Act Three[/u]
INT. DOMINION BAR
Music plays in the background as number of demons continue to eat their meals, while others watch Jack inspect his sword before sheathing it and walking across the bar and toward Bob. The door from the back room opens and Beck enters with Spike.
BECK:
So, when we’re done, are you going to buy me a drink?
Spike looks at Beck awkwardly.
CAPTION:
Chapter Three – “Hope”
BECK:
Or, you know, I could buy
you one.
Music – “Peace is Our Profession” by Lazlo Bane:
Know you've heard it all before
You can't believe everythin' you hear
I never trusted you
God please helpSpike smiles to Beck.
SPIKE:
Let’s just focus on getting Clem, okay? And when we get Clem, I’m sure he’ll be offering free drinks, so feel free to drink yourself into oblivion then.
Beck nods her head slowly, feeling dejected.
Music (continued):
Do you know who's side your on
Cause when it all hits the fan
You're gonna need a friend to
Put your faith inJACK:
What’s taking Kalinka so long?
BOB:
She’s creating a solar eclipse so Spike can hit the streets.
Beck looks at Bob in awe.
BECK:
Wow, I didn’t know Kalinka was
that powerful.
BOB:
Neither did I. She’s full of surprises.
Music (continued):
You were the first to cast the stone
You can hear them sayingThe door to the back room swings open and Bob, Jack, Beck and Spike all turn around to greet Kalinka.
KALINKA:
Okay, it’s done.
JACK:
Then let’s get the show on the road.
BOB:
We’ll see you when we get back, Kalinka.
Kalinka shakes her head sternly.
Music (continued):
Peace is our profession
but we all love the bomb
It's a strange kind ofKALINKA:
I’m coming, Bob.
BOB:
And what about the bar?
Kalinka turns around to face all the customers.
KALINKA (shouting):
Everyone, listen up! We’re closing for the day, so kindly leave.
(beat)
We’ll happily serve you tomorrow.
Music (continued):
Peace is our profession
But we all love the bomb
It's a strange kind of loveThe demons look around at each other and shrug their shoulders. Bob glances at Kalinka, who responds with a nod of her head. Bob nods his head back to her, understanding, and steps beside her, looking over the customers.
BOB (shouting):
Okay everyone, you heard her! Get out.
Bob clenches his forearms and ejects the spikes from below his wrists.
BOB (shouting):
Now!
The demons throughout the bar promptly stand up from their tables and exit the bar.
BOB (to Kalinka, Jack, Shell and Spike):
So, we’re good to go?
The group nod their heads in agreement.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM
Clem’s chair, still holding him, still lies on its back. Clem looks disoriented as he stares up at Miranda, who is looming over him. He smiles as Miranda presses her foot against his throat.
MIRANDA:
Trust me, Clem, if you don’t talk, it
will cost you your life.
(beat)
Is it
really worth it?
Clem lifts his head slightly, in a nodding gesture.
CLEM:
Yes, it really is.
MIRANDA:
Your friends
don’t care about you, Clem. They’ve left you here for days to die.
CLEM:
They’ll come for me.
Miranda shakes her head with disdain.
MIRANDA:
Well, they’d better come
soon, Clem. Or they’ll be too late.
CLEM:
If they are too late, you’d better get out of here quickly, before they find you.
MIRANDA:
Such faith, such hope. They’re among the most childish of traits.
INT. SUNNYDALE, BUFFY SUMMERS’ LIVING ROOM
MOLLY, a British Potential Slayer, sits on a comfortable chair, talking to three POTENTIAL SLAYERS – a brunette Hispanic girl; a blonde Southern girl; and a tall, skinny red-headed girl. The potential Slayers are all lying on their stomachs, with their heads perked up, listening intently.
Ethereal figures of Shell and Senaya watch, unseen by the potential Slayers.
MOLLY:
Annabelle was all, "Control your fear, control your fear." Meanwhile, she's the one that goes scampering off, right into that Turok-Han vampire. Poor Annie.
BLONDE POTENTIAL SLAYER:
Great, so the Slayer who’s
supposed to protect us let her get killed?
MOLLY:
She didn’t
let her. Annabelle was foolish. Buffy can’t be faulted for arriving too late.
The brunette potential Slayer sits up and looks at Molly.
BRUNETTE POTENTIAL SLAYER:
It’s not like she could’ve stopped it. I mean, the super vampire messed her up pretty good.
The red-headed potential Slayer sits up.
RED-HEADED POTENTIAL SLAYER:
No lie, she still looked like a big bruise when I got here, and that was already, like, the day after.
BLONDE POTENTIAL SLAYER:
And why isn't she back yet? Buffy. She left to get the new girl over an hour ago.
Molly looks down contemplatively.
BLONDE POTENTIAL SLAYER:
Maybe she ran into trouble. You don't think she was too late again?
MOLLY:
Maybe—
In the background, Shell turns to Senaya.
SHELL:
Okay, this is weird.
(beat)
Where are we?
SENAYA:
The home of Buffy Summers.
(beat)
Five years ago.
Shell looks at Senaya with utter confusion.
SHELL:
So we, what, went
back in time?
Senaya shakes her head.
SENAYA:
No.
SHELL:
No,
what?
SENAYA:
No. We are merely observing what has been. Soon, you will
interact.
Shell throws her hands into the air in utter frustration.
SHELL:
Sometimes I don’t know why I even
bother trying to get a straight answer.
EXT. TOKYO, CITY STREET – DAY
The sky is eerily black as a dark shadow eclipses the sun. Bob, Kalinka, Jack, Beck and Spike all walk cautiously across the street, passing people shocked by the eclipse.
BOB:
We’re about a block away, so be ready.
The group approaches an intersection.
BOB:
Where to, Kalinka?
KALINKA:
We need to turn left.
Bob nods his head and the group turns left as they walk around the intersection. Beck watches, stunned, as a flurry of people swarm past them, screaming and running for their lives.
JACK:
What the--?
SPIKE:
I’m guessing they ran into those demons that Kal mentioned.
Jack and Kalinka draw their swords; Spike lifts his crossbow and morphs his face into his vampire visage; Beck ignites her hands, engulfing them in flame; and Bob ejects the spikes from below his wrists.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM
Miranda reaches down and grabs Clem by the ear. She pulls it violently, lifting him, and the chair, back up. She draws a knife from her belt and presses it against the demon’s throat.
CLEM:
Sometimes, hope is
all you have.
MIRANDA:
Really?
CLEM:
Take you, for instance.
(beat)
You
hope Oni will reward you for your service, don’t you? First the Tengu, but when he died, you made sure you’d get as close to Oni as you could.
Miranda glares at Clem silently. It is obvious from her expression that he has hit a nerve.
CLEM:
Of course, the Tengu discarded Sarah as soon as she failed him. Now, Oni might be a caring, sharing demon, but I doubt it. If I were you, I’d be really worried about failing him, because at the very least, you will be discarded.
MIRANDA:
Shut up.
CLEM:
What, after you’ve spent the whole morning asking me to talk?
(beat)
Oni doesn’t
care about you. He just cares about world domination, or whatever it is he’s after. He sees you as a means to an end, nothing more.
MIRANDA:
You’re
wrong. I will be a vessel for Illyria.
CLEM:
What? A vessel? For Illyria? How?
Miranda’s eyes lower with the realisation that she’s said too much.
MIRANDA:
Ignore that.
CLEM:
So, Oni’s after a vessel he can trust. I’m sure he can trust you, as long as you continue to serve him
perfectly. And I’m guessing he’s not too happy with how this interrogation has been going, is he?
(beat)
And I’m betting he won’t be too happy when my friends get here and kick your arse all over the place.
MIRANDA:
Let’s talk about your “friends”, Clem. It’s been three days, and we haven’t seen them.
Three days. And on the off chance that there
is someone at the Dominion who cares enough about you, someone there
will betray you all. Someone close to you, Clem. Someone you consider to be a “friend”.
Clem laughs softly, each breath hurting him.
CLEM (sarcastic):
Sure, Miranda. Whatever you say…
EXT. TOKYO, CITY STREET – DAY
Prepared for battle, Kalinka, Bob, Beck, Jack and Spike fight their way through the crowd of panicked people. Spike looks through the crowd and up in the air, seeing nothing demonic.
SPIKE:
On second thought, maybe they’re just running late for something.
(beat)
There’s nothing here.
A shadow briefly envelops the group as a whooshing sound can be heard from above. Beck looks into the air.
BECK:
I’m not so sure about that, Spike. Did you hear—
Beck’s words are cut short as she is grabbed by the shoulders and lifted into the air by a flying GARGOYLE. Bob swivels around and stares into the air.
BOB:
Just great. A flyer.
The gargoyle carries Beck high into the night sky as she struggles to break free. Her entire body ignites into flames and she reaches her hands above her head, grabbing the gargoyle’s torso firmly. The gargoyle’s stone body begins to glow from the heat. Spike aims his crossbow into the air, taking aim at the gargoyle.
SPIKE:
Bloody hell, I can’t get a shot at the git without hitting Beck. Or at the very least, without making her plummet down to the pavement with a splat.
Spike turns to Jack.
SPIKE:
Catch.
Spike tosses his crossbow toward Jack, who catches it with his free hand. Spike leaps into the air, toward a building, and scales the wall with ease, leaping from window to window, approaching the gargoyle. Beck continues to press against the gargoyle’s body, its torso slowly melting from the heat.
The gargoyle screeches and releases its grip of Beck. Spike leaps from the side of the building, toward Beck, and catches her. The two plummet toward the ground and Spike positions himself underneath her, cushioning her fall.
SPIKE:
Don’t worry, love, I got you…
BECK:
You’ve got me, but who’s got
you?
Jack takes aim at the gargoyle and fires an arrow from the crossbow. The arrow connects with one of the gargoyle’s wings, shattering it. The gargoyle crashes toward the ground.
Spike and Beck hit the ground with a crash, followed by the gargoyle, who crashes mere inches away from Spike’s head. Beck stares down at Spike, who doesn’t move. Tears roll down her cheeks.
BECK:
Spike?
Spike?
Spike slowly lifts his head as his face morphs back to its human form.
SPIKE:
Ow, my sodding head!
Beck grins and places her lips on his, surprising the vampire with a passionate kiss.
A second GARGOYLE scurries along the ground and leaps toward Kalinka. The Vengeance Demon grips her sword firmly and hacks away at it. Sparks fly as her blade connects with the stone gargoyle, failing to cause any damage. The gargoyle lifts its arm and knocks the sword from Kalinka’s hand. It grins as it steps toward her.
Bob steps behind the gargoyle and grabs it with one hand, lifting it into the air. With his free hand, he punches it in the face repeatedly. Bob steps toward a building’s wall and slams it violently into it, cracking both the gargoyle and the wall behind it. Bob slams his free fist into the gargoyle viciously and ejects his spike through its head and the wall behind it. Kalinka watches, astonished, as the gargoyle crumbles into nothing.
KALINKA:
You don’t think that was overkill, Bob?
BOB:
We don’t have time for kid gloves, Kalinka. Come on, we’re almost there.
Spike, Jack and Beck catch up with Bob and Kalinka, and the group rushes toward their destination. On a rooftop high above them, eight SLAYERS watch. Slayer #1 gives the others a signal and the group follows them.
EXT. SUNNYDALE, CONSTRUCTION SITE – NIGHT
Shell stares around her surroundings. She sees Molly, KENNEDY, CHLOE, VI, a host of potential Slayers, as well as WILLOW, DAWN and ANDREW, watching her every movement from the scaffolding.
SHELL:
What the--? Where the hell am I
now? And who are all these girls?
SENAYA (O.S.):
Slayers. Or they
will be.
Shell looks for Senaya, who is nowhere to be seen. Instead, the TUROK-HAN approaches her. Andrew watches, enthralled.
ANDREW:
Two men enter. One man leaves.
The Turok-Han moves toward Shell. Shell blocks a couple of blows from it, before it throws a violent punch at the Slayer, knocking her back. Shell ducks and weaves through the Turok-Han’s attacks, managing to connect the odd punch and kick.
An ethereal vision of Senaya appears before Shell.
SENAYA (O.S.):
You have shown
strength. You have shown
resilience.
(beat)
But now, you must show these girls
hope.
The vision of Senaya disappears into the ether as the Turok-Han approaches Shell, ready to end the battle once and for all.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM
Miranda, now having lost all of her composition, strikes Clem out of anger. She glares at the demon, bile rising from her mouth.
MIRANDA (shouting):
Tell me! Does Shell know the
words?!
With all her strength, Miranda punches Clem with the back of her fist. She takes a deep breath, inspecting his blood on her knuckles as the door crashes in behind her. The Slayer swivels around to see Kalinka enter, followed by Bob, Jack, Spike and Beck.
CLEM (to Miranda):
Told you so…
Kalinka rushes toward Clem, pushing past Miranda. She reaches Clem’s chair and looks at him with distress as she struggles to untie him.
KALINKA:
Clem, what has she done to you…?
Bob glances toward Clem, and pure rage flows through him. He looks at Miranda and grimaces as he storms toward her.
BOB:
You’ve taken it too far this time.
Miranda draws her katana defensively and Bob responds by ejecting his spikes. The demon slices one of the spikes at Miranda, who blocks the blow with her katana. Jack swivels around to see the eight Slayers enter the room.
JACK:
Looks like things just got a little more complicated.
EXT. SUNNYDALE, CONSTRUCTION SITE – NIGHT
The Turok-Han punches Shell to the ground. Shell shakes the blow off and pulls herself back to her feet. The Turok-Han grabs her, throwing her about 20 feet away and crashing into the scaffolding, which knocks the crossbow from Kennedy’s hands. Shell lifts the crossbow and aims it at the Turok-Han as it rushes toward her. She fires the crossbow, shooting it in the chest. It stops, glances at the wound, and keeps moving toward her.
Shell grabs a pipe from the scaffolding and holds it in her hands, using it as a staff. She slams it on the ground, using it to propel herself away from the fight. The Turok-Han follows as Shell reaches for a nearby pickaxe. Shell swings the pickaxe at the Turok-Han, however it responds by pushing her into a wall behind her. Shell hits the ground again, and the Turok-Han rips the pickaxe from her hand and throws her back to the centre of the site. The demon punches Shell repeatedly until she falls into a pile of cinder blocks. Beaten and bruised, Shell lifts a block to throw at the Turok-Han – but the block crumbles in her hands.
The Turok-Han punches Shell, kicks her into some scaffolding, and hurls her into the air and through a scaffolded platform. The Turok-Han leaps onto the platform, grabs Shell by the throat, and lifts her into the air.
RONA:
It’s
killing her.
MOLLY:
We have to do something!
WILLOW:
Wait!
Dazed, Shell gazes into the distance. She can vaguely make out Senaya’s image.
SENAYA:
Give these Slayers
hope, Shell.
Shell reaches down, grabs the arrow in the Turok-Han’s chest, rips it out and stabs its eye. The Turok-Han roars in pain and drops Shell. The demon stumbles back, roaring in pain. Shell takes this as her cue and starts punching it, before kicking it to the ground and onto a pile of cinder blocks and boards. It tries to fight back weakly, but Shell keeps punching and kicking it, before slamming its head into the metal scaffolding. The Slayer grabs some nearby barbed wire and wraps it around the Turok-Han’s throat. It drops to the ground just as Shell pulls on it tightly, severing its head. The Turok-Han explodes into a cloud of dust.
Shell looks up toward the group, who are stunned by the battle.
SHELL:
I don’t know what’s coming next, but it won’t be easy.
(beat)
You must be
strong, you must be
resilient, and above all, you must have
hope.
Shell walks away as the potential Slayers watch and look at each other before following her out. From the distance, Senaya watches and nods her head approvingly.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM
The Slayers flood the room and Jack, Spike and Beck stand guard. Bob trades blows with Miranda and glances back to the trio behind him.
BOB (to Kalinka):
You said there was
a Slayer. I took that to mean
one, Kalinka.
KALINKA:
You saw it yourself, Bob. There was
only one.
BOB:
Things have evidently changed.
(beat, to Jack, Beck and Spike)
Can you handle them?
SPIKE:
Used to make a living out of handlin’ Slayers, mate.
Bob nods his head as flames form around Beck’s hands.
SPIKE:
Careful, Beck. We wanna try and avoid killing these girls. It’s what separates us from them.
Beck nods her head as she launches flames toward them, causing them to scatter. Spike aims his crossbow at Slayer #1, shooting her in the shoulder. His face morphs into its vampire form and he leaps toward the Slayer, punching her unconscious.
Jack runs toward Slayers #2 and #3, clashing his sword against their katanas. They block the blows and slice toward his head with synchronicity. Jack ducks, sweeping his foot toward their ankles, knocking them to the ground. Their katanas drop to the ground and Jack kicks them out of the way.
Miranda slashes her katana at Bob’s chest, cutting him. He glances down at the wound and shakes his head at the Slayer disapprovingly.
BOB:
You’re just going to keep pissing me off, aren’t you?
Bob kicks Miranda in the stomach, sending her tumbling past Clem and Kalinka.
Slayers #4 and #5 step toward Beck. Beck raises her hands, swirling flames above her head.
SLAYER #4:
Come on, you’re outnumbered and
outclassed.
BECK:
Don’t get too cocky, girls.
Beck launches a heavy amount of flame at the ground, toward the Slayers’ feet. They leap back and out of the way, startled by the severity of Beck’s attack. Jack rushes behind them and slams the back of his sword against the backs of their heads, knocking them to the ground.
Flames begin to engulf the room as Slayers #6, #7 and #8 step toward Spike.
SLAYER #6:
You’re a
vampire. Why try to pretend your one of the good guys?
SPIKE:
It’s called a “soul,” you silly bint. You should look it up on Wikipedia.
Spike leaps into the air, knocking the katana from Slayer #6’s hand and slamming her to the ground. Slayer #7 rushes toward the vampire and he responds by punching her squarely in the head. Slayer #8 rushes toward Spike with her katana drawn, aiming for his neck. She slashes her sword toward him in an attempt at decapitation, but is blocked by Beck grabbing her wrist. Beck’s hand begins to glow red and she burns the Slayer’s wrist. The Slayer yelps as Beck uses her momentum against her, slamming her to the ground.
Flames rage through the room and Jack turns toward Bob, Shell and Kalinka.
JACK:
This room is going to come down around us. We need to get out
now!
BOB:
I’m not finished, Jack.
Bob punches Miranda into a wall.
JACK:
Bob,
now!
Bob nods his head as Beck, Jack and Spike rush toward the exit, then rushes toward Kalinka, just as she breaks through Clem’s binds. She looks at him lovingly, though upset.
KALINKA:
Clem, make a wish, and I can end this.
Kalinka and Bob help Clem to his feet and he shakes his head.
CLEM:
No, Kallie…
KALINKA:
Just
one wish and she can
pay for what she did to you.
Again, Clem shakes his head.
CLEM:
I’ll handle her.
Clem staggers toward Miranda as she grips her katana.
MIRANDA:
You really are a glutton for punishment, aren’t you?
Clem opens his eyes and they slowly fold inside the sockets. The six tentacles rise from the sockets and wave through the air toward Miranda, who stares at them, mesmerised. Her expression changes as she is overcome by fear.
MIRANDA:
No…Oni, please…
(beat)
I’m sorry I failed you. Please, show mercy…
(beat, screaming)
No!The tentacles return to inside Clem’s eyes and he collapses to the ground, unconscious. Bob and Kalinka lift him up and carry him toward the exit.
INT. DOMINION BAR
The lights in the empty bar are dimmed. The lack of activity is almost soothing as the door opens and Bob and Kalinka help Clem inside, followed by Jack, Beck and Spike. Bob and Kalinka help Clem toward a couch.
BOB:
Did you tell her anything?
Kalinka glares at Bob, horrified.
KALINKA:
Bob! Now is not the time!
BOB:
I don’t blame him if he did, Kalinka. But we need to know.
KALINKA:
Not. The. Time.
Bob sighs and approaches Jack, Beck and Spike. Beck turns to Spike and smiles with relief.
BECK:
Thanks for the save.
SPIKE:
Hey, it’s not like you weren’t holding your own, love.
BECK:
So, how about that drink?
Spike nods his head.
SPIKE:
Guess I could do with a scotch.
Spike and Beck walk toward the bar as the entrance to the Dominion opens. Jack grins and rushes across the floor to Shell. He stops short of her and looks her up and down, noticing the cuts and bruises covering her body, and the tears in her pyjamas. He smiles to her sweetly before hugging her gently.
JACK:
Tough day?
(beat)
I miss the slippers, though. But not half as much as I missed you.
Shell returns the hug and kisses Jack on the cheek.
SHELL:
I missed you, too.
Bob approaches the two of them and looks at Shell sternly.
BOB:
What happened to you, Shell? We could have used you today.
SHELL:
I have the
words, Bob. The words to defeat Oni.
Kalinka looks at Clem lovingly and gently places her hand on his leg.
KALINKA:
I missed you, Clem.
CLEM:
I was only gone for a few days.
KALINKA:
No, over the past few months. I’ve
missed you.
Clem smiles to Kalinka and nuzzles his head into her shoulder.
CLEM:
Yeah, me too. Do you think we could…
Kalinka nods her head.
KALINKA:
I’m game if you are.
Clem and Kalinka kiss each other on the lips tenderly. Beck glances over and claps her hands loudly, embarrassing them.
EXT. TOKYO, INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY
The sun shines in the sky again as the eight Slayers stumble around outside the burning building, regrouping as they watch Miranda reel backward in a state of panic.
MIRANDA:
No, my Lord…I apologise for my failure.
The Slayers all turn away from Miranda and bow as ONI approaches. The Old One ignores them all and walks toward Miranda. Oni grips the Slayer’s shoulder and shakes her, before slapping her across the face.
ONI:
Snap out of it, Miranda.
Miranda shakes her head and looks up at her master.
MIRANDA:
Oni?
(beat)
I failed you. My life is yours.
ONI:
No, that went
exactly as planned.
(beat)
They are
weak. They value life above all else, even if it means falling at their enemies’ – our – feet.
MIRANDA:
But Clem is stronger than he looks. He wouldn’t tell me if Shell has the words.
ONI:
That does not matter.
(beat)
I have just been informed that she does, in fact, have them.
Oni turns away from Miranda.
ONI:
Come. We must plan for this.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE.
CLOSING CREDITS ROLL.
