[Transcript of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" episode I, Robot - You, Jane at buffyology.com.]
In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.
Establishing.
CARLO stands by the window looking into the room.
Carlo, caro mio. (Carlo, my dear one.)
Carlo comes into the room and over to MOLOCH. He kneels. Moloch steps over to him and puts his hand on his head. The camera pans up to Moloch's demonic face.
Mi ami? Ti darÛ tutto. Tutto quello che desidero È il tuo amore. (Do you love me? I can give you everything. All I want is your love.)
Tu hai il mio amore. (You have my love.)
Moloch growls and sharply twists Carlo's head, snapping his neck.
Establishing.
The priest, THELONIUS, is talking to a group of monks bearing torches.
E fuori. E il diavolo, Molocco. E fuori nel mondo, facendo tante cose male. Abbiamo bisogno di fare Il Circolo. (He's out. It is Moloch, the Devil, the Corrupter. He walks again. More and more people have fallen under his mesmerizing power. There is still time to bind him. We must form the Circle.)
The monks gather around him as he opens a large book. The pages of the book are blank.
Per potere di questo Circolo di Kayless... (By the power of the Circle of Kayless...)
Moloch smiles as he straightens up and lets Carlo's body fall. His expression changes when he realizes something is wrong and he looks up.
No!
The chant is gaining in volume and intensity.
Per potere di questo Circolo di Kayless, ti commando! Vieni! (By the power of the Circle of Kayless, I command you! Come!)
Moloch begins to howl with fury.
Ti commando! Vieni! (I command you! Come!)
Moloch's screams turn from anger to terror.
Vieni! (Come!)
Moloch suddenly bursts into millions of tiny glowing particles.
The particles appear in the chamber and fall into the book as the camera follows them down.
Vieni, demonio! Vieni! (Come, demon! Come!)
As the particles fall into the book, an ancient script appears on the blank pages. When the pages are filled, Thelonius snaps the book closed. He steps over to a table and puts the book into a heavy wooden box.
Preghiamo che questo libro È mai letto pi™... che il demonio Molocco È mai lasciato pi™ fuori nel mondo. (Pray that this accursed book is never read again... lest the demon Moloch be loosed upon the world.)
Thelonius places the lid on the box.
Centuries later, the lid is lifted off of the box and BUFFY looks in.
Oh, great, a book!
A book-scanning project is underway, supervised by GILES, and WILLOW, XANDER and a few other computer science students are seated at the table, scanning the books into the library's computer system. Buffy pulls the book out of the box and blows the dust of it.
Oh, I haven't gone through the new arrivals. Put it in that pile.
Here, I'll get it.
DAVE gets up from his computer to help.
Oh, thanks, Dave. The Willow pile.
Dave takes the book from Buffy and sets it on the pile of books next to Willow.
When I've examined it, you can skim it.
Scan it, Rupert. That's scan it.
Giles looks over at JENNY CALENDAR, a raven-haired beauty with sparkling eyes and a mischievous smile. She is Sunnydale High's Computer Science teacher and she takes great pleasure in exacerbating Giles' obvious discomfort with technology.
Of course.
Oh, I know, our ways are strange to you, but soon you will join us in the 20th Century. With three whole years to spare!
Ms. Calendar, I'm sure your Computer Science class is fascinating, but I happen to believe that one can survive in modern society without being a slave to the idiot box.
That's TV. The idiot box is TV. This (re: the computer) is the good box.
I still prefer a good book.
One of the other students, FRITZ, has been listening to the exchange and pipes up.
The printed page is obsolete. Information isn't bound up anymore. It's an entity. The only reality is virtual. If you're not jacked in, you're not alive.
He takes his things and heads out to class.
Thank you, Fritz, for making us all sound like crazy people. (to Giles) Fritz comes on a little strong, but he does have a point. You know, for the last two years more e-mail was sent than regular mail. More digitized information went across phone lines than conversation.
That is a fact that I regard with genuine horror.
I'll bet it is. (to the students) All right, guys, let's wrap it up for today.
Buffy and the others all collect their things and begin heading out the doors.
I've just got a few more. I'll hang for a bit.
Cool, thanks!
Xander stands and hoists his bag.
Xander, you wanna stay and help me?
Are you kidding?
Yes, it was a joke I made up.
Willow, I love you, but bye!
He bolts out of the room.
See you tomorrow!
Buffy, wait up!
I'm just gonna stay and clean up a little. I'll be back in the Middle Ages.
Did you ever leave?
Giles pauses and looks back at her, exasperated. Jenny is pleased with his reaction. Shaking his head, he walk up to the stacks.
Later that evening. Willow is alone in the library scanning the last book. She draws the scanner over two pages and they appear on the screen. As she saves the scan, the written script in the book disappears, unnoticed by Willow. She closes the book, puts it in the pile with the others and leaves. The computer screen goes blank and Moloch's words appear.
Where am I?
Opening credit sequence.
Buffy runs to catch up with Willow as she slowly walks down the hall.
Willow! Willow, hey, wait up!
Oh, Buffy, I didn't even see you.
Or hear me. What was up last night? I tried your line, like, a million times.
Oh, I was talking.
Talking to...? (no answer) Okay, that's it. You have a secret, and that's not allowed.
Why not?
'Cause... there's a rule.
Well, I sort of met someone.
I knew it! This is so important. When did you meet?
Last week after we did the scanning project in the library.
Does he go here? What's his name? Have you kissed him? What's he like?
No, Malcolm, no, and very nice.
You are a thing of evil for not telling me this right away!
Well, I wasn't sure there was anything to tell. But last night, oh! We talked all night. It was amazing. He's so smart, Buffy, and he's romantic, and we agree about everything!
What's he look like?
I don't know.
She continues down the hall with a big smile on her face. Buffy is nonplussed and stares after her a moment, then starts to follow.
Fritz and Dave are there, typing away.
Yes, I will. I promise.
Willow and Buffy walk in.
So, you've been seeing a guy and you don't know what he looks like? Okay, this is a puzzle. No, wait, I'm good at these. Does it involve a midget and a block of ice?
I met him on-line.
On line for what?
Willow indicates a computer.
Oh!
Ms. Calendar strides quickly into the room wearing dark glasses and holding a mug of coffee in one hand and her books in the other.
Morning, kids.
Buffy turns to look at her and Jenny notices Buffy as she heads to her desk. She puts her mug down.
Buffy, are you supposed to be somewhere?
No, I have a free.
Cool, but this is lab time, so let's make it a nice, short visit, okay?
Sure.
Willow's computer chimes ("You have mail").
It's him!
She types a few keystrokes and retrieves the message: I'm thinking of you.
He's so sweet.
He's a sweetie.
What should I write back?
Uh, Willow, I think it's really great that you have this cool pen pal, but don't you think you're kinda rushing all into this? Y'know what I mean?
'I'm thinking of you, too.' No, that's incredibly stupid.
Will, down girl! Let's focus here, okay? What do you actually know about this guy?
Oh, see, I knew you'd react like this.
Like what? I just wanna make sure you're careful, that's all.
POV: looking outward from within the computer monitor.
Buffy...
He could be different than you think.
The computer draws in closely on Buffy.
Cut to an office. The computer on the desk suddenly comes to life. The student records scroll by at blinding speed. Suddenly it stops, highlighting a record labeled Summers, Buffy A. The record expands, Buffy's personal info filling the screen.
Fritz's PC in the lab. Buffy's record appears there. The camera pans over to Fritz as he studies her information. The screen goes blank and a message appears.
Watch her.
Willow and Buffy.
His name is Malcolm Black, he's eighteen, he lives in Elmwood, which is about eighty miles from here, and he likes me.
Short, tall, skinny, fat?
Why does everything have to be about looks?
Not everything, but some stuff is. I mean, what if you guys get really, really intense and then you find out that he... has... a hairy back?
Well, no! He doesn't talk like somebody who would have a hairy back. And anyways, that stuff doesn't matter when you really care about each other. Maybe I'm not his ideal either.
Hey, I'm just trying to make sure that he's good enough for you. I think it's great that you met someone.
Jenny at her desk. She stands up with some papers and walks over to Fritz.
Hey, Fritz... I'm looking at the logs. You and Dave are clockin' a pretty scary amount of computer time.
New project.
Oh, will I be excited?
You'll die.
A boy sits, reviewing his report on his laptop.
This isn't my report! 'Nazi Germany was a model of a well ordered society'? I didn't write that! Who's been in my files?
Willow comes down the steps next to him. She's off in her own world and doesn't notice Xander coming at her from the right. He puts his hand over her eyes, and she's forced to stop, nearly losing her balance.
Hup, guess who?
Uh, Xander?
Yeah, but keep guessing anyway.
Xander.
Oh, I can't fool ya, you see right through my petty charade. We goin' to the Bronze tonight?
Not me. I think I'm gonna call it an early night.
Oh, Malcolm, right? (Willow nods) Yeah, I heard. But you're gonna be missing out. I'm planning to be witty. I'm gonna make fun of all the people who won't talk to me.
That's nice. Have a good time!
He watches her go. Buffy arrives and watches her go, too.
She certainly looks perky.
Yeah, color in the cheeks, bounce in the step... I don't like it. It's not healthy. So, are you goin' to the Bronze tonight? Oh, probably not. You probably have some vampire slaying or some lame endeavor like that, don't you? Everyone deserts me.
Check out the jealous man!
What are you talking about?
You're jealous.
Of what?
Willow's got a thang and Xander's left hanging.
Oh, that's meaningless drivel. I'm not interested in Willow like that.
Yeah, but you got used to being the Belle of the Ball.
No, it's just... this Malcolm guy? What's his deal? I mean, tell me you're not slightly wigged.
Okay, slightly. I mean, just not knowing what he's really like.
Or who he really is. I mean, sure he says he's a high school student, but I can say I'm a high school student.
You are.
Okay, but I can also say that I'm an elderly Dutch woman. Get me? I mean, who's to say I'm not if I'm in the elderly Dutch chat room?
I get your point! (suddenly serious) I get your point. Oh, this guy could be anybody. He could be weird, or crazy, or old, or... he could be a circus freak. He's probably a circus freak!
Yeah. I mean, we read about it all the time. Y'know, people meet on the Net. They talk, they get together, have dinner, a show, horrible ax murder.
Willow ax murdered by a circus freak... Okay, okay, what do we do? (realizing her paranoia) What are we doing? Xander, you got me started. We are totally overreacting.
But it's fun, isn't it?
Fritz is staring at information scrolling by on the screen and chanting in a monotone.
I'm jacked in. I'm jacked in. I'm jacked in.
The camera pans down to his arm. He's carving a bloody 'M' into his forearm with a pocketknife.
I'm jacked in.
The next day. Willow comes running in, out of breath.
Whoa! You're the late girl.
I overslept.
Till fifth period? Talkin' to Malcolm last night?
Yeah. (off Buffy's look) What?
Nothing.
You're having an expression.
I'm not. But if I was, it'd be saying, 'This just isn't like you.'
Not like me to have a boyfriend?
He's boyfriendly?
I don't understand why you don't want me to have this. I mean, boys don't chase me around all the time. I thought you'd be happy for me.
I just want you to be sure. To meet him face to face. In daylight, in a crowded place with some friends. Y'know, before you become all... obsessive.
Malcolm and I really care about each other. Big deal if I blow off a couple classes.
I thought you said you overslept.
Malcolm said you wouldn't understand.
Malcolm was right.
Buffy walks in, sees Dave and goes over to him.
Dave? (he's oblivious) Hey there, Dave. Anybody home?
He jumps in his seat when she puts her hand on his shoulder.
Oh, what do you want?
I wanted to ask you something if you have a minute.
What is it?
Well, you're a computer geek... genius, and I sort of have a technical problem. If I wanted to find out something about someone, if someone e-mailed me, could I trace the letter?
Well, you could pull up somebody's profile based on their user name.
But they write the profile themselves, right? And so they could say anything they wanted.
True.
Wow! I had knowledge. (Dave smiles) Well, is there a way to find out exactly where a letter, an e-letter came from? I mean, the actual location of the computer?
That's a challenge.
'Cause, you see, Willow's got this boyfriend, Malcolm, and to tell you the truth, I think--
Leave Willow alone.
What do you mean?
That's none of your business.
Dave, are you Malcolm?
Dave turns back to the screen and starts typing.
Of course not.
Dave, what's going on?
Look, I'll talk to you later, okay? I've got work to do.
Buffy turns to go, looking at Dave suspiciously.
So do I.
Fritz surreptitiously watches her go as she passes by him.
Buffy follows Giles down the stairs to the counter.
I'm telling you, something is going on. It's not just Willow. Dave, Fritz, they're all wicked jumpy.
Those boys aren't sparklingly normal as it is.
Giles, trust me.
I do! I really don't know how to advise you. Things involved with a computer fill me with a childlike terror. Now, if it were a nice ogre or some such I'd be more in my element. Well, I suppose you could tail Dave, see if he's up to something.
Follow Dave? What, in dark glasses and a trench coat? Please. I can work this out myself.
Dave gets into his car, starts it and drives off. The camera pans over to Buffy wearing dark glasses and a dark coat, watching him depart.
Dave drives up to the loading dock and gets out. Buffy is outside the fence, observing. Dave walks up to a technician and starts talking to him. After a moment, Dave and the technician go inside. CU on a security camera turning toward Buffy.
The view from the camera on Fritz's PC at school. It stops on Buffy and pulls in for a close-up.
She's too close. What do I do?
Kill her.
Party.
Buffy reportsthe results of her surveillance to Giles.
Whatever Dave is into, it's large.
What was the name of this place?
It said CRD, but I couldn't get close enough to see what it was.
Calax Research and Development. It's a computer research lab. Third largest employer in Sunnydale till it closed down last year. (off their looks) What, I can't have information sometimes?
Well, it's just somewhat unprecedented.
Well, my uncle used to work there. In a floor sweeping capacity.
But it closed?
Uh huh.
Looked pretty functional from where I stood. I don't have a clue what they were doing.
And what do they need Dave for?
Something about computers, right? I mean, he is off-the-chart smart.
We still don't know an enormous amount. Whatever is going on there may be on the up-and-up.
No, if CRD opened, it would've been on the news.
Besides, I can just tell something's wrong. My spider sense is tingling.
Your... spider sense?
Pop culture reference. Sorry.
Yes, well, I think we're still at a stand still. Short of breaking into the place, I don't see--
Breaking in! Then this is the plan.
I'm free tonight.
Tonight it is.
A moment, please, of quiet reflection. I do not suggest that you illegally enter the...
Jenny enters the library.
...data into the file so the book will be listed by title as well as by author.
I just came by to check your new database, make sure your cross reference table isn't glitching. 'Cause I'm guessing you haven't gone anywhere near it.
I'm still sorting through the chaos you left behind you.
Hmm. (to Buffy and Xander) You're here again? You kids really dig the library, don't ya?
We're literary!
To read makes our speaking English good.
We'll be going now.
She grabs Xander and turns to leave.
We'll continue this conversation at another time.
I think we're done. (to Xander) Makes our speaking English is good?
I panicked, okay?
Willow is chatting on-line with Malcolm.
I've never felt this way about anyone before, Willow.
I know what you mean. I feel like you know me better than anyone.
I do.
Do you think we should... meet?
I think we should-- soon.
I'm nervous.
I'm not. Isn't that strange?
That's what Buffy doesn't understand, how comfortable you can make me feel.
Buffy just makes trouble. That's why she got kicked out of her old school.
Willow pauses, puzzled.
How did you know that?
It's in her permanent record.
Willow is suddenly worried.
You must have mentioned it.
I guess.
Let's not worry about her anymore.
I have to sign off. I'll talk to you later.
Don't.
Bye.
She turns off the monitor, gets up and leaves.
Jenny and Giles are engaged in their same old back-and-forth: tradition vs. technology; Jenny is teasing Giles and playing off his rigid British mannerisms.
You're a snob!
I am no such thing.
Oh, you are a big snob. You think that knowledge should be kept in these carefully guarded repositories where only a handful of white guys can get at it.
Nonsense! I simply don't adhere to a knee-jerk assumption that because something is new, it's better.
This isn't a fad, Rupert! We are creating a new society here.
A society in which human interaction is all but obsolete? In which people can be completely manipulated by technology, well... thank you, I'll pass.
Well, I think you'll be very happy here with your musty, old books.
She takes a book off the shelf and opens it. We recognize it as Moloch's book.
These musty old books have a great deal more to say than in any of your... fabulous web pages.
Jenny is paging through the blank pages, one after another, puzzled.
Hmm. This one doesn't have a whole lot more to say.
Giles stares at the empty book.
What is it, like a diary?
How odd. I haven't looked through all the volumes yet, I didn't--
He closes the book and stares at the etching of Moloch on the cover.
What is it?
Nothing, a diary, yes. I imagine that's what it is. (beat) Well, it's been so nice talking to you.
He heads to his office with the book.
We were fighting.
Must do it again sometime, yes. Bye, now.
She watches in disbelief as he disappears into his office.
The school NURSE is frantic as she hurries along with after a man, trying to keep up. The man, a parent of a Sunnydale student, is furious with her.
I checked the computer and there's nothing in his file about being allergic to penicillin!
Buffy comes walking out of the school. Dave approaches her.
Buffy!
Dave. How're you doing?
Okay. Look, I'm sorry about yesterday. I haven't been getting much sleep lately, y'know?
Don't sweat it.
Willow was looking for you.
Good, I need to talk to her. Do you know where she is?
She said she'd be in the girls' locker room.
Great. Thanks.
She heads off in search of Willow. He watches her go, his face an emotionless mask.
It's deserted. Buffy slowly walks down the aisle looking around for her friend.
Will? Willow?
Fritz in the shower. He turns the water on and ducks out.
Buffy.
Will? You taking a shower?
She walks toward the shower and sees that it's on, but no one's there.
I guess not.
CU of the light fixture in the shower. An electrical wire has been rigged to the socket and runs across the ceiling and down the wall where its frayed copper leads rest inches from the pool of water created by the running shower.
Buffy walks into the shower room to turn off the water.
This is how droughts get started.
She turns the water off. The puddle creeps toward the exposed wires.
Buffy! Get out!
She turns to him and noticing the wire in the same instant. The leads begin to spark as she leaps out of the shower just as an arc of electricity shoots across the room. She lands on a bench and rolls off onto the floor. Before she can stop him, Dave runs from the locker room. She sits up and looks over toward the showers, then down at her shoes: the soles are smoking.
It's dark. Dave runs in and turns on a PC.
I can't do it! I'm not gonna do it.
But you promised.
Buffy isn't a threat to you! Stop with it.
The project is almost complete. You won't have to do it again.
Oh, I can't!
I've shown you a new world, Dave. Knowledge, power... I can give you everything. All I want is your love.
No. This isn't right. None of it is.
A blank window opens on screen and Moloch starts writing a note:
I'm sorry. I've been a terrible person. I'm a coward, and I can't go on living like this. Forgive me, Mom and Dad. At least now I'll have some peace. Remember me.
Love, Dave.
Dave back away from the computer in horror as the realization sinks in. Fritz is waiting for him in the shadows of the darkened classroom.
Buffy sits at the table while Xander paces.
I'm gonna kill Dave!
He tried to warn me.
Warn you that he set you up? (to Giles) Is she gonna be okay?
She was only grounded for a moment. Still, if you'd been anyone but the Slayer...
Tell me the truth: how's my hair?
Xander and Giles exchange a look and decide it's better to not draw attention to the fact that her hair has taken a turn toward the Bride of Frankenstein.
It's great. It's your best hair ever.
Oh, yes.
I just... I don't understand what would make Dave do a thing like that.
I think perhaps I do.
He gets Moloch's book from the cage and holds it up.
Does this look familiar to either of you?
Yeah, sure. Looks like a book.
I knew that one.
In the Dark Ages, the souls of demons were sometimes trapped in certain volumes. They remained locked within the book, harmless, unless the pages were read aloud. Unless I'm mistaken, this is Moloch, the Corrupter. A very deadly and seductive demon. He draws people to him with promises of love, power, knowledge. Preys on impressionable minds.
Like Dave's.
Dave and who knows how many others.
And Moloch is inside that book?
Not anymore.
He opens the book and reveals the blank pages.
You released Moloch?
Way to go!
I didn't read it. That dreadful Calendar woman found it and it was already blank.
Okay, so a powerful demon with horns is walking around Sunnydale and nobody's noticed?
If he's so big and strong, why bother with Dave? I mean, why didn't he just attack Buffy himself?
I don't know. And I don't know who could've read that book. It wasn't even in English.
Where was it?
In a pile with others that were... scanned.
They all look over at the PC.
And that released the demon?
No, he's not out here. (points to the PC) He's in there.
The scanner read the book. It brought Moloch out as information to be absorbed.
He's gone binary on us.
Okay, for those of us in the studio audience, who are me, you guys are saying that Moloch is in this computer?
And every computer connected to it by a modem.
He's everywhere.
What are we gonna do?
Willow scanned him into her file. It may be a futile gesture, but I suggest we delete it.
Solid!
She gets up and walks over to the PC and sits down in front of it.
Don't get too close.
Okay. So which file do you think it is? Willow? (types) That's probably it, right? I'll just delete the whole thing.
She drags the file icon to the trash bin but jumps back, startled, when Moloch's demonic face appears on the screen.
Stay away from Willow! It is none of your business!
The screen returns to normal.
So that's what Malcolm looks like.
Buffy, Xander and Giles sit, staring in shock at the computer monitor where a demon's face appeared mere moments before.
So much for "Delete file...".
This is very bad.
Are we overreacting? He's in a computer! What can he do?
You mean besides convince a perfectly nice kid to try and kill me? I don't know. How about mess up all the medical equipment in the world?
Randomize traffic signals.
Access launch codes for our nuclear missiles.
Destroy the world's economy.
I think I pretty much capped it with that nuclear missile thing.
Right, yours was best.
Okay, he's a threat, I'm on board with that now. But what can we do about it?
I think the first thing we do is find Willow. She's probably talking to him right now. God, that creeps me out.
What does he want with Willow?
Let's never find out. Okay, I'm gonna check the computer lab and you guys call her home.
Buffy walks in and looks around. It's dark.
Willow?
All the computer in the room suddenly flash on, startling her. She becomes more cautious, but continues to proceed into the room. She turns around and jumps as she bumps into Dave. He's hanging from the ceiling with the note pinned to his shirt.
Xander is on the phone trying to reach Willow. He gives up.
No answer.
Damn it!
Well, it wasn't busy either, so she's not on-line.
Buffy walks back into the library.
She's not home.
What did you find?
Willow isn't--
Dave. He's dead.
How?
Well, it looks like suicide.
With a little help from my friends?
I'd guess Fritz. Or the other zomboids from CRD. (to Xander) Okay, you and I are gonna go to Willow's house. Giles, you need to come up with a way to get Moloch out of the Net.
I have records of the ceremonies, but that's for a creature of the flesh. This could be something completely different.
Then get Ms. Calendar. Maybe she can help you.
Well, even if she could, how am I going to convince her that there's a demon on the Internet?
Okay, fine, then you can stay here and come up with a better plan. (to Xander) C'mon.
Willow is arriving home. She unlocks the door and goes in.
Mom? Dad?
No answer. She closes the door and heads to her room.
She dumps her book bag on the bed and opens it. Ash she does so, her computer chimes.
You have mail.
Willow looks at her PC. The mail icon in active. She goes over to her desk and clicks on the icon.
MESSAGE (MOLOCH)
No more waiting. I need you to see me.
Frowning, she turns off her monitor and goes back to her bag. The monitor comes back on again, by itself.
You have mail.
Willow stares at it in disbelief. The doorbell rings, and after another look at her computer she goes to answer it.
She runs down the stairs to the front door.
Dad, did you forget your keys again?
She opens the door, but no one's there. She turns to go back in, but as she starts to close the door behind her, Fritz reaches around her head with a cloth splashed with chloroform. After a brief struggle, Willow loses consciousness.
No more waiting.
Giles is researching and listening to the radio.
A spokesman for the archbishop denied the allegations, blaming computer error for the apparent financial discrepancy.
Binding rituals...
In Washington DC, the FBI today reported that all of its serial killer profiles have been mysteriously downloaded from its central computer.
Jenny knocks on the door and enters.
Hi, I got your message. What's so urgent?
Giles turns off the radio and stands up.
Thank you for coming. I need your help. (laughs nervously) But before that I need you to believe something that you may not want to. There's... something's got into the... inside... (beat) There's a demon in the Internet.
I know.
Giles is shocked, speechless.
Buffy and Xander arrive and find the door hanging open.
Willow?
The house is silent, deserted.
This isn't good.
Willow?
Willow obviously isn't here. Buffy is nearly frantic now.
Willow!
Okay, any thoughts?
Buffy looks around and sees the message on the computer.
'No more waiting, I need you to see me'? (to Xander) See him how? Where?
What about CRD?
The research place?
I'm guessing that's Moloch central.
Guessing that's our best lead. Let's just hope Giles can back us up.
They rush out.
Giles approaches Jenny warily.
You already know? How exactly is that?
Come on, there've been portents for days. I mean, power surges, on-line shutdowns... You should see the bones I've been casting. I knew this would happen sooner or later. I mean, it's probably a mischief demon, y'know, like Kelkor, or--
It's Moloch.
The Corrupter? Oh, boy. (beat) I shoulda remembered, I just don't--
You don't seem exactly surprised by... who are you?
I teach computer science at the local high school.
A profession that hardly lends itself to the casting of bones.
Wrong and wrong, snobby. You think the realm of the mystical is limited to ancient texts and relics? That bad old science made the magic go away? The divine exists in cyberspace same as out here.
Are you a witch?
No, I don't have that kind of power. 'Techno-pagan' is the term.
Giles chuckles.
There are more of us than you think.
Well you can definitely help me. What's in cyberspace at the moment is less than divine. I have the binding rituals at hand, but I'm completely out of my idiom.
Jenny sits down at the computer.
Well, I can help, I think. I hope, I mean, well, this is my first real... Do you know how he got in?
He was 'scanned' is the term, I believe.
And you want him back in the book?
The phone rings and Giles answers it.
Buffy!
Buffy is huddled in a phone booth outside CRD, trying to keep as low a profile as possible.
Yeah.
Willow?
Not at home. It looks like she was taken somewhere.
Where are you?
CRD. Whatever Moloch wants Willow for, it's probably in there.
Ms. Calendar and I are working to get Moloch off-line.
Here's a tip: hurry!
She hangs up quickly.
It's dark. Willow is lying on a table unconscious. She stirs briefly, then wakes up. After a moment, she sits up and looks around. Fritz and a technician are standing there, looking at her, a computer monitor glowing in the background. The camera begins to close on the monitor.
Welcome, my love. I can't tell you how good it is to see you...
A metal hand slams down on the monitor, imploding it. The camera pans up to reveal a hulking metallic robot with crude demonic features: Fritz, Dave and the others have built Moloch a body.
...with my own two eyes.
Willow recoils in terror.
Only now is it beginning to dawn on Willow how she has been fooled.
Willow.
Malcolm.
Fritz and the technician take her by the arms and hold her as Moloch moves closer.
This world is so new, so exciting. I can see all of it. Everything flows through me. I know the secrets of your kings. But nothing compares to having form again, to be able to walk, to touch, to kill.
He reaches out and breaks Fritz's neck. Willow watches the body go limp, like a puppet with its strings cut, and slump to the floor. She looks back up at Moloch, tears in her eyes.
Buffy lands in a crouch on the other side of the fence, catlike. Xander yells as he tumbles after her. Sighing, Buffy turns and helps him up.
Back way?
Back way.
They make for the rear entrance. Xander is limping badly.
Buffy kicks the doors open with tremendous force. They slam back against the walls-- one hanging drunkenly off its hinges. She strides in with deadly purpose.
Moloch has a smile in his voice. He's been expecting this.
Here they come.
Jenny is lighting candles in preparation for the ritual.
The first thing we have to do is form the Circle of Kayless, right?
Form a circle? But there's only two of us. That's really more of a line.
You're not getting it, Rupert. We have to form the circle inside. (she sits at the PC) I'm putting out a flash. I just hope enough of my group responds.
Won't Moloch just shut you down?
Well, I'm betting he won't figure out what we're doing until it's too late.
Hoping and betting... that's what we've got.
You want to throw in praying? Be my guest.
Willow tries to stall until help arrives.
I don't understand. What do you want from me?
I want to give you the world.
Why?
You created me. I brought these humans together to build me a body. But you gave me life. Took me out of the book that held me. I want to repay you.
By lying to me? By pretending to be a person? Pretending you loved me?
I do!
Buffy and Xander walk up to the security guard. Startled, he stands up to intercept them, but Buffy delivers a devastating punch to his head and he drops to the floor, unconscious. Xander notices the guard's security monitor.
Uh, Buffy!
She turns back to look and sees Willow.
It's her!
Yeah, who's the other guy?
Moloch truly wants Willow to understand him, but she's not buying it.
Don't you see? I can give you everything. I can control the world! Right now a man in Beijing is transferring money to a Swiss bank account for a contract on his mother's life. Good for him!
Buffy and Xander come rushing through the doors. She locates the door to the lab and tries to force it open.
I can't bust it. It's heavy steel.
Then let's find another way in.
He starts toward the next set of doors when an alarm goes off and red strobes start to flash. Xander runs to the door through which they came and tries it-- locked.
What's going on?
Buffy spies a security camera.
Building's security system is computerized.
Whoops.
A green gas begins to vent into the hall.
Jenny is typing furiously at the computer.
Almost there.
Couldn't you just stop Moloch by entering some computer virus?
You've seen way too many movies. Okay, we're up. You read, I type. Ready?
I am. 'By the power of the divine, by the essence of the word, I command you...'
Buffy and Xander are pounding on the doors. Xander begins to cough violently.
Willow is desperate now.
Let me leave...
But I love you.
Don't say that! That's a joke. You don't love anything.
You are mine!
I'm not yours. I'm never gonna be yours. Never!
Moloch lowers his head and considers for a moment while Willow watches and waits. Slowly, his eyes meet hers. In them, she sees her death.
Pity.
Giles is chanting loudly while Jenny types.
By the power of the Circle of Kayless, I command you... (re: her typing) Kayless with a 'K'.
Xander slides down the wall to the floor, almost unconscious. Buffy is still weakly hitting the door.
Moloch has Willow cornered. He reaches up and puts his hand on her head, his intention clear.
I'll miss you.
Willow screams.
Demon, come!
Moloch screams and lifts his arms in pain, letting go of Willow. He begins to shudder and writhe.
I command you!
With Moloch's concentration broken, Buffy succeeds in opening. She rushes into the room with Xander close behind and leaps into a jumping side kick. Her kick connects solidly with Moloch's chest producing only a dull thud. He barely staggers under her blow.
Ow... guy's made of metal!
The technician grabs Xander from behind and pulls him away. Buffy quickly gets up and assesses the situation while Moloch continues writhing in pain.
No, I won't go back!
Buffy grabs Willow's hand and they run headlong out of the lab.
Demon, COME!
The computer starts to spark and smoke.
Xander pushes the technician back into a wall, turns around and punches him out. He quickly follows the girls out.
Hey, I got to hit someone!
Moloch falls to his knees, weakening. His screams begin to fade, then die out.
A strong wind is blowing inside the room and the computer monitor is flashing randomly. Giles and Jenny watch the screen flicker until it finally comes goes blank. An acrid smoke curls out of the back of the monitor.
He's out of the Net. He's bound.
Giles picks up the book and opens it.
He's not in the book.
He's not in the book. Well, where is he?
Moloch slowly raises his head.
Buffy and Willow open a set of doors but reverse direction when a guard and two technicians start running toward them.
Let's go this way!
Wait!
Xander is still limping heavily. Suddenly Moloch crashes through the wall between them. He looks at Xander and backhands him in the face. Xander falls to the floor unconscious. Moloch turns and advances on the girls. He starts to swing at Buffy and she tries to block the hit, but he doesn't budge and just pushes her aside and into the wall. She slides to the floor, dazed.
I was omnipotent. I was everything! Now I'm trapped in this shell!
He reaches out to grab Buffy by the head.
Malcolm!
Moloch turns to face her. She has a fire extinguisher.
Remember me, your girlfriend?
She pounds the extinguisher into his chest hard enough to stagger him.
Well, I think it's time we break up!
She hits him again even harder.
Or maybe we can still be friends!
She tries again for his face but this time he grabs the extinguisher from her and throws it down. He seizes her and shoves her down the hall into Xander, who's just getting up again. They both crash to the floor. Buffy has recovered and stands up to face Moloch. He turns his attention to her.
This body is all I have left. But it's enough to crush you!
Buffy desperately looks around for a way to deal with him. She notices a power junction box on the wall. She faces him again and eases over in front of the box.
Take your best shot.
Moloch cocks his fist and swings as Buffy ducks. He punches right through the electrical box. As it shorts out, Moloch is enveloped by high-voltage electricity. Buffy runs over to Willow and Xander and shields them with her body. Moloch's circuitry overloads and his body explodes in a shower of sparks and shrapnel. His head lands right in front of them.
Jenny is working on her computer. Giles hesitantly walks in, clears his throat and knocks on the open door. She turns.
Well, look who's here! Welcome to my world. You scared?
I'm remaining calm, thank you. I just wanted to return this. (holds up a small twisted earring) I found it among the new books and naturally I thought of you.
Cool. Thanks.
He turns to leave.
Well, I'll see you anon.
Can't get out of here fast enough, can you?
Truthfully, I'm even less anxious to be around computers than I used to be.
Well, it was your book that started all the trouble, not a computer.
Realizing the truth of her words, Giles is at a loss.
Honestly, what is it about them that bothers you so much?
The smell.
Computer's don't smell, Rupert.
I know. Smell is the most powerful trigger to the memory there is. A certain flower or a whiff of smoke can bring up experiences long forgotten. Books smell... musty and rich. The knowledge gained from a computer, is... it has no texture, no context. It's there and then it's gone. If it's to last, then the getting of knowledge should be tangible, it should be ... smelly.
Well, you really are an old-fashioned boy, aren't you?
Well, I don't dangle a corkscrew from my ear.
That's not where I dangle it.
She walks past him and smiles wickedly. Giles is mortified and, to his astonishment, intrigued.
Xander and Buffy are trying to cheer up Willow.
We gonna go to the Bronze tonight? We three?
It'll be fun!
Yeah, Willow, fun? Remember fun? That thing where you smile?
Oh, I'm sorry guys. I'm just thinking about--
Malcolm?
Malcolm, Moloch... whatever he's called. The one boy that's really liked me and he's a demon robot. What does that say about me?
It doesn't say anything about you.
I mean, I thought I was really falling...
Hey, did you forget? The one boy I've had the hots for since I've moved here turned out to be a vampire.
Right, and the teacher I had a crush on? Giant praying mantis?
That's true.
Yeah, that's life on the Hellmouth.
Let's face it. None of us are ever gonna have a happy, normal relationship.
We're doomed.
Yeah.
They all laugh but their laughter quickly becomes nervous and then stops altogether. Only the sound of the running water is heard as they each consider their plight.