ACT ONE
FADE UP
INT. DAWN'S BEDROOM - DAY
DAWN fixes herself up in front of a mirror. Her eyes stray
when the image of a lovely, similarly-outfitted ELLE appears
in the mirror. Elle is off to the side, surveying some
accessories.
ELLE
What color lipstick should I go with?
DAWN
Take your pick--you wear 'em all so
good.
Elle smiles shyly.
ELLE
Every other best friend that's ever
existed pales in comparison to you.
But let me rephrase: what color
would be simultaneously attractive
and appropriate?
DAWN
You're overthinking this.
ELLE
Better than thinking about the
depressing funeral thing.
DAWN
I'm sure Kennedy appreciates that.
Elle sidles up behind Dawn and looks at her in the mirror
over the Girl's shoulder.
ELLE
Excuse my insensitivity, but I
barely knew the Girl. It may be
easy for you to throw around
genuine feelings and emotions at
anyone...
DAWN
Hey, I didn't like her much myself,
but faking it goes a long way.
ELLE
You're not faking.
DAWN
No I'm not. I'm exaggerating.
Elle grins. Dawn's left hand finds Elle's. She brings them
up so that Elle's forearm snakes over Dawn's shoulder, hand
hovering over her chest.
DAWN
I know for a fact that you've got
emotion stocked up, on reserve,
ready to be released.
ELLE
For a select few only. I have less
to give than you think. When I do
give, it's to Chris, you...and the
list comes to a stop.
DAWN
Does that mean at my funeral, you
won't have to fret about makeup
since all the tears from crying
would ruin it?
ELLE
Let's hope that day never comes.
DAWN
Where is this coming from? How
could you get to be like this?
ELLE
You don't want to know.
Elle rubs her forehead lightly against Dawn's right shoulder.
When she looks up, she sees Dawn's reflected expression.
With steely eyes, Dawn disagrees.
ELLE
Okay, you do.
Elle rests her head on Dawn's shoulder.
ELLE
I don't want to tell you. That help?
DAWN
If you really know me...
Elle looks up again. Her eyes connect with Dawn's. A long
silence settles between them.
ELLE
...then I'll tell you later.
Elle tries to disengage, but Dawn won't let go of her arm.
DAWN
I'm holding you to that.
Dawn's burning eyes make it clear she's serious. Elle, in a
touch of distress, swallows hard.CUT TO:INT. SUMMERS HOUSE - DAY
In the living room, Buffy adjusts XANDER's tie.
XANDER
Ahh, the holiday season in
Sunnydale. Am I the only one
tempted to break out into suicide?
BUFFY
In this room--yes. But since it's
not murder, I'm under no obligation
to save you. So go ahead.
GILES enters wiping his glasses.
GILES
I can't say this enough: for the
slayer, there are no exceptions to
the rule.
BUFFY
Yet there are exceptions to the
rule of school--the school you
worked for--the school whose rules
I constantly broke for the sake of
slaying. Those rules mean nothing?
Is that it? Huh? Huh? Giles?
How 'bout it? Giles?
A beat.
GILES
(seriously)
Exactly.
Buffy and Xander are taken aback.
XANDER
You're either lying, or Buffy just
got burned.
(to Buffy)
Burned! Oh so burned.
BUFFY
Don't make me get another casket.
GILES
Would it be at all possible for
everyone to be...
(pause)
I was going to say sensitive. For
the people in this house however, I
think the operative word is
COGNIZANT of today's event and all
difficulties related to it.
BUFFY
Giles, we know. It's just, in this
town, getting dragged into the
depths of despair can happen on a
whim. I'm tired of feeling sad,
especially at this time of year, so
excuse me if I try to stay upbeat
when not around Willow.
XANDER
Yeah. Also, ANYA is a person--a
person that is not currently in
this house. Don't let her off the
hook.
BUFFY
Is Anya coming?
XANDER
Maybe. Depends on how much she
hates me today.
(ruefully)
Women.
BUFFY
Tell me about it.
They nod. Giles shakes his head. Faith strides in draped
in white. All eyes turn to her with incomprehension.
BUFFY
What are you wearing?
FAITH
Besides the dress? Nothin'.
XANDER
Prove it.
BUFFY
We're going to a FUNERAL. Not a
reaffirmation of your purity.
FAITH
I wear a lotta black, right? I
love black, it's a happy color for
me. So, it only makes sense that
white would be my sad color.
GILES
That logic is very--well--logical.
BUFFY
I'll never understand you.
FAITH
Then quit whinin'.
Buffy flinches. Faith strides towards the door.
FAITH
Are we hittin' this or what? CUT TO:EXT. SILVER BELLS CEMETERY - DAY
The beauty of the day betrays the atmosphere concentrated on
the casket in place, ready to be lowered when the ceremony
calls for it. There are flower settings surrounding the
casket, and one flowing bouquet on top. WILLOW stands
transfixed at the box with DINO beside her.
WILLOW
She'd be pissed.
DINO
I would be too if I died. I heard
the afterlife is overrated.
WILLOW
This whole arrangement. She
probably would've wanted a--a
martial arts theme or a 21-stake
salute or some other full-blown
tough-minded military kind of setup.
DINO
You want me to get my shotgun? I
have a lot of guns--22 total.
WILLOW
That's sweet, but we'll be starting
soon. I'd prefer to get it over
with.
DINO
So the problem is...
WILLOW
...it's too NICE.
DINO
Tough bitch to please. I mean
LADY. A tough LADY who is drawing
no complaints out of me.
WILLOW
No need to backtrack. She was a
bitch. A sleek, mean, devoted
bitch. And soon, a bunch of people
will show up and pretend to care
about her. Pretend because she was
a bitch.
DINO
It's okay to be resentful.
WILLOW
I'm not.
DINO
Good, 'cause you shouldn't be.
What the hell did they know? I
mean, you can spend extreme amounts
of time in a countless situations
with a person and never really see
who they are. Kennedy and the gang
mixed it up, but...none of them
shared a bed with her. That's
rising up to a whole other level of
intimacy. They can only imagine
what went on with you two in
private. They've got wild
speculation. You have reality.
And from what I can tell, Kennedy
wasn't very enamored with the
others. Your friends probably
don't care about Kennedy...but
wherever she is, Kennedy could
probably care less about their not
caring. She cared about you and
you're here...and that's that.
WILLOW
(sadly)
That's that.
Willow steps up to the casket and gently puts her palms on
top. She leans in close, and in a whisper:
WILLOW
You deserved better. I hope you
find it.
Willow places a soft kiss at the head.
LATER
Everyone, including a respectful ANYA, is gathered as a
PRIEST reads from the Bible.
Willow stands in between Buffy and Xander. Xander wraps his
arm around Willow while Buffy takes Willow's hand, squeezing
in a comforting way. Willow shows her appreciation to both
with a tiny smile.
On cue, the casket begins it's descent into the grave.
Willow shuts her eyes. Dawn and Elle magnetically move
closer together. Xander glances over at Anya who seems
hellbent on looking anywhere but at him. Buffy's free hand
seeks out Faith and finds her, but Faith isn't responsive.
A disconcerted Buffy looks over and sees a despondent,
lifeless figure. Buffy can't keep herself from leaning on
Faith anyway. On the gathered:
END ACT ONE Act
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