FADE IN
INT. DEPARTMENT STORE - NIGHT
The store is decorated with that familiar holiday cheer. BUFFY pulls a couple of hefty bags off a counter and waits as the CLERK pulls out cash from the register.
CLERK (counting the bills) One, two, three, four, and... (displaying the coins) ...twenty one cents.
The Clerk hands the money to Buffy.
BUFFY Thank you.
CLERK Oh no, thank you. We get so little business at night...it's not only boring but the home office is considering earlier closing AND OPENING times.
BUFFY I'd sympathize, but the prospect of checking out the latest Donna Karen before my morning coffee is very appealing.
CLERK (regretfully agreeing) Yeah, it is. Still boring. (beat) Merry Christmas.CUT TO:
EXT. MAIN ST. - NIGHT
A CRASH emanates from an alley. A vampire thug sprints out and makes his way down the street. Hot on his heels: a ragged FAITH pumping those arms and legs for everything they've got. CUT TO:
EXT. DEPARTMENT STORE - CONTINUOUS
The door opens and Buffy steps out of the store with the bags. Without missing a beat, she jumps into the air, spins, and kicks, connecting with the just-arrived Vampire.
The Vampire swivels in mid air and slams to the ground.
Faith finally arrives on the scene. She pants, bends over with her hands on her knees, head hanging as Buffy stands there smirking. Faith pulls out a stake and drives it into the Vampire's chest, turning him to dust. Faith reluctantly peers up at a now disgruntled Buffy showing off her bags.
BUFFY This is so not my idea of shopping.
FAITH (mocking) That is so not my idea of shocking.
BUFFY Insulting behavior will not get you presents.
FAITH Won't get me presents; won't get me dinner; won't get me sex...and yet, the behavior is so much fun.
Buffy shoves a bag into Faith's frame.
BUFFY Carry my bag woman.
FAITH Yes Sir Master Man.
Buffy bites back a retort and starts walking. Faith joins her.
BUFFY Why can't you embody the Christmas spirit?
FAITH Oh come on B--after all these years, I'd figure YOU would know how much it sucks to be possessed by spirits and all those other supernatural suckers.
BUFFY Be serious Faith, namely in response to my seriousness.
FAITH Why the seriousness? Don't ya got the Christmas spirit?
BUFFY Nice.
FAITH Thanks.
BUFFY Where is this negativity coming from?
FAITH I hate Christmas.
BUFFY How is that possible?
FAITH You don't wanna know.
BUFFY Actually, I do. It's classified under "everything" in the "what I want to know about Faith" file.
FAITH Trust me--you really don't wanna know, and I really don't wanna fuckin' tell ya, so drop it down the chimney with Santa.
Buffy shakes her head, failure covering her face.
BUFFY (murmuring) Can't be that bad.
Faith darkens sharply, but continues on without a word.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. DARK ROOM
Rays of light snake in from underneath the door, barely enough to illuminate the room. It's small with a bed, a cracked dresser, and a closet. A lamp rests on the floor along with some bottles. There's nary a personal object in sight, and very little to suggest it's hospitable to humans. The place reeks of booze and sex.
A loud SCREAMING MATCH is going on in another room, although the closed door muffles the sound somewhat. The closet door is slightly open and as we pan inside, a pair of childlike legs are visible. Those legs belong to a little brunette GIRL who sits tense, scared, caressing a worn doll.
She WHISPERS a song in a way that says it's to both the doll and herself.
GIRL And have yourself--a merrry little Christmas...
The Girl trails off as the UGLY NOISE outside gets frighteningly louder until something SLAMS against the door causing the Girl to nearly jump out of her skin before cowering deeper into the closet. She clutches the doll to her chest. There's another SLAM.
MAN (OS) (booming) You in there you little bitch? Daddy's got a big present for ya.
The Girl shuts her eyes tight as the monster on the other side of the door BANGS constantly.
GIRL (hopefully; whispering) It's going to be a merry Christmas. It's going to be a merry Christmas. It's going to be a merry Christmas.
The door BREAKS open. The Girl SHRIEKS.
END TEASE Act
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