[Transcript of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" episode Wild At Heart at buffyology.com.]
A girl tears through the wooded campus, fleeing for her life. Her pursuer lopes after her in hot pursuit, gaining steadily. As they reach a secluded clearing, the young woman suddenly stops and turns to face her attacker and we see that the young woman is BUFFY and her foe is a vampire.
Thanks for the relocate. I perform better without an audience.
She charges the demon and kicks him to the ground. He tries to regain his feet but she is on him again, landing a devastating series of blows to his head. He staggers backward, stunned.
You were thinking-- what?-- a little helpless co-ed before bed? You know very well, you eat this late...
She jams a stakes through his heart.
...you're going to get heartburn. Get it? Heartburn?
The demon just stares at her dumbly before crumbling to dust.
That's it? That's all I get? One lame-ass vamp with no appreciation for my painstakingly thought-out puns? I don't think the Forces of Darkness are even trying. I mean, you could make a little effort here, you know? Give me something to work with.
The vampire SPIKE watches Buffy from a copse of trees a hundred yards away.
Watch your mouth, little girl. You should know better than to tempt the fates that way... 'cause the Big Bad is back and this time, it's--
Spike suddenly goes rigid as electricity slams through his body and he drops to the ground, paralyzed. A group of military commandos dressed in camouflaged BDUs emerge from the underbrush and quickly drag him away into the night.
Opening credit sequence.
Buffy, WILLOW, OZ and XANDER enjoy a night together at their old hangout.
The Bronze is more fun this year, isn't it?
'Cause of the gloating factor alone, you know? We're all about college now. We've got heady discourse.
Yeah. Curfew-free nights of mom and popless hootenanny.
Co-ed dating prospects who find townies sexy and dangerous. (off their looks) What? I can dream.
Right. So if college is so great, what are we doing here and why is it more fun?
Because the Bronze is nice and familiar. It's like a big comfy blankey.
I was under the impression that I was your big comfy blankey.
Aw... you're my person blankey. This is my place blankey. You know, with all the shock of the new, it's nice to have one place that you can come back to where everything's predictable.
GILES walks up to their table, a smile on his face.
Hello.
Buffy tenses, concerned.
Giles, trouble?
Oh, no, Buffy. Don't get up. No, nothing like that. No, I just, you know, I thought I'd drop by. LattÈ anyone? On me?
Everyone stares at him in shock.
So much for your predictable blankey theory, Will.
Sorry.
Splendid. Well, it's ages since I've been to a gig. (off their looks) Well, don't look that way. I'm... down with the new music... and I have the albums to prove it.
Yes, but it's your cutting edge 8-tracks that keep you ahead of the scene.
Don't scoff, gang. I've seen Giles' collection. He was an animal in his day.
Thank you.
Hey, why not? If the Stones can still keep rolling, why can't Giles?
Exactly.
I think it's brave that you're here.
Well, thank you all. You've made me feel right at home.
Isn't home that empty place you're trying to escape?
Oh, yes.
Willow notices VERUCA's band setting up on stage. Oz watches them, entranced.
Veruca's playing tonight.
Yeah. Every Wednesday. I told you.
Buffy notices Willow's discomfort and tries to distract Oz from the stage.
So Oz... what about Dingoes? When are you guys here again?
Oh, we're up next Friday.
They're good, aren't they?
Oz barely pays attention to anything but Veruca.
Nothing special.
Yeah. She's quell fiona. Color me bored.
Really? I think she's rather remarkable. Such presence for someone her age...
Veruca's haunting ballad fills the Bronze.
Oz and Willow lie in bed and Willow is having a nightmare.
It's in the sandblaster...
Oz tries to wake her.
What's in the sandblaster, Will? It's a dream. Come back to me.
Willow smiles and murmurs some more.
Mmm... all Geminis to the raspberry hats.
Now you're faking.
Am not! (beat) Just a little.
She opens her eyes and turns to face Oz.
Morning.
Morning.
Bad dream?
I guess. But the waking-up part makes up for it.
Oz points to her head.
It's always so busy in there.
Not always. A few things shut my brain up completely.
She cuddles close to him.
Anything I can help you with?
I gotta get to class right now but tonight for sure.
I don't know about tonight, unless the extreme Jerry Garcia look turns you on.
Huh?
Night before the full moon.
Oh, that's right. And I have a thing. There's this Wicca group on campus I wanted to check out. They have orientation on the three nights you're wolfy... and it's probably totally silly but--
No, go. Show 'em how it's done.
Are you sure? You can lock yourself up? It's only this one month. After orientation, they meet on different nights.
I'll be fine.
Okay. As long as you don't mind.
The only thing I mind is being away from you for three nights.
She smiles and kisses him sweetly.
Professor MAGGIE WALSH passes out the students' graded research papers. Buffy steps up to receive her paper and Walsh looks up at her sharply.
Ms. Summers, I want you to prepare to lead a discussion group next class on the paper topic. That was smart work.
What do I have to do?
If you have any questions, bring them up with one of the TAs.
As Buffy leaves the class fairly stunned by her own performance, she is joined by Willow who notices her bemused expression.
Are you okay? How'd you do?
Buffy smiles and holds up her paper. Willow is amazed at Buffy's grade.
This is good. I mean, this is excellent! You did better than me. (suddenly upset) This is so unfair! (back to happy) You made me jealous of you academically. Buffy!
She and Buffy hug excitedly.
I know. Can you believe it?
Wow. I guess Professor Walsh isn't so ogrey after all.
And she wants me to lead a discussion group next class. That means more work, right? Shouldn't she have a better reward system? You know, like a cookie or a toy surprise like at the dentist?
She wants you to lead a discussion group? Okay. Jealous again. Jealous... jealous... okay, I'm back. (smiles) Hey, I'm meeting Oz at the cafÈ. You want to come? I'll buy you that celebratory cookie.
Great. I'm TA-bound right now and then I will catch up with you guys.
Cool.
Oz walks through the outdoor patio of the Student Center cafÈ. He notices Veruca sitting alone at a table and stands there uncertainly. She looks up and smiles wryly at him.
What are you going to do, sit on the ground?
My girlfriend's coming.
There's room.
Oz sits down and looks at her double cheeseburger.
Big lunch?
I like to eat. I hate chicks who are like, "Does it have dressing on it?"
Agreed. You guys were tight last night.
I guess. The set's starting to come together but the amps still sound dirty to me.
What are you using? A 50 or 120?
Willow arrives and looks stricken when she sees Oz talking to Veruca. Still, she puts her best face forward and smiles.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
You want to sit down? (to Veruca) So you should be using a 50. And Blue Voodoo? Not your best bet, unless you dig the distort.
Music talk, huh? Cool. I love to listen to Oz talk about the biz.
What do you like again? I know you told me.
There's a couple good ones. The Johnson Mil. The number one is Redbone.
Number one? No. I gotta go with Hound Dog.
Me, too. That's a great song. I mean, Elvis... what a guy.
You a big Elvis fan?
The biggest. Well, I mean, after Dingoes, of course.
We're actually talking amps. But it's easy to get confused... the names they give them.
Oh. Ha ha.
Oz suddenly seems uncomfortable with Willow and moves to leave.
You know, I gotta bail. I'll call you later.
After Oz is gone, Willow and Veruca look at each other awkwardly.
I should go, too. Good shirt.
Buffy arrives just as Veruca departs.
Check out the rapid exits. Was it me?
Me. I don't speak musicianese. How come you didn't tell me I look like a crazy birthday cake in this shirt?
I thought that was the point.
He thinks she's sexy. He gets this blushy thing going on behind his ears. That's for me only!
It doesn't mean anything. So Oz checks out another girl. He loves you.
I know, I know. And I don't want to be the kind of girl who freaks every time my boyfriend notices somebody else. I mean, I have wrong feelings about other guys sometimes but I feel guilty and I flog and punish.
Exactly. I'm sure Oz is flogging and punishing himself... (beat) This is sounding wrong before I even finish. Look, I promise you, in a couple of days, it's going to be like "Veruca who?"
You think?
Absolutely. Oz just isn't the type to stray. Not tonight anyway. He'll be locked in a cage.
Oz has fashioned an iron cage across the entrance to an antechamber inside an old crypt. He's in mid-transformation into werewolf, now more wolf than man. As the wolf takes hold of him, he goes berserk and hurls himself against the iron bars. They hold but just barely. He renews his attack and after several shattering blows, the cage gives way and topples to the floor.
Oz bounds out into the crypt, sniffs the air around him and bolts off into the night.
Professor Walsh leaves for the evening, on her way home. She walks alone outside the Psychology Building, fishing distractedly for her car keys. Suddenly, Oz leaps out of the bushes, snarling with rage, his fangs glistening.
She freezes at the sight of the werewolf, terrified. After a moment, she turns and bolts in the opposite direction, fleeing for her life. Oz lets out a ravenous roar and lopes after her. As the professor tears along the deserted campus walkway her eyes go wide with shock as yet another werewolf bounds at her from the opposite direction. It leaps at her from the front just as Oz leaps from the rear. She ducks with inches to spare and the two beasts collide in mid-air. The werewolves topple to the ground, locked in a vicious embrace, and begin to savage each other. Walsh uses the creatures' distraction to make her escape.
Oz lies in the bushes, nude, his body scratched and bleeding. As he stirs and wakes, so does the person lying beside him. It's Veruca. Her body bears the same marks of violence.
Oz looks over at her, shocked, as he tries to recall his circumstances and what the two of them did the night before.
That was, um...
Some night.
So it appears.
Right. You don't remember. It's like that at first but then little bits and pieces will start coming back to you.
So you're a...
Werewolf groupie. Nobody else gets it done for me.
What?
Kidding. You know what I am. You've known since the first time you saw me. Now you need to relax.
Not a possibility.
So what do you want to do?
Oz just shakes his head and the two of them make their way out of the forest.
Oz wears clothes that are entirely too big for him and Veruca's outfit is an eclectic mishmash of styles.
God! The kids in this dorm need Fashion 101 in a big way. (re: Oz's clothes) Or we could start right here at home.
Not making a statement. Just want to get back to my place, figure out why we got out of our cages.
You have a cage?
Don't you?
Uh, yeah. Has a little wheel with a plastic ball and a cute little bell in it. God! Somebody's domesticated the hell out of you.
It's my choice. I don't want to hurt anybody.
Maybe. Or maybe you just don't want to admit what happened to you. Maybe you just want to pretend like you're a regular guy.
She slinks over to him.
Well, I am. I'm only a wolf three nights a month.
Or you're a wolf all the time and this human face is just your disguise. You ever think about that, Oz?
She runs her hand down his face and he shrugs her off.
I'm going. I gotta check the paper, see if we did any damage last night.
Oh, we did. But only to each other. I know some part of you remembers that. It doesn't take a full moon. We could... do it again right here.
We aren't going to. This ends... right now.
I can help you, Oz. You're scared. I was, too. But then I accepted it. The animal-- it's powerful, inside me all the time. Soon, you just start to feel sorry for everybody else because they don't know what it's like to be as alive as we are. As free.
Free to kill people? I won't do that. You shouldn't.
You don't understand. But you will. You'll see that we belong together.
No. I know where I belong.
Oz heads out and Veruca calls suggestively after him.
See ya tonight.
RILEY and Professor Walsh leave class and Walsh is relating her previous night's experience to him.
Two of them. It was unbelievable. The fact that I survived at all is a miracle.
Buffy approaches them from behind.
Excuse me, Ms. Walsh?
I hope you're careful when you walk around campus after dark. I was attacked by wild dogs last night.
Wild dogs?
Two of them. Biggest things I've ever seen. The first one was... well, for a moment I thought it was a gorilla. Did you have a question, Buffy?
Buffy is troubled by the news. She immediately thinks of Oz.
No. No, I was just... sayin' howdy.
Fine. See you in class.
Buffy heads out to check on Oz.
Oz mopes in his room and looks up at a knock on the door.
Yeah?
The door opens and Willow pokes her head in.
Hey.
Oz notices her new slacks.
Hey. New look.
You too.
Oh... laundry day kinda came and went.
Hey... I'm sorry if I was weird yesterday with you and Veruca.
Oz looks away, uncomfortable.
I didn't notice anything.
Really? 'Cause I felt all spazzy.
No.
Oh, good. So it was just me worrying for nothing again. Me and my busy head always thinking, thinking, thinking.
Well, now you can stop. Everything's fine.
Willow looks at him suggestively.
Maybe you could help me... stop. I'd really, really appreciate anything you could do.
She approaches him, sex clearly on her mind, but he backs away.
What?
What's wrong?
Sorry, I...
Willow looks stricken.
You don't want to?
It's not that. I do. I just... I didn't get any sleep, I guess. I'm really beat.
Willow's tone becomes formal, businesslike and she moves toward the door.
Right. Busy wolf night. I get it. It's totally okay.
Willow, you don't have to--
No. I should. I don't have much time. See you later.
Giles eats breakfast while he watches Jeopardy. Shouts out an answer to one of the questions.
The Peace of Westphalia.
Yalta?
Oh, you moron. That dinette set should be mine.
The doorbell rings and he finds Buffy at the door.
Buffy. Excellent. Come in.
Hi.
Can I get you anything? Tea? I made a very interesting mousaka last night if you're hungry.
Pass on the tea. And the mousse, thank you.
You come on business, I hope?
Yes. Lucky for you, people may be in danger.
I only meant... that I'm at the ready.
Here's the deal. One of my professors said that she was almost attacked by two wild dogs last night... under the light of a nearly full moon.
Werewolves. Two of them?
Could be.
Well, I've not seen anything about the attacks in the newspapers or on the news. Have you spoken with Oz?
My next stop.
Right. Get right on it.
And I'll see what I can find out.
And you report back to me...
ASAP. Promise.
Willow enters to find Xander vegetating on the couch.
Hey, Will. Mom let you in?
She seemed cranky.
Yeah. We're having a little landlord-tenant dispute so I'm withholding rent. An effective, and might I add, thrifty tactic.
How come?
She won't let me put a lock on my door. I suspect she's afraid I'll start having The Sex.
Yeah. Parents usually wait till you're out of the house--
Or under it.
Or under it... to start worrying about stuff like that. It's mostly too late.
So, I know why I'm sitting in a dank, sunless little room. But why are you?
Well, things with Oz are weird. And I talked to Buffy about it but I think we're in Guyville here. I need a translator from the "Y" side of things.
Well, last time I checked, I had the creds. Hit me.
What does it mean when a girl wants to... you know?
If you're doin' it, I think you should be able to say it.
Make love.
Wild monkey love or tender Sarah McLachlan love?
Any kind. But what if the girl wants to and the guy doesn't? That's a bad sign, right?
Could be. Or the girl caught the guy in one of the seven annual minutes he's legitimately too preoccupied to do it.
Well, say the girl's been noticing--
Will, I've deciphered your ingenious code.
Okay. Say I've been noticing Oz notice someone else. A woman.
And is this chick noticing back?
Most definitely.
Well... have you asked Oz about it?
Well, I thought about it but then he'll think I'm all jealous and worry.
But you are. And odds are, he feels it. I'll bet that's all there is to the weird you're feeling. You guys should talk things out, Will. You'll both feel better.
Buffy enters to find Oz with a blowtorch, reinforcing the cage bars, welding them together to form an impenetrable barrier.
Got out, huh?
Yeah.
Any news about attacks?
No.
But I did hear about a woman being chased by two wild dogs.
Two? Really?
You don't remember anything like that, do you? Another wolf?
No. When the change comes, it's like... I'm gone. Total blackout.
You know, I find wolf number two out on patrol tonight and you might have a roomie in there. (beat) Oz... you okay? And if it's possible, you seem more monosyllabic than usual.
I'm okay. Thanks.
Buffy nods, not entirely convinced, and leaves.
Later, dusk. Veruca finds Oz just as he's finishing up his work on the cage.
So this is why you called me here? To see your Habitrail?
She approaches him, a wild look in her eye.
Right before sunset, I get a little buzzed, you know?
Come here.
I'm not getting in that stupid cage with you, if that's what this is all about. We belong outside.
You can't run loose tonight. And not just because you might hurt somebody. I know people that'll be out there... hunting for us.
She steps closer, pressing her body against his.
So you're saying I should spend the whole night with you... alone... locked in a cage.
You'll be safe.
Not from you. Isn't that the point of this cozy little arrangement?
She stretches her arms out to her sides and shivers with an anticipatory thrill.
It's coming. Do you feel it? It's like blood boiling.
I feel it.
I wanted you even before I ever saw you. I sensed you. Did you sense me?
Come in here.
Did you?
He nods slightly and she steps into the cage. Oz looses control and pulls her to him, kissing her passionately and at the same time pulling the cage closed behind
them. CU on their hands: as their fingers entwine, they suddenly elongate into hairy claws and the two werewolves surrender to their primal passions.
Willow happily bounces down the stairs with a bag of doughnuts and a thermos of coffee for her boyfriend. She rounds the corner and freezes in her tracks when she sees Veruca and Oz, naked in each other's arms, asleep on the floor of the cage.
She drops the thermos and the food as her mind tries process the unthinkable sight before her. Oz stirs and sees Willow standing outside the cage, her heart breaking before his eyes. He quickly gets up and pulls on his pants.
Willow...
Oh, my god. Oh, my god.
I know what you saw. It wasn't... I had to. I had to lock her in there with me.
I bet.
She's like me. A wolf.
Well, I knew you two had a lot in common but...
Oz works the combination lock and rushes out of the cage to his lover but she recoils, furious.
Don't touch me!
She was going to hurt somebody. I didn't have a choice.
But you did. You could've told somebody. Your solution... just put you two together in a room all night?
Veruca's awake now and slinks out of the cage.
Girl's got a point.
Leave.
I'm just saying--
Now!
Veruca shrugs and heads out of the crypt.
I'm sorry. I know--
Tears are streaming down Willow's face now as the enormity of the situation sinks in.
I knew, you jerk. And you sat there and you told me everything was fine? And that's as bad as... as...
I know how it feels. I remember.
Oh, so what? This is payback? I had this coming?
No. It's not--
Because I thought that was behind us. And you know, what happened with Xander, it doesn't compare. Not with what you and I had. Not with whatever you've been doing with her.
I don't know what Veruca and I have done. When I change, it's like I'm gone and the wolf takes over.
But before this, when you were regular Oz, you had feelings for her, didn't you?
No. I could sense something, but...
But you wanted her, like in an animal way? Like... (pained) more than you wanted me?
Willow has had enough, more than she can take. She runs off, wracked with sobs.
Willow!
Willow walks the streets, lost in her pain and loss. She's so tuned out to the world, she steps out into the street directly in the path of an oncoming car. Buffy sees the danger from across the street and starts toward her but Willow is too far away for even Buffy's super speed to make a difference. Just as the car is about to strike Willow, Riley grabs her and pulls her to safety. Buffy arrives, horrified at what almost happened to her best friend.
Willow, are you okay? (to Riley) Thank you. I was too far away.
It was lucky. She almost got hit.
Willow, what's the matter?
Willow doesn't say anything, merely stares at the ground.
Maybe you should take her home. (to Willow) Whatever it is, it's not worth hurting yourself over.
Thank you.
He moves off and Buffy puts her arm around Willow and helps her home.
Willow sits on her bed, devastated. Buffy is torn, not wanting to leave Willow at this crucial time but also feeling her obligation as a Slayer to put an end to Veruca's threat.
I have to go. I have to find Veruca before the sun sets. I will, though. When I do, this thing stops. She's bad news. (beat) Do you want me to get you something before I take off? Kleenex? Chocolatey chocolate... anything?
No.
I'll come back as soon as this is finished. I just want you to take it easy, okay? Riley was right. The main thing is put the blame where it belongs. Don't hurt yourself.
Uh-huh. Okay.
You're okay?
I'm fine. I promise.
Buffy considers Willow for a long beat, wanting so much to be able to soothe her friend's pain but knowing she can't.
I love you.
Buffy leaves and Willow stares at the wall for a moment before a light suddenly dawn in her eyes.
Put the blame where it belongs...
Oz is on the phone, trying to locate Veruca.
So you haven't seen her around? (beat) Okay. Thanks, man.
The door opens and Buffy enters. She looks at Oz with barely-concealed contempt.
Where is she?
I don't know. I already checked all the usual haunts. But I know the areas we're drawn to. I'm pretty sure I can follow her scent.
We'll try that then.
Look, Buffy, you should know that--
Oz, now might be a good time for your trademark stoicism.
Willow sets up a spell circle with beakers full of herbs and magickal powders. She brings the potion to a boil and begins the incantation.
I conjure thee by Barabbas, by Satanas and the Devil. As thou art burning, let Oz and Veruca's deceitful hearts be broken. This way I conjure thee by the Saracen Queen and the name of Hell. Let them find no love or solace. Let them find no peace as well.
Oz and Buffy run through the woods.
She's near here. I can smell her.
They dash through the bushes and down an incline to the bottom of a wash. There they find a pile of rumpled clothes but no Veruca.
Or the dirty pile of clothing she left on the ground.
Well, they could be from the other night when she... turned into a werewolf.
Unless she wanted to throw you off the scent.
They both come to the same realization at once.
Willow...
Willow holds a picture of Oz near an open flame as the beakers and vials containing the elements of her spell levitate all around her. Her voice is filled with venom.
Let this image seal his fate, not to love, only hate.
Willow moves the picture toward the flame but she hesitates... and in the end can't bring herself to finish the spell. She drops the picture and the floating glassware crashes to the counter.
Veruca walks into the lab behind Willow.
Wow. For a minute there, I thought you might actually play rough. Sometimes you have to, you know? To keep what's yours, sometimes you have to kill. (re: sunset) How 'bout that? The sun's almost down.
She advances on Willow, a murderous gleam in her eye.
Buffy and Oz run through the forest at top speed. Buffy suddenly slams full force into a masked camouflaged and heavily armed figure. They both tumble to the ground sending Buffy's trank gun and the soldier's plasma rifle flying. The commando scrambles to his feet and runs off into the brush. Buffy is stunned by the encounter but doesn't have time to dwell on it. There are more pressing matters to attend to. She takes off after Oz who, by this time, is long gone.
Veruca approaches Willow, taunting her. Willow slowly backs away.
Can't say I'm surprised you didn't go through with your little hex. You don't have the teeth.
You don't know what I have. You don't know anything about me.
Veruca shoves her backward.
I know what you love. I have his scent on me right now.
Don't touch her again.
Veruca spins around to find Oz staring at her, hate in his eyes.
Come stop me. I like it rough, remember?
You want to hurt me, hurt me. You leave her out of this.
How can I? She's the reason you're living in cages. She's blinding you. When she's gone, you'll be able to admit what you are.
You don't want to find out what I am.
As Oz and Veruca circle each other, their eyes go black, canines lengthen and matted fur springs from their bare skin.
You're an animal. Animals kill.
Oz advances on Veruca.
You're right. We kill.
He charges Veruca just as his lycanthropic transformation is complete. She meets him, herself fully werewolf now as well and they tumble to the floor in a ball of snarling rage. The raw violence is amazing to behold as the two werewolves tear at each other in a frenzy of bloodlust.
Oz throws Veruca to the floor and pounces, pinning her to the tile, and without hesitation sinks his teeth into her neck and rips it out. Veruca spasms as her life drains from the ragged wound in her neck, then goes limp. Oz looks up from Veruca's lifeless corpse, her blood dripping from his snout, and over at Willow who is cowering in the corner, sobbing uncontrollably.
Oz?
In his werewolf state, Oz doesn't see Willow as anything more than prey and he charges her with a triumphant roar. He leaps at her but drops to the floor in mid- arc with a yelp. Buffy stands in the door to the lab with the trank gun. The first shot only stuns him, however and he attacks Buffy, enraged. Buffy seizes him by his hind legs and drags him across the lab away from Willow. She kicks him across the room and, as he rounds on her to attack again, she shoots him one more time. This time he's down and out for good.
Buffy moves over to comfort Willow who is curled up in a ball, traumatized.
Buffy briefs Giles on her encounter with the soldier in the woods the day before.
I'm not quite sure I understand.
There was just so much going on with Oz and Willow. And there still is. But I just thought you should know.
Well, this fellow in the woods, he was in military garb?
And he was toting some serious weaponry. The thing is, I saw some guys dressed exactly like him on Halloween night. I just assumed they were in costume but maybe they were working. I want to know what's up. The guy got in my way. I almost didn't catch up with Oz in time. And as it was, I was too late to--
You saved Willow.
Right now she wishes I hadn't. Giles, I've never seen her like this. It's like it hurts too much to form words.
You've felt that way yourself and you got through it.
Yeah. I ran away and went to Hell and then got through it. I'm kind of hoping she doesn't use me as a model.
Fair enough.
I just don't know how they're going to deal with this.
Oz packs his things. Willow enters and sees what he's doing.
Hello.
Hi.
What are you doing?
I'm going.
Now?
Oz nods as he zips the suitcase. She stares at him, anguish and anger fighting for dominance.
That's your solution?
That's my decision.
Don't I get any say in this?
No. Veruca was right about something. The wolf is inside me all the time and I don't know where that line is anymore between me and it. (beat) And until I figure out what that means, I shouldn't be around you... or anybody.
Willow is crying now, her tears coming in great wracking sobs.
Well, that could be a problem 'cause people? Kind of a planetary epidemic.
I'll find someplace.
Well, how long?
I don't know.
Willow looks at him, pleading, her voice barely a whisper.
Oz... don't you love me?
He takes her head in his hands and presses his forehead to hers as she cries.
My whole life... I've never loved anything else.
Oz... oh, god. Oz...
He turns and leaves Willow alone with her grief.
Oz walks out and throws his bag in the back of his van, then gets in and starts it. He pauses for a moment and cuts the engine, having seconds thoughts about leaving. Then his resolve returns and he starts the van and drives away.