[Transcript of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" episode Amends at buffyology.com.]
Christmas time; snow on the ground. The people in the streets are dressed in warm cloaks. A horse-drawn carriage goes by.
DANIEL, a very worried young man, hurries along the street. He constantly looks over his shoulder as if checking for a pursuer. He passes a group of carolers singing Silent Night but pays them no mind. He pushes his way through the a crowd, earning him a few mild curses.
Suddenly a pair of arms shoots out from a dark alley and pulls him in. He is thrown to the snow-covered cobblestones and when he looks up to see who his attacker is, he finds ANGELUS standing over him, yellow eyes blazing, fangs glistening.
Daniel. Where were you going?
You! You're not human.
Not of late, no.
What do you want?
Well, it happens that I'm hungry, Daniel, and seeing as that you're somewhat in me debt...
Please, I can't!
A man playing at cards should have a natural intelligence or a great deal of money and you're sadly lacking in both.
Daniel tries to flee but Angelus seizes him by the coat and roars.
So I take me winnings me own way.
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures--
Daniel, be of good cheer. It's Christmas!
Angelus savagely tears into the young man's throat.
ANGEL wakes from the dream with a start. He sits up in bed, wondering...
In the window of an audio/video store, a TV is tuned to the weather.
It's going to be sunny and warm with temperatures continuing in the high 70s throughout the holiday weekend. Just a little warm to light the Yule log but it should make for a very nice Christmas.
Angel walks briskly past the shop window and crosses the street. Somewhere on the block, a group of carolers sing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Angel passes a bell-ringing Santa Claus collecting for the Salvation Army as a passerby drops some coins into his pot.
Merry Christmas!
Angel stops short when he unexpectedly runs into BUFFY.
Hi.
Angel...
Awkward silence.
So are you shopping?
She realizes how silly that sounds.
You're probably not shopping.
I couldn't sleep.
Vampires probably not that big on Christmas, now that I think about it.
Not as a rule.
But you're good?
I'm all right. You?
Yeah! (smiles) Yeah, I'm good. I was just getting some Christmas gifts for the gang.
Angel's attention is drawn to the street behind Buffy. He sees an apparition of Daniel looking sadly back at him.
I'd better go before the magick store closes.
Angel and Daniel exchange a long look, then Daniel walks away. Buffy notices Angel's distraction.
Angel?
She looks around and sees nothing, then turns back to Angel.
What is it?
To her shock, Angel is frozen with fear.
Opening credit sequence.
The bell rings and students begin to pour out of the classrooms into the halls. Buffy, WILLOW and XANDER head toward the girls' lockers.
And then he just bailed. He didn't say anything. He just took off. It was so weird.
Angel? Weird? What are the odds?
Do you think something's wrong? Maybe you should tell Giles.
No. I don't want to bug Giles. He's still kind of twitchy when it comes to the subject of Angel.
Well, it must be that whole Angel-killed-his-girlfriend-and- tortured-him thing. Hey, Giles is pretty petty when it comes to stuff like that.
Xander, enough, okay?
Willow zips up her book bag and closes her locker and they all start down the hall.
Maybe Angel just has the holiday blues. Everybody gets 'em. Especially when they're alone.
It's just so frustrating. I'm trying to do the right thing and stay away from him and get over it and then boom, there he is. I just want a nice, quiet Christmas vacation.
A Christmas tree is set up in the lounge and the gang comes in and sits down.
So you doing anything special?
Tree. Nog. Roast beast. Just me and Mom and hopefully an excess of gifts. (to Willow) What are you doing for Christmas?
Being Jewish. Remember, people? Not everybody worships Santa.
I just meant for vacation.
Nothing fun. Oz and I had planned... (beat) but I guess that's off.
CORDELIA enters and sits on a nearby couch with a friend and Xander is instantly nervous. Buffy takes a paper bag over to the Holiday Food Drive collection box behind the couches and starts pulling cans of food out of her bag and putting them in the box. Willow and Xander sit on the couch opposite Cordelia.
Well, I'll be enjoying my annual Christmas Eve camp-out. See, I take my sleeping bag outside and I go to sleep on the grass.
Sounds fun.
Yeah, I like to look at the stars, you know? Feel the whole nature vibe.
I thought you slept outside to avoid your family's drunken Christmas fights.
Xander gives her a withering look.
Yes. And that was a confidence I was hoping you would share with everyone.
Well, I'll be in Aspen. Skiing. With actual snow.
I hear that helps.
It must be a drag to be stuck here in Sweatydale but I'm thinking of you. Okay, I'm done.
She flashes Xander her best a shark smile and leaves.
She certainly has reverted to form.
It's not her fault. After what happened, we gotta cut her some slack.
That's the Christmas spirit.
Hello? Still Jewish. Chanukah spirit, I believe that was? Anyway, forgiveness is pretty much a big theme with me this year because of the...
She stops as OZ approaches the group. He glances at Xander, who is suddenly quite uncomfortable, then turns his attention to Willow.
Hey.
Hey.
Willow and Oz are talking alone.
Okay. The thing is, seeing you with Xander, it was... well, I never felt that way before when it wasn't a full moon... but I know you guys have a history.
But it's a history that's in the past. Well, I guess most history is in the past. But it's over.
Well, I don't know. I don't know that it ever will be between you two.
Oz, please believe me.
This is what I do know: I miss you. Like every second. Almost like I lost an arm or worse, a torso. So I think I'd be willing to... give it a shot.
Willow smiles tentatively.
Really?
Yeah.
Do you want us to... to hug now?
Yeah, I'm good for that.
They embrace warmly; Willow holds onto him as tightly as she can, enfolding him in her arms.
Buffy and JOYCE maneuver through the crowd, tree shopping.
Off to one side, the tree SALESMAN is spraying fake snow onto a tree. Joyce looks at one of them.
Do you want to get one with snow on it? Be very Christmasy.
I think those are just for display.
Oh, you know, honey, I was thinking. Maybe we should invite Faith to spend Christmas Eve with us.
I don't know. Faith and I don't really hang out. Or talk or make eye contact lately.
Do you really want to let her spend Christmas Eve all by herself in that dingy little motel room?
You're still number one with a guilt trip, Mom.
I try.
I'll ask her.
You're a doll.
What about Giles? I mean, he doesn't have any fam--
No, I'm sure he's fine.
We could at least ask him and see...
He doesn't want to spend Christmas Eve with a bunch of girls. Let's split up.
She abruptly heads off to the right. Buffy sighs and continues looking. She notices an area where a bunch of the trees are all brown and walks over to them for a closer look. The tree merchant comes up to her.
Bunch of them up and died on us. Don't know why. If you want one, I can make you a hell of a deal.
No, thank you.
Oh, honey, this one's perfect!
Buffy moves off to see what her mother has found.
Images of a fire and burning candles swirl around in a haze. We see a round table with candles in the center and ritualistic artifacts arranged to form a three-spoked symbol surrounded by a circle. Three chanting figures sit around the table, their palms placed flat upon the table's rim. Angle upward from the table and into the face of one of the figures: it has no eyes, but instead has runes branded in the flesh where the eyes should be.
Angel wakes with a gasp, frightened and breathing hard. Again, he realizes it's only a dream and rubs his head with his hands.
FAITH struggles with the TV, slapping and shaking it, trying to get some reception to no avail. A knock at the door.
Yeah?
Buffy opens the door and enters.
Hey, what's up? (to the TV) Work, damn it!
Hey.
Faith gives up and turns off the TV. She stands up and faces Buffy.
What's going on? Scary monsters?
No... we're having Christmas Eve dinner at my house and I thought that if you didn't have plans...
Faith looks at Buffy dubiously.
Your mom sent you down, huh?
No.
Well, thanks, but I got plans. There's this big party I've been invited to. It should be a blast.
Okay. Cool. But if you change your mind, the offer...
That's nice of you. Thanks. But I got that big party that I've been invited to so...
Buffy steps toward the door but stops when she notices the Christmas lights that Faith has strung up around the room. She nods with quiet approval.
I like the lights.
Yeah. Well, 'tis the season. Whatever that means.
GILES is cooking dinner when he's interrupted by a knocking at his door.
Just a minute!
He goes to the door, opens it and is shocked to see Angel. For a long moment neither of them says a word.
Hello.
I'm sorry to bother you.
Giles laughs bitterly.
Sorry. Coming from you that phrase strikes me as rather funny. 'Sorry to bother me.'
I need your help.
And the funny keeps on coming.
I understand I have no right to ask for it but there's no one else.
All right.
Giles walks back into the apartment and tosses the towel onto the counter, then heads down the hall.
I... I can't come in unless you invite me.
Giles returns holding a crossbow at the ready.
I'm aware of that. Come in.
Slowly Angel steps into the apartment. Giles' aim does not waver.
I've been seeing... I've... had dreams lately about the past. It's like I'm living it again. It's so vivid, I... need to know. (pleading) I need to know why I'm here.
Here? Back on Earth?
I should be in a demon dimension suffering an eternity of torture.
I don't feel particularly inclined to argue with that.
But I'm not. I was freed and I don't understand why.
Knowing why you were back would give you peace of mind?
It might.
Giles leans over to set the crossbow down. Behind him, Angel sees the apparition of JENNY CALENDAR.
You think that's something you ought to have?
Jenny looks forlornly at Angel and he begins to shiver with fear.
Because, sir, to be blunt, the last time you became complacent about your existence turned out rather badly.
Jenny's ghost wistfully runs her hand down Giles' shoulder but he doesn't notice a thing. Angel begins to pant; short rapid breaths. Giles finally notices the look of fear and the fact that Angel's attention is focused behind him.
What?
He looks around his apartment, completely unaware of Jenny's presence.
Don't you see her?
Who?
Angel begins to make his way to the door. Jenny follows him with her gaze.
I can't!
He runs out the door into the night leaving Giles dumbfounded.
Angel tosses and turns, his sleep fitful at best.
The affair is very formal. We move through the house while the guests converse. Follow a woman as she climbs the stairs, then beneath the stairs, where Angelus is talking with MARGARET, a maid.
Sir, please, I should return to the party.
Margaret, Margaret... there's no hurry.
Mistress will be wondering...
He gently strokes her chin.
Shh. Mistress will be wondering how to get the good Reverend Chalmers into bed and will not notice the absence of canapé. Stay with me.
Sir, people might talk. I'll be put out in the streets. My little boy would... I can't lose this job.
Angelus grips her arm tightly.
Then you must keep quiet.
You're hurting me!
Ah! Cry out. Call for help. I'm sure Mistress will believe your behavior beyond reproach.
Please!
Come, make a scene, huh? Shall I?
No.
No, no. We'll be as quiet as mice.
Margaret looks down, defeated, having no choice but to give in. When she looks back up at him his vampire is ascendant.
No matter what.
Sir! My son!
Oh, he'll make a fine dessert, eh?
She gasps as he teeth pierce her flesh. He drinks her dry and lets her body collapse to the floor. When he looks up he is shocked to see a witness to his deed: Buffy. She stares back at him in shock.
Angel wakes with a sudden jerk and gasps.
With a sharp intake of breath, Buffy awakens and stares into the darkness of her room, shocked and confused.
Unable to sleep, Angel walks into the main room, pulling on a T-shirt. There, standing in the entrance to the atrium, is Jenny.
Trouble sleeping?
You're not here.
I'm always here.
Leave me alone.
He sits down on the cold marble of the great fireplace.
I can't. You won't let me.
What do you want?
I want to die in bed surrounded by fat grandchildren but guess that's off the menu.
I'm sorry.
You're sorry? For me? Don't bother. I'm dead. I'm over it. If you want to feel sorry for someone, you should feel sorry for yourself. Oh, but I guess you've already got that covered.
I am sorry for what I've done. What else can I say to you?
She puts her hand to his temple and strokes it. She suddenly morphs into Daniel.
I don't want to make you feel bad. I just want to show you who you are.
Buffy recounts her dream to Giles.
You had a dream about Angel.
I was in Angel's dream.
I'm not sure that's--
Giles, there was stuff in this dream that I couldn't possibly know about. It was Angel's past, he was dreaming it, and somehow I got sucked in. (beat) There's something wrong with him.
I know. I've seen him. He wanted to know why he was back.
Is there a way for us to find that out?
Possibly. I've been looking.
Well, let me look, too.
Giles looks at her in askance. Buffy speaks with an in-your-face honesty, meeting Giles' coldly appraising eyes with her own steady gaze.
I'm not seeing him anymore. I'm trying to put all this behind me and I'm not going to be able to as long as we're both doing guest spots in each other's dreams.
Giles realizes she's right.
So we'll help him?
Yes.
Xander suddenly appears in the doorway.
Where do we start? (off their looks) Look, I'm aware I haven't been the mostest best friend to you when it comes to the whole Angel thing and, I don't know, maybe I finally got the Chanukah spirit.
Well, we start, not surprisingly, with research. (hands Xander a book) Xander, the Black Chronicles. (hands Buffy a book) And Buffy, the diary of Lucious Temple, an acolyte of Acathla, expert on demons. You can skip the passages on his garden unless you're keen on growing heartier beets.
Buffy and Xander head out into the main room.
Are you sure this is how you want to spend your Christmas vacation?
Yeah, this is actually the most exciting thing I've got planned. Who else can claim that pathetic a social life?
Willow enters, smiling.
Hey, guys. What are we doing?
Later. Time lapse sequence indicating hours of research, pizzas delivered and eaten, mountains of books read and then discarded. End with Willow and Buffy at the study table.
He's going to come over on Christmas Eve because my parents are out of town. We're going to watch videos.
That's good, right? You guys are back.
It's good. It's perfect. In an awkward, uncomfortable sort of way. I just don't know how to make Oz trust me.
Xander has a piece of you that Oz just can't touch. I guess now it's just about showing Oz that he comes first.
I guess. Thanks. (reads) Hey, he likes beets.
I read that one already. (sighs) We're not getting any closer.
Angel falls to the floor, clammy, shivering and panting with horror. Another one of his victims, a BUSINESSMAN, paces past him.
The thing I remember most was thinking how artful it was. In the dark, they looked just like they were sleeping. It wasn't until I bent down and kissed them good night that I felt how cold they were. You grabbed me and I thought, who would go to so much trouble to arrange them like that?
The businessman crouches and transforms into Margaret.
But you see, that's what makes you different than other beasts. They kill to feed but you took more kinds of pleasure in it than any creature that walks or crawls.
Oh, god!
Yeah, cry out. Make a scene.
Angel leaps to his feet and tries to run away but finds Daniel in his way.
I was to be married that week but then, as I recall, you knew that.
It wasn't me.
Daniel transforms into Jenny Calendar.
It wasn't you?
A demon isn't a man. I was a man once.
Oh, yes, and what a man you were.
Angel, in a bar, singing and drinking, pulling at a woman's dress before passing out and falling to the floor.
Margaret stands before him again.
A drunken, whoring layabout and a terrible disappointment to your parents.
I was young. I never had a chance to--
To die of syphilis? You were a worthless being before you were ever a monster.
Angel holds his hands to his ears.
Stop it! Stop...
Margaret shifts to Jenny and she puts her hands on his, gently taking them away from his ears.
I don't want to hurt you, Angel, but you have to understand. Cruelty's the only thing you ever had a true talent for.
That's not true.
Shh. Rest. Rest. You mistake it for a curse, Angel, but it's not. It's your destiny.
She sits down and strokes his hair.
I'll show you. I'll show you.
Xander and Giles are the only two still awake and Xander is fading fast. Giles stands up and retrieves another book. Pan to Buffy asleep in the stacks with books strewn around her. She's dreaming and twitching in her sleep.
Angel rolls over onto his back and with a flash of bright light Buffy and Angel are both sharing the dream.
23
23
Buffy lies in bed and she slowly opens her eyes. Angel sits by her side, waiting for her to awaken. He takes Buffy's hand in his. Their fingertips touch briefly before their fingers intertwine.
Buffy faces Angel, straddling his lap with her legs wrapped round his waist. They kiss passionately, holding each other as closely as possible, caressing each other tenderly. Buffy tugs at Angel's shirt and he helps her pull it off, baring his chest.
Angel slips the satin top from Buffy's shoulders and they embrace tightly as their kisses become longer and more intense.
Buffy and Angel lie in bed, making gentle passionate love. As Angel moves rhythmically on top of her, Buffy suddenly sees the eyeless priest, observing them sightlessly from his vantage point at her bedroom door.
There are several sudden flashes of lightning and Angel seizes Buffy's wrists hard, forcibly pinning her to the bed. He rises over her and his face becomes the visage of the vampire. His fangs flash in the eldritch light as they sink savagely into her neck.
Buffy bolts awake in shock.
Angel wakes and sits bolt upright, drawing a hard breath. Jenny is still sitting next to him.
You want her?
No.
Take her. Take what you want. Pour all that frustration and all that guilt into her and you'll be free.
No.
You can't live for eternity with all that pain. This is what you are. This is why we brought you back. Take her! And then you'll be ready... to kill her.
Buffy walks out of the stacks and down the stairs.
Here, Buffy. Take a look.
He goes to the table with a pile of very old and worn sheets of parchment.
These letters contain references to an ancient power known as The First.
First what?
Evil. Absolute evil, older than man, than demons. It could have had the power to bring Angel back.
Buffy picks up one of the letters with sketches of an eyeless priest.
These guys, I saw them in my dream. I fell asleep up there.
You had another dream? With Angel? (Buffy nods) What happened?
Oh, we don't need to get sidetracked. Who are these guys?
They're known as the Bringers or Harbingers. They're high priests of The First. They can conjure spirit manifestations and set them on people, influence them, haunt them.
These are the guys working the mojo on Angel?
Xander comes out from behind the counter.
We gotta stop them.
You can't fight The First, Buffy. It's not a physical being.
Well, I can fight these priest guys.
If we can find them.
WILLY wipes down a few bottles and puts them away as Buffy and Xander enter the bar. He greets them loudly so everyone hears.
Hey! It's the Slayer. What brings the Slayer down here?
Several vampires at the bar get up and quietly leave.
Hey, Willy, how you been?
Keeping out of trouble, as god is my witness. So what can I do for you? Couple of drinks?
Yeah. Let me get a double shot of... (off Buffy's look) of information, pal.
Three priests. They call themselves--
The Bringers.
Bringers, Harbingers. They have a 'no eyes' kinda look.
Doesn't ring a bell.
How about I ring that bell for you? (hopeful; to Buffy) Does the threatening come now?
Maybe you shouldn't help. (to Willy) They would've come to town recently. They'd be holed up somewhere summoning the spirit of The First.
Willy looks around the bar carefully, then leans in toward them.
Well... I heard a few things, you know, from the underground.
The underground?
Yeah, you know. From things that live under the ground. Apparently there's been a lot of migration out of Sunnydale from the lower inhabitants. Something's scaring them off and these are things that aren't easily scared. Could be your priest guys are underground.
Underground where?
I do not know.
Okay. Thanks.
See you around.
They start to leave the bar.
Hey. You did great, by the way. I was very intimidated by you.
Really? Thanks!
Buffy takes Xander's arm and leads him away.
Let's go.
Hey, kid. Merry Christmas.
Buffy and Xander step into the heat of the day and start down the block.
Man, is it hot. It was so nice and cool in there.
Yeah, a nice cool waste of time.
We know underground. That's a start.
Sure, in a town with fourteen million square miles of sewer.
Plus a lot of natural cave formations and a gateway to Hell. Yeah, this does resemble square one.
I don't know what to do.
I think right now the best plan is to deck the halls with boughs of holly. Look, we'll catch the bad guys... sooner or later.
Oz enters through the front door.
Willow? I got videos.
When he sees the living room, he stops in his tracks. Willow has the room softly lit with a small fire going in the fireplace, candles burning on the coffee table and soft music playing on the stereo. She sits on the sofa, dressed nicely just for him and pats the sofa next to her.
Hi. Why don't you come sit down?
After a moment's hesitation, he walks into the room and sits down next to her, setting the videos on the table. Barry White sets the mood. Oz seems a bit uncomfortable and looks at Willow uncertainly.
You ever have that dream where you're in a play and it's the middle of the play and you really don't know your lines and you kind of don't know the plot?
Well, we're alone and we're together. I just wanted it to be special.
How special are we talking?
Well, you know, we're alone and we're both mature younger people and so... we could... I'm ready to... with you. (whispers) We could do that thing.
Oz looks at her in disbelief. Willow smiles back. Oz stands up.
Where are you going?
No, I'm not going. Just a dramatic gesture. That's pretty special.
Oz, I want to be with you. First.
I think we should sit down again.
They sit stiffly.
Oz?
He looks at her, worried.
I'm ready.
Okay. Well, don't take this the wrong way... but I'm not.
Are you scared? Because I thought you had...
No, I have, but this is different. I mean, you look great, you know, and you got the Barry working for you and it's all... good. But when it happens, I want it to be because we both need it to for the same reason. You don't have to prove anything to me.
I just wanted you to know.
I know. (smiles) I get the message.
Willow leans over to him and they kiss tenderly.
Christmas music plays softly in the background. Buffy puts the finishing touches on the tree as Joyce places another log on the fire. She stands up and inspects the result.
There we go.
Nothing like a roaring fire to keep away the blistering heat.
Oh, come on. It's lovely. Maybe I should turn the air conditioning on.
Buffy is off in her own world as she finishes trimming the tree.
So Angel's on top again?
What?
Joyce holds up an angel and a star.
Angel or star?
Oh, uh... star. Star.
The doorbell rings and Buffy and her mom exchange an inquiring look, wondering whom it could be. Buffy goes to the door and opens it to find Faith standing there looking slightly awkward.
Hey.
Hi!
Looked like that whole party thing was gonna be kind of a drag. I didn't really have anything... you know.
I'm glad you came.
Here.
She hands Buffy several gifts.
Why don't you come in from the entire lack of cold?
She steps in and Buffy closes the door.
That one is for your mom. They're pretty crappy.
Joyce greets Faith warmly and takes the gifts from Buffy.
Faith, you made it. (re: gift) Oh, that is so thoughtful.
They're crappy.
You know, I'm going to go upstairs and get your gifts. Excuse me.
Would you like some nog?
Buffy walks down the hall and into her room.
Okay, Mom, don't touch yours, though, because then you're going to know what it is.
She starts as her bedroom door slams behind her. She spins around to find Angel looking very tired and somewhat disoriented.
Angel.
Uh... Buffy.
What is it?
He looks around apprehensively and clears his throat.
I gotta... I... look, I had to see you... I don't know... you shouldn't be...
Just tell me what's going on.
His gaze locks onto her neck and he notices she's not wearing her cross. Jenny appears to him behind her.
She wants you to touch her. What are you waiting for?
You have to stay away from me.
You came to see me to tell me that I can't see you?
Angel struggles with himself for control.
Angel, something is doing this to you.
He starts to move toward her and she backs away.
You just have to control it, okay? I know that you're confused.
I think you're the one who's confused. I think you need to...
She wants you to taste her. Think of the peace. You'll never have to see us again.
Angel struggles for control of his mind. He grabs his hair in his hands in desperation.
Angel, how can I help you?
Leave me alone!
He runs toward her window and dives out leaving Buffy in shock.
Buffy hurriedly briefs Faith as she shrugs into her coat.
I just need you to stay with Mom in case he comes back.
Yeah, I'll play watchdog. I don't really get it, though.
I'll explain later. Everything. I promise.
She opens the door and leaves.
Watch your back.
Buffy is in a near panic.
Giles, we have to do something. Soon. Now.
I'm still not sure what.
Find me these priest guys. Find me something I can pummel.
Let's not lose our heads.
Giles, he's slipping. (beat) I think we're losing him.
Look... you realize if he truly becomes a danger, you may have to kill him. Again. Can you do that?
Buffy can't bring herself to answer.
Angel tries to flee the spirits of Jenny and the rest of his victims, to no avail.
I can't do it.
You have to do it. (taunting) What else are you good for?
Get away from me!
Couldn't you just... feel her? Couldn't you almost smell her skin? You never were a fighter, Angel, don't start trying now. Sooner or later you will drink her.
I'll never hurt her.
You were born to hurt her. Have you learned nothing? As long as you are alive...
Then I'll die.
You don't have the strength to kill yourself.
I don't need strength. I just need the sun to rise.
He walks out into the atrium.
You're not supposed to die. This isn't the plan. (beat) But it'll do.
Buffy reads aloud from a book while Giles continues his research.
'A child shall be born of man and goat and have two heads and The First shall speak only in riddles...' No wonder you like this stuff. It's like reading the Sun.
Yes. Ah.
Priests?
Yes, but more posturing, I'm afraid. (reads) 'For they are the Harbingers of Death. Nothing shall grow above or below them. No seed shall flower, neither in man nor...' (indicates that it goes on and on) They're rebels and they'll never ever be any good. Nothing specific about their haunts.
Let me see that.
Giles hands her the book.
'...the Harbingers of Death. Nothing shall grow above or below...'
She is suddenly lost in thought.
What?
Buffy kicks open the gate and marches straight toward the dead trees. Once there, she pauses for a moment, then looks around for something to dig with. She finds a long-handled ax and swings it at the ground. After a couple of blows, she breaks through. A few more swings and the hole is large enough for her to drop through.
Groups of candles burn in recessed alcoves. Buffy cautiously looks around and makes her way deeper into the cave. She can hear ritualized chanting coming from nearby and she doesn't have to go far before she finds a table with the eyeless priests sitting around it.
All right, ten more minutes of chanting and then you guys have to go to bed.
The priests stand up and Buffy leaps down to engage them. She swings the handle of her ax into one priest's abdomen and he goes down. She drops a second priest
in short order and the third one runs away. Buffy destroys the arrangement of artifacts on the table.
She senses something and looks up to find Jenny suddenly in the cave with her.
I'm impressed.
Buffy hesitates at first, shocked to see Jenny, but quickly realizes that it's not really her.
You won't get Angel.
You think you can fight me? I'm not a demon, little girl. I am something that you can't even conceive. The First Evil. Beyond sin, beyond death. I am the thing the darkness fears. You'll never see me but I am everywhere. Every being, every thought, every drop of hate.
All right, I get it. You're evil. Do we have to chat about it all day?
Angel will be dead by sunrise. Your Christmas... will be his wake.
No.
You have no idea what you're dealing with.
Let me guess. Is it... evil?
The apparition of Jenny shrinks and is replaced for an instant by a roaring horned and clawed beast, eyes glowing blood-red. It fades as quickly as it appeared. Buffy recoils in shock and fear. It screams a final warning.
Dead by sunrise!
Buffy runs from the cave, terrified for Angel's life.
Buffy runs in, panicked.
Angel!
She looks around but he's nowhere to be found. She walks toward the doorway to the atrium and looks out. She sees the steps leading up and runs toward them.
Buffy runs through the underbrush, frantically searching for Angel. She climbs farther up the hill and finds him standing at the summit, looking out over a peaceful Sunnydale.
Angel.
He briefly glances in her direction before looking back out over the rooftops. Buffy slowly walks over to him.
I bet half the kids down there are already awake. Lying in their beds... sneaking downstairs... waiting for day.
Angel, please. I need for you to get inside. There's only a few minutes left.
I know. I can smell the sunrise long before it comes.
I don't have time to explain this. You just have to trust me. That thing that was haunting you--
It wasn't haunting me. It was showing me.
Showing you?
What I am.
Were.
And ever shall be. I wanted to know why I was back. Now I do.
You don't know. Some great evil takes credit for bringing you back and you buy it? You just give up?
I can't do it again, Buffy. I can't become a killer.
Then fight it.
It's too hard.
Angel, please, you have to get inside.
It told me to kill you. You were in the dream. You know. It told me to lose my soul in you and become a monster again.
I know what it told you. What does it matter?
Because I wanted to! Because I want you so badly! I want to take comfort in you and I know it'll cost me my soul and a part of me doesn't care. (beat) Look, I'm weak. I've never been anything else. It's not the demon in me that needs killing, Buffy. It's the man.
You're weak. Everybody is. Everybody fails. Maybe this evil did bring you back but if it did, it's because it needs you. And that means that you can hurt it. Angel, you have the power to do real good, to make amends. But if you die now, then all that you ever were was a monster.
She looks out at the sky as it begins to lighten.
Angel, please, the sun is coming up!
Just go.
I won't!
What? Do you think this is simple? You think there's an easy answer? You can never understand what I've done! Now go!
Buffy grabs his arm.
You are not staying here. I won't let you!
I said leave!
He jerks free of her grasp. In her anger and desperation, Buffy punches him. He reacts by roughly shoving her away from him and she falls forward, hard to the ground.
Oh, my god...
He goes to her and crouches over her, turning her around to face him. Buffy cries out.
No! No!
He grabs her roughly by the arms and holds her firmly.
Am I a thing worth saving, huh? (shakes her) Am I a righteous man? The world wants me gone!
What about me? I love you so much... and I tried to make you go away... I killed you and it didn't help.
She shoves him off and gets up.
And I hate it! I hate that it's so hard... and that you can hurt me so much. I know everything that you did because you did it to me. Oh, god! I wish that I wished you dead. I don't. (whispers) I can't.
Buffy, please. Just this once... let me be strong.
Strong is fighting! It's hard and it's painful and it's every day. It's what we have to do. And we can do it together. But if you're too much of a coward for that, then burn. If I can't convince you that you belong in this world, then I don't know what can. But do not expect me to watch. And don't expect me to mourn for you, because...
Inexplicably, it begins to snow. She and Angel both look up at it coming down, lightly at first and gradually heavier. Snowflakes swirl around them in the gentle morning breeze and the ground around them starts to become white. Buffy walks to the edge of the hill and looks out at the town as the roofs on the houses below start to frost over. She turns to Angel and they look at each other, stunned by this apparent miracle.
Willow and Oz notice the snow outside and sit up on her bed. Willow is first to get up and walk to her balcony door to look out. Oz is right behind.
They smile as the glass of her French doors begins to frost.
About an inch and a half of snow has now collected on the roof. Pan down to the front door as Faith and Joyce come out. Faith steps off the porch and lets a few flakes fall onto her hands and face. Joyce pulls her wrap tight against the cold.
Giles notices that his window is frosted over and goes over to it to have a look outside. He stares in amazement.
Xander lies in his sleeping bag in the backyard. The light from his lantern glows blue and his unfinished dinner plate is covered with snow, as is a comic book lying nearby. He stirs slightly and wipes at the snowflakes falling on his face, waking up and staring in wonder at the falling snow.
Pan from the green neon sign of the Sun Cinema down to the window of the audio/video store.
And while most of Southern California is enjoying a balmy Christmas, an extreme cold front has sprung up out of nowhere around Sunnydale, where they are reporting heavy snowfall for the first time in... well, ever. Sunnydale residents shouldn't expect to see the sun at all today. That cold front isn't going anywhere. With temperatures in the high 30s, means you better bundle up if you're planning to go outside and enjoy the change in the weather.
Pan down the street. It is deserted except for Buffy and Angel, who walk along hand-in-hand, marveling at the snow as it comes down.
They slowly walk out of view down the snow-covered street and out of view.