| ACT FOUR FADE IN INT. THE UNDERGROUND - CONTINUOUS UPPER LEVEL The HEARTBEAT looms. Faith's lips part as she nears Buffy's. FAITH Close your eyes. BUFFY No. FAITH The fear'll go away. BUFFY I don't want it to. FAITH Why are you doin' this to us? BUFFY We can't do this. FAITH I'm yours Buffy--now, it's about you wantin' me. BUFFY I don't. Faith backs off, shoving Buffy enough to put space between them. The HEARTBEAT disappears and the SOUNDS of the club return. FAITH You can't--or won't--let it go. You won't forgive me. God I wish you would. I could die right now fuckin' happy for the first time in my fucked-up life if you would. BUFFY I already forgave you. FAITH Not like you did Angel! Or even fuckin' Spike. Why am I different. BUFFY The list is long and colorful...but those situations and this one are supremely different. FAITH Yeah, I was never a serial-killin', literal monster who unlived to feed on human beings. All I did was kill a few people--I didn't want to and I NEVER wanted to hurt you or any of your friends and family. They did! So totally not the fuckin' same things--you got that right babe, I ain't nearly as bad so why am I the one gettin' short- changed? BUFFY Because...! FAITH Oh, well, now I'm fine with it--I mean, "BECAUSE"--winnin' logic at its best. BUFFY Because...that's not the way we should be. FAITH BECAUSE--you don't love me. BUFFY That word--horribly overrated. Love has nothing to do with it. FAITH I LOVE YOU! So fuck you it doesn't! Buffy's stunned. Her eyes water--but not as much as Faith's. BUFFY Oh--Faith--no no no...YOU cannot do this to me. FAITH I could say the same to you. BUFFY Not another one. Why doesn't everyone fall in love with me? I'm not THAT great a catch. FAITH Tell me about it. BUFFY Hey! FAITH You can't deny there's somethin' there...more than just a slayer connection. There has to be 'cause it's so fuckin' powerful it hurts! BUFFY What you're describing won't last. FAITH How can it when you won't even give it a fuckin' chance! BUFFY Not worth it. Faith's devastated. FAITH Do you even LIKE me? BUFFY Of course I do. FAITH You gotta have more to say! I know--you want--you feel... Faith can't push out another word. She desperately gazes at Buffy who only gives a few tiny shakes of her head. Faith strides up to Buffy and slaps her. Buffy's head snaps away from Faith and she makes no attempt to bring her face back into Faith's view. Faith gears up for another shot, but charges passed instead. GROUND LEVEL Giles, Dawn, and Anya convene in a spot near the staircase. DAWN Where are they? ANYA My money's on-- Giles covers her mouth. GILES Wagers of monetary value are expressly illegal when it comes to Buffy, Faith, and sexuality. For the first, last, and only time: NO. DAWN Thank you Giles. I've always been grateful to have you. Giles nods. Anya tries to wiggle out of his hold. Faith blows down the stairs and right by them. They all see her. DAWN (shouting) Faith. Faith keeps walking until she's gone. UPPER LEVEL Buffy stands alone as lifeless as the dead around her. CUT TO: EXT. SUMMERS HOUSE - NIGHT Dawn and Giles arrive at the house with Elle on the steps waiting. They walk up the path, Dawn turning to Giles: DAWN I'll be in soon. Giles nods and heads up the stairs. GILES Miss Dean. ELLE (British accent) Rupert--always a pleasure. That amuses Giles. He goes inside. Elle stands as Dawn walks up the steps to her. DAWN It's late. ELLE It's Saturday. DAWN Early Sunday morning to be exact. ELLE This how it is between us? DAWN Clarify that for me. ELLE You're playing the avoiding game-- again. DAWN Good at it, aren't I? ELLE Dawn, we have to talk about this. DAWN What is it with everyone and talking? As if words are the universe's greatest asset. Give me a fucking break please with the talking--we need to talk...do you wanna talk--I'm here for you--talk to me--blah fucking blah blah blah. ELLE Please don't act so dispassionate. This isn't easy for me. My life has never been simple--I can't imagine ever getting it that way-- but...I know you can feel it. DAWN I have no idea what that means. ELLE Would've been more convincing with only a little bit of effort. (beat) I can't let myself fall. DAWN (shakily) I have no idea what that means. ELLE You're the best friend I've ever had and I never want that to change. (beat) I experience emotions just thinking about you that shouldn't be possible for people like us...or maybe that's the-- DAWN --Have fun on your date? Elle looks shattered. Dawn puts up an emotionless front. ELLE I don't know--it was my first. DAWN Yeah--those are a real toss-up. Wait for your first kiss--really messes with your head. ELLE (hurtfully) I'm gonna go home. DAWN Need me to walk you? ELLE I--uh--need...no. That's all right. You get a peaceful sleep. DAWN Will do. Elle walks down the stairs and down the path. Dawn watches. Elle turns slightly to wave weakly--Dawn returning it with the same bare enthusiasm. Dawn hesitates before moving for the door. Instead of opening it though, she plops her head on it and SOBS quietly. CUT TO: EXT. SUNLIGHT HOTEL - NIGHT Faith charges towards the hotel, but halts when: ANYA (OS) Faith! Faith wait up! Faith does just that allowing Anya to race up to her. FAITH Go home to the fabulous fuck palace or whatever you call Xander's place. ANYA I wanted to make sure you were okay. FAITH I am. Thank you. Fuck off please. ANYA But I ran the Sunnydale demon- infested gauntlet alone just to get here--a feat warranting a reward. FAITH Reward? From me? I don't got much to offer. ANYA I don't buy that for a second. FAITH You probably know of the one thing anyone can get--every customer more than satisfied. Is that what you want? Faith moves right up on Anya who relishes the contact, but tries to stay steeled. ANYA After leaving that pit without telling us, we all assumed something happened between-- FAITH --And whatever you're about to say is bullshit so don't bother finishing. ANYA The response my body generates in your presence is multitudes better than chocolate. I love Xander. FAITH I know. ANYA I want to talk. FAITH Speak your mind. My job is to blow it. ANYA Such a combination of actions would be wrong. FAITH Don't fucking give a shit anymore. ANYA I want to be here for you--to help. FAITH More than enough info I need to understand you love Xander and me givin' you a righteous, pussy dam- exploding fuck causes problems galore...but with me, love gets checked at the door--don't need it, don't want it, causes enough fucking problems of its own so it's got zero desirability while your face and tits and ass and legs--and BLONDE hair--are just callin' for me to lavish and worship every inch until you beg me to stop and even then I won't 'cause you'd really want me to keep goin' and goin' to the point where you collapse unconscious and can't even beg another syllable. Help...is heedin' every word of that rant and givin' in to what YOU want. Anya is spellbound. She pulls Faith in for a ravaging kiss. CUT TO: EXT. BACK ALLEY - NIGHT Buffy beats the shit out of a BIKER, wailing on him with all she's got. She pulls out a stake and turns him to dust. Buffy's breathing is labored, her face covered in rage. She SCREAMS at the sky and thrashes garbage cans and crates and anything else she can get a hold of, tearing up the alley, cracking the surrounding walls until she stumbles and hits the ground CRYING. CUT TO: INT. FAITH'S ROOM - NIGHT Faith, in just a shirt with Anya rustling in her nude sleep, walks to the window and looks out, the moonlight illuminating her distraught face. After a few moments, Faith takes a few deep breaths, but waivers and begins to cry quietly. She clutches her chest desperately for a moment before walking over to a chest of drawers. Faith opens a drawer, digs through the clothing, and pulls out a diary. She takes the pen attached, opens the diary, and turns to a clean page where she writes: AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN. That sets her off, the tears flowing freely and painfully. CUT TO: INT. BUFFY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT As Buffy sits on her bed, writing in her diary. BUFFY (V.O.) The sinking feeling in the deepest recesses of my heart screams out to be rescued...pleading for one more opportunity at life--make the most out of one last chance at happiness...and freedom. Is it that in all my exhaustive efforts to free myself from the supposed tyranny of being Buffy Summers, I set myself back time and again...simply by TRYING to get what I so longed for? Did I miss the truth with faulty fantasizing about possibilities when the reality was staring me in the face...having appeared in a form I never expected...never imagined in wildest dreams, instead mislabeled as nightmares? Happiness-- freedom--LIFE--brought to me BY HER...FOR HER...WITH HER. Oh my Goddess... Buffy writes in script, the letters created at an excruciating pace... An "I"--then "L"--then an "O"--then... Nothing. Buffy's hand won't move. Buffy wills it to finish, but she freaks out, thrashes her head around and throws the pen into the wall. There's a KNOCK at the door. Buffy's head shoots up and she hides the diary underneath a pillow. The door opens and Dawn peeks in. DAWN (whispering) Buffy? You awake? BUFFY Yeah--you need something? Dawn comes in and places herself on the bed facing Buffy. DAWN Thought I'd see if you're okay. BUFFY Oh sweetie, thank you and I've got no complaints to air. DAWN You and Faith have it out? BUFFY A minor disagreement. Probably blow over...sometime before I die. DAWN Good...good...you know--good and if YOU ever go looking for an ear willing to listen, I got two. BUFFY I'll remember that. And I love you all the more for it. DAWN I remember what you said in the mall...which is why I came in here. (pause) Sorry, but it's pointless and stupid and you shouldn't-- BUFFY --Hey! I meant every word at the mall--a policy with an eternal shelf-life. Spill. DAWN I'm such a freak. Bad enough no one can relate to me as it is now, but... BUFFY What is it Dawn? It's all right--I won't judge you or tell anyone--I swear you can tell me. DAWN The first person I...I really...what's been happening to me the last few weeks has just played on my mind and--and--and my whole body and I can't control anything I do or think or feel and--I--I've been... Dawn breaks down into a full-blown TEARFEST. Buffy pulls her in and holds her with compassion and love. BUFFY (soothingly) It's okay Dawn. Let it out. DAWN So--I'm so co--con--confu-- confli...Buffy I'm so CONFUSED. Buffy's eyes shine with shocked understanding. DAWN Why am I feeling these things for her? How could she become everything I think and feel and want and need--wanting to be with her every second and do so much that seems wrong but I can't help it...and--and she--she... Dawn can't continue, her uncontrollable burst of sadness and defeat coming harder and harder. Buffy does her best to calm Dawn down. Buffy holds her tight, and looks thoughtful. BUFFY (V.O.) Maybe it's not that difficult to say--or more importantly, FEEL-- when you let it out... (whispering) I LOVE HER. As Buffy's eyelids flutter shut...a concerned, yet relieved smile adorning her lips... FADE OUT |
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