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Date Posted: 12:59:30 07/06/03 Sun
Author: First aired Sunday 6th July 2003
Subject: Episode 8.21 - "CLARITY" by Linda Delurked (Part I)
Clarity
Scene: Bluff. Dark
Proserpexa lowers her arms.
Proserpexa: It’s time to end this. You have fought valiantly. But it’s time to end this now. (shudders and throws back her head, eyes closed) It’s over. Finally, it’s over!”
Buffy: (yells) “Now!”
Dawn closes her eyes and chants. Willow raises her arms, a mirror of Proserpexa’s previous gesture. Her eyes begin to glow black. A circle of flames surround Buffy, Willow and Dawn. Proserpexa laughs.
Proserpexa: “You think that will stop me?”
Buffy: “Nope, just your followers. We think leaving you one mirror short will stop you.”
Proserpexa looks suddenly worried. She glances at the mirror. It has begun to glow with a soft green light. Quickly, she faces Dawn, who reaches out both her hands, eyes still closed. The mirror suddenly appears at her side. Dawn opens her eyes. They glow green for a second, then the glow fades. Willow is now glowing with power. Proserpexa’s followers disappear. Willow sags, and Buffy quickly catches her before she falls.
Proserpexa takes a step toward them. Willow, still in Buffy’s arms, jerks her head up.
Willow: (firmly) “No!”
Proserpexa hits a barrier. She can come no closer. She casts a disdainful glance at Willow.
Proserpexa: “I could summon them back at a moments notice.”
Dawn: “Which is why we kept the mirror. (can’t stop herself adding) Duh!”
Proserpexa: “And what good has it done you? You think this (runs her hand over the barrier, which glows softly under her touch) will keep me at bay for long?”
Willow: (breathless) “Long…enough.”
Buffy: “Can you teleport her away from here?”
Willow: “No, it’s taking all I have just to hold her back.”
Buffy: “Dawn?”
Dawn: “I…I think so. But Buffy, she’ll find a way back.”
Buffy: “It’s okay, just do the best you can.”
Proserpexa laughs. Dawn closes her eyes and chants again. Buffy helps Willow to stand. Proserpexa folds her arms and smiles at them.
Proserpexa: (amused) “Still fighting. Still resisting. All three of you. (shakes her head and laughs) Unbelievable!”
Buffy: (mock apologetic) “I’m sorry! Was I meant to roll over and die? I guess you must have confused the term ‘Slayer’ with something else.”
Proserpexa: "Don’t apologize! This is …(sighs happily) wonderful! I can’t remember the last time someone amused me this much! (sighs again, more sadly this time) I wish that it could continue, but…you will not prevail against me. It will be over soon.”
Buffy: (cheerfully) "Oh, I don't know about that. We seem to be prevailing pretty good so far."
Proserpexa: "(smiles sympathetically) You never give up, do you? I’ve made a point of never giving up either. (Proserpexa moves closer to the barrier) I won’t insult you by asking you to join me. I know what your answer would be. But I do wish we could have had more time together. I wish we could have known each other. You have all shown such courage in the face of the inevitable. Such determination to do what is right. I am so glad to have met you. I will remember you long after this victory.”
Buffy: “Uh…hello? (raises her hand) Not defeated yet!”
Proserpexa: “Quite right. First, I need your power.”
Willow stiffens and gasps, as though she’s just realized something. Buffy glances at her quickly and her, before turning to face Proserpexa’s power.”
Buffy: “My power?”
Proserpexa: (sighing) “English is such a silly language! So lacking in subtleties! I meant your power. Plural. The power that is in all three of you.”
Buffy looks surprised, then deeply worried as Willow steps in front of her.
Willow: “Stay behind me, Buffy! Keep Dawn back!”
Buffy: “What? Will?”
Willow: (not taking her eyes off Proserpexa) “She planned this. She wanted the three of us alone up here. Alone with her mirror.”
Proserpexa: “And my followers. I wanted them to witness my victory. But now they shall have to stay where they are. It will take all my strength to finish this. (tilts her head to one side) Tell me. Why did you send them to a dimension completely lacking in shrimp?”
Willow: “You’re not getting anything from us!”
Proserpexa: “Not willingly. I understand that. Even now, I feel how you’re protecting them, surrounding them with your shields. (Buffy stares at Willow, then glances back at Dawn, who is ignoring everything around her and chanting) It would take me hours to wear those shields down and take what I need. But I am impatient for this to end. I will not wait.”
Proserpexa raises her arms. The ground starts to shake. Buffy frowns. Willow looks horrified.
Proserpexa: “I will simply have to break you and get what I want.”
Willow: (frantic) “No! No!”
Buffy: “Willow?”
The ground suddenly shakes violently. Buffy and Dawn are thrown to the ground. Dawn screams. Buffy crawls over to her and holds her.
Dawn: (screaming above the immense noise) “What’s happening!”
Buffy looks back at Willow. Both Willow and Proserpexa are floating above the ground. Both are surrounded by a glow of power. The light glows brighter and they’re lost from view.
Buffy: “I don’t know!”
Magic Shop
Xander: (calls) “Anya! Got those books yet?”
Anya: (offscreen) “I’m coming! (walks into the room) Don’t rush me! I want to be protected when I get home. Lots of spells to surround my apartment.”
Xander: “Just as long as they don’t misfire and turn me into a…what’s that noise?”
Xander and Anya look worried. The ground has started to quake.
Xander: “Doorway! Now!
They rush for the door. Before they can make it the ground gives a sudden, violent lurch. The Magic Box begins to collapse. Xander is lost to sight under the rubble.
Anya: “Xander!”
Anya is quickly buried.
Amy’s House
Kennedy and Faith are huddled in the doorway
Kennedy: “It’s not stopping!”
Faith: “I don’t think it’s a normal quake.”
The shaking becomes even more violent. The house starts to fall apart. Faith tries to cover Kennedy. Kennedy stares at Amy’s body, which is still lying on the bed. She’s soon buried as the house collapses on the three of them.
Abandoned Shop
Andrew and Giles are huddled in one doorway. Spike is in another. The ground is shaking so violently they have to wedge themselves in the doorframe to stand.
Spike: “This isn’t normal Giles! It would have stopped by now!”
Giles: “We’ll have to get outside! Can you make it?”
Spike nods. He takes a step but is immediately thrown to the ground. Giles motions Andrew to lie on the ground. The two of them crawl slowly towards the door.
Spike: “Giles!”
Startled, Giles looks up. His eyes widen as he sees a large chunk of ceiling falling directly over him.
Giles: (softly) “Oh dear…”
The ceiling falls. Picture fades to black.
The Bluff
The shaking lessens, then finally stops.
Buffy and Dawn are crying, staring at the view of Sunnydale. As far as the eye can see, there is nothing but rubble. Small fires have broken out in different places. Everything has been wiped out. Buffy and Dawn stare at the destruction. The scene cuts to Willow, who is still concentrating on holding Proserpexa back. Her eyes are closed, but a single tear slides down her cheek.
Dawn: (softly) "They're all down there…Giles…Xander…"
Buffy: (Voice hard) "Finish the spell."
Buffy grabs her axe from the ground. She marches over to the mirror and attacks it.
Proserpexa: "You are only delaying your fate "
Buffy: "Trust me. I am through with delays!" (keeps attacking the mirror)
Proserpexa: "The mirror cannot be destroyed by human means, and if you send it away I will find it. All you have done is win yourselves a little time"
Buffy: "That's all I need. (yells) Dawn! Finish the spell!"
Buffy swings at the mirror again, attacking it with all her might.
[credits]
Scene: Pitch dark.
There's a shuffling sound, and the sound of someone coughing. Pause. Silence.
Xander: "Okay, the sky fell. Now what?"
Anya moans.
Xander: "Anya? Anya!"
Anya: "…Xander…"
Xander: "Where are you?"
Anya: "I thought…I thought we…."
Shuffling sounds. Xander is searching for Anya.
Xander: "Are you okay? Can you move?"
Anya: "I can’t…I’m stuck…"
Xander: "Where are you ?"
Anya: "It’s dark. (suddenly sounds scared) Xander, it’s so dark! I can’t see!"
Xander: "Hold on. I'm gonna try and get some light in here."
Shuffling sounds. Then a small crash. Rubble falls and light streams in from outside. Dust falls in a cloud. Xander coughs.
Xander: (looks around) "Anya?"
Anya: (crying) "Xander!”
Xander and Anya are trapped in a tiny space. Both of them are covered in dust. Anya is almost completely buried.
Xander: "Anya! Oh God! (reaches over to her) Hold on, honey. I'm gonna dig you out."
Anya: (crying) "I thought you were dead! I thought we both were!"
Xander hugs her as best he can.
Xander: "We're not dead. We’re not dead, honey. It's okay."
Xander pulls back and starts to free Anya.
Scene: Another wrecked room.
Close up of Spike in full vamp face, pushing hard against something. Camera moves back. Spike is trapped under a large concrete slab, and is trying to push it off. He falls back, exhausted, face returning to human.
Spike: (yelling) "Giles! Andrew!"
Pause. No answer. Spike closes his eyes for a second, then vamps out and pushes against the slab again.
Scene: Outdoors.
There’s a close up of a ruined house. Some of the rubble falls to one side. Faith pokes her head out. She looks around for a second, then climbs out and looks around
Faith: (to herself) “No forever midnight, no rain of fire…”
As Faith looks around something catches her eye. She smiles, then yells down into the building.
Faith: “I don’t think the apocalypse happened yet!”
Kennedy struggles out of the building. Faith gives her a hand. Kennedy stands for a second, catching her breath. Then she looks around.
There’s a shot of the devastation in Sunnydale, rubble as far as the eye can see. Switch back to Kennedy. She looks shocked.
Kennedy: “This isn’t the apocalypse?”
Faith: “Nope.”
Kennedy: “I don’t know, Faith. Looks like the end of the world to me!”
Faith: “Look over there.” (nods in direction)
Kennedy looks. There’s a shot of the bluff, seen from a distance. There’s a faint glow where the battle is being fought. Switch to Faith and Kennedy.
Faith: “Looks like the good guys aren’t done yet.”
Faith goes back into the ruined house, slipping down the hole she crawled out of earlier.
Faith: (offscreen) “Where are those damn weapons! I know I brought backup!”
Kennedy stays where she is, staring at the battle.
Kennedy: “Doesn’t look like there’s a lot going on. Some kind of standoff maybe?”
There’s a thud behind Kennedy. Faith has thrown a bag of weapons out. She starts to climb out of the building again.
Faith: “Maybe. So what say we go change the odds in favor of the good guys…. Better make that the good girls”
Kennedy looks at Faith. Faith looks at Kennedy.
Faith: “Okay, relatively good girls.
Faith unzips the bag, takes out a crossbow and throws it to Kennedy, who catches it.
Faith: (grinning) “Saddle up, partner. (stands) We just became the cavalry!”
Scene: Bluff.
Buffy is still attacking the mirror with her axe. Willow is still holding Proserpexa back. Proserpexa doesn’t attack the barrier. She’s standing back patiently, waiting for Willow’s strength to fail. She doesn’t seem concerned by Buffy’s attack on her temple, though she occasionally casts a wary glance at Dawn. Dawn is chanting in earnest and is surrounded by a swirl of green energy.
Proserpexa: "You're wasting your time."
Buffy: "Doesn't hurt to try." *swings*
Proserpexa: (sweetly) "Of course not. I understand. You need to do something. Anything to take your mind off the suffering of your loved ones."
Buffy: (still hacking at the mirror) "Shut up!"
Proserpexa: "Do you think they died fast? Or was it slow for them? Are they still alive? Still suffering under the twisted wreckage of their town?"
Buffy: (louder) "Shut up!"
Proserpexa: "How many others are suffering down there? How many are dying? Shouldn't you be rescuing them? It is your fault they are there, after all…"
Buffy: (interrupts) “Why did you do it?”
Proserpexa looks taken aback.
Buffy: “I’m no expert on magic. I leave that to these two (indicates Dawn and Willow), but I know that casting a powerful spell like that saps your strength, leaves you drained. You must be running on close to empty right now. It’s probably the only reason we’ve been able to hold you back this long. (Dawn stops chanting, she looks at Buffy, who is getting more and more worked up) Why did you do it? Was it to keep our friends from helping us? To punish us for fighting you?”
Dawn moves closer to Buffy. Buffy ignores her.
Buffy: (yelling) “It wasn’t part of your plan! It hasn’t gained you anything! It’s really got me mad at you! Why did you do it?”
Proserpexa: “For the witch.”
Buffy: (looks puzzled and angry) “For Amy? This is your way of punishing her?”
Proserpexa: “No. (turns to Willow) the other witch.”
Dawn and Buffy look shocked. They stare at Willow, whose eyes are still shut tight. She is entirely focused on holding the barrier.
Proserpexa: “She’s far more strong willed than I had given her credit for. I knew that she was connected to everything here. She feels the ground, the roots, the town, the people…she’s part of it all. I thought destroying the town would destroy her. I thought the collective cries of the people of Sunnydale would shatter her mind. Then her power would be mine for the taking. I was wrong.”
Buffy: “Oh God! Willow! You can feel...?”
Proserpexa: “Everything. The wounded earth, the dead, the dying, the injured… (Proserpexa walks along the barrier, moving closer to Willow.) She feels it all. She must feel it to connect with her power and hold me back. (Stops walking. Faces Willow.) Despite the great inconvenience it presents me, I am impressed. But it doesn’t matter. Her power will fade, eventually. And while I don’t have the power myself to do what I want, I do have enough to do what I need. This is only a delay.”
Buffy moves toward Proserpexa, axe in hand. She looks ready to kill her where she stands. Proserpexa laughs.
Proserpexa: “Feel free to take down the barrier and fight me. I would like that.”
Buffy: (voice filled with rage) "I'm going to enjoy killing you so much!"
Scene: Outdoors.
Xander crawls out of the rubble, and then helps Anya to crawl out. They both sit for a moment, panting. Anya looks around.
Anya: "Where are we?"
Xander: (bent almost double, panting) "Outside. Good enough for me right now."
Anya: "Where is this place?"
Xander: (looks at Anya, he's worried) "We're the same place we were before the quake hit, Ahn. Do you remember?"
Anya: (looks at Xander) "But look! Look at this place! I don't recognize anything!"
Xander looks around for the first time. Anya is right. The area is unrecognisable. Everything has been reduced to rubble.
Anya: "Oh God! (stands up and looks around) Oh God! Oh God Oh God Oh God!”
Xander: (gently, reaching over to hug her) "It's okay…"
Anya: (slaps him away, yells) "It's not okay!!! Does this look okay to you??? In what bizarre alternative reality could this possibly be okay???"
Xander: (taken aback) "Okay! Okay!"
Anya: (screaming) "No! Not okay! Not! Okay! Don't you get it! This-is-not-okay! This is…this is…this is it. It's over. (looks stunned) Oh my God! It's all over!
Anya drops to her knees. Xander kneels beside her.
Xander: (quietly) “It’s not over, Anya. I promise."
Anya: (angry again) "Look around Harris! The world ended! How can you say that it's not over?"
Xander: "Because you're here." (takes her hand) "And I'm here. And if we're okay then the others will be okay. And as long as the others are okay then it's not over."
Anya shakes her head but doesn’t say anything. She looks stunned. Xander puts his arm around Anya and hugs her. She leans her head on his shoulder.
Scene: Inside.
Spike, roaring, pushes the slab off him. He struggles to his feet. He can just about stand in the wreckage. Tired, he leans against a wall, then jumps back with a "Bloody Hell!" when it groans and starts to shift. Dust falls from the ceiling. Spike looks up, worried. It stops. He lets out a sigh.
Spike: (calls) "Giles! Andrew!"
No answer. Spike looks around, and sniffs the air. He catches the scent of something and goes over to a corner. He starts to dig.
Spike: "Giles? You in there?"
Andrew's voice: (muffled) "Spike?"
Spike: "You alright? Can you move?"
Andrew: (voice panicky) "Help me Spike!"
Spike: "Hold on. I'm gonna get you out of there."
Andrew: "Please hurry!"
Spike pulls the some of the rubble away. Suddenly the ceiling above starts to groan and threatens to fall. Spike stays very still.
Spike: "Andrew? You with me?"
Andrew: "Yes!"
Spike: "Listen mate, this place is unstable. I'm going to get you out of there, but I need you to stay very still. Do you understand?"
Andrew: "Please hurry Spike!"
Spike: "Look, I get that you're scared, but I need you to..." (Spike sniffs the air) "...are you bleeding?"
Andrew: (makes a sound like he's crying) "It's Giles."
Spike: (puzzled) "Giles? (calls) Giles? Can you here me?"
Andrew: "He's bleeding everywhere Spike! Please hurry, I can't wake him up!"
A look of horror comes over Spikes face and he starts digging as fast as he can, keeping one eye on the creaking ceiling.
The scene cuts to Andrew, who is trapped face down, half buried. He's leaning over towards Giles, who is buried face up as far as his chest. He's unconscious and bleeding badly from the left side of his head, his left shoulder and left arm. His glasses are broken and lying on his forehead. Andrew is pressing his jacket onto Giles' arm, which is the only part of him that he can reach. He's crying.
Andrew: "Wake up Mr. Giles! Please wake up!"
Giles doesn't move. Andrew looks up at the ceiling, sobbing.
Scene: Outdoors.
Xander and Anya are wandering the streets of Sunnydale, along with a crowd of survivors who are milling around aimlessly.
Faith’s voice: "Xander! Anya!"
Xander looks startled. Anya doesn't seem to notice. Faith and Kennedy are running over to them. Faith looks delighted to see them.
Note: Faith is wearing a spine sheath, which holds a sword. She also has a dagger in a sheath on her waist, with a small axe tucked in the other side. She has the bag of weapons slung over her shoulder. Overall, she looks ready for business.
Kennedy is similarly armed, except that she doesn’t have a spine sheath.
Faith: (teasingly) "Wrong way, guys! You goin’ chicken on me? The battle’s thataway you know! "
Xander: (very serious) “I know. I just wanted to get Anya some water.”
Faith suddenly looks serious, catching the worry in Xander’s voice. Anya stares at Faith and Kennedy for a second, then suddenly hugs them, throwing her arms around both of them. They look at each other.
Faith: "Uh…yeah, I’m glad to see you too.” (pulls Anya off her)
Kennedy: "Sorry we took so long. We couldn't figure out which way to go for ages! What happened to you two?"
Anya: (voice distant) "We got buried alive."
Faith: "What?"
Anya: (tearfully)"We were trapped in the Magic Box. Xander had to dig us out."
Faith: "Oh my God! That's…"
Kennedy: "Xander, you're hands are bleeding!"
Everyone looks at Xander's hands. Faith holds them. She looks concerned.
Anya: "You’re hurt? Oh Xander! I'm so sorry! I didn't even notice!"
Xander: "It's O- (stops himself) uh - it's fine. Really. (takes his hands from Faith's) I'll be fine. I'll patch them up later. (turns to Anya) Look, I think you're in shock. We should find somewhere for you to sit down."
Faith smoothes back Anya's hair. She has a large cut on her forehead.
Faith: "Looks like you didn't come out easy either."
Anya: "It was horrible. I thought we'd died."
Xander: “What happened to your hands?”
Xander is looking at Faith’s burnt hands. Kennedy looks guilty.
Faith: “Proserpexa. She fried Amy. She’s dead.”
Kennedy: (softly) “Faith tried to save her.”
Xander: “Amy’s dead? For real dead?”
Faith: “Trust me Harris. It was real this time.”
As Xander tries to take in the news, he’s distracted by a sudden burst of light on the bluff.
Scene: The Bluff.
Dawn is surrounded by glowing green energy. She reaches both hands up to the sky. Proserpexa morphs into her demon self and snarls at them as she disappears.
Scene: Sunnydale street.
The crowd of people in the streets are staring at the lights on the bluff. They panic and begin to run away. Xander, Anya, Faith and Kennedy stay unmoved.
Faith: "Guess that's my cue to hustle."
Xander: "My car's at the construction yard. I can drive you to the base of the bluff. (look passes over his face) as soon as I figure out where we are…"
Faith: "Don't sweat it stud. (handing the bag of weapons to Kennedy) You guys take the car. I'm gonna run."
She starts to run away from them, in the opposite direction of the fleeing crowd.
Note: The first eight bars of "Clocks" plays softly over the next two lines.
Xander: (calling after her) "Be careful up there!"
Anya: "Give her a kick in the shins from me!"
Kennedy: "We'll get there Faith. We'll get to you as soon as we can."
Faith, still running, looks back and flashes them a quick grin.
Kennedy: "You think she'll make it in time?"
Xander: "I think if anybody can, it's her."
Second eight bars of "Clocks" are played more loudly now.
Faith races through the ruined streets of Sunnydale, heading straight for the Bluff. People stare at her in amazement as she runs past them, vaulting over the debris. Some are running in the opposite direction and have to jump out of her way. Faith ignores everyone around her, focusing on the road ahead.
(music fades into background)
Scene: The Bluff.
(‘Clocks’ still plays softly over this scene)
Dawn brings her hands down, and sighs, eyes closed for a moment, glow fading. Buffy touches her shoulder.
Dawn: (opens her eyes) "I'm okay.” (Sees Proserpexa has gone. She can’t help smiling, whispers quietly to herself and nods) “Cool!”
Willow falls to the ground. Buffy and Dawn go to her. Willow is almost unconscious.
Buffy: "Will?"
Willow: "Just…tired…"
Buffy: (to Dawn) "How much time do we have?"
Dawn: "Not much”.(looks apologetic) I can't be sure. Maybe half an hour."
Buffy: (exasperated) "That's not enough! I've been hacking at that mirror and it's not even dented. When they said couldn’t be destroyed by human means they weren’t kidding."
Dawn: "It’s okay. We can cast a spell and-"
Willow: "…no…we can't…"
Buffy: "Can't what Will?"
Willow: "The mirror…it can't be destroyed…magic won’t work. (sits up, wincing) The only way to destroy it is to kill Proserpexa."
Dawn: "But we've tried. She's too strong. All we can do is hold her back and we can't keep that up forever."
Buffy: "No, we can't. We have to figure out a way to kill her."
Dawn: "Giles said that he…(face falls)"
Buffy: "I'm sure he's okay Dawnie. But no one's coming to help us any time soon. It's up to us. There has to be something the three of us can do!"
Willow: (hesitates) "I have an idea. It’s risky but it could work. It’s a way to combine our powers and make them stronger."
Buffy: "Sounds like just what we need. What did you have in mind?"
Willow: (watching Buffy’s face carefully) "The enjoining spell."
Pause. Willow and Buffy stare at each other. Dawn looks from one to the other.
Dawn: "That spell you cast to stop Adam?"
Willow nods. “A variation of it, yes” She's still looking at Buffy. Buffy looks worried.
Dawn: "But Giles and Xander aren't here. How will you…?"
Buffy: "She means us Dawnie. (turns to face her) The three of us."
Dawn: "Oh!"
Buffy: "We don't have anything to…"
Willow: "That doesn't matter. I don't need it now. But you both have to understand, this spell is dangerous, really dangerous.”
Buffy: "I do remember our visit from Miss World 9000BC. (frowns) And that guy with the cheese slices."
Willow: "It's not just that. I didn't have nearly the power back then that I do now, and part of that power is connected to Proserpexa."
Dawn: "But that's a good thing! We might be able to use her power against her somehow, right?"
Buffy: "It's worth the risk, Willow."
Willow: "I know, and I think so too. Believe me, I wouldn't have mentioned it if I didn't think it was our only chance. But this spell...this spell binds the three of us together. Not just our powers, but all of us. Our bodies, our minds, our spirits… (hesitates) If I cast this and one of us dies, the three of us will die."
Buffy: (grimly) "I think that pretty much sums up our current situation."
Dawn: "Buffy's right. We don't have a choice.”
Willow: “Yeah, that’s kinda what I thought too. I just…I needed you to know.”
Buffy: (sighs) "Okay. Let's do this.""
(‘Clocks’ fadeout)
Willow nods tries to stand. Dawn and Buffy help her to her feet. The three of them are holding hands.
Dawn: "Just for the record, we are going to try to avoid this dying thing as much as possible, right?"
Buffy: (smiling) "Don't we always?"
Dawn: (smiling back) "Well you've gotta admit, you don't have the greatest track record when it comes to..."
Buffy: “I don’t die every time Dawnie. Plus, you never know, we may change the universe and I end up with yet another sister.”
Dawn: “Well if we do she’s sharing your room, not mine!”
Dawn notices that Willow's eyes have closed. Dawn closes her eyes and concentrates. Buffy looks at both of them, concerned. After a moment, Willow starts to chant.
Willow:
Maiden, Mother, Crone are we
Children of sea and moon and earth
Waters of tide and rain and tempest
Daughters of death and life and birth
Dawn begins to chant in unison with Willow.
We wax and wane with the moon above us
Young, then grown, then old, then young
Bound in the cycle, ever turning
Within the circle, all are one
Buffy looks puzzled and worried, but closes her eyes and does her best to concentrate with the other two.
Scene: Outdoors.
Xander, Anya and Kennedy have reached Xander's car. Or what's left of it. The wreck is upside down and half buried under a fallen building.
Kennedy: "Well, that's a bust!"
Anya: "This is terrible!"
Xander: "It's no big deal Ahn. The streets are a mess anyway. We probably wouldn't have been able to drive through them."
Anya: "But acts of God aren't covered on your insurance! How will you repair it?"
Kennedy: (incredulous) "Repair it? Anya, it's scrap!"
Anya: (brightening) "Of course! (to Xander) You can sell it for scrap and buy a new car!"
Xander: (starting to walk away, the others begin to follow) "Nah, I never liked that car much anyway. I mean who drives great big cool cars these days?"
Kennedy: “You know if you prove the earthquake was caused by this demon they wouldn’t be able to call the quake and act of God.”
Xander: “That’s a valid point! You think maybe I could-”
There's a sound of someone coughing. The three stop and look at each other, puzzled.
Another cough. Then a moan. A young woman's voice is heard.
Voice: "Help! Help me!"
Xander: "Sweet divine! She's under the car!"
The gang fall to their knees and start digging through the rubble that surrounds Xander's car.
Scene: The Bluff.
Willow, Dawn and Buffy are holding hands. All three have their eyes closed. Willow and Dawn are chanting, more loudly than before. Buffy is silent.
Willow and Dawn:
Hear our plea, O wise Hecate
Fair Diana, grant our prayer
Bind us now, Mother Demeter
Spirits, minds and hearts we share
Bind our strength, we fight together
Bind our will, one goal we see
Bind our hearts, we are as one now
By the power of three times three
As Willow and Dawn chant, a crackle of red power runs along Willow's left arm. It reaches Buffy's arm, where it turns blue. The power crackles along Buffy's arm and chest, then her left arm, where it reaches Dawn. The energy changes to green, then crackles along Dawn until it finally meets up with Willow's right arm, turning red again. All three are glowing faintly.
Scene: Indoors.
Spike helps Andrew out of the narrow hole he's trapped in and leans in to look at Giles. When he pulls himself back out it's obvious that he's very worried.
Spike: "Get digging. I'm going to free Giles and pull him out of there."
Spike peers into the hole for a few seconds wondering where to start. He sighs and turns around. Andrew is sitting crouched on the floor, not moving.
Spike: "Didn't you hear me? Get digging! We need to get out of here, in case you didn't notice."
Andrew shakes his head.
Spike: "Are you mad? I didn't spend the last bleeding half hour digging you out of this rubble so you could sit on your arse! Get helping!"
Andrew: (softly) "Doesn't matter."
Spike: "What doesn't matter?"
Andrew: "This. Everything. Doesn't matter any more. We're dead."
Spike: (puzzled and annoyed) "What?"
Andrew: "We're dead!(laughs) Look! We've even been buried! I'm dead! You're dead!"
Spike: (sarcastically) "Well yes. Vampires have a tendency to be as it happens!"
Andrew: "I'm dead Spike! (leans his head down into his lap and mumbles) I'm dead."
Spike: (sighs) "Andrew, you're not dead. Not even close. But Giles will be if we don't..."
Andrew: (looks up) "She didn't rescue us."
Spike: "What are you on about?"
Andrew: "Buffy. She didn't come for us."
Spike: "Busy saving the world I expect. It's what them hero types do."
Andrew: "And Faith? And Kennedy? They haven't come for us either? Not even Anya or Xander? Do you know why?"
Spike: (sarcastic again) "Well I should think they might be a tad busy with the earthquake and all..."
Andrew: (yells) "It's because they're dead! It's because everyone's dead! There's no point in digging ourselves out! There's nothing out there!"
Spike: "There's no way for us to know-"
Andrew: (hysterical) "We're dead! Giles is dead! I'm dead! You're even deader than dead!"
Spike: "Andrew listen to me!"
Andrew: "Dawn's dead! Kennedy's dead! Faith's dead! Buffy's dead!"
Spike: "NO SHE BLOODY WELL ISN'T!"
silence
Spike: (calming himself) "Nobody's dead, Andrew. I'm the only dead man here. Now go and dig us out."
Andrew: (still panicked) "I'm not digging. I don't want to know what's out there."
Spike: (losing patience) "Fine! Sit there! Just sit there like the useless sodding wanker you are!”
Spike leans in and checks on Giles again. We hear the sound of Spike digging. Spike's voice calls out to Andrew.
Spike: (brightly) " 'course you know sooner or later I'm gonna get hungry."
A look of fear crosses Andrew's face.
Spike: "And Giles here's only going to keep me going so long. I mean, look at him! Bloke's half drained as it is. Not much more than a snack there."
Andrew looks more worried.
Spike: "Nope, won't keep me going for more than five minutes. And hunger does strange things to a man. Makes him see food everywhere. (pause) Wouldn't want to go all crazy on you."
Andrew gets up and starts digging.
Spike pulls back out, and looks at him. Sighs, goes over and gives Andrew a friendly pat on the back, which makes Andrew jump and gives a little “Eeek!”
Spike: "Good man."
There's a pause while Spike tries to think of something comforting to say. He finally settles for…
Spike: “Obi Wan would be proud of you."
Andrew: (smiles weakly) "Really? Which one?"
Spike: “Does it matter?”
Andrew: “Well, A New Hope Obi Wan had this venerable dignity thing going for him, as well as lots of wisdom, while Eughan McGregor has this younger, rebellious streak, plus he’s pretty hot which makes…”
Spike: "'Fine! Fine! Yoda would be proud of you. And before you ask, I mean the bloody puppet!"
Andrew: (tearfully grateful) "Thanks."
Spike smiles at him and stays with him for a second.
Spike: "Gonna go back to Giles."
Andrew: (softly) "Okay."
Spike crawls back over to Giles. Andrew pauses for a second, and takes a deep breath.
Andrew: (quietly to himself) "I am a Jedi Master! I know no fear!"
Andrew keeps digging.
Scene: Outdoors.
Kennedy, Anya and Xander are still pulling at the pile of rubble.
Anya: (whispers to Xander) "She's not calling out any more."
Xander: (calls) "Hey? Can you hear me?"
Kennedy: (softly) "Are we too late?"
Xander: "Hello?"
Young woman's Voice: "I'm here! Please help me!"
Xander: "It's okay! (Anya glares at him) We're gonna help you. (Xander motions the others to keep digging) What's your name?"
Voice: "Not telling."
Anya: "That's certainly a very unusual name. Is it Dutch?"
Kennedy: (gives Anya a look) "Why won't you tell us your name?"
Voice: "Sorry. I hate my name. I try not to tell anyone if I can."
Kennedy: "This is Southern California. Loads of people have strange names. It can't be that bad."
Voice: "It's worse."
Kennedy: (laughs) "If you say so."
Xander: "Would it make you feel any better if I told you that I'm here with my two friends Anya and Kennedy?"
Kennedy: "Are you making fun of my name? Don't you dare make fun of my name - Xander!"
Voice: (laughing softly) "Trust me, my name is far weirder than any of those. (pause) Except maybe that Anya one ."
Anya: (offended) "Oh yeah? Well - his best friends are Buffy and Willow!"
Pause
Voice: "Wow. That is weird!"
Anya: (softly to Xander) "Ha!"
Xander: "Then of course there's Anya's ex - Olaf!"
Voice: (laughing harder) " Now you're making that up!"
Xander: "Nope! She even had a fling with a guy called Spike!"
Anya: "That was just that one time!"
Voice: "Oh my god! Spike? You had a fling with a dog?"
Anya: (shocked) Certainly not! I may have engaged in several rather unusual sexual practices in my time, especially light bondage and gentle S and M..."
Kennedy: "Anya..."
Anya: "And of course there was that one time Xander wore a pair of tights and a little red thong and we took photos but I never..."
Xander: "Anya!"
Anya: "What? ...oh...right....(to the voice)...Please ignore everything I just said."
Voice: (laughing) "My God! I'm being rescued by crazy people! (suddenly gasps in pain) “Owww! Don't make me laugh!"
The gang realise they've stopped digging. They resume.
Scene: The Bluff.
The light around Willow, Buffy and Dawn gets brighter. Where it mingles it becomes pure white.
Willow and Dawn:
Maiden, Mother, Crone are we
Times three our power is multiplied
Birth and life and death together
Three as one now, unified
Suddenly, a burst of power engulfs the bluff. Buffy, Willow and Dawn throw their heads back, staring at the sky. Willow's eyes are glowing black. Buffy's are glowing blue. Dawn's are glowing green. The three of them are still holding hands and chanting.
Pugnamus! Apprehendimus! Vincimus!
Nunc et Semper!
Scene: Outdoors. Dusk.
The crowd screams as they see the lights on the bluff, and start to run again. Faith looks up for a second as she runs, then bows her head, running harder.
Scene: The car
Note: ‘Protection’ by Massive Attack is playing in the background
Kennedy and Anya look at Xander.
Xander: "Go. (They hesitate) Go! Help Buffy! I'll stay here."
Anya looks stricken.
Xander: "You know more about this demon than anyone. She needs you, Anya."
Kennedy pulls at her arm.
Kennedy: "C'mon. We're needed."
They move off, starting to run to the bluff.
Voice: "What's happening? What's going on?"
Xander: "Nothing. It's okay. The others have gone to get help."
Voice: "Please don't leave me!"
Xander: "I'm not going anywhere. It's okay."
Xander pulls the rubble aside and uncovers the young woman's face. She looks slightly younger than Dawn. She's bleeding, and the left side of her face is swollen.
Xander: (cheerfully) "Hey! There you are!"
Xander starts gently brushing the dust from the girl's face. She smiles at him.
(music fadeout)
Scene: Indoors.
Spike pulls Giles out from the hole where he had been trapped. Andrew stops digging and comes over to help him. Giles is still unconscious. There's a small trail of blood left where Spike drags him.
Spike: (checks Giles' pulse) "He's lost so much blood he's cold! (looks about) There's got to be something we can use to cover his wounds."
Andrew: (fishes around the rubble) "My jacket's in there somewhere. (pulls it out) It's kinda dusty..."
Spike cleans the jacket off as best he can, then wraps it around Giles' arm. He takes off his tee shirt and presses that against Giles' shoulder and face.
Spike: "I think moving him got him bleeding again. I'm going to keep this here for a minute. Keep digging."
Slight pause. Spike looks up at Andrew. He's been distracted by the shirtless Spike.
Spike: "Didn't you hear me?"
Andrew: "Huh? Oh yes! Digging!"
Andrew turns and starts digging again. Spike looks at Giles.
Spike: (in a loud cheerful voice) "Come on mate! Wakey Wakey! We could use a hand getting out of here you know."
Giles doesn't move. Spike looks around, worried, then looks down at Giles again.
Scene: Outdoors.
Kennedy and Anya are walking quickly through the ruined streets.
Anya: (panting) "Maybe we should head to the demon bar."
Kennedy: "I know you’re thirsty Anya but we’ve got to-"
Anya: "No it's just...someone there may be able to teleport us to the bluff?"
Kennedy: "You think?"
Anya: "It's possible. (pause) Although we'd have to figure out where it is."
Kennedy: "There's no time. Let's just keep moving."
Anya: "I wonder if the bar survived. Do you think Clem is okay?"
Kennedy: (irritated) "I don't know!"
Anya: (muttering under her breath)"Someone sure had her bitch flakes this morning!"
Kennedy stops and faces Anya.
Kennedy: "We don't have time for this! We don't have time for any of this! Don't you get it? I need to get to that temple and you're slowing me down!"
Anya: "You think I don't know that? It's not like I want to be there! If Buffy hadn't said I was needed I'd be back with Xander right-"
Man's voice: (offscreen)"Help! Someone help me please! My daughter!"
Pause. Kennedy and Anya are still facing each other.
Anya: (hesitating) "Shouldn't we go help?"
Kennedy looks at the bluff.
Man's voice: "Oh God! Please, someone help me!"
Kennedy swears under her breath and runs to the voice. Anya follows.
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