Post by Lex on Feb 28, 2007 5:36:51 GMT 10
Series: Shadow Stalker
Episode: 1.01 - Hitch Hiker
Writer: Lex
Editor: Alex Hart
Rating: UK Rating 12 (Language, Violence)
Shadow Stalker is officially affiliated with Rogue Redemption, an awesome spin-off created by Amber.
I do not claim credit for any of Joss Whedon’s creation and the featuring of his characters and episodes in this series is simply for my pleasure and not at all for financial gain as I do all this for free! All characters not affiliated with Jossverse belong to me, as do the plot lines. Season One starts alongside Season 6 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Season 3 of Angel and is in association with Rogue Redemption, (Amber); Chosen, (Heather); BtVS Seasons 8 + 9 and AtS Season 6, (Alex Hart); Raven (Alexander Brown); Sorceress Of Crimson Falls (Travis); and Wishful Thinking (Ben).
RACK: Previously on Buffy The Vampire Slayer…
SUNNYDALE
BUFFY’S ROOM – INT.SUMMER’S RESIDENCE – AFTERNOON
BUFFY and DAWN are stood in BUFFY’S bedroom.
JOYCE (O/S): Buffy? If you're going out, why don't you take your sister?
Both girls turn to look at the doorway, looking annoyed.
BUFFY/DAWN: Mom!
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
FLOOR – INT.MAGIC BOX – NIGHT
SPIKE and DAWN are sat on the floor behind the cash desk of The Magic Box. SPIKE is reading from GILES’ diary and she is listening to him. He’s recently taken the book from DAWN…she’d stopped reading, horrified…
SPIKE: …“They had to be certain the Slayer would protect it with her life. So they sent the key to her ... in human form. In the form of a sister."
DAWN looks down horrified.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
TABLE – INT.MAGIC BOX – EVENING
BUFFY is standing across the table of QUENTIN TRAVERS, head of The Watchers Council. She’s looking at him determined.
BUFFY: Just tell me what kind of demon I'm fighting.
QUENTIN: Well, that's the thing, you see. Glory isn't a demon.
BUFFY: What is she?
TRAVERS: She's a god.
BUFFY: (long pause, her eyes widen) Oh.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
TABLE – INT.MAGIC BOX – NIGHT
The whole gang are sat around the table, listening intently to what GILES is telling them.
GILES: Glory plans to open a dimensional portal by way of a ritual bloodletting…
Various montage images now show from Season Five of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. GLORY torturing the monk; GLORY draining TARA.
BUFFY (V/O): Dawn's blood.
We now see WILLOW attacking GLORY with the full force of the dark arts. SPIKE and DAWN meeting with DOC.
GILES (V/O): Yes. Once the blood is shed at a certain time and place ... the fabric which separates all realities will be ripped apart….
We then see DAWN and BUFFY holding eachother and their blood stained hands; Summer’s blood. GLORY grabbing DAWN’S hand and running off with her in the desert.
GILES: (V/O) …Dimensions will pour into one another. Reality as we know it will be destroyed, and chaos will reign on earth.
Finally DAWN is tied up and gagged, sitting on a chair. GLORY looks over to her with a maniacal smile. Finally the montage ends and focuses back on BUFFY and the gang who are looking spooked in The Magic Box
BUFFY: So how do we stop it?
GILES: Buffy, the only way is to kill Dawn…
The camera closes in on BUFFY’S face filled with despair, loss of hope.
FADE TO BLACK
TEASER
The screen is black. All we hear are voices. Nothing else.
KID (V/O): H-how'd you do that?
BUFFY (V/O): It’s what I do…
BUFFY (V/O): No! No, you don't understand. We are not talking about this.
GILES (V/O): Yes, we bloody well are!
BUFFY (V/O): …Tell me to kill my sister.
GILES (V/O): She's not your sister.
BUFFY (V/O): I'm sorry. I love you all ... but I'm sorry.
TARA (V/O): Big day. Oh, it calls me! I have to be there!
GLORY (V/O): …Since she's not really your sister, I'm guessin' she isn't gonna show. And if she does...it might not be to save you.
DAWN: (whispers) Buffy…
BUFFY (V/O): …If Dawn dies, I'm done with it. I'm quitting.
GLORY (V/O): …You. What are you doing here?
WILLOW (V/O): She's with me.
DAWN (V/O): You. You can help me. Untie me. Please. Help me, she's coming.
DOC (V/O) Hey! Kid. Wanna see a trick?
DAWN screams.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
GLORY’S TOWER – EXT.BUILDING SITE – EARLY MORNING
CAPTION: LATER…
Night has moved on. The morning is about to arrive, the sun on the brink of the horizon. The camera shows the swaying and unpredictable tower GLORY’S mad henchman have erected. On top of it stands the Slayer, BUFFY SUMMERS, and her younger sister, DAWN. They both look around desperately. BUFFY, just seconds before had pushed DOC, GLORY’S worshipper, off the tower. They now stand and watch the destruction of everything. Hope is lost. DAWN knows she has no choice, she tries to run past BUFFY, but BUFFY grabs her.
BUFFY: What are you doing?
DAWN: I have to jump. The energy.
BUFFY: It'll kill you.
DAWN: (softly) I know. (BUFFY staring at her) Buffy, I know about the ritual. I have to stop it.
BUFFY: No.
The tower shakes underneath them, making them both stumble.
DAWN: I have to. Look at what's happening.
More lightning crackles, even larger than before. BUFFY looks up. A huge dragon flies out of the portal and buzzes the tower. It’s a monstrous creature, forgotten and disregarded. But this being, will become one of the greatest heroes of all time…
The sisters watch it roar monstrously through the sky of that fateful morning. As we’ve seen before, w now see it flying away as they watch...
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
SKY – EXT.SUNNYDALE STREETS – EARLY MORNING
...The camera however, doesn’t stay with BUFFY or DAWN this time. It follows the dragon. The monster flies through Sunnydale roaring at the crowds of people fleeing in terror below. Destruction imminent. The dragon almost snarls with happiness at the pain being caused to the humans. The camera positions itself so we can see that behind the dragon, in the distance, BUFFY can be seen jumping into the portal. As BUFFY hits the energy, the dragon, now nearing the woods, roars in pain and falls to the ground. It’s huge dark body skids through the woods, uprooting trees and plants ruthlessly with a tremendous noise.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
ROADSIDE – EXT.SUNNYDALE WOODS – EARLY MORNING
Silence. No noise, almost as if serenity and peace has washed over Sunnydale. The camera moves through the trees, away from the roadside.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
TRAIL – EXT.SUNNYDALE WOODS – EARLY MORNING
As the camera moves through the woods, clear large trail can be seen from the dragon’s fall. The trail seems to decrease in size, almost as if as the dragon skidded through the woods and decreased in size as it did this. Eventually the camera stops…the trail ends. Something is there, lying on the grass amongst the trees. Cut, bruised and beaten. A YOUNG MAN is left lying where the dragon was lying. He gasps for breath, almost as if shocked to inhale this world’s life source. He is tall, slim with black hair, and blue eyes. He looks at his naked body with shock, he touches his arms and wriggles his fingers. He feels his back, the wings gone. He feels his skin. He’s a man. (He is played by Milo Ventimiglia)
YOUNG MAN: (weakly, gruffly) What the fu-
FADE TO BLACK
ACT ONE
SUNNYDALE
BAR AREA – INT.BRONZE – NIGHT
CAPTION SUNNYDALE, NOVEMBER 2001.
The Bronze is full. Packed to capacity with people that three significant people wouldn’t stand out. Mostly, people are moving around the bar area, with MICHELLE BRANCH is playing in the background
MICHELLE BRANCH: (singing) “And it hurts to want everything and nothing at the same time, I want what’s yours and I want what’s mine.”
The camera moves over to the bar area to see BUFFY SUMMERS. She’s sitting alone, looking down at the bar surface; grim. Behind her, someone is watching her. The YOUNG MAN. He’s playing pool, and his blue eyes note every move BUFFY makes, as well as pocketing the balls into their respective pockets. He looks in better shape than he did several months ago, clean, clothed and confident. He’s wearing a black tank top and black leather trousers. He looks to the side to see SPIKE approaching BUFFY. He stops pocketing the balls, with only one left. The black. He watches them intently, and the camera stays focused on the YOUNG MAN’S eyes; clocking every movement BUFFY makes.
YOUNG MAN: (slowly, under his breath) White haired vampire attempts to comfort her. He fails…
MICHELLE BRANCH: (singing) “I want you, but I’m not giving in this time!”
The YOUNG MAN looks at the pair, almost nervously waiting for an opportune moment.
YOUNG MAN: (continuing) …He goes. She watches. Chases him. They embrace. They kiss…
He suddenly shoves the pool cue to pot the black in a smooth line. He smirks.
YOUNG: A distraction…perfect.
He throws down the pool cue, which is soon picked up by the next people who wish to play pool. His moment is here. He then turns towards the exit and he walks out of The Bronze.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
ALLEY – EXT.BRONZE – NIGHT
It’s a cold night, and the sound from the music inside seems to be enticing people in, allowing the alleyways to remain fairly empty and quiet. He looks in both directions; nobody. He turns right and begins walking quickly not particularly paying much attention to what is in front of him or where he is going,
WOMAN (O/S): Whoa…
Before he can stop himself, he bangs into a woman dressed in, not much at all. She looks annoyed and brushes down her “clothes”.
WOMAN/SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: (annoyed) …Anyone told you eyes can see what’s in front of you?
He looks at her. She’s slim, pale in complexion and smoking. She either looks ill or to be on some sort of drug. She has long brown hair, which frame her young face. Her eyes are a powerful jade. He raises his eyebrows, scanning her body. She looks offended, and crosses her arms.
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: Yeah well it’s a bit late now.
She gives him a dirty look and passes him, and walks towards The Bronze. The YOUNG MAN continues to walk on, the camera follows him, but in the background, in soft focus, we can see the SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY turn back to him.
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: (shouting) Hey!
The YOUNG MAN stops, he turns back to look at her. She looks less threatening now, and walks back towards him.
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: Do I know you?
YOUNG MAN: Doubtful.
She smiles.
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: No I do, The Bronze, you’re in there a lot right?
YOUNG MAN: I go in now and again.
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: Now and again? I see you in there every night.
The YOUNG MAN looks shifty. She’s becoming too inquisitive.
YOUNG MAN: What’s it to you…
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: Well you’re a regular gentlemen aren’t you. Fresh with chivalry.
The YOUNG MAN continues to look at her, annoyed. She sighs, and turns back and walks towards The Bronze.
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY/CHARLIE: Well, I’m Charlie, maybe next time you’re in there, and looking where you’re going, you can give me a shout.
She turns back briefly.
CHARLIE: I’ll teach you a thing or two about chivalry…
She smiles flirtatiously, he watches her still and continues to watch her leave until she enters The Bronze. He carries on walking, he notices the streets were unusually quiet and desolate, especially with the nights getting longer, demonic activity wasn’t as high as they usually were. Either a fight had already happened or it was about to. He can see the graveyard in the distance but he carries on walking and he comes to an old small building. He looks around to see if he’s alone and then enters.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
APARTMENT – INT.BUILDING - NIGHT
The place is a dump, lifeless, it looks like it could fall in at any opportune moment. There are lots of books around the lounge area and some old furniture. A kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms branching off from the main lounge. The YOUNG MAN enters via the front door, he closes the door behind him and walks towards a table which has various weapons on it.
MAN (O/S): Back so soon my boy.
The YOUNG MAN doesn’t look around; he merely keeps looking at the weapon.
YOUNG MAN: (quietly) She’s at The Bronze.
MAN (O/S): Then why are you here?
The YOUNG MAN looks around to show someone we all know. DOC; he’s alive. He appears from behind the chair. The demon who bled DAWN SUMMERS all those months ago is still alive, one of GLORY’S most loyal worshipper. He looks weak, and he has various cuts and bruises over his face. He leans forward, clearly frail, and propped by a walking stick.
DOC: Xakiel, this is an opportune moment for us!
XAKIEL is the YOUNG MAN’S name.
YOUNG MAN/XAKIEL: I don’t know if I can do it.
DOC: Kill the girl? She’s nothing, a child, a pointless waste of a being that disgraced our Glorificus by not abiding by her will. Barely a being, just a fleshed form of something far more important.
XAKIEL sighs and leans forwards, resting his hands on the table. He stares ahead…
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
TRAIL – EXT.SUNNYDALE WOODS – EARLY MORNING
The colours on the screen are blurred, as is the whole image, it looks static. This indicates, it is a flashback. XAKIEL has just been turned into a human. He’s breathing more calmly now, but loudly. He looks around at the surrounding area. The woods, the trees, the thriving life of the human world chokes him. He feels the blood on a cut on his arm. He holds the blood up to his face, staring at it transfixed.
XAKIEL: (confused) I…I’m…human?
He hears a noise from a distant car. He looks alert, and stands, determined to run. He wobbles slightly, and falls down.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
APARTMENT – INT.BUILDING - NIGHT
The colours are back to normal. The flashback has ended. We’re back in the apartment with XAKIEL staring ahead, trying not to look at DOC.
XAKIEL: I know but I don’t think I can take a human life, not now I am one…
DOC: Qualms of a conscious? It’s too late to learn morals for you Xakiel, you’ve murdered thousands of humans, tortured them for Glorificus.
XAKIEL turns to DOC now.
XAKIEL: Glory’s dead now, remember? Killed by a librarian if your memory serves. Why the hell should I serve a memory?
DOC: She is a god, and shall be respected as such! Alive or otherwise.
DOC moves towards XAKIEL and goes to put a hand on XAKIEL'S shoulder. XAKIEL simply shrugs him off and walks nearer to the front door.
DOC: She lives on in us, we owe her justice. Those cretins that worshipped her scattered after her death, we are the only ones left to pay tribute to her! Kill the girl…
XAKIEL: Kill the girl? Sounds so easy to casually throw that around. The Slayer being out the way doesn’t mean the girl is void of security. They have Witches, Vampires and Demons at their bidding. How do you expect an old crippled demon and a powerless mortal to perform such an act?
DOC nods, understanding. He shuffles closer to XAKIEL.
DOC: We know little about you Xakiel and what you’re capable of. You’re strong, we know that.
XAKIEL: And you would have me use this strength to kill children…
DOC looks angry now.
DOC: Snap out of this humanity Xakiel! Seriously my boy, in this world, what have you got to offer, what purpose do you have in this world other than to do this? The people born into it don’t belong, what chance does a hitchhiker have?
XAKIEL: Don’t make me do this.
DOC: (desperately pleading) Just think Xakiel! Kill little Summers and everything she caused goes away, we can go back to how things were. Her blood will spill, I told you how the portal opened last time, her blood! Bleed the girl, and you regain your wings, return home.
XAKIEL: Home?
DOC nods at this question.
DOC: You can go back to how things were.
XAKIEL contemplates this. Could he really escape a world of loneliness, of weakness?
XAKIEL: I don’t like this world, It’s destroyed everything I’ve believed in…and everything I remember. Here, my past has meant nothing to me, I remember nothing.
DOC looks at him, sympathetically.
XAKIEL: (continuing) I don’t know who I am or why I’m here, I wanna go back to how things were…
DOC: (nodding) Then you know what you must do.
XAKIEL nods. He sighs and turns towards the door. He decides to take no weapons with him, but he knows he must move quickly should BUFFY return home. DOC watches him leave, smiling.
DOC: Poor naïve boy.
A woman comes through from the kitchen area, but it is unclear who it is.
WOMAN (V/O): Good work Doccy, he believes what you said, what a complete loser.
DOC: All he has is hope in his world; hope that it’s better than this one. Fool. The Slayer will kill him.
DOC turns around and looks at the woman, it’s GLORY.
FADE TO BLACK
END OF ACT ONE
Episode: 1.01 - Hitch Hiker
Writer: Lex
Editor: Alex Hart
Rating: UK Rating 12 (Language, Violence)
Shadow Stalker is officially affiliated with Rogue Redemption, an awesome spin-off created by Amber.
I do not claim credit for any of Joss Whedon’s creation and the featuring of his characters and episodes in this series is simply for my pleasure and not at all for financial gain as I do all this for free! All characters not affiliated with Jossverse belong to me, as do the plot lines. Season One starts alongside Season 6 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Season 3 of Angel and is in association with Rogue Redemption, (Amber); Chosen, (Heather); BtVS Seasons 8 + 9 and AtS Season 6, (Alex Hart); Raven (Alexander Brown); Sorceress Of Crimson Falls (Travis); and Wishful Thinking (Ben).
RACK: Previously on Buffy The Vampire Slayer…
SUNNYDALE
BUFFY’S ROOM – INT.SUMMER’S RESIDENCE – AFTERNOON
BUFFY and DAWN are stood in BUFFY’S bedroom.
JOYCE (O/S): Buffy? If you're going out, why don't you take your sister?
Both girls turn to look at the doorway, looking annoyed.
BUFFY/DAWN: Mom!
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
FLOOR – INT.MAGIC BOX – NIGHT
SPIKE and DAWN are sat on the floor behind the cash desk of The Magic Box. SPIKE is reading from GILES’ diary and she is listening to him. He’s recently taken the book from DAWN…she’d stopped reading, horrified…
SPIKE: …“They had to be certain the Slayer would protect it with her life. So they sent the key to her ... in human form. In the form of a sister."
DAWN looks down horrified.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
TABLE – INT.MAGIC BOX – EVENING
BUFFY is standing across the table of QUENTIN TRAVERS, head of The Watchers Council. She’s looking at him determined.
BUFFY: Just tell me what kind of demon I'm fighting.
QUENTIN: Well, that's the thing, you see. Glory isn't a demon.
BUFFY: What is she?
TRAVERS: She's a god.
BUFFY: (long pause, her eyes widen) Oh.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
TABLE – INT.MAGIC BOX – NIGHT
The whole gang are sat around the table, listening intently to what GILES is telling them.
GILES: Glory plans to open a dimensional portal by way of a ritual bloodletting…
Various montage images now show from Season Five of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. GLORY torturing the monk; GLORY draining TARA.
BUFFY (V/O): Dawn's blood.
We now see WILLOW attacking GLORY with the full force of the dark arts. SPIKE and DAWN meeting with DOC.
GILES (V/O): Yes. Once the blood is shed at a certain time and place ... the fabric which separates all realities will be ripped apart….
We then see DAWN and BUFFY holding eachother and their blood stained hands; Summer’s blood. GLORY grabbing DAWN’S hand and running off with her in the desert.
GILES: (V/O) …Dimensions will pour into one another. Reality as we know it will be destroyed, and chaos will reign on earth.
Finally DAWN is tied up and gagged, sitting on a chair. GLORY looks over to her with a maniacal smile. Finally the montage ends and focuses back on BUFFY and the gang who are looking spooked in The Magic Box
BUFFY: So how do we stop it?
GILES: Buffy, the only way is to kill Dawn…
The camera closes in on BUFFY’S face filled with despair, loss of hope.
FADE TO BLACK
TEASER
The screen is black. All we hear are voices. Nothing else.
KID (V/O): H-how'd you do that?
BUFFY (V/O): It’s what I do…
BUFFY (V/O): No! No, you don't understand. We are not talking about this.
GILES (V/O): Yes, we bloody well are!
BUFFY (V/O): …Tell me to kill my sister.
GILES (V/O): She's not your sister.
BUFFY (V/O): I'm sorry. I love you all ... but I'm sorry.
TARA (V/O): Big day. Oh, it calls me! I have to be there!
GLORY (V/O): …Since she's not really your sister, I'm guessin' she isn't gonna show. And if she does...it might not be to save you.
DAWN: (whispers) Buffy…
BUFFY (V/O): …If Dawn dies, I'm done with it. I'm quitting.
GLORY (V/O): …You. What are you doing here?
WILLOW (V/O): She's with me.
DAWN (V/O): You. You can help me. Untie me. Please. Help me, she's coming.
DOC (V/O) Hey! Kid. Wanna see a trick?
DAWN screams.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
GLORY’S TOWER – EXT.BUILDING SITE – EARLY MORNING
CAPTION: LATER…
Night has moved on. The morning is about to arrive, the sun on the brink of the horizon. The camera shows the swaying and unpredictable tower GLORY’S mad henchman have erected. On top of it stands the Slayer, BUFFY SUMMERS, and her younger sister, DAWN. They both look around desperately. BUFFY, just seconds before had pushed DOC, GLORY’S worshipper, off the tower. They now stand and watch the destruction of everything. Hope is lost. DAWN knows she has no choice, she tries to run past BUFFY, but BUFFY grabs her.
BUFFY: What are you doing?
DAWN: I have to jump. The energy.
BUFFY: It'll kill you.
DAWN: (softly) I know. (BUFFY staring at her) Buffy, I know about the ritual. I have to stop it.
BUFFY: No.
The tower shakes underneath them, making them both stumble.
DAWN: I have to. Look at what's happening.
More lightning crackles, even larger than before. BUFFY looks up. A huge dragon flies out of the portal and buzzes the tower. It’s a monstrous creature, forgotten and disregarded. But this being, will become one of the greatest heroes of all time…
The sisters watch it roar monstrously through the sky of that fateful morning. As we’ve seen before, w now see it flying away as they watch...
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
SKY – EXT.SUNNYDALE STREETS – EARLY MORNING
...The camera however, doesn’t stay with BUFFY or DAWN this time. It follows the dragon. The monster flies through Sunnydale roaring at the crowds of people fleeing in terror below. Destruction imminent. The dragon almost snarls with happiness at the pain being caused to the humans. The camera positions itself so we can see that behind the dragon, in the distance, BUFFY can be seen jumping into the portal. As BUFFY hits the energy, the dragon, now nearing the woods, roars in pain and falls to the ground. It’s huge dark body skids through the woods, uprooting trees and plants ruthlessly with a tremendous noise.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
ROADSIDE – EXT.SUNNYDALE WOODS – EARLY MORNING
Silence. No noise, almost as if serenity and peace has washed over Sunnydale. The camera moves through the trees, away from the roadside.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
TRAIL – EXT.SUNNYDALE WOODS – EARLY MORNING
As the camera moves through the woods, clear large trail can be seen from the dragon’s fall. The trail seems to decrease in size, almost as if as the dragon skidded through the woods and decreased in size as it did this. Eventually the camera stops…the trail ends. Something is there, lying on the grass amongst the trees. Cut, bruised and beaten. A YOUNG MAN is left lying where the dragon was lying. He gasps for breath, almost as if shocked to inhale this world’s life source. He is tall, slim with black hair, and blue eyes. He looks at his naked body with shock, he touches his arms and wriggles his fingers. He feels his back, the wings gone. He feels his skin. He’s a man. (He is played by Milo Ventimiglia)
YOUNG MAN: (weakly, gruffly) What the fu-
FADE TO BLACK
ACT ONE
SUNNYDALE
BAR AREA – INT.BRONZE – NIGHT
CAPTION SUNNYDALE, NOVEMBER 2001.
The Bronze is full. Packed to capacity with people that three significant people wouldn’t stand out. Mostly, people are moving around the bar area, with MICHELLE BRANCH is playing in the background
MICHELLE BRANCH: (singing) “And it hurts to want everything and nothing at the same time, I want what’s yours and I want what’s mine.”
The camera moves over to the bar area to see BUFFY SUMMERS. She’s sitting alone, looking down at the bar surface; grim. Behind her, someone is watching her. The YOUNG MAN. He’s playing pool, and his blue eyes note every move BUFFY makes, as well as pocketing the balls into their respective pockets. He looks in better shape than he did several months ago, clean, clothed and confident. He’s wearing a black tank top and black leather trousers. He looks to the side to see SPIKE approaching BUFFY. He stops pocketing the balls, with only one left. The black. He watches them intently, and the camera stays focused on the YOUNG MAN’S eyes; clocking every movement BUFFY makes.
YOUNG MAN: (slowly, under his breath) White haired vampire attempts to comfort her. He fails…
MICHELLE BRANCH: (singing) “I want you, but I’m not giving in this time!”
The YOUNG MAN looks at the pair, almost nervously waiting for an opportune moment.
YOUNG MAN: (continuing) …He goes. She watches. Chases him. They embrace. They kiss…
He suddenly shoves the pool cue to pot the black in a smooth line. He smirks.
YOUNG: A distraction…perfect.
He throws down the pool cue, which is soon picked up by the next people who wish to play pool. His moment is here. He then turns towards the exit and he walks out of The Bronze.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
ALLEY – EXT.BRONZE – NIGHT
It’s a cold night, and the sound from the music inside seems to be enticing people in, allowing the alleyways to remain fairly empty and quiet. He looks in both directions; nobody. He turns right and begins walking quickly not particularly paying much attention to what is in front of him or where he is going,
WOMAN (O/S): Whoa…
Before he can stop himself, he bangs into a woman dressed in, not much at all. She looks annoyed and brushes down her “clothes”.
WOMAN/SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: (annoyed) …Anyone told you eyes can see what’s in front of you?
He looks at her. She’s slim, pale in complexion and smoking. She either looks ill or to be on some sort of drug. She has long brown hair, which frame her young face. Her eyes are a powerful jade. He raises his eyebrows, scanning her body. She looks offended, and crosses her arms.
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: Yeah well it’s a bit late now.
She gives him a dirty look and passes him, and walks towards The Bronze. The YOUNG MAN continues to walk on, the camera follows him, but in the background, in soft focus, we can see the SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY turn back to him.
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: (shouting) Hey!
The YOUNG MAN stops, he turns back to look at her. She looks less threatening now, and walks back towards him.
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: Do I know you?
YOUNG MAN: Doubtful.
She smiles.
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: No I do, The Bronze, you’re in there a lot right?
YOUNG MAN: I go in now and again.
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: Now and again? I see you in there every night.
The YOUNG MAN looks shifty. She’s becoming too inquisitive.
YOUNG MAN: What’s it to you…
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY: Well you’re a regular gentlemen aren’t you. Fresh with chivalry.
The YOUNG MAN continues to look at her, annoyed. She sighs, and turns back and walks towards The Bronze.
SCANDALOUSLY DRESSED LADY/CHARLIE: Well, I’m Charlie, maybe next time you’re in there, and looking where you’re going, you can give me a shout.
She turns back briefly.
CHARLIE: I’ll teach you a thing or two about chivalry…
She smiles flirtatiously, he watches her still and continues to watch her leave until she enters The Bronze. He carries on walking, he notices the streets were unusually quiet and desolate, especially with the nights getting longer, demonic activity wasn’t as high as they usually were. Either a fight had already happened or it was about to. He can see the graveyard in the distance but he carries on walking and he comes to an old small building. He looks around to see if he’s alone and then enters.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
APARTMENT – INT.BUILDING - NIGHT
The place is a dump, lifeless, it looks like it could fall in at any opportune moment. There are lots of books around the lounge area and some old furniture. A kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms branching off from the main lounge. The YOUNG MAN enters via the front door, he closes the door behind him and walks towards a table which has various weapons on it.
MAN (O/S): Back so soon my boy.
The YOUNG MAN doesn’t look around; he merely keeps looking at the weapon.
YOUNG MAN: (quietly) She’s at The Bronze.
MAN (O/S): Then why are you here?
The YOUNG MAN looks around to show someone we all know. DOC; he’s alive. He appears from behind the chair. The demon who bled DAWN SUMMERS all those months ago is still alive, one of GLORY’S most loyal worshipper. He looks weak, and he has various cuts and bruises over his face. He leans forward, clearly frail, and propped by a walking stick.
DOC: Xakiel, this is an opportune moment for us!
XAKIEL is the YOUNG MAN’S name.
YOUNG MAN/XAKIEL: I don’t know if I can do it.
DOC: Kill the girl? She’s nothing, a child, a pointless waste of a being that disgraced our Glorificus by not abiding by her will. Barely a being, just a fleshed form of something far more important.
XAKIEL sighs and leans forwards, resting his hands on the table. He stares ahead…
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
TRAIL – EXT.SUNNYDALE WOODS – EARLY MORNING
The colours on the screen are blurred, as is the whole image, it looks static. This indicates, it is a flashback. XAKIEL has just been turned into a human. He’s breathing more calmly now, but loudly. He looks around at the surrounding area. The woods, the trees, the thriving life of the human world chokes him. He feels the blood on a cut on his arm. He holds the blood up to his face, staring at it transfixed.
XAKIEL: (confused) I…I’m…human?
He hears a noise from a distant car. He looks alert, and stands, determined to run. He wobbles slightly, and falls down.
CUT TO – SUNNYDALE
APARTMENT – INT.BUILDING - NIGHT
The colours are back to normal. The flashback has ended. We’re back in the apartment with XAKIEL staring ahead, trying not to look at DOC.
XAKIEL: I know but I don’t think I can take a human life, not now I am one…
DOC: Qualms of a conscious? It’s too late to learn morals for you Xakiel, you’ve murdered thousands of humans, tortured them for Glorificus.
XAKIEL turns to DOC now.
XAKIEL: Glory’s dead now, remember? Killed by a librarian if your memory serves. Why the hell should I serve a memory?
DOC: She is a god, and shall be respected as such! Alive or otherwise.
DOC moves towards XAKIEL and goes to put a hand on XAKIEL'S shoulder. XAKIEL simply shrugs him off and walks nearer to the front door.
DOC: She lives on in us, we owe her justice. Those cretins that worshipped her scattered after her death, we are the only ones left to pay tribute to her! Kill the girl…
XAKIEL: Kill the girl? Sounds so easy to casually throw that around. The Slayer being out the way doesn’t mean the girl is void of security. They have Witches, Vampires and Demons at their bidding. How do you expect an old crippled demon and a powerless mortal to perform such an act?
DOC nods, understanding. He shuffles closer to XAKIEL.
DOC: We know little about you Xakiel and what you’re capable of. You’re strong, we know that.
XAKIEL: And you would have me use this strength to kill children…
DOC looks angry now.
DOC: Snap out of this humanity Xakiel! Seriously my boy, in this world, what have you got to offer, what purpose do you have in this world other than to do this? The people born into it don’t belong, what chance does a hitchhiker have?
XAKIEL: Don’t make me do this.
DOC: (desperately pleading) Just think Xakiel! Kill little Summers and everything she caused goes away, we can go back to how things were. Her blood will spill, I told you how the portal opened last time, her blood! Bleed the girl, and you regain your wings, return home.
XAKIEL: Home?
DOC nods at this question.
DOC: You can go back to how things were.
XAKIEL contemplates this. Could he really escape a world of loneliness, of weakness?
XAKIEL: I don’t like this world, It’s destroyed everything I’ve believed in…and everything I remember. Here, my past has meant nothing to me, I remember nothing.
DOC looks at him, sympathetically.
XAKIEL: (continuing) I don’t know who I am or why I’m here, I wanna go back to how things were…
DOC: (nodding) Then you know what you must do.
XAKIEL nods. He sighs and turns towards the door. He decides to take no weapons with him, but he knows he must move quickly should BUFFY return home. DOC watches him leave, smiling.
DOC: Poor naïve boy.
A woman comes through from the kitchen area, but it is unclear who it is.
WOMAN (V/O): Good work Doccy, he believes what you said, what a complete loser.
DOC: All he has is hope in his world; hope that it’s better than this one. Fool. The Slayer will kill him.
DOC turns around and looks at the woman, it’s GLORY.
FADE TO BLACK
END OF ACT ONE
