinner.

Joyce leaves, closing the door quietly but firmly behind her. After a moment, Buffy reaches into the truck.

ANGLE: IN THE TRUNK

Girl stuff, memorabilia, Teen Beat magazines.

Buffy reaches in and lifts out the inside -- the trunk has a false bottom. Below it stakes, crosses, host, garlic, and a widemouthed jar of holy water.

Buffy takes out a particularly deadly looking stake. It fits in her hand like it's part of it. She stuffs it into a bag, along with a few other items.

She stands, goes to the door. Listens by it.

She gets to the window, opens it. Starts crawling out.

ANGLE: THE HORIZON

The sun is gone. The sky a deepening blue.

INT. THE BRONZE - NIGHT

From the balcony, we look down on a pool game in progress. Tilt up to see Cordelia holding court at a table.

A Cordette starts to speak. Cordelia interrupts.

A Cordette starts to speak.

She gets up, friends in tow, and heads to the balcony.

INT. THE BRONZE - CONTINUOUS

TILT UP on Cordelia, dancing away in the middle of the crowd. She looks great.

ANGLE: AT THE DOOR

Jesse walks in, a new man. A cool, subtle swagger in his step. His eyes go right to Cordelia. He smiles.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE BRONZE - CONTINUOUS

There are a few peoples lounging around outside, but not much activity. Then, a ways off, we see them coming, walking slowly into the half-light.

Eight vampires. Luke in the middle.

None of them saying a word.

Cordelia is still dancing with her friends, having a good time.

Jesse makes his way slowly through the crowd, not towards but around her, his eyes never leaving her. She sees him too -- and for the first time, doesn't look away in disgust. There's something different about him.

A SLOW SONG starts playing, and Cordelia stops dancing, heads off the floor.

He's suddenly standing in her way. Smiling that distant smile.

It's the old attitude, but she's not fooling anyone.

He takes her hand, starts leading her onto the floor.

He turns back to her, smiles winningly.

Brings her to the middle of the floor and starts dancing with her. He holds her, hardly touching her, moving slowly.

She moves closer to him.

EXT. THE BRONZE - CONTINUOUS

ANGLE: THE DOOR

The BOUNCER is suddenly confronted with the vampire group. Their faces are mostly in shadow.

Luke stands over him. His face inches from the Bouncer's.

The Bouncer complies instantly.

INT. THE BRONZE - A MOMENT LATER

Once inside, the vampires spread out, each heading for an exit. Two of them stay behind and close off the front.

Darla heads for the door by the stage that leads backstage. Goes in.

One goes to the bar -- swings over it and stands in front of the door.

One heads upstairs.

And Luke climbs up on stage.

INT. BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS

Darla checks that the exit door is secure. Then she goes over to the fuse box, flips a switch.

INT. THE BRONZE - CONTINUOUS

The main lights and the music go off. There are GASPS, MURMURS. A voice from the stage calls out:

On stage, a single spot continues to shine. Luke steps into the light. His face is rivetingly awful.

Major GASPS and MURMURS at the sight of him.

ANGLE: THE FRONT DOOR

A couple tries to get out. The vampire standing guard -- his normal face gone -- shakes his head no.

They shrink back from him.

ANGLE: CORDELIA

She stares at the stage, Jesse's hands still on her.

She looks at Jesse to see his face has changed as well. Starts to struggle but he holds her, pulls her back into the dark under the stairs.

ANGLE: DARLA

re-emerges from backstage. Looks up at Luke on stage.

One of the vampires pushes the Bouncer up on stage.

Luke grabs him by the scruff on the neck, squeezing any further conversation out of him.

As he brings the Bouncer to him and bites his neck, sucking the life out of him in huge gulps.

INT. THE CHURCH - CONTINUOUS

The Master stands, power coursing through him -- visibly. It lights him up.

INT. THE BRONZE - CONTINUOUS

Luke continues feeding. After a bit he pulls his head back, throws the Bouncer's dead body from him.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE BRONZE - CONTINUOUS

Buffy and the others run up to the front door. She tries it -- it's locked.

GILES
We're too late.

BUFFY
Well, I didn't know I was gonna get grounded!

XANDER
(re: door)
Can you break it down?

BUFFY
Not this thing. You guys try the back entrance.
I'll find my own way.

GILES
Right.
(to Xander and Willow)
Come on.

BUFFY
Guys!

They stop. Buffy hands them her bag of tricks.

INT. THE BRONZE

They are really scared now, seeing corpses (two now) lying before them. There is some screaming, some whimpering.

ANGLE: CORNER UNDER THE STAIRS

Darla is having a face off with Jesse, who holds Cordelia.

DARLA
They are all for the Master.

JESSE
I don't get one?

ANGLE: UPSTAIRS WINDOW BY THE BALCONY

The window opens slowly, an oblivious vampire before it. Buffy slips in.

She looks down at the stage, at Luke.

She sees the three-pointed star on his head.

The vampire turns, hearing this. He grabs Buffy, dragging her up to he middle of the balcony to present her to Luke.

Darla emerges, holding Cordelia.

CORDELIA
Noooo...

Darla drags her toward the stage, hands her over to Luke.

ANGLE: BUFFY

slips out of the vampire's grasp and THROWS him off the balcony. He lands WHAM on his back right in front of the stage.

Silence.

LUKE
YOU!

BUFFY
You didn't think I'd miss this, did you?

LUKE
(smiles)
I hoped you'd come.

INT. BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS

The exit door bursts open, a metal pipe-wielding Giles behind it. He starts in, the other two behind him.

INT. THE BRONZE - CONTINUOUS

A vampire comes at Buffy from the side and she grabs him, THROWS him into the hookah pit.

He scrambles back up and she FLIPS herself over backwards, goes through the hole and lands on top of the pool table. A cue is lying on the table -- she does a hand spring and lands on the floor holding on the cue.

A vampire rushes her from the side --

ANGLE: BUFFY

without looking, she JAMS the cue end into his heart. We don't see him -- we just hear the PLUNGE. And when Buffy lets go, the cue stays right where it is.

She steps forward just as the cue rises like the arm of a guard gate and we hear the vampire's body THUD to the floor.

BUFFY
Then come and get it.

Cordelia, seeing her chance, tries to break free of Luke's grasp. He throws her to one side --

--and Buffy runs, LEAPS at him, slams her fist into his face. This one really hurts, and he stumbles back in pain.

He comes back at her but she ducks, comes back up with a roundhouse kick to the face. Another score.

She ships out her stake, comes at him -- but he blocks. Nails her in the face, and she skids into the corner, badly hurt. The stake falls at his feet.

ANGLE: DOOR TO BACKSTAGE

It bursts open, Xander nearly falling out.

He looks about him -- no vampires in the immediate vicinity -- and beings herding people out.

INT. BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS

The people rush past Willow and Giles, who push them towards the exit.

INT. THE BRONZE - CONTINUOUS

Buffy kicks Luke in the chest. He flies back, landing hard. She's about to go in for the kill when she sees.

ANGLE: A VAMPIRE

going for Xander, who's too busy shepherding people out to notice.

Buffy turns to the drum kit and kicks the cymbal right off the stand. She catches it in mid air --

--the vampire reaches Xander, grabs him--

--Buffy hurls the cymbal, frisbee style--

--the vampire turns, eyes wide, and the cymbal flies straight at his neck--

As he hears the SLICE, his eyes follow the trajectory of the liberated head.

ANGLE: BUFFY

barely has time to turn before Luke GRABS her from behind, lifting her up in a crushing bear hug.

ANGLE: XANDER

He is going to help Buffy when he hears a SHRIEK, turns and sees:

ANGLE: CORDELIA

is being dragged off into the area below the stairs by Jesse.

He throws her to the ground, kneeling above her. Pinning her.

Xander appears behind Jesse, holding a stake. He could plunge it right through the back into the heart, but he hesitates.

Jesse looks around, grinning inhumanly.

ANGLE: BUFFY

Is failing to get out of Luke's grasp. He squeezes even harder and she beings to lose consciousness.

INT. BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS

People are still rushing out.

He heads for the door to the main room and Darla JUMPS on him, digging for his throat. His stake is knocked out of his hand as he topples to the ground.

INT. THE BRONZE - CONTINUOUS

Xander takes a step back as Jesse rises, faces him.

JESSE
(exasperated)
Okay, let's deal with this. Jesse was an
excruciating loser who couldn't get a date with
anyone in the sighted community! Look at me now!
I'm a new man!

He grabs Xander and HURLS him against the wall. Xander falls in a heap to the cowering Cordelia.

INT. BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS

Willow frantically digs through Buffy's bag, looking for a weapon. She pulls out the jar of holy water.

Darla continues to struggle with Giles -- has him pinned on the ground.

Darla turns to face Willow and is DOUSED with holy water right in the face.

SCREAMING, she brings her hands to her face, smoke pouring out from between her fingers.

Giles pushes her off him, getting up to face her. But Darla is already stumbling out the exit in smoking agony.

INT. THE BRONZE - CONTINUOUS

Buffy is limp in Luke's grasp. Head dangling forward.

He opens wide, leans in -- and Buffy HEADBUTTS him with the back of her head, sends him staggering back.

She is weak, despite her bravado. She grabs the cymbal stand, holds it as a weapon. Looks around her -- and sees:

ANGLE: THE WINDOW

at the back of the stage. It's painted black, one huge pane.

Buffy looks at it, at Luke.

ANGLE: XANDER

Jesse picks him up again, fury etching his demon face.

Xander holds the stake up to Jesse's chest, determined but scared.

And a fleeing woman SLAMS into Jesse from behind, driving him onto the stake. He drags himself on a stunned Xander, dying.

And then he's dust. Xander barely has time to react before two more vampires grab him.

ANGLE: BUFFY

She swings the cymbal stand at an approaching Luke. He smiles.

BUFFY
There's something you forgot about, too.

He hesitates, doubt clouding his face.

And she takes the stand and HURLS it right through the plate glass window at the back of the stage -- SHATTERING the entire thing.

ANGLE: LUKE

As the warm light STREAMS IN on him, he SCREAMS, raises his hands --

--and stops. Puzzled.

Buffy DRIVES the stake in through his back. He arches forward, in real agony this time.

ANGLE: THE BROKEN WINDOW

And Luke realizes the light from the window is merely a streetlight, shining in the darkness.

Luke stumbles forward--

INT. THE CHURCH - CONTINUOUS

And the Master stumbles forward in the exact same position, the bright energy beginning to fade from him. He reaches out, nearly doubled over --

INT. THE CHURCH - CONTINUOUS

The last of the energy fades from the master.

He falls to his knees, reaches out blindly for support.

What he touches is the wall, once again too strong for him to bend. Fury and despair cross hi face as he looks up at it. A scream wells up inside him, and right before it bellows out, we

INT. THE BRONZE - CONTINUOUS

Xander struggles with the remaining vampires, who hold him, their attention on the stage.

Buffy looks down at the spot where Luke's body was. After a moment, she turns her gaze slowly toward the vampires.

They look at the expression on her face for about 1/8th of a second, then they drop Xander and bolt out of the front door.

ANGLE: THE BACKSTAGE DOOR

Giles and Willow come slowly out, meet Buffy and Xander in the middle of the dance floor.

WILLOW
Did we win?

A moment, as they look about at the carnage that surrounds them. Most of the patrons have fled, though some remain, stunned and silent.

ANGLE: CORDELIA

Sitting right where Jesse left her. Not a word.

EXT. FOUNTAIN QUAD - DAY

Everything is exactly the same. We see kids milling about, talking, laughing in the bright sunshine. Pick up Cordelia, walking by with her friends.

GIRL
Oh, I wish I'd been there.

And we leave them, picking up Buffy and the others nearby, crossing the other way. Xander has a look of disbelief on his face.

XANDER
I don't know! Something. The dead rose! We
should've at least had an assembly.

GILES
People have a tendency to rationalize what they
can, and forget what they can't.

BUFFY
Believe me, I've seen it happen.

WILLOW
Well, I'll never forget it. None of it.

GILES
Good. Next time you'll be prepared.

XANDER
Next time?

WILLOW
Next time is why?

GILES
We stopped the master from freeing himself and
opening the mouth of Hell. Doesn't mean he'll
stop trying. I'd say the fun is just beginning.

WILLOW
More vampires?

GILES
Not just vampires. The next creature we face may
be something quite different.

BUFFY
I can hardly wait.

GILES
We're at a center of mystical convergence here.
We may in fact stand between the earth and total
destruction.

XANDER
Buffy, this isn't good.

BUFFY
Well, I gotta look on the bright side. Maybe I
can still get kicked out of school.

She smiles at Giles and starts off, the other two keeping up with her.

WILLOW
Maybe you could blow something up. They're really
strict about that.

BUFFY
I was aiming for a subtle approach, like
excessive not studying.

Giles watches them go, an uneasy smile plastered on his lips.