ACT THREE FADE UP INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS The tree is tall and littered with decorations. The rest of the room is illuminated by holiday decor. The Guy stands at the tree, holding a plug and an extension outlet. The Girl bounces on her toes with anticipation as she munches on an eclair. Next to the Girl is the woman from the hallway photos. She's a little on edge while she strokes the Girl's flowing raven hair that matches her own. Buffy spies the scene in full amazement and, as she directs her vision to the excited little brunette, amusement. BUFFY Reminds me of the good ol' days. God you were an insanely cute child. WOMAN Duke, how 'bout movin' this along? You did a wicked super job with the trimmin', but I told Claire I'd call her. GUY Did I miss somethin' Barbara? Was Claire adopted into this family while I was at work? While you were watchin' the soaps...in between talkin' on the phone to Peggy and Mary Louise and...CLAIRE. BARBARA Just light the fu-- Barbara cuts herself off as she looks down at the Girl who innocently looks up at her. BARBARA Damn tree. Light the damn thing so we can get on with our lives. The tree'll have to be re-lit tomorrow anyway. GUY Ya see, this is where you're misguided my bedeviled beauty. This isn't merely any old tree. This--this is the Maddux family version of Rockefeller Center. Buffy mouths "Maddux?". GIRL What's Rockeferrara Center? BARBARA RockeFELLER Faithy. Nobody likes a girl who don't talk right. That earns fiery glares from both the Guy and Buffy. The Girl pouts, not really comprehending the comment. Barbara is unfazed by Guy's reaction. He softens up and faces the Girl. GUY Sweetie, why don't you come here and help daddy? GIRL Okay. The Girl runs to him. He hands her the plug but keeps the extension cord. GUY On the count of three, you put that one into this one. Got it? GIRL Got it. GUY All right--here we go. One--two-- THREE! The Girl inserts the plug into the extension cord lighting up the tree in all its glory. The Guy and the Girl applaud. BARBARA Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good light. Barbara salutes and leaves. GIRL What's wrong with mommy? GUY Sweetie, you go ahead and scarf down another eclair. I'm gonna talk to mommy about stuff, then we'll go outside and play in the snow. Sound good? GIRL Yeah! GUY Great. Love you sweetie. The Guy kisses the top of her head. GIRL Love you too daddy. The Guy steels himself and heads after Barbara. The Girl sits on the floor and eats another eclair. She's happy and HUMMING, serenely eyeing the tree. Buffy enjoys the sight until ARGUING is heard from afar. Buffy grows concerned for the Girl. The Girl acknowledges the ARGUING and furrows her brow, but that's all. That reaction only concerns Buffy more. On cue, the entire room fades to black. BUFFY What the hell? Light returns and the scene has changed. Now, the Girl is sitting on the floor, dressed in black, sadly playing with her doll. No sign of Christmas. The change confuses Buffy. She takes a seat across from the Girl. BUFFY Faith, what's wrong? Did something happen? The Girl continues with her doll. BUFFY Obviously you can't hear me. I wish you could. It'll be o-- BARBARA (OS) --shut up! I'm not some fuckin' weakling. I can take care of myself. FEMALE (OS) I know you're strong in that sense. I'm not doubting that. Your husband is dead. Buffy drops her head before sympathetically looking at the Girl who flinches at the remark. FEMALE (OS) He was a wonderful guy. It's okay to be hurt. BARBARA (OS) Thank you for giving me permission. Buffy rolls her eyes. BARBARA (OS) I'll be fine. The worst thing in all this is havin' to deal with the damn kid alone. That's what Duke was always best at. The Girl slouches and SNIFFLES. Buffy modulates between rage and despondency. The Girl begins to cry. Buffy reaches out to her, wanting so much to help, but the contact she makes with the Girl's cheek might as well be nonexistent. Barbara stalks into the room and hovers over the Girl. BARBARA Hey! No cryin'. We don't cry in this house. Tough women keep their composure and move on. You're a tough girl aren't ya? Daddy thought you were. Was he wrong? The tears keep coming, but the Girl tries to stop. BARBARA (flatly) Daddy may be gone, but he'll always be in your heart Faithy. So there's no reason to be sad. Buffy can't believe her eyes and ears. The Girl weakly nods and the tears slow down. Barbara heads back to where she was. As she goes: BARBARA I need a drink...or ten. Once Barbara is gone, the Girl curls up into a ball on the floor. Buffy rubs furiously at her eyes. Suddenly, the lights go out again. INT. APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS The light returns with Buffy and the Girl in their previous positions but in a conspicuously different room. Buffy immediately notices this place is low-rent, pale, dirty, depressing--nowhere near the quality of the previous surroundings. There are no visible objects of sentimentality. Only the barest of bare essentials abound. BUFFY This has to be a nightmare. My subconscious is punishing me for being a bitch. GIRL (quietly) I don't feel good. The Girl--a few years older and frail--lifts her head putting on display a cut on her cheek and a bruise under her right eye. Buffy GASPS. GIRL Did you come to take me away? Buffy twists around to search the room. She returns to the disheveled Girl. BUFFY You can see me? GIRL (nodding) You're pretty--like the barbie I used to have. BUFFY A smartass at any age. You said you weren't feeling good. Where does it hurt--besides your face. GIRL My arms and legs. The Girl shows off her arms. Buffy flinches at the sight of circular burn marks on her forearms. The Girl reaches for her skirt and prepares to lift it but Buffy stops her. BUFFY You don't have to. GIRL (sadly) I don't mind. BUFFY I do. Where's your mom? GIRL Sleeping. She does that a lot. BUFFY Did she do these things to you? GIRL Only when she pays attention to me. Bill pays too much attention. BUFFY Bill? GIRL Mommy's boyfriend. (beat) I wish daddy were here. He'd kill Bill...and mom too. Buffy's appalled. GIRL Are you God? BUFFY No. I can be pretty conceited and self-absorbed, but even I have my limits. GIRL I asked God to come and take me away. I wanna go away. I love my mom, but...but... BUFFY Shh, it's okay. You-- (pause) --you'll be fine. The Girl softly shakes her head. Lagging footsteps can be heard. Buffy turns to see behind her as Barbara sloshes in. She's haggard and grumpy. The Girl drops her eyes. BARBARA School finished? The Girl shrugs. Barbara pours herself a drink and knocks it down without hesitation. BARBARA This place is a mess. Clean it up before Billy gets here. GIRL Yes mom. The Girl takes a deep breath before getting to work. Barbara lights up a cigarette, relishing every puff. Buffy doesn't like this one bit. Buffy stomps over to Barbara, glaring at her up close. BUFFY I hope to God you got a long and painful death. The front door opens and a gruff man, presumably BILL, enters. BILL Hey hey, what da ya say? BARBARA I say it's about time you got here. Place is no fun without you. Got somethin' for me? Bill smiles and pulls from his pocket a small bag of white powder. Barbara giddily reaches for it, but Bill holds it out of reach. BILL Uh uh. First, what do I get? Barbara grins and smashes her mouth to his in an energetic, sloppy kiss--uncaring of the child in the room. Bill gropes and paws at Barbara. Buffy's disgusted. Bill's eyes remain open throughout. With intensity they stray to where the Girl is kneeling on the floor sweeping. The look is predatory. The Girl glances at the kissing couple. She quickly sees his eyes and fearfully turns away. When Buffy sees this, she rapidly shoots her head back and forth between the two in shock and dismay. She's hyperventilating. Finally, the kiss ends. Bill lowers the bag enough for Barbara to snatch it. She heads for the bedroom. As she does: BARBARA Keep Faithy company. Play nice. GIRL Mom, I'm hungry. BARBARA Then eat somethin'! Bill retrieves a beer and sits on the couch. The Girl nervously continues her task. BILL (playfully) Faithy...oh Faithy. Come sit next to me. The Girl boldly shakes her head "no". BILL (peeved) I said get over here. This ain't optional. The Girl looks over at Buffy, staring at her for several long moments. Buffy has no response. The Girl turns her attention back to Bill and again denies him. Bill is pissed. He leaps off the couch and yanks the Girl to her feet by her hair. BUFFY NO! BILL (yelling) You do what I say you little cunt! You don't disrespect me! What happens when you disrespect me? Bill SMASHES the beer bottle over the Girl's head. She collapses to the floor, still conscious, WHIMPERING. Buffy flies at Bill, intending to crucify him, but comes up with air. BUFFY (shouting) FUCK! BARBARA (OS) (shouting) Keep it down! BILL (threateningly; to the Girl) Are you gonna be a good girl and sit? Beat. GIRL (weakly) If my daddy... (pause) ...were here... (pause) ...he'd rip you apart without even trying. Buffy silently chastises the Girl. They both know it's about to get worse. Bill unbuckles his belt and removes it. BUFFY Don't. (in direction of Barbara) Fucking do something! BILL I'm gonna make you pay for that one. Maybe I'll send ya to be with your precious daddy who was so worthless he couldn't satisfy that slut you call a mom. The Girl hides in her own arms, ready for the punishment. Bill raises the belt high. Buffy shuts her eyes. As Bill rains down the first blow: INT. FLAT - CONTINUOUS Close on Buffy. Someone is COUGHING up a lung. Buffy opens her eyes and the scene has changed. Barbara lies on a sofa bed, the image of a woman who's been on death's doorstep forever. She COUGHS some more and GROANS in exasperation. Buffy follows Barbara's eyes to the Christmas tree in the corner. No decorations except for the lights. The front door opens. A junior high version of Faith walks in with a plastic bag. She closes the door and hurries to Barbara's side, pulling out bottles of cough syrup and aspirin. BARBARA That's not what I wanted. FAITH No shit. Even if I could get what you wanted, I wouldn't. It's one of the reasons you're like this. BARBARA Don't be playin' the moral decency card with me. Join a church for that bullshit. FAITH It ain't about morals--it's about fact. Now take two of these and drink some of this and you should feel like 10 bucks. Barbara chokes out a LAUGH and ends up COUGHING. Faith brings the pills to Barbara's mouth and feeds them to her. She pours liquid into the little cup and has Barbara drink it. FAITH Two-for-one deal. Barbara swallows but struggles and COUGHS mightily. Faith holds her down, attempting to settle and soothe her. FAITH Had better? BARBARA And worse. How'd you get the tree? FAITH I went to a place that sells trees. BARBARA Smartass. I mean-- FAITH --yeah. I got my ways. Barbara nods in understanding. BARBARA You should go. FAITH Where? BARBARA Anywhere but here. Jake's gonna show any minute. As I go, so goes his mood. FAITH I'm not afraid of him. BARBARA Yeah you are. Don't be ashamed-- you're only human. When was the last time we had a tree? FAITH Six years. Christmas after dad died. Claire bought it for us--you ranted about you thinkin' she was thinkin' you were a useless waste of flesh and bone and couldn't do anything for yourself. BARBARA Right. Admit it--that was one of the better ones. FAITH Sorry mom--just 'cause my ass didn't get beat doesn't mean there was anything positive about it. BARBARA Dad woulda liked the tree. Faith gets teary-eyed. FAITH It's crappy. Barely enough lights to cover it top to bottom. No ornaments. BARBARA He'd still call it our Rockefeller. (beat) I want you to leave...right now. And don't come back. FAITH What the fuck is that supposed to mean? You finally sick of me to the point where you got zero regrets about gettin' rid of me? BARBARA Look at me. I look the way I sound and feel the way I look. FAITH If you think you're dyin'-- BARBARA --then I'm probably thinkin' straight for the first time in your life. I made it this far...seems beyond unfair to not let you at least catch me. Believe me, regrettin' kickin' you out was never an issue. FAITH Didn't have to say it out loud. BARBARA Truth is, I never wanted you. You were a mistake. Faith begins to lose it. BARBARA Your father knew it. He was dead set against knockin' you off beforehand. Told me that would be against God's will. God has a plan and YOU are a part of it. (MORE) BARBARA (CONT'D) Sounded nice. I bought it. Obviously, that didn't last. (beat) I don't want you to die. For so long...I felt fucked over that I got stuck with you. (beat) Now...I'm so sorry YOU got stuck with ME. The tears start flowing. Buffy is choked up. BARBARA You're a good girl Faith...now get outta here. (yelling) Go. Barbara implores Faith. After a few moments, Faith gets up and heads for the window where a fire escape is located outside. Before Faith leaves, she notices the tree. With a glance at her mom, Faith inserts the plug illuminating the tree. With one last glance, Faith climbs out the window onto the fire escape. Instead of going down, Faith hangs around, securing a spot out of sight from anyone entering the flat. Moments later, the door BUSTS open. JAKE, drunk and high and disgruntled, marches up to Barbara. JAKE You fuckin' backstabbin' whore! My money! My fuckin' money--you gave it all away? What the fuck are you doin'? BARBARA Carryin' out God's plan. Jake yanks her upwards by her shirt and slaps her. JAKE This is no joke. I want my money. BARBARA Rot in hell you ugly, pathetic, limp-dick piece of shit. Jake punches Barbara causing her to bleed. He doesn't stop there however, as he unleashes one shot after another on her. Buffy looks nauseous. She turns to see Faith outside. Faith bows her head and descends the fire escape. Buffy turns back to the scene at hand. Jake continues his assault on an already-dead Barbara. Buffy covers her face with her hands. EXT. ALLEY - CONTINUOUS Buffy removes her hands and finds herself outdoors at night, snow falling. She's freezing, her exhaled breaths visible in the air. Her eyes widen at the sight in front of her: teenage Faith having sex against a wall. Faith may or may not be enjoying it--the dude certainly is. BUFFY (shouting; to the sky) God, I can't take anymore! Wake me up! The dude cums with a GRUNT and a CRY. Faith's breathing is labored, but she doesn't react. The dude gets off her and goes in for a kiss, but Faith pushes him back. FAITH Mission accomplished. Thanks. Bye. The dude zips up and walks out of the alley. Faith props herself against the wall, deflated. She adjusts her skirt as far as it can go and tightens her jacket. Buffy deliberately approaches Faith. The blonde sidles right into the brunette's personal space, the latter unaware of the former's presence. Buffy looks at the morose Faith in awe, her hand caressing Faith's cheek. BUFFY So beautiful. Aw sweetness... LADY'S VOICE (OS) (British accent) Not exactly the most sophisticated behavior. Faith and Buffy simultaneously turn to look at the sophisticated lady, purse in hand, now in the alley. FAITH BUFFY Fuck you. Fuck you. LADY Language young lady. For someone as important as you, maintaining a modicum of manners is not necessarily required but at the minimum respectable. FAITH What the fuck did you just say? Who the fuck are you? BUFFY (moaning) Oh dear lord. LADY My name is Carol Daltry--I'm what's called a watcher. FAITH Whoa, okay, I got no problem you bein' into that kinda thing, but if you wanna watch, you gotta pay. Cash. American. I may be a slut, but I'm not a cheap slut. CAROL No, you don't understand...a watcher in my usage of the term means a guide--mentor--your new boss. FAITH Funny, I don't remember sendin' out my resume. What nuthouse did you escape from? CAROL Watcher's council headquarters. FAITH There are more like you? CAROL Too many if you ask me...and the slayers. FAITH Slayers? CAROL Women chosen by the powers that be, which are similar to God, only secular. These superhuman women protect the civilized human world from the evil underworld. BUFFY You suck at this more than Merrick. FAITH Chick superheroes? Good vs Evil... CAROL Yes. Slayers are good, vampires and other demons are evil. No exceptions. FAITH Vampires! Dracula, Nosferatu, Count Chocula--those vamps. CAROL Not those. Those are stupid myths created by humans with too much time on their hands. FAITH Hey--don't dis the Choc. Look, whoever you are, I'm not in the mood for wacky storytellin' time. Take your act to the kindergartners. Faith strides for the alley exit but Carol steps in her path. CAROL Children cannot do the job YOU have been enlisted to do. FAITH And what's that? CAROL You're a bloody slayer! Pay attention! FAITH This is gettin' old. Seriously, leave me alone. CAROL I'm sorry Faith--this is your duty. Your calling. FAITH You'll be callin' an ambulance soon if you don't get the fuck outta my way. (realizing) How do you know my name? CAROL I know every documented piece of information relating to you. Faith Maddux, born March 19 1983 at Schuyler Park Hospital. Father was Duke, mother Barbara. Lived at 751 Waverly Avenue until your father was killed in the 1988 Prudential fire. Your mother was found dead in a south side apartment a little under four years ago, beaten to death by a drug dealer. You've been enrolled in school only periodically, from ages 4 to 6, 8 to 9, and from 12 to the present since being thrown into the foster care system. However, you rarely attend, most likely because you feel it's pointless, similar to your feelings on the 5 foster homes you've been in and continually run away from. I have more if you'd like. Faith shakily signals in the negative. FAITH I don't know how you got all that and, frankly, I don't care. Step aside before I bring the pain. CAROL I'm afraid I can't do that. I have a job to do. You are my responsibility. You've been chosen Faith--given powers only the brightest imaginations could conceive of. Carol takes a step back and winds up her purse. CAROL This shouldn't hurt a bit. Carol NAILS Faith in the face with her purse. Faith staggers a bit, but doesn't appear to be effected. FAITH What the fuck is wrong with you lady? You got a death wish? CAROL That was my test. If I gave you the traditional test, you'd really be spitting out the fucks. But it was a success. I hit you, yet you are perfectly unharmed. FAITH Well DUH! You hit me with a dinky purse. Carol opens the purse and pulls out a brick. Faith's eyes bulge. FAITH That ain't real. Carol presents the brick to Faith. Faith takes it and is stunned further. She touches her face. The brick is cracked. FAITH Fuck. CAROL Gives new meaning to the phrase "hard headed", doesn't it? Carol GIGGLES. Faith glares to shut her up. FAITH This is a fucked up trip. You're fuckin' with my head 'cause-- 'cause, uh...you're a horny dyke who loves to eat pussy with loads of weirdness and kink. CAROL (flatly) Blast. You discovered my dastardly plan. A plan so surreal and shameful that I think I'll ask if you feel a prick on the back of your neck. Buffy furrows her brow. FAITH Damn you're a classy freak. Faith furrows her brow. She touches the back of her neck, a curious sensation running through her. FAITH What...? CAROL It's a bodily warning signal. One of your many specialized slayer powers. FAITH Warnin' me of what? CAROL (pulling out a cross) The vampire standing behind you. Faith's skeptical. She turns around and is startled at the sight of a vamp in full gameface. She's scared shitless. Carol is calm as she shields herself with the cross. Buffy is bewildered. BUFFY Where did he come from? Faith SCREAMS. She moves to run but the vamp latches onto her jacket and throws her into the back of the alley. The vamp charges at Faith as she scrambles to her feet. Faith is disoriented. It doesn't help when the vamp hammers into her with a series of shots. BUFFY Faith! Fight back! Faith mounts no defense. The vamp slams her against the wall with a chokehold and flashes his teeth. He's ready to bite. CAROL (loud and confident) Faith--you have the power. This is a fight you can win. You are the slayer. SLAY! The vamp descends on Faith's neck. He doesn't get to his destination. Faith knees him in the gut. She knees him again causing him to relinquish his hold. She headbutts him and hits him with successive punches. He's reeling. Faith jumps him, unleashing every ounce of angry firepower she has. She's brutalizing the vamp into a pool of blood and pounded flesh. Faith's losing control, her punches connecting with CRIES of anguish. Buffy finds it painful to watch. Carol walks up behind her and snatches Faith's fist in midair before it can connect again. Faith looks back, her eyes blood red. CAROL As much as you'd like, you can't kill him this way. Carol reaches into her back waistband and pulls out a stake. Faith stares at it hypnotically. She grabs the stake and jams it into the vamp's chest. Faith is thrown for a loop by the dusting, but she gets over it and stands up. CAROL Life hasn't been fair to you up to now. Unfortunately, there's no fairness in your calling either. (beat) Faith, being a slayer is a burden for those who don't embrace it. I'm here to help you embrace it. I want to help. The world needs you. The other one needs you. Buffy quirks an eyebrow. So does Faith. CAROL I'll tell you everything you need to know over dinner. You should be getting very very hungry soon. One of the perks. Come on. Carol reaches out for Faith. Faith is hesitant. Eventually, she joins Carol and lets Carol put her arm around her. Buffy stays behind. FAITH So, do I get paid on salary or per vamp? Carol CHUCKLES. Buffy smiles. She leans her head against the wall and closes her eyes. CUT TO: |
