[Transcript of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" episode Anne at buffyology.com.]
Fade in on Andrew Hoelich's gravestone, then slowly pan down to the freshly turned earth before it. A bouquet of fresh flowers decorates the headstone. Suddenly a hand shoots out of the grave and claws for solid ground. It's Andrew and he slowly pulls himself out of his grave, reborn as a vampire. He snarls as his head emerges from the earth and works to free his legs from the tomb. Suddenly he stops and looks up at a pair of legs standing before him. He raises his head up to the stranger's face. Reveal WILLOW
That's right, big boy. (smiles) Come and get it.
Andrew hops to his feet and roars at her. Surprised, Willow stumbles backward and the vampire advances on her. XANDER grabs him by the collar of his suit and yanks him away from Willow. Andrew loses his balance and starts to fall.
I got him! Go!
OZ jumps out from behind a bush and starts to run toward them, but hesitates as he fumbles a stake from his jacket pocket.
Any time now...
Andrew has regains his equilibrium and using Xander for stability, kicks up and out with both legs, hitting Oz in the head. Oz stumbles backward and falls. Without pausing, Andrew leaps up and flips over Xander's head. Xander tries to rush him, but Andrew deflects him into Willow and they both go crashing to the ground. Willow moans and sits up to watch Andrew run away through the graveyard.
He's getting away! And... ow.
Oz scrambles to his feet and picks up his stake. He holds it by the tip, preparing to throw it like a knife. Andrew leaps over a rock and continues running. Oz throws the stake. It whistles through the air as it flies end over end and hits the rock, bouncing off of it with a loud thunk and flying wild.
That really never works.
Willow and Xander stand up and Oz turns to them.
Are you guys all right?
First of all, what was with the acrobatics? How did that happen?
Wasn't Andy Hoelich on the gymnastics team?
That's right, he was! (loud, to Andrew) Cheater! (to Willow) Okay, and the second problem I'm having... 'Come and get it, big boy'?
Well... (stammering) Well, the Slayer always says a pun or a witty play on words and I think it throws the vampires off and it makes them frightened because I'm wisecracking. Okay, I didn't really have a chance to work on that one, but you try it every time.
If I may suggest: 'This time it's personal.' I mean, there's a reason why it's a classic.
I've always been amazed with how Buffy fought but... in a way, I feel like we took her punning for granted.
Xander, past tense rule.
Oh, sorry. I just meant we in the past took it for granted and... we won't when she gets back.
Do you think Buffy knows school's starting tomorrow?
Tomorrow. Right. Big day.
Oh, I'm going to be busy a lot. But only till 3:00 and that's when you usually get up.
I can't wait to see Cordelia. (beat) I can't believe I can't wait to see Cordelia.
I wonder what our first homework assignment's going to be? (off Xander's look) Hey, you're excited over Cordelia, okay? We've all got issues.
I guess we should pack it in.
Yeah.
They start to head home.
Wouldn't it be great if Buffy just showed up tomorrow? Like nothing happened?
She can't just show up. She got kicked out.
Well yeah, I know. I just wish... I wish we knew where she was.
Wave crash on the sand. In the far distance, a pier stretches out into the water. BUFFY steps into view, walking barefoot across the sand. She stops and gazes out over the ocean. She closes her eyes and raises her head, enjoying the feel of the sun on her face and listening to the waves roll in.
Pan down from her face to her waist. A pair of hands reach around her and clasp in front and she covers them with hers. Pan back up to her face. She looks back at ANGEL and brushes her hand across his cheek.
How did you find me here?
If I was blind, I would see you.
She lowers her hand to take his again and closes her eyes. She wraps his arms tightly around her.
Stay with me.
Forever. That's the whole point. I'll never leave. (whispers) Not even if you kill me.
Buffy's expression shifts from content to horrified.
Buffy's tiny apartment is in a blighted inner-city neighborhood. She wakes from her dream and looks around sadly. Slowly she gets up and goes over to the window overlooking the street below.
Pan away from the window, past the sidewalk and into the street. A police siren grows louder and an instant later an LAPD squad car races across the intersection at the end of the block against the red light.
Opening credit sequence.
Behind the counter at a small, sleazy diner known as Helen's Kitchen. The cook shoves two burgers with fries on the pick-up counter. A waitress walks past the counter to hang an order on the spinner. Buffy walks behind her to pick up the two burgers. She's done her hair up in two short braids to keep it out of her way. She wears an expression of sadness and boredom as she takes the two plates, walks them over to a nearby table and sets them down in front of two roughneck types. They both eye her lecherously. Buffy takes out her order pad.
Anything else?
That'll do us, Peaches.
She tears off their bill and puts it on the table.
Pay at the counter.
Sure you don't want me to work it off for you?
The other roughneck laughs at his buddy's stunning witticism. Disgusted, Buffy walks away and as she goes, he reaches out with his hand and slaps her on the behind. Buffy stops in her tracks and the two men chuckle and look at her, daring her to do something. She considers a moment but thinks better of it and walks over to another table where a young couple, RICKIE and LILY, are sitting. They are so into each other, they hardly notice Buffy.
You guys ready?
Rickie doesn't even look up at first.
Yeah. I think we're good. Um... (looks at Buffy's name tag) Anne.
Buffy glances at them briefly, then looks down at her pad to take their order.
What'll you have?
Rickie reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handful of change.
Well, okay... what can we get with this?
He dumps the change onto the table. It's mostly pennies, a few nickels and dimes, no quarters. Buffy looks dubious.
Can we get cake?
Don't be stupid. We gotta eat healthy. We can't have cake. (to Buffy) Can we get pie?
We've got a peach pie. I can't guarantee there's a peach in it.
We shouldn't have blown all our money.
Come on, it was worth it.
Lily smiles. Rickie looks up at Buffy and the two of them hold out their forearms.
Hey, check this out.
Buffy looks down and sees they each have a tattoo of half of a heart with a ribbon across it. On their respective halves of the ribbon they have the other's name tattooed.
It's nice. It's nice and... permanent.
Yeah, forever. I mean, that's the whole point.
Lily looks at him and smiles and Buffy looks away sadly. A moment later she looks up at Lily and a spark of recognition crosses her face. Lily looks up at Buffy and the same thing happens.
Hey, do I know you?
I don't think so.
Really? Where are you from?
I'll get your pie.
Lily watches as Buffy heads for the cash register, but Rickie distracts her and they are in their own little world again. At the register Buffy puts down the order. The other waitress looks over at her as she unties her apron.
I'm not feeling great. Do you think you can cover for me?
Sure. Okay.
Buffy spares Rickie and Lily one last look and ducks out of the diner.
Various students are perusing the stacks, looking for the books they will need during the semester. Willow and GILES emerge from the stacks on the mezzanine level. Willow has several books in her arms.
So no joy at the cemetery?
No, he got away. We still have some glitches in the system, like... vampires getting away. But I think we're improving.
Giles moves behind the check-out counter.
For god's sake be careful. I mean, I appreciate your efforts to keep the vampire population down until Buffy returns, but... well, if anything should happen to you and... you should be killed, I should take it somewhat amiss.
Giles checks Willow's books out.
You'd be cranky?
Entirely.
Well, we try not to get killed. That's part of our whole mission statement. 'Don't get killed.'
Good. (re: one of her books) I think you're going to love that one.
The phone in Giles' office rings and he goes to answer it. Willow picks her books up and starts out of the library but before she can take more than a few steps, CORDELIA walks up to her.
Hi!
Hey, Willow.
How was your summer?
Oh, I can't believe you brought that up. Las Palmas was the nightmare resort. They order you around and make you have organized 'fun'-- and I used sarcastic quote marks. Plus the fact there are cockroaches in Mexico big enough to own property. It was all about dread. How was your summer?
Oh, it was okay.
They walk through the library doors and out into the hall.
Is Xander around?
Well, yeah. Somewhere.
Good. Great. I haven't seen him yet. (fixes her hair) Do I look okay?
Oh, yeah!
How's my hair?
It's good!
He didn't meet anybody over the summer, did he? No-- who's he going to meet in Sunnydale but monsters and stuff? But then again, he's always been attracted to monsters. (worried) How's my hair?
Still good.
Willow turns to leave and spots Oz.
Hi!
Cordelia grabs Willow's arm and turns her back around to face her.
Maybe he's forgotten me. Well, I'll just have to make him remember. (smiles) See ya.
You came to visit me. (re: his books) You came with books? Are they books for me?
Well, actually, they're kind of for me.
I don't get it.
Well, it's sort of a funny story. You remember when I didn't graduate?
Well, I know you had a lot of incompletes, but that's what summer school was for.
Yeah. Well, you remember when I didn't go?
Two students dash past them, drawing the ire of a passing teacher.
Whoa. Slow down, people. Summer is over. Be somber.
But you never said anything. How am I supposed to react to this rather alarming news?
Well, actually, I was pretty much banking on you finding it cute.
Well, traditionally, you know, repeating a grade isn't exactly a turn-on. And you're practically a genius. You're Mr. Test Scores. It's all a little weird.
So the cute thing is out?
Xander rushes up to them.
Have you guys seen Cordelia?
Yeah. She's around here somewhere.
I don't want to come on too geeky, but... okay, I'm psyched! There's going to be some heat, if you know what I mean, so you guys might want to duck and cover. (off Willow's look) And I'm starting to be geeky. Okay, bye. (hesitates) How's my--
Your hair is fine.
Cool.
He darts away, in search of the object of his desire.
LARRY and his teammate run through the lounge, hyped and excited.
This is our year, I'm telling you. Best football season ever. I'm so in shape, I'm a rock. It's all about egg whites. If we can focus, keep discipline and not have quite as many mysterious deaths, Sunnydale is gonna rule!
Willow and Oz head for the opposite side of the room.
I'm trying to get to cute, really. But I'm still sorta stuck on 'strange'.
Well, I'd be willing to bargain down to 'eccentric' with an option on 'cool'.
Behind them, Xander and Cordelia finally meet. None of their previous enthusiasm is in evidence as they both try to out-cool each other and feign nonchalance.
Hey!
Hey.
Good summer?
It was all right.
Cool!
Yeah.
Well, I'll see ya.
Yeah, whatever.
They move off in opposite directions, both surprised and hurt by their complete lack of a passionate reunion.
Buffy is sitting calmly on the edge of her bed in her nightshirt, holding a can of Spaghetti-O's in her lap. She is staring blankly at the far wall, breathing calmly.
Buffy approaches the diner dejectedly. A homeless man is sitting on the curb and KEN, the local shelter operator, approaches the man and crouches down beside him, holding out one of his leaflets.
Hey, how are you? Can I talk to you for a moment? I have something you might be interested in.
Buffy continues walking and passes a store with a recessed entryway. A HOMELESS WOMAN is cowering there.
I'm no one.
Buffy stops and looks down at the woman.
I'm no one.
Buffy looks away and hides her face with her hair.
I'm no one.
Giles is on the phone in his office.
Yes? Thank you, thank you.
He hangs up, grabs his coat and rushes out of the office.
I have a lead.
Willow and Xander look up from their homework.
A friend in Oakland has a sketchy report of a young girl fending off a group of vampires about a week ago. There's a plane out in about an hour.
Willow and Xander look dubious.
And what makes this different from the last nine leads?
Well, there's a meal on this flight.
Look, I don't mean to poop the party here, it's just you get your hopes all up and then it's just a big fat raspberry and I feel bad.
But it's good that you're looking, though. You shouldn't give up.
Oh, yeah. Definitely.
Yes, one must try. Well, I should go.
He bolts from the library, heading for the airport.
You don't think maybe he'll find her?
I think he'll find her when she wants to be found.
After a moment they go back to their homework.
Buffy walks morosely along the street toward her apartment. Behind her, Lily follows.
Anne?
Buffy doesn't respond.
Anne?
Still no response from Buffy.
Buffy?
Buffy stops in her tracks and Lily catches up to her.
Don't be mad. I won't turn you in or nothing. I guess you don't recognize me.
Lily?
I mean from before. I was calling myself Chantarelle then. I used to... (sighs) Well, I was in this cult that worshipped vampires. So lame, I know.
Yeah... I remember.
But... you kinda saved us. I never thanked you or anything.
Did you tell anyone who I was?
Oh, no! Not even Rickie. I mean, I was so surprised to see you here, waiting tables... but I wouldn't tell. I know how it is when you gotta get lost.
Do you... live nearby?
Well, there's a couple of places. They're abandoned and a lot of people stay there. (beat) So how come you came up with "Anne"?
It's my middle name.
"Lily"'s from a song. Rickie picked it. I'm always changing anyway. Chantarelle was part of my exotic phase.
It's nice. It's a mushroom.
It is? That's really embarrassing.
Well, it's an exotic mushroom if that's any comfort.
Well, before that, I was following this loser preacher and calling myself Sister Sunshine.
What do they call you at home?
Lily says nothing and looks away.
I like Lily.
It's cool for now. Hey, do you have any money? (off Buffy's look) I didn't mean that like... well, I just mean... I know this guy. He's going to have this kinda rave thing in his basement. We could go. I mean, I could show you if you had... 'cause I'm broke.
I don't think so. I just kind of... I want to be alone.
I didn't mean to bug you.
No! I didn't-- I didn't mean that, it's just... well, a lot of people like that... it's too much.
Lily looks disappointed and Buffy starts to dig through her purse.
I do have the money, though... so why don't you and Rickie go and then maybe I could meet you some other time...
Lily waves off the offer.
No. It's okay, it's okay. Forget about it. Just--
A homeless MAN suddenly pushes his way between them.
That's not very polite.
The man turns around and looks blankly back at them.
Are you okay?
I'm no one.
He turns around and walks into the street, directly into oncoming traffic. Buffy's eyes widen with concern. The man stops in front of an oncoming pickup truck and faces it, arms stretched wide. Buffy drops her bag and rushes into the street as the pickup driver honks his horn and slams on the brakes. The truck starts to skid and Buffy shoves the man out of the way in time to save him, but not in time to avoid getting hit herself. The bumper slams hard into her legs, her body snaps down onto the hood of the truck and she slides into the windshield. She bounces back and slides off of the hood onto the pavement as the truck screeches to a halt. She flips over backward and rolls to a stop in the middle of the street.
The DRIVER quickly gets out of the pickup cab and runs over to Buffy lying in the street but Lily reaches her first. Buffy is on her hands and knees trying to stand as bystanders from all around rush into the street.
Are you okay?
Jeez, I didn't see you.
He takes Buffy by the arms and helps her up.
Oh... maybe you shouldn't move.
Maybe you should lie down.
Buffy looks around nervously at all of the people gathering.
No, I'm fine.
Somebody call an ambulance!
Buffy holds up her hands to fend off everyone's help.
No! I'm okay, I just... I need to go.
She runs off, apparently not the least bit hurt.
Farther down the street. Buffy is walking at a brisk pace as she rounds the corner and bumps into Ken, knocking his leaflets out of his arms and onto the sidewalk.
Whoa! Oh--
They both crouch down to pick up the papers.
Where are you running to?
Sorry.
Maybe I should ask, where are you running from?
As they stand back up, Ken takes a good look at Buffy.
You're pretty new around here. You've got the 'look', though.
The 'look'?
Like you had to grow up way too fast. What's your name?
Anne.
She pushes past him.
Hey, I'm Ken. Here... go ahead, take one of these.
He holds out a leaflet, and Buffy looks at it. It reads "Come home to Family Home" and has a drawing of a house and a silhouette of a man reaching out to hug a child.
Don't be shy about stopping by. I mean, I guess you're not starving but... we're not just interested in feeding the body. You might find something you're missing.
I'm all right.
Then why are you here? This is not a good place for a kid to be. You get old fast here. The thing that drains the life out of them is despair. I mean, kids come here and they got nothing to go home to and... this ends up being the last stop for a lot of them. Shouldn't have to be that way.
A soulful tune plays over a montage of the back alleys and side streets of the City of Angels. We see the disenfranchised and homeless littering the streets like refuse:
A woman alone in the street
A boy and girl huddled together on the curb
A young boy begging from a businessman who rejects him
as he walks byA woman with a dirty face and a thousand-yard stare.
A live band is on stage playing the ballad tracked over the previous scene. It's not a busy night; the crowd is sparse. Xander and Willow sit and listen to the music, sipping drinks.
Boy, I'm glad we showed up for 'Depressing Night'.
I wonder what she's doing right now.
Oh, I know what she's doing. Gabbing to all of her friends about her passionate affair with Pedro the Cabana Boy, laughing about me, thinking how she still might have feelings about me. (off Willow's look) Oh... it's possible you were talking about Buffy.
It's possible. The Bronze just never seems the same without her.
Oz arrives, hands Xander a drink and sits down next to Willow.
Yeah, and the slaying isn't getting any easier either.
I don't know. I think we're kinda getting a rhythm down.
We're losing half the vamps.
Yeah, but... rhythmically.
We just need to work on our timing, I think.
No, I know what we need.
A Vampire Slayer?
Next best thing.
Willow follows his gaze to Cordelia striding into the Bronze with her friends in tow.
Bait.
Establishing.
JOYCE is writing out a few bills. She hears a knocking at the door and looks up, then goes over and answers it. She is surprised to find Giles.
Hello...
Hello. May I...?
Oh, of course. Come on in.
Thank you. I've just come back from Oakland. A friend of mine called with a lead. Stories about someone fighting vampires. It didn't pan out, I'm afraid.
No Buffy.
No vampires. Bunch of school kids in heavy mascara listening to extremely silly music.
Well, thank you for going. I can hardly... I can hardly leave the house. I'm just afraid she'll call and she'll need my help.
Buffy is the most capable child I've ever known. I mean, she may be confused, unhappy, but I honestly believe she's in no danger.
I just wish I could talk to her. The last thing we did was fight.
Joyce, you mustn't blame yourself for her leaving.
I don't. (beat) I blame you. You've been this huge influence on her, guiding her. You had this whole relationship with her behind my back. I feel like you've taken her away from me.
Giles considers a moment before answering.
I didn't make Buffy who she is.
And who exactly is she?
Buffy fills the sugar dispensers at the counter as Lily enters and approaches her.
Buff-- Anne? Can I talk to you?
Buffy glances up at her but doesn't stop her work.
Look, this really isn't a good time. Can it wait?
Rickie's gone. I haven't seen him for more than a day. I... he's never left for that long. I think something's... happened. Maybe something's happened.
Well, did you call the police?
Rickie skipped out on his parole. They would just cause more trouble.
I don't know, did you ask around?
Can you help me?
I can't.
But... that's who you are and stuff, right? I mean, you help people and you know...
I can't get into this. I'm sorry, Lily.
You know how to do stuff.
I don't. Not anymore.
But... I don't know what to do.
Lily and Buffy enter together.
We gave blood lots of times 'cause you get a few bucks. And they have cookies!
You're a fan of the sugar rush?
It's nice.
A NURSE approaches the two girls.
Hi. Are you here to donate blood?
We're looking for a friend.
Rickie T.? We come in sometimes.
Rickie, sure. He's not here.
Well, do you know if he's been in the last day or so?
Well, let me check the sheet.
The nurse moves off to check her files.
This'll probably go faster if we split up.
Can I come with you?
Okay, where did I lose you on the whole splitting-up thing?
Oh. Sorry.
I was thinking we could check out some of your hangouts and, I guess, meet later at my place.
Okay.
Sorry, guys. He hasn't been here.
Thanks.
I'll tell him you were looking.
Great.
The girls leave the blood bank. After they're gone, the nurse drops her friendly smile and watches them go with a steely gaze.
A homeless man stirs from his sleep as Buffy walks in. After he sees she's not the cops, he goes back to sleep.
Buffy makes her way through the building, being careful not to step on anyone. Some of the residents watch her carefully as she moves past.
She walks slowly down a dark hall and stumbles across an old man lying on the floor, dead. Next to his head is an empty bottle of drain cleaner, an apparent suicide. Buffy kneels next to him and feels his wrist for a pulse. Nothing. She lowers his arm and notices a tattoo of half a heart on his forearm with a banner and the name "Lily" on it. Buffy stares at the old man, confused.
Rickie?
Lily waits for Buffy to return. She picks up Buffy's stuffed duck and pets it. Buffy finally enters.
Did you find Rickie? I thought of... well, he likes to go to this movie house. You can get in around the back--
Lily... I think he's dead.
But... he takes care of me.
I'm sorry.
We're going to get a place. His cousin can get him a job at the car wash.
Lily, there's... something else. The person that I found... was old. He looked about eighty.
Well, that's not Rickie!
I'm sure it was. I don't know how but... it was like something drained the life out of him.
Do you mean like a vampire?
No. A vampire couldn't accelerate the aging process. Maybe it was something in his blood. (considers) When was the last time you guys gave blood together?
I don't understand. Maybe it's not Rickie, okay?
Lily, this is something you're just going to have to deal with.
But he didn't do anything wrong! Why would this happen to him?
That's not the point. These things happen all the time. You can't just... close your eyes and hope that they're going to go away.
Is it because of you?
What?
You know about monsters and stuff. You could have brought this with you.
I didn't bring anything with me. And I didn't ask for you to come to me with your problems. I just wanted to be left alone. If you can't deal, then don't lay it off on me!
Lily turns and runs out of the apartment.
Lily stops walking and leans against the iron gates pulled across a storefront. Ken walks up behind her.
Are you okay?
Lily shakes her head, barely able to keep from crying.
Hey, it's okay. Maybe I can help.
You can't.
Look, I know you all think I'm a big square, handing out leaflets about hope. But hope is a real thing, just like despair. And hope can fill up a part of you that's missing.
But Rickie is--
Rickie? Say, are you Lily? (smiles) Right! He was talking about you.
You've seen Rickie?
Oh, sure! Rickie's with us now.
She said he was dead.
Well, someone's sure handed you a tall tale. Rickie's no more dead than I am. Why don't you come to Family Home? We'll get you taken care of.
Lily considers for a moment. Ken smiles at her and she nods in agreement. He takes her by the arm and leads her away.
A shadow appears on the other side of the frosted glass of the door. Pan down to the doorknob jiggling. Suddenly it is ripped out of the door.
A filing cabinet. Buffy is searching for Rickie's records. She finds it and takes it and a few others over to a desk. She turns on a lamp and begins to leaf through them. She opens Rickie's file first, scanning his latest donation form. It looks normal except for the word "candidate" in the "Comments" box.
Candidate for what?
Behind Buffy, the nurse quietly walks in. Buffy opens another record and sees "candidate" again.
What are you doing?
Breaking into your office and going through your private files. (re: file) Candidate for what?
I'm calling the police.
She goes for the phone and Buffy reaches over and yanks it off of the wall.
Now, you've got a whole bunch of candidates here. I wonder if any of them are missing like Rickie. Gosh, I bet they are.
You're getting yourself in a lot of trouble.
I don't want any trouble. I just want to be alone and quiet in a room with a chair and a fireplace and a tea cozy. I don't even know what a tea cozy is, but I want one. Instead, I keep getting trouble, which I am more than willing to share. What are you doing with these kids?
Nothing. I just... I give him the names of the healthy ones.
Give them to who?
Ken looks at Lily who is wearing only a simple white tunic.
Well, don't you look nice?
I guess.
Well, you don't want to wear your own outfit to the cleansing. It'll get soaked.
A cleansing is like a baptism? Right?
Not quite the same.
He indicates the way and she follows him.
Will I see Rickie after?
Oh, of course. He's waiting for you. He's very excited.
Xander, Cordelia, Willow and Oz walk along a dark pathway. Oz is twirling a stake.
Why do I have to be bait? I'm always bait. Why can't Willow be bait?
He's already seen Willow. And could you complain louder so that all the vampires leave?
I think this is a good spot.
They all stop and look around nervously.
Is everybody packin'?
Willow and Xander each pull out a stake. Willow also has a cross.
Let's do it.
Willow, Oz and Xander split up and look for places to hide, leaving Cordelia alone out in the open. After a moment, Cordelia bolts after Xander.
I'm doing this for Buffy's sake. This has nothing to do with you.
Yeah, like I needed that cleared up. Go away. This is my hiding spot.
Where do I hide?
You don't hide. You're bait. Go act baity.
What's the plan?
The vampire attacks you.
And then what?
The vampire kills you. We watch, we rejoice.
Everything's a joke with you.
No, just our relationship.
What relationship?
Willow looks down at her stake, contemplating using it on the two of them when Andrew rises up behind her smiling wickedly.
Oh, that's right, I forgot. We actually want to bury that piece of the past, don't we?
Unnoticed by anyone, Andrew quietly moves toward Willow.
CU on a small rectangular pool of a black tar-like substance. Pan up from it to Ken and Lily walking into the room.
We come to this station to wash away the past. Go ahead, kneel.
He indicates the edge of the pool and Lily kneels down. Ken squats next to her.
We let the water run over the sin and the pain and the uncertainty.
It looks kinda... dirty.
Yeah.
The front door of Family Home. A man is listening to Buffy talk.
You know, I just... I woke up, and I looked in the mirror and I thought, "Hey, what's with all the sin?" I need to change. I'm... I'm dirty. I'm bad with the... sex and the envy and that loud music us kids listen to nowadays. Why-- oh, I just suck at undercover. Where's Ken?
The man tries to slam the door in Buffy's face but she kicks it back at him, smashing him in the head and sending him to the floor. She strides purposefully in, searching for Ken.
Ken watches as Lily reaches down to the black water in the pool. For a moment she hesitates, then puts her hand in. The liquid is thick and pitch-black and her arm disappears in it up to the elbow. The door bangs loudly into the wall as Buffy walks in. Surprised, Ken stands and confronts her.
This is a private moment. If you could just--
How do you make 'em old, Ken? Do you feed on youth? What's the deal?
Do you really want to know?
What's going on?
As Buffy registers Lily's presence, something grabs her from within the pit and she screams as she is pulled into the pool, disappearing into the black slime. As Buffy runs to help, Ken grabs her in a choking headlock. Buffy tries to fight back but only succeeds in losing her balance. Both she and Ken topple into the black ichor after Lily.
Buffy and Ken fall out of an identical black pool in the ceiling. Buffy briefly looks up at the pool, then takes in her surroundings. She sees Lily leaning against the wall holding her head.
Lily...
She rolls over onto her hands and knees and quickly crawls over to Lily. Ken is faring worse, apparently hurt in the fall.
Oh...
Buffy looks up at the pool in the ceiling. It is beginning to calm into a smooth reflective obsidian surface.
Oh, my face!
Buffy looks over at Ken.
Ow! My face!
He turns toward them and begins to pull his face and his hair off.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to glue that thing on?
He continues to tear off bits and pieces of his human face, revealing a ghoul beneath: his face is a bright burned red and his head is bald. There appear to be pieces of skin missing from his forehead, revealing raw flesh beneath. Lily begins to panic. Buffy gets to her feet and tries to pull Lily up with her as Ken stands up to confront them.
Guards!
Buffy takes Lily's hand and begins to run, pulling her along the corridor after her. Two guards enter and their faces are even more mangled and raw-looking than Ken's. One of the guards hands Ken a club and they begin to pursue the girls.
Buffy and Lily run through a maze of halls and emerge onto a ledge.
The ledge overlooks what looks to be a large iron works. There are huge vats of molten metal, sparks are flying through the air and it is hot and smoky. Buffy looks closer and in the shadows sees people being used as slave labor, kept in line by more guards with whips. Pan across the vast room, revealing zombie-like humans pounding metal on anvils, pushing wheelbarrows from place to place and swinging sledgehammers. Some of them cough and stumble as they work. The guards watch and crack their whips every so often. Ken comes up behind Lily as she takes in the scene.
Welcome to my world. I hope you like it.
Buffy and Lily look back at him. He hits Buffy hard in the face with his club, knocking her out.
You're never leaving.
He smiles and licks his lips.
Cordelia and Xander are still arguing.
Let me ask: how long did it take you to forget me? Were you still taxiing down the runway or was it actually in the cab?
Oh, yeah! Mr. Faithful? You probably met up with some hot little Inca mummy girl. (off his look) Yeah! I heard about her.
Xander raises his finger at her and is about to respond when Willow is tackled to the ground and screams in fright.
Help!
Willow immediately has their undivided attention and they run to her aid. Oz beats them there and he jumps at Andrew, using his momentum to pull him off Willow. As Andrew and Willow both quickly get to their feet, Oz holds up his stake, ready to attack. Willow bolts as Oz lunges at Andrew, but the vampire easily deflects the blow and shoves Oz sprawling to the ground. Xander attacks next, struggling valiantly with the vampire who is clearly stronger than Xander and slowly starts to gain the upper hand. Cordelia stands by, watching worriedly.
Xander!
Finally, she can't take it anymore and decides to join the fight, jumping Andrew from behind and pushing him and Xander down to the ground. They end up with Andrew sandwiched between them. With Cordelia's weight on top of him, the
vampire can't hold back Xander's stake any longer and it plunges into his chest. He explodes into ashes and disappears, dropping Cordelia on top of Xander. The two of them look at each other for an instant, then kiss passionately.
Buffy is lying on the floor of the cell. Lily is sitting behind her leaning against a pillar. Buffy regains consciousness, rolls onto her side and holds her head where Ken hit her. No blood, but she is still a bit dazed.
Oh... (slowly sits up) Lily...
I always knew I would come here... sooner or later. I knew I belonged here.
Where?
Hell.
This isn't Hell.
Ken appears at the bars of the cell.
Isn't it?
Buffy whips her head around toward Ken but quickly regrets moving so fast.
What is Hell but the total absence of hope? The substance, the tactile proof of despair. You're right, Lily. This is where you've been heading all your life. Just like Rickie.
Rickie...?
He forgot you. Well, it took him a long time. He remembered your name years after he'd forgotten his own. But in the end...
Years? But...
Oh, interesting thing: time moves more quickly here than in your reality. A hundred long years will pass here. On Earth, it's just a day.
So you just work us till we're too old and spit us back out?
That's the plan. See, Lily, you'll die of old age before anyone wonders where you went. Not that anyone will. That's why we chose you.
You didn't choose me.
No. But I know you... Anne. So afraid. So pathetically determined to run away from whatever it is you used to be; to disappear. Congratulations. You got your wish.
The huge steel door of an industrial elevator splits open, the upper half rising, the lower half sinking. A group of young slaves, including Buffy and Lily, is herded out. Buffy trips and falls to the floor. The other slaves stop walking. A DEMON GUARD approaches and starts to explain things to the new recruits as Buffy slowly gets back to her feet.
You work, and you live. That is all.
The guard has even less skin on his head than Ken, just a few patches around his eyes and across the top of his head sewn together. His chin and cheeks are exposed flesh and muscle and he has no lips covering his teeth. Buffy is standing again, holding her head in pain.
You do not complain or laugh or do anything besides work. Whatever you thought, whatever you were does not matter. You are no one now. You mean nothing.
The guard walks to one end of the group and faces a BOY standing there. Behind them the elevator doors close with a slam.
Who are you?
Aaron.
The guard pounds him with his club and the boy grunts in pain and falls to the floor, unconscious. Buffy immediately sobers and stares intensely ahead. The guard moves to Lily.
Who are you?
No one.
The guard continues to the next person.
Who are you?
No one.
The guard stands before Buffy.
Who are you?
She looks up at him for a moment and then smiles.
I'm Buffy. The Vampire Slayer. And you are?
The guard, incensed at her insubordination, roars and swings his club at Buffy, but she sidesteps him and grabs his arm as he bends over from his follow-through. In one swift motions, Buffy breaks the guards arm and as he falls to the floor in pain, she picks up his club and swings it at another approaching guard, striking him in the head. She swings again the opposite way at a third guard, hitting him in the gut. They both fall unconscious. Buffy looks over at the group of would-be slaves.
Anyone who's not having fun here, follow me.
She starts to run and the group follows her.
Overhead shot of the main iron works from above. The vats of molten metal glow brightly and there are sparks flying everywhere as the slaves toil below. Pan up to a ledge where two guards are oversee the work. As we close on a guard walking down a metal staircase, we see Buffy and the small group hiding beneath it.
There's no way we can get back up there without meeting new people. (to Lily) Okay. Lily, when those guards leave, and they will leave, I want you to take these people and get them up there, okay? Fast and quiet.
You're leaving me? But--
Lily... you can handle this. Because I say so.
Suddenly a siren begins to wail loudly.
We've gone public. Okay, quick, get them up. Go! Quiet!
Lily begins to lead them away but comes back.
I'm sorry I said this was your fault before.
Lily, this can wait.
Well, in case we die...
Go! Go!
Lily leads the group out. Buffy sees two guards coming for them and draws their attention from the fleeing slaves. She runs through the other slaves still mindlessly working away. She hooks onto a vertical pole, swings around once and knocks one of the pursuing guards to the ground with an aerial side kick, then runs off again.
She reaches a raised platform, mounts it and engages one of the demon guards who comes at her with a sledgehammer. She trades blows with the guard but he's not match for strength and agility and she quickly dispatches him and raises his weapon against the other pursuing guards.
Lily leading the group to a set of stairs. She ushers them up.
C'mon, c'mon, everybody go! Go!
One after the other they quickly climb the stairs with Lily bringing up the rear.
Buffy fighting a phalanx of demon guards. She dispatches one after another but they keep coming for her.
A ledge overlooking the ironworks. Ken and two more guards arrive in response to the commotion. Ken can't believe what he is seeing.
Buffy sends a guard spinning off the platform and turns to face a new attacker wielding a battle ax with a wickedly curved blade.
Ken on the ledge.
Humans don't fight back.
Buffy on the platform.
A guard tries to pound Buffy's head with his club but she blocks the blow and hurls the creature across the room. The demon with battle-ax continues to circle, sizing her up.
Humans don't fight back!
The guard with the battle-ax is up on the platform now and takes a wide swing at Buffy but she ducks aside and he misses.
That's how this works!
Buffy blocks the demon's attack with her hammer and knocks the weapon out of the guard's grip, sending it spinning up into the air. She sweeps the guard's legs out from under him with the hammer then catches the airborne battle ax as it falls. She snatches up a hammer as well, then leaps to her feet and kicks the guard off the platform.
Get down there!
The two guards jump to action.
Buffy squares off in a fighting stance with the battle-ax and hammer and stares hard at the guards, cold steel in her eyes: the Slayer is back.
A burly guard charges her and jumps up onto the platform. Buffy launches herself at him, raining a devastating series of blows down on him and sending him crashing to the floor. She spins and throws the battle-ax end over end, burying it deeply into the chest of a guard running at her from behind.
The guards continue to attack her individually and in groups and she makes quick work of them all.
The ledge. Ken is disgusted with his troops' performance and turns to away.
The platform. One of the guards smashes Buffy hard in the face and she staggers. He seizes her by the neck and yanks her head up fast and hard, holding her while two others punch her in the stomach.
Lily leads the group of fleeing slaves around a corner when Ken grabs her from behind, pulls out a large knife and holds it to her neck. She doesn't struggle as he leads her back toward the ledge.
Buffy breaks the guards' hold on her and lashing out with ferocity, dispatching them all in quick order. She jumps off the platform, grabbing a pole. It bends under her weight and she rides it down to the floor below. She begins to run and the chase is on again but she doesn't get very far before she notices Ken up on the ledge holding the knife to Lily's neck. Buffy stops in her tracks and the guards chasing her quickly catch up and take her by the arms.
One of you fights... and you all die!
He pushes Lily aside and stares intently down at Buffy.
That... was not... permitted.
Yeah, but it was fun.
You've got guts. I think I'd like to slice you open and play with them.
He holds up his knife and addresses everyone in the area.
Let everyone know!
Lily cowers behind him and Ken seems to have forgotten that she's there.
This is the price of rebell--
Lily rushes up and pushes him forward. Ken falls screaming from the high ledge to the floor below. His body hits with a loud thud and Buffy gives Lily a surprised look, then takes advantage of the distraction and punches both her captors, one in the face and the other in the groin. She breaks free and jumps high into the air, grabbing hold of a heavy chain hanging from above. She climbs it hand-over-hand up to the ledge where Lily is still standing.
Buffy and Lily run through the door and quickly find their way to the others, struggling with a heavy iron gate.
They'll be coming.
Buffy crouches down and takes hold of the gate, bracing herself for a very heavy lift. Straining hard, she begins to slowly raise the gate.
Okay... this... works... the abs... and... the glutes.
As soon as she gets it high enough, Lily motions the others to crawl underneath. They all scramble to the other side.
I'm gonna feel this for a week!
She holds the gate up over her head and squeezes her head and shoulders between two of the bars. Suddenly Ken appears behind her, bloodied from his fall, and tackles her to the floor. His club goes flying and the gate falls down behind him. He screams in pain. Buffy rolls to a stop and looks over at him. Pan from his
bloody face to his legs, to reveal two of the gate's bars impaled through his calves, pinning him to the floor.
The slaves help each other up through the black slime of the pool in the ceiling. Buffy gets to her feet and picks up Ken's club. She approaches him and he struggles to look up at her.
You've ruined... you...
Hey, Ken, want to see my impression of Gandhi?
She swings the club high and brings it down hard on Ken's head, crushing his skull. Lily walks up behind Buffy and looks down at Ken in disgust.
Gandhi?
Well, you know, if he was really pissed off.
The former slaves make their way out of the room. Lily is kneeling by the pool helping Buffy out. She yanks her legs from the slime and rolls onto the floor. They both stand up and look down at the pool.
What do we do about--
With a flash of light, the pool disappears, replaced by a tiled and empty ceremonial pool. The two girls just stare at it in wonder.
Buffy finishes cleaning up in the kitchen. Lily is looking at the folding doors that separate the kitchen from the rest of the apartment.
Let me give you the tour.
She walks into the main room and slowly turns to face Lily.
This concludes our tour.
It's really nice.
All the rent's paid up for the next three weeks.
She turns around and opens one of the dresser drawers, taking out her waitress uniform.
I spoke to Mitch at the diner. He said you can start on Thursday. He's... kind of... repulsive but he won't give you a hard time.
Lily sits down on the bed and puts her hand on the uniform.
I'll call and check up on you.
I'm not... great at taking care of myself.
Gets easier. Takes practice.
Lily looks sadly down at the uniform and the name tag pinned to it.
Hey... can I be 'Anne'?
Buffy smiles warmly at her.
Joyce tries to pry a stuck utensil out of the dishwasher. There's a knock at the door and Joyce looks up, startled. She frowns at the fork she's pulled out and
puts it down, then gets up, grabs a towel and heads for the front door, wiping her hands.
She pauses a moment, suddenly wondering who it might be. Joyce opens the door to find Buffy looking sad, tired and disheveled. For a long moment they just look at each other without saying a word. Then they embrace tightly.