ACT ONE
FADE UP
INT. SUMMERS HOUSE, DAWN'S ROOM - DAY
DAWN sits on the floor with an open textbook, writing in a
notebook. She's depressed. A concerned Buffy appears.
BUFFY
Whatcha doin'?
DAWN
Homework.
BUFFY
You have no school for another
thirteen days. Remember your break?
Christmas break? Celebrating the
birth of Christ and getting all
sorts of super presents?
DAWN
That's why I'm doing this now. So
I have more time to relentlessly
enjoy my presents... and pray.
BUFFY
Oh yeah--I can hear the joyous
anticipation in your voice.
Buffy walks over to Dawn who doesn't look up. Buffy touches
Dawn's hair causing Dawn to flinch.
BUFFY
Are you okay?
DAWN
I will be.
BUFFY
When...
DAWN
...you leave.
BUFFY
Dawn, I thought we were clear that
you could--
DAWN
(angrily)
--do you want me to graduate? We
can't all skip a thousand classes
and still walk away with a diploma.
Buffy's deflated. She walks out. Dawn stops writing and
lets her pencil fall. She just sits for a moment. Her face
softens. She stands and goes to the door. She looks out
into the hallway, then SLAMS the door shut.CUT TO:
INT. SUMMERS HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
Buffy rubs her eyes as she enters the kitchen. Faith and
WILLOW sit at the counter.
BUFFY
Teenagers.
WILLOW
(wistful)
Oh yeah--the halcyon days of
teenhood. Surviving school...
FAITH
Goin' often to second base.
WILLOW
Hanging out at the mall.
FAITH
Goin' occasionally to third base.
WILLOW
Fighting the forces of evil.
FAITH
Scorin' with the undead. Oh wait--
that's just B.
Willow's amused. Buffy isn't.
FAITH
You're not still frettin' over
comin' up with zip last night, are ya?
BUFFY
It's Dawn. She's--
WILLOW
--a teenager, as you so astutely
pointed out.
BUFFY
You were with her the other night.
What happened?
WILLOW
I don't know.
BUFFY
Liar.
WILLOW
Hey--watch it vampire layer!
FAITH
Both of you--shut the fuck up. If
somethin's up with D, she'll take
care of it.
BUFFY
Christmas Eve is in three days and
my sister is in the dumps. She may
not have an easy time "taking care
of it".
WILLOW
And what does that have to do with me?
BUFFY
I just want to know. I think you
already do.
WILLOW
If I do, it's not my place to tell.
BUFFY
(sourly)
Thank you for your help.
WILLOW
Any time.
Willow pats Buffy on the shoulder and exits. Buffy takes
her seat.
BUFFY
This should be the merriest of
Christmases.
FAITH
Let it go. Relax. People can work
out their own problems.
BUFFY
Stop saying that. I worry. I help.
And this is my sister so I'll freak
out as much as I want.
(beat)
You can't understand.
Buffy hangs her head. Faith, discouraged, eyes Buffy for a
moment before turning away. CUT TO:
INT. GILES' HOUSE - DAY
GILES scans his extensive book collection. His back is
turned to SYLVIA who intently rakes her eyes over the
collection. Giles pulls a book out, opens it and turns to
Sylvia.
GILES
Here it is. You'll find that
certain benign demons are only
benign in their demeanor. They
still possess deadly and even
apocalyptic capabilities. It's
just a matter of keeping them out
of the wrong hands.
Sylvia gets in very close with Giles and looks at the book.
Giles is very aware of her presence.
SYLVIA
Fascinating. It must be laborious
dealing with such a task, on top of
your other priorities.
With each day, my awe for you and
your charges grows.
Giles is flustered. Sylvia is cocky.
SYLVIA
I greatly appreciate your
hospitality Rupert. My time here
would've been far harder without you.
GILES
You--are very...welcome.
Sylvia smiles. Giles composes himself.
GILES
Would you like some tea?
SYLVIA
Love some. Thank you.
Giles hands Sylvia the book and rushes into the kitchen.
Sylvia half-smiles at his retreating form before closely
checking out the book collection.
SYLVIA
Is this all the volumes you have,
or do you own others elsewhere?
GILES (OS)
I tend to keep the most important
and many of the generalized ones at
Buffy's home since that is our
primary meeting place. However, I
do have the same editions here as
well... so basically yes.
SYLVIA
(to herself)
Good to know.
GILES (OS)
Do you believe my wealth of
literature is insufficient?
Sylvia keeps looking and her eyes stop at a red book with
foreign words on it.
SYLVIA
Absolutely not.
Sylvia takes the book. CUT TO:
INT. DEAN HOUSE, ELLE'S ROOM - DAY
Curtains on the windows darken the room. ELLE quietly lies
on her side in bed, eyes open, ensconced in the covers.
There's a KNOCK and the door creaks open. DINO steps in.
DINO
You awake?
Nothing.
DINO
Lying in bed all day can't be
healthy. Want me to check your back?
Nothing.
DINO
Fine. Be like that. It's your call.
Dino leaves. Elle pulls the covers over her completely. CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Buffy picks at her pasta. Faith practically inhales her
club sandwich.
FAITH
Remind me we gotta stop by my place
to get some gloves. I wanna do an
outdoors workout later.
BUFFY
Sure. Umm, I was thinking...
Buffy drifts off.
FAITH
That's sorta a good thing, right?
Thinkin' means your brain's still
workin'.
BUFFY
The whole going back to YOUR place
thing brought to mind something
that's been on--my--mind.
Uh, yeah, so I figure it's pretty
ridiculous for you to sleep over at
my house every night while keeping
an apartment.
FAITH
All those other people who do it
probably don't see it as ridiculous.
BUFFY
What do "other people" know about
us? We walk down the street and
other people see us as regular old
girlfriends. When we go home,
we're lovers in love.
FAITH
Sounds like a friggin' great deal
to me.
BUFFY
Me too. But I'd like it if, when
we go home, it's not just MY home.
FAITH
I like havin' my own place.
BUFFY
I know, but there's no novelty
factor. It's not like this is your
first apartment.
FAITH
Yeah and this ain't your first time
bein' in love. Quite a NOVEL
fuckin' theory ya got there.
BUFFY
Don't get angry at me for wanting
to LIVE WITH YOU.
FAITH
I'm not. I don't just like havin'
my own place. It's the place
itself. It's cool. It's me. It
speaks to me.
BUFFY
Good. I'm glad.
Buffy stabs some pasta with her fork.
FAITH
Now you're angry.
BUFFY
I'm disappointed.
Faith ruefully shakes her head and goes back to her club. CUT TO:
INT. DEAN HOUSE - EVENING
Dino sits on the couch watching "Die Hard". He's bored. He
looks up at the ceiling, thinks for a moment, then looks
over at the phone. He picks it up and dials.
INTERCUT:
INT. XANDER'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
The phone RINGS several times until the answering machine
takes over.
XANDER'S VOICE
This is the home of Xander Harris.
Not Xander Berkeley, who starred on
the first two seasons of "24". For
the five people that are still on
the phone, leave a message.
There's a BEEP. Dino hangs up.
DINO
This is why I hate the phone. CUT TO:
EXT. SUMMERS BACKYARD - EVENING
Faith spars with Dawn.
FAITH
Stay mobile. Don't give 'em a
stationary target. Get in and out
fast. Combos and shit like that.
Watch the first two "Rocky" movies,
they got it.
Dawn stops just as Faith hits her with a right cross. Dawn
stumbles back. A chagrined Faith hurries to help her.
FAITH
Geez, you all right? Why'd you stop?
DAWN
I--I lost my concentration. It's
nothing.
FAITH
Maybe you're studyin' too much.
DAWN
Could be.
FAITH
Bullshit.
DAWN
(confirming)
No shit.
Faith CHUCKLES and puts her arm around Dawn. They rest
comfortably on the ground. Buffy comes out onto the porch
and is thrown off by the sight in front of her.
BUFFY
I'm going out for a while. Take
care of... whatever business shows
its head.
FAITH
Doin' a patrol?
BUFFY
Probably.
FAITH
Alone?
Buffy stares for a long moment.
BUFFY
You deserve a night off. Relax.
Have fun. If you're still here,
I'll see you later.
Buffy goes back in the house. Faith's ticked off. Dawn
throws a quizzical look Faith's way. Faith just smiles. CUT TO:
INT. MALL - EVENING
Willow and ANYA carry around shopping bags.
WILLOW
I'm not in the wrong here, am I?
ANYA
Like I'd take Buffy's side over yours.
WILLOW
I love talking to Buffy. Always have.
ANYA
I'm a better listener than her.
WILLOW
These aren't MY talking points
though. Sharing my feelings and
problems and stuff with Buffy is
entirely different from what
amounts to gossip.
(with fake pep)
Hey, did you hear about those weird
girls Dawn Summers and Elle Dean?
Dawn professed her love to Elle and
she totally got shot down! Like
totally, for sure!
(seriously)
Exaggerated, but you get the point.
ANYA
Gossip girls don't say "professed".
The girls end up at a short wall with a railing allowing
them to look down to the next level.
WILLOW
Maybe I should tell Buffy? She's
under a lot of pressure already
with Spike and the other slayer and
watcher lady and Faith...
ANYA
Don't be silly. She's a slayer.
She has a superhuman capacity for
pressure and stress. Buffy's a
bitch. Nobody really likes her.
We're all merely enamored with her
fabulous physical appearance.
WILLOW
We?
ANYA
My newly discovered fondness for
the same sex has given me a purely
superficial appreciation for the
spoiled bimbo.
WILLOW
You don't want her to know that, do
you?
ANYA
As if she needs another reason to
feel superior?
Willow LAUGHS. Anya beams with pride. Willow settles when
she notices something down below.
WILLOW
Isn't that Xander in the foodcourt?
Willow points. Anya's eyes follow. At a table is Xander
eating with the Female.
ANYA
It is. And he's with a whore! A
redheaded whore! Oh my God--he's
cheating on me with someone who
reminds him of you!
Anya SMACKS Willow on the shoulder. Willow SMACKS her back.
When they look back down, the Female is gone.
WILLOW
Hey, where--how did she--
Willow and Anya glance at each other suspiciously. They
look at Xander who checks his watch nonchalantly and leaves.
WILLOW
Investigate?
ANYA
(snarling)
What do you think? CUT TO:
EXT. EAST SIDE CEMETERY - NIGHT
The Female strolls through, stake in hand. She slows her
stride, then with lightning quickness flicks the stake over
her shoulder behind her and spins to find the stake in
Spike's hand. The Female is perturbed.
SPIKE
Too bad I'm not a freshman--that
would've been impressive.
FEMALE
Give me my stake back and I'll try
again.
SPIKE
Good one. What's the matter
cutie--preying on the unsuspecting
evil alone? That's no way to slay.
FEMALE
It's no way to live either,
nonetheless I do it. Obviously
it's working. I'm still here.
SPIKE
Where's your toy boy?
FEMALE
I have no idea wha--
SPIKE
(laughing)
--of course you don't. You're all
the same... unwilling to trust the
vampiric enemy. It's bloody
unreasonable I say.
FEMALE
Are we gonna fight to the death or
what?
SPIKE
That won't cut it luv.
(approaching; ominously)
I know you... and I want something
from you.
The Female's face darkens. CUT TO:
EXT. WATERFRONT HOTEL - NIGHT
Giles exits the hotel. He turns left.
BUFFY'S VOICE
Does she like your tea?
Giles halts. He slowly turns around.
BUFFY
We'd have to question her
credentials as a Brit if she didn't.
GILES
Are you following me?
BUFFY
Technically, no.
GILES
Coincidence?
BUFFY
The other night, yes. This... this
is about suspicion.
GILES
Of Sylvia...or myself?
BUFFY
I guess that depends on you. How
cozy are you getting with Lady MacBeth?
GILES
Why would you make such a query?
Buffy waves her arms and hands around where she and Giles are.
GILES
Say again?
BUFFY
Oh, so NOW you make a joke. What
really disturbs me is how Faith and
I told you how we'd handle Sylvia.
You agreed with our assessment,
even if you did it flippantly. And
what do you do? You fuck her!
GILES
Watch your language young lady.
BUFFY
Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. Are you
gonna fucking ground me Giles?
Send me to my room? Go ahead--I'll
sneak out, go to Faith's place and
fuck her senseless.
GILES
That is uncalled for.
BUFFY
Hours, Giles. We had a serious
conversation and HOURS later you go
to HER. When I called you...
GILES
I do not require a lecture. My
relations with Sylvia--the extent
of which is not for the public
record--does no harm. You may
sleep better if you accept that.
BUFFY
Because I'm consumed with concern,
right? It runs through my veins
next to those pesky red blood cells.
(intensely)
Someone has to be like that. Care
so much about this stupid world
that it hurts. Slayers can't be
machines anymore. The council
never understood that. You
recognized the reality here on the
ground--with me and Faith, compared
to Kendra. To save the modern
world, you need a modern slayer.
That girl feels human loss at the
very core of her being. Especially
her own loss. Her life. She has
to care about herself, make sure
she's still here when the sun comes
up. She cannot accept death as a
fact of life anymore, because life
as the slayer is still better than
not having one at all. And she has
to keep going, 'cause there's a
girl unknowingly waiting to take
her place. That girl doesn't
deserve it. That girl shouldn't
have to go through this if she
doesn't have to. The modern slayer
cares about the world, herself, and
her replacement. If she stops
caring, the world goes to hell
'cause it's keeper doesn't want it
anymore. And if she doesn't want
it, there's a super-powerful force
out there that will take it in a
heartbeat. As for life... what's
the point?
Giles is stunned into silence.
BUFFY
I wish it didn't have to be me.
But it is, and I want to make the
best of it. I want to because I can.
GILES
I know. You explained your point
of view extraordinarily well.
Satisfaction sneaks onto Buffy's face.
GILES
Still doesn't mean you're right in
this case.
Buffy's head snaps up, her eyes filled with shock. Giles is
almost apologetic.
GILES
Please have a good night Buffy.
Pleasant dreams.
Giles turns and walks away. On a disconcerted Buffy:
END ACT ONE Next | 
