[Transcript of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" episode Chosen at buffyology.com.]
BUFFY breaks her kiss with ANGEL and he smiles wryly.
Well, I guess that qualifies as happy to see me.
Angel, what are you doing h-- don't even. I just want to bask. (beat) Okay, I'm basked. What are you doing here?
Not saving the damsel in distress, that's for sure.
She reaches down and picks up the scythe.
Oh, you know me. Not much with the damseling.
You got your share of distress, though.
You heard?
He walks across the room and picks up the folder of information he received from Lilah Morgan at Wolfram & Hart in Los Angeles.
I've got coverage on the whole thing. It's very gripping. It needs a third act.
You have to leave L.A.
Angel looks over at CALEB's sprawled body, then turns back to Buffy.
It's The First, right? The First Evil. The power that tried to convince me to kill myself.
Yeah. It's gotten a little more ambitious since then. It's raising an army.
Yeah, well, it failed once and I'm here to tell you--
Caleb suddenly leaps up and clubs Angel viciously in the head with a carved wooden idol. Buffy stares at him in shock. He glares at her wildly, his eyes jet black and leaking a bloody ichor. It streams down his cheeks and out of his nose and mouth.
Are you ready to finish this, bitch?
Opening credit sequence.
Resume. Buffy barely raises the scythe in time to deflect a crushing blow from the wooden idol Caleb wields like a club. She flips backward and comes up only to catch a swiping blow to the head. Caleb tosses the idol aside and stalks toward her as she jumps to her feet, the scythe held at the ready.
Okay, how many times do I have to kill you? Ballpark figure?
You understand nothing.
She swings the blade at him but he catches the shaft and holds it, using it as an anchor as he punches her repeatedly in the face. Then he brings his fist from below in an uppercut so powerful it lifts Buffy off her feet and slams her into the ceiling.
Caleb drops Buffy to the ground, then lifts her off her feet by her neck, his hands choking off her air.
You think you have power over me?
With a cry of rage, Buffy breaks his grip on her throat and kicks him backward with a roundhouse blow to the head. He regains his feet and turns toward her.
Stupid girl. You'll never stop me. You don't have the ba--
Buffy swings the axe low in an upward arc and buries the blade between Caleb's legs.
Who does nowadays?
His mouth drops open in an "O" of shock and agony. Using all her preternatural strength, Buffy rips upward with the blade, slicing Caleb's body neatly in two, ending him for good.
Across the room, Angel gets to his feet and brushes himself off. He turns around, searching the room for Caleb.
Okay, now I'm pissed. Where is he?
Buffy looks down at her feet, first to one side, then the other.
He had to split.
She holds a straight face for a beat, then cracks up.
Unnoticed in the shadows, SPIKE's jaw clenches with anger as THE FIRST stands behind him as Buffy, whispering.
Yeah, she needs you real bad.
I'll have the guys go through that, see if there's anything new. Reliable source?
Not remotely.
Any port in an apocalypse.
I brought something else as well.
He removes a silver amulet with a multi-faceted crystal at its center from his pocket.
I can already tell you, I have nothing that goes with that.
It's not for you.
Splainy?
I don't know everything. It's very powerful and probably very dangerous. It has a purifying power... cleansing power... possibly scrubbing bubbles. The translation is... anyway, it bestows strength to the right person who wears it.
And the right person is?
Someone ensouled but stronger than human. A champion. As in me.
Or me.
No. I don't know nearly enough about this to risk you wearing it. Besides, you've got that real cool axe-thing going for you.
Disgusted, Spike has heard enough and quietly slips out the back door of the tomb.
So you're going to be with me in this?
Shoulder-to-shoulder. I'm yours.
No.
No what?
No. You're not going to be in this fight.
Why the hell not?
Because I can't risk you.
You need me in this.
No, I need you gone.
Why?
If I lose-- if this thing gets past Sunnydale-- then it's days, maybe hours, before the rest of the world goes. I need a second front and I need you to run it.
Okay. That's one reason. What's the other?
There is no other.
She walks out the front of tomb into the cemetery beyond.
Angel follows her outside.
Is it Spike? (off her look) You're not telling me something and his scent... I remember it pretty well.
You vampires. Didn't anybody ever tell you the whole "smelling people" thing's a little gross?
Is he your boyfriend?
Is that your business?
Are you in love with him? (beat) Okay, maybe I'm out of line but this is kind of a curve ball for me. I mean, we are talking about Spike here.
It's different. He's different. He has a soul now.
Oh. Well.
What?
That's great. (sotto) Everyone's got a soul now.
He'll make a difference.
You know, I started it. The whole having a soul. Before it was all the cool new thing.
Oh, my god, are you twelve?
I'm getting the brush-off for Captain Peroxide. It doesn't necessarily bring out the champion in me.
You're not getting the brush-off. Are you just going to come here and go all Dawson on me every time I have a boyfriend?
Aha! Boyfriend.
He's not. But... he is in my heart.
That'll end well.
What was the highlight of our relationship-- when you broke up with me or when I killed you? I'm well aware of my stellar history with guys and no, I don't see fat grandchildren in the offing with Spike. But I don't think that really matters right now. You know, in the midst of all this insanity, a couple of things are actually starting to make sense. And the guy thing... (sighs) I always feared there was something wrong with me. You know, because I couldn't make it work. But maybe I'm not supposed to.
Because you're the Slayer.
Because... okay. I'm cookie dough. I'm not done baking. I'm not finished becoming whoever the hell it is I'm going to turn out to be. I make it through this and the next thing
and the next thing and maybe one day I turn around and realize I'm ready. I'm cookies. And then, you know, if I want someone to eat m-- (covers) or enjoy warm, delicious cookie-me, then that's fine. That'll be then. When I'm done.
Any thoughts on who might enjoy... do I have to go with the cookie analogy?
I'm not really thinking that far ahead. That's kinda the point.
Angel nods, then hand her the medallion.
I'll go start working on the second front. Make sure I don't have to use it.
He heads off through the graveyard. After a moment, Buffy calls after him.
Angel.
He half turns back to her.
I do... sometimes think that far ahead.
Sometimes is something.
It'll be a long time coming. Years, if ever.
I ain't getting any older...
He fades into shadows and disappears into the night.
Buffy enters to find Dawn waiting for. Dawn stairs at her angrily, then kicks her lightly in the shin.
Ow.
Dumbass.
Buffy turns to XANDER sitting in the dining room, looking pained and sheepish with ANYA pressing an ice pack to his head.
Don't look at me. This is a Summers thing. It's all very violent.
If you get killed, I'm telling.
Buffy goes into the dining room and sets the scythe down on table where WILLOW and GILES are researching.
Did you find out anything about the scythe?
It slices, dices and makes julienne preacher.
Caleb?
I cut him in half.
Well, all right!
He had that coming.
Hey, party in my eye socket and everyone's invited! (off their looks) Sometimes I shouldn't say words.
Spike takes out his frustration on the punching bag as Buffy walks down the stairs.
So... where's tall, dark and forehead?
Let me guess. You can smell him.
Yeah, that and I also used my enhanced vampire eyeballs to watch you kissing him.
It was... a hello.
Most people don't use their tongues to say hello. (beat) Or I guess they do but--
There were no tongues. Besides, he's gone.
Oh, just popped by for a quickie, then?
Good, good! I haven't had quite enough jealous vampire crap for one night.
He wears lifts, you know.
Buffy leans up against the punching bag, then notices a cartoon picture of a vampire with spiky brown hair taped to it.
You know, one of these days I'm just going to put you two in a room and let you wrastle it out.
No problem at this end.
Buffy smiles to herself, imagining.
There could be oil of some kind involved...
Where's the trinket?
The who-ket?
The pretty necklace your sweetie-bear gave you. The one with all the power. I believe it's mine now.
How do you figure?
Someone with a soul but more than human? Angel meant to wear it. That means I'm the qualified party.
He holds out his hand for it.
It's volatile. We don't know--
You'll be needing someone strong to bear it, then. You plan on giving it to Andrew?
Angel said the amulet was meant to be worn by a champion.
Spike turns away with a sigh but Buffy steps forward and places the medallion in his hand.
Been called a lot of things in my time.
Faith still has my room...
Well, you're not staying here! You can't buy me off with shiny beads and sweet talk. You've got Angel-breath. I'm not going to just let you whack me back and forth like a rubber ball. I got my pride, you know.
I understand.
She turns to go but Spike runs around in front of her, blocking her way.
Clearly you don't, 'cause the whole "having my pride" thing was just a smokescreen.
Oh, thank god.
I don't know what I would have done if you'd gone up those stairs.
Buffy smiles and caresses his cheek with her hand.
Later. Buffy and Spike lie on his cot together, wrapped in each other's arms, sleeping.
She wakes and gets up, walks over to the window and looks up at the stars.
The First steps out of the darkness as Caleb and stands at her side.
Pretty, ain't it?
You're not him.
No, you killed him, right and proper. Terrible loss. This man was my good right arm. Course it don't pain me too much. Don't need an arm. I've got an army.
An army of vampires. However will I fight--
Every day our numbers swell. But then you do have an army of your own. Some thirty-odd pimply-faced girls, don't know the pointy end of a stake. Maybe I should call this off...
Have you ever considered a cool name? I mean, since you're incorporeal and basically powerless... how about the Taunter? Strikes fear in the hearts of--
I will overrun this earth. And when my army outnumbers the humans on this earth, the scales will tip and I will be made flesh.
Talk on. I'm not afraid of you.
Then why aren't you asleep... in your dead lover's arms?
Buffy glances over at Spike on the cot and The First follows her gaze.
'Cause he can't help you. Nor Faith, nor your friends. Certainly not your wanna-slay brigade. None of those girlies will ever know real power unless you're dead. You know the drill.
The First morphs from Caleb into Buffy.
"Into every generation a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world. She alone will have the strength and skill to..." There's that word again. What you are. How you'll die. Alone.
Buffy stares at The First, says nothing.
Where's your snappy comeback?
You're right.
Hmm... not your best.
Spike suddenly starts awake, coming out of a dream.
I'm drowning in footwear!
Buffy looks over at him and when she looks back, The First is gone.
Weird dream. Buffy? Is something wrong.
No. (beat) Yeah. I just realized something. Something that really never occurred to me before. We're going to win.
Buffy stands before Giles, Xander, Willow, Anya, Dawn and FAITH. She surveys them all, her eyes dancing with excitement.
What do you think?
That depends. Are you in any way kidding?
You don't think it's a good idea?
It's pretty radical, B.
It's a lot more than that. Buffy, what you said-- it flies in the face of everything we've ever... of what every generation has done in the fight against evil. (beat) I think it's bloody brilliant.
You mean that?
If you want my opinion.
Really do.
Whoa, hey! Not to poop on the party here but I'm the guy who's going to have to pull this thing off.
It is beaucoup d'mojo.
This goes beyond anything I've ever done. It's a total loss of control and not in a nice, wholesome, "my girlfriend has a pierced tongue" kind of way.
I wouldn't ask if I didn't think you could do it.
I'm not sure that I'm stable enough.
You can do this, Willow. We'll get the coven on the line and we'll find out how they can help.
Oh! Pierced tongue.
Dawn needs to do a research thing!
Yes, you do.
Dawn stands up and heads for the door.
It's cool. Watcher Junior to the library.
I'll go dig up my sources. Quite literally, actually. There one or two people I have to speak to who are dead.
Come on. Let's go assemble the cannon fodder.
That's not what we're calling them, sweetie.
Not to their faces. What am I-- insensitive?
As the others head out to go about their business, Buffy steps forward and hands the scythe to Willow.
Buffy stands before the crowd once more. All the potentials are gathered-- including KENNEDY, AMANDA, SHANNON, VI and RONA-- along with Buffy's crew, including ANDREW and ROBIN WOOD. The tension is high in the room. Not all the girls are glad that Buffy is back and some of the new ones don't trust her at all.
I hate this. I hate being here. I hate that you have to be here. I hate that there's evil and that I was chosen to fight it. I wish a whole lot of the time that I hadn't been. I know a lot of you wish I hadn't been, either. But this isn't about wishes. This is about choices. I believe we can beat this evil. Not when it comes. Not when its army is ready. Now. Tomorrow morning I'm opening the Seal. I'm going down into the Hellmouth and I'm finishing this once and for all. Right now you're asking yourselves what makes this different. "What makes us anything more than a bunch of girls being picked off one by one?" It's true, none of you have the power that Faith and I do. So here's the part where you make a choice.
Faith and Wood drag large boxes and pieces of equipment across the floor and up against the sewer grates.
It's one hell of a risky idea.
Buffy's wacky that way.
Yeah. There's one more vent right by the stairs. We block that, they've got no sewer access. Should drive them straight up into the school proper.
That's assuming they get past us.
Which-- no offense-- I am.
Come on. You gotta have a little faith.
I think I've had my share, thanks.
Well, I trundled right into that one, didn't I? Look, I'm sorry if it seemed like I was blowing you off the other day. I was just trying to, you know, blow you off.
Yeah, you know what? I figured that one out all by myself.
It's nothing personal. It's just... after I get bouncy with a guy, there's not that much more I need to know about him.
That's bleak.
Way of the world.
That's good to know 'cause for a second there, I thought it was more defensive, isolationist Slayer crap.
And he comes out swingin'.
Faith, there's a whole world out there that you don't even know about and a lot of the men in it are pretty decent guys. They'd surprise you.
A guy looks at me, let's just say his priorities shift.
Why? Because you're so hot?
It is what it is, yo.
Oh, please. I am so much prettier than you are. And for the record, our little encounter didn't exactly change my world.
You're trippin'! That was rock 'em, sock 'em.
No, no, it was nice enough and you're very... enthused. And I think with a little more experience--
Dude, I got madd skillz!
Yeah, of course. Let's finish up.
He goes to pick up a crate but Faith is having none of it. She takes off her belt and starts to unbutton her pants.
No, hell with that! We're going again, baby. You're gonna learn a little respect here, pal.
Faith, make me a deal, all right? We live through this, you give me the chance to surprise you.
What would be the surprise?
You do know the meaning of the word, right?
Fine. Deal.
Good enough.
She takes one side of a filing cabinet and Wood takes the other and they drag it across the floor.
No way you're prettier than me.
A little bit, yeah.
Willow sits in bed going over her spellbooks, Kennedy lying down behind her.
I really wish she hadn't said that about me.
What? The thing Buffy said? I think it's true.
Willow lets out a nervous whimper.
I'll be with you, to keep you grounded.
Yeah, well you might have to keep me stab-ded if I go to the bad place.
Kennedy sits up, concerned.
You're saying I might have to kill you?
I am.
Bite me.
I will. I mean, I do. Mean it. The darkest place I've ever been... this is what lies beyond that. This is too important for me--
Buffy believes in you.
You know Buffy-- sweet girl, not that bright.
Hey, I'm the first one to call her out when she's not making sense. In fact, this may have escaped your keen notice but I'm kind of a brat. I've always sort of gotten my way... so you're going to make it through this no matter how dark it gets. Because now, you're my way.
Willow smiles and kisses Kennedy tenderly, then turns back to her spells.
I'd better go over this again.
Giles, Xander, Amanda and Andrew sit at the table, a map spread out before them. Giles points to it and looks questioningly at Xander.
I'm all turned around. You're here, yes?
By the pillar, yeah. I'm protecting this area.
That's puts me over by the door. Demons around the perimeter... (to Andrew) Right. I open the door.
Andrew, wearing a red cloak and hood and playing the role of dungeon master, reads from a role-playing game script.
You go through the door and are confronted by Trogdor the Burninator.
Oh, bugger it. Fight.
He rolls the dice.
Adios to five hit points. Trogdor has badly wounded you.
Well, what about my bag of illusions?
Illusions against a burninator? Silly, silly British man.
I invoke a time flux on Trogdor.
She moves her piece on the map.
Step down, girlfriend! You can't just--
Ninth level sorcerer and I carry the Emerald Chalice. Trogdor is frozen in time. Deal with it.
Andrew pouts.
Smack down on Red Riding Hood. This could get ugly.
Could it possibly get uglier? I used to be a highly- respected Watcher. Now I'm a wounded dwarf with the mystical strength of a doily. I just wish I could sleep.
What kind of person could sleep on a night like this?
Pull back to reveal Anya, her head on the table, sleeping soundly and snoring lightly. Xander strokes her hair affectionately.
Only the crazy ones.
Buffy stands alone, looking pensively off into the night.
Spike sits on his cot, staring at the medallion dangling on its chain. Buffy walks down the stairs and he gets up to meet her.
It's time.
The school sits abandoned, papers strewn across the grass, a car crashed into a tree on the main quad.
The group strides purposefully toward the front entrance, led by Robin Wood.
They enter the school and make their way through the ransacked corridors.
Welcome to Sunnydale High. There's no running in the halls, no yelling, no gum-chewing. Apart from that, there's only one rule: if they move, kill them.
Buffy joins Wood at the head of the group.
Okay, potentials in the basement. Follow Faith and Spike.
Faith points the way and they head off down the hall.
If you have to go to the bathroom, it's to your left. If you don't have to go to the bathroom, picture what you're about to face. Better to go now.
Willow, my office is straight through there.
It's right over the Seal.
Willow hands her bag to Kennedy.
I'll start getting you set up.
Thanks.
As Kennedy heads into Wood's office, Wood turns to the rest of the group: Anya, Andrew, Giles, Dawn and Xander.
Okay, civilians... if the vampires get upstairs, we have three areas they could get through to another building and then down into the sewers. (points) Down the hall in the atrium, the north hall here and the primary target, through the lounge and straight to the science building. Now odds are most of them will head there.
Teams of two, then? I suggest you and I take the lounge.
I concur.
Xander, I want you with Dawn.
I concur.
We'll check out the atrium.
So that leaves me and the dungeon master in the north hall.
We will defend it with our very lives.
Yes, we will defend it with his very life.
And don't be afraid to use him as a human shield.
Good, yes! Thanks.
I just want to say how proud I am to die for this very special cause with you guys.
He takes a sheet of paper out of his pocket and unfolds it.
There's some people I'd like to thank, both good and evil. A shout-out to my brother Tucker who gave me the inspiration to summon demons and also--
Anya yanks him down the hall by the arm.
Nobody cares, ya little monkey.
I'm going to check out our field of engagement.
She heads toward the atrium but Buffy stops her.
Dawn...
No. Anything you say is going to sound like goodbye.
The two sisters share a silent look that says everything that needs saying, then Dawn turns and walks away.
When she's gone, Buffy turns back to the three who are left: Giles, Willow and Xander. One by one she looks at the best friends she's ever known, then smiles.
So... what do you guys want to do tomorrow?
Nothing strenuous.
Well, mini-golf is always the first thing that comes to mind.
I think we can do better than that.
I was thinking about shopping-- as per usual.
There's an Agnes B in the new mall!
Good. I could use a few items.
Aren't we going to discuss this? Save the world and go to the mall?
I'm having a wicked shoe craving.
Aren't you on the patch?
Those never work.
And here I am, invisible to the eye, not having any say...
Xander, Buffy and Willow start to head off down the hall.
See, I need a new look. It's this whole eye patch thing.
Oh! You could go with the full black secret agent look.
Or the puffy shirt, pirate-slash-poet feel. Sensitive yet manly...
Now you're getting a little renaissance fair on me.
It's a fine line.
Giles watches them go with an ironic smile.
The earth is definitely doomed.
He heads off to the lounge to join Wood while Buffy, Xander and Willow walk silently together side-by-side. Willow steels herself, then breaks off and heads into Wood's office. A little further along, Xander takes Buffy's hand and squeezes it, then he goes to join Dawn in the atrium.
Alone once more, Buffy heads for the basement.
Buffy enters and Spike joins her as they approach the Seal of Danthazar. Faith and the other potentials are already gathered around it waiting.
Faith takes out a Andrew's Tawarick knife and hands it to Buffy.
You first, B.
Buffy extends her hand and slashes her palm with the knife, drawing blood. One by one, everyone else does the same, then they all extend their arms outward, letting their blood drip onto the Seal. It pools in the grooves on its surface and is instantly absorbed. The Seal begins to glow from within and the pointed tips of the pentagram at its center fold up, forming a pyramid which sinks into its center.
Buffy stares down into the dark hole, finding her center, then with a glance at Faith, she steps into the Hellmouth. Faith follows right behind.
Willow sits on the floor before a semi-circle of lit candles and ritualistic totems, including the scythe. Kennedy sits directly across from her, facing her and watching as she makes the final preparations.
They should be in place.
Okay. Magick time. (nervous laughter) You ready to kill me?
Starting to be.
Good. Fun. Great.
She places her hands on the scythe in front of her, then looks up at Kennedy, serious now.
Brace yourself.
Come on, red. Make it happen.
Buffy emerges into a shadowy cave with Spike and the others right behind her. Spike steps up to Buffy, indicates the amulet around his neck and speaks softly to her.
Not to be a buzzkill, love, but my fabulous accessory isn't exactly tingling with power.
I'm not worried.
I'm getting zero juice here... and I look like Elizabeth Taylor.
Cheer up, Liz. If Willow's big spell doesn't work, it won't matter what you wear.
I'm not worried.
The group spreads out as the cave tunnel opens up and they approach the edge of a dizzying drop. The flickering light of burning fires and the snarling and bellowing of a vast multitude comes from far below.
Buffy and the potentials approach the edge of the precipice and look down at a legion of Turok-han vampires, screaming, growling and readying for war: the army of The First.
Buffy's eyes go wide at the sight, the potentials stand rooted in place by fear and even Spike is awed by the sheer number and ferocity of the teeming throng below.
I'm not worried.
Really? 'Cause I'm flashing back to Xander's whole bathroom speech.
Buffy...
I'm not worried. As long as Willow can work her spell before they--
Far below, the Turok-han army goes silent as they all turn as one and look up, directly at Buffy and the potentials.
--see us.
As if on cue, thousands of Turok-han race toward them with a bellowing cry of rage. They begin to scale the walls, climbing them with frightening speed.
Resume. The First's army charges toward Buffy and her crew. Buffy's calm faÁade starts to crack at the awesome sight.
Willow...
Willow chants silently to herself, invoking powers she's never dreamed of.
Oh... my... goddess!
The scythe on the floor suddenly flares with a brilliant white light as tremendous power flows from it into Willow's hands.
Earlier the day before, picking up Buffy in mid-speech to the gathered potentials.
So here's the part where you make a choice. What if you could have that power... now? In every generation one Slayer is born because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule. They were powerful men.
She points at Willow, who smiles nervously.
This woman is more powerful than all of them combined. So I say we change the rule. I say my power should be our power.
Kennedy's head snaps up as Willow's spell hits her and her time as a potential comes to an end. She's now a Vampire Slayer.
Tomorrow, Willow will use the essence of the scythe to change our destiny.
Vi, Amanda and Rona suck in a gasping breath as Willow's spell passes through them and releases their potential and they too become Vampire Slayers.
From now on, every girl in the world who might be a Slayer, will be a Slayer.
A young girl steps up to bat and suddenly feels a surge of strength flow through her.
A teenage schoolgirl puts out a hand to steady herself against a row of lockers as a pulse of magickal energy changes her forever.
A girl falls to the floor as power and knowledge course through her.
While her puzzled family looks on, a girl suddenly stands up and backs away from the dinner table, confused but excited as the power of the Slayer envelops her.
Every girl who could have the power, will have the power.
An abusive father raises his hand to strike his young daughter only to have his arm stopped in mid-swing, his wrist caught in a vise-like grip, as his daughter goes from victim to champion in an instant.
Can stand up, will stand up.
Slayers... every one of us. Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?
The horde of raging Turok-han surges up and over the edge of the chasm toward Buffy, Faith, Spike and the team of newly called Vampire Slayers.
These guys are dust.
Spike, Faith and Buffy brace themselves as the first wave leaps up over the edge and attacks. They fight like they never have before, almost as if
Willow's spell has enhanced their already-formidable strength in addition to calling all the potentials to Slayerhood.
More Turok-han charge up from the abyss and now the rest of the Slayers join the fight. Roundhouse kicks, uppercuts, sidekicks, leaps-- punching and twirling in a stunning battle dance such as the world has never seen. Each Slayer, cloaked and anointed in the power, burning bright as they fight back the ravening horde, slaying as if they have been doing it all their lives.
Vi leaps into the air and slams into one of the vampires with tremendous force, sending it reeling backward into the abyss. Rona cracks another in the head with the cast on her broken arm, snapping its neck. Amanda impales a third with her lance, turning it instantly to dust.
All around them the battles rages, three dozen Slayers against an army of super-vampires.
Kennedy grins, relishing the feel of the power surging through her body. Then she looks up at Willow and her smile fades, replaced with a look of concern.
Willow?
An aura of pure white light surrounds Willow. Her hair has gone completely white, an expression of pure rapture on her face. Willow is transcendent, forever altered. Cleansed, forgiven... purified.
Then the spell ends, the light fades and Willow slumps forward panting, her hair back to its normal red.
You... are a goddess.
And you're a Slayer.
She hands Kennedy the scythe.
Get this to Buffy.
Kennedy leaps to her feet, hefts the blade and runs out of the room. When she's gone, Willow slumps over on her side, giggling quietly.
That was nifty...
Buffy, Faith and the others are in the fight of their lives. They beat back the Turok-han one after the other, staking them, punching them, slicing them to pieces, whatever it takes.
Kennedy leaps down from the entrance above and calls out to Buffy.
Buffy!
Buffy spins around just as Kennedy throws the scythe to her. She catches it with one hand and becomes death incarnate.
All around her, the Turok-han disintegrate to dust as she whips the scythe around, dispensing one fatal blow after another.
Kennedy is suddenly rocked backward by a vicious blow to the head as a Turok-han breaks free from the melee and attacks her. She kicks it in the chest and brings her elbow down on its neck, snapping it in two.
I could get used to this!
She seizes another Turok-han and hurls it upward with tremendous force into the cavern's ceiling. It's head impacts a stalactite and its skull shatters like an eggshell. The lifeless body drops to the ground at her feet.
About a dozen of the Turok-han break off their attack and dash up the stairs and into the school above. They are replaced by dozens more from below before Buffy and the other Slayers can stop them.
Andrew and Anya listen nervously to the sounds of the vampires' rage as they pour out of the Hellmouth in the basement below. The cries echo throughout the school. They both stand in the junction of two corridors, swords held at the ready.
I think they're coming.
Oh, god. I'm terrified. I didn't think-- I mean, I just figured you'd be terrified and I would be sarcastic about it.
Picture happy things. A lake, candy canes, bunnies...
Anya stops shaking and a calm and steely resolve comes over her.
Bunnies. Floppy, hoppy, bunnies.
She confidently raises her sword, ready to meet the threat head-on.
Wood and Giles brace themselves as a rampaging horde of Turok-han race around the corner and attack.
Giles's sword flashes as it whips around and decapitates one of the snarling beasts. Wood extends his arms and two razor-sharp fighting daggers shoot out of the sleeves of his coat and into his hands. He rakes one of the knives across the chest of a Turok-han, slicing it open, then pirouettes and jams the other knife through the throat of a second attacker.
Anya and Andrew fight desperately against the charging vampires. Anya parries the blows from a Turok-han's saber with her own sword as another vampire charges Andrew and slams him up against the wall.
I have swimmer's ear!
Anya decapitates one of the beasts and as it turns to ash, she disembowels the creature menacing Andrew.
Unnoticed by either Anya or Andrew, a half-dozen Bringers slip silently up the hall toward them.
In the midst of the raging battle, Spike snaps the neck of a Turok-han, then staggers backward as some unseen force hits him. He looks down at the medallion around his neck, then touches it only to jerk his hand away in pain, his flesh seared from the heat.
Buffy! Whatever this thing does, I think it's--
He suddenly screams in agony and writhes in pain but Buffy doesn't hear him in the heat of the battle. She dispatches two of the feral vampires, then stops to yell out commands to the other Slayers.
Keep the line together! Drive them to the edge! We can't let them do--
She stops and gasps in shock and pain as a Turok-han runs her through from behind with its sword. She looks down amazed at the tip of the blade protruding from her abdomen.
She staggers forward a few steps, then her eyes roll up and she falls face- first to the ground.
Resume. Faith hurls a Turok-han off of her and turns around just in time to see Buffy go down.
Buffy!
She runs over to the fallen Slayer and kneels next to her. Buffy raises her head and grimaces in pain.
Hold the line.
She pushes the scythe toward Faith. The raven-haired Slayer stares at Buffy in shock, then takes the scythe and stands up, whipping it around with superhuman speed, destroying one vampire after another.
Dawn and Xander fight for all they're worth. Xander charges forward as three Turok-han attack, swinging his sword and driving the vampires into the center of the room. Dawn then races forward and yanks on a dangling rope. A counterweight drops, pulling a tarp off the glass ceiling of the atrium and letting in a flood of sunlight. The golden rays of the sun pin the vampires in place and all three disintegrate in a ball of fire.
We call that the greenhouse effect. Very dangerous.
He's suddenly blindsided by another Turok-han as it tackles him to the floor.
Dawn raises her sword and attacks.
Andrew is slammed against the wall and pinned in place by one Bringer as another Bringer approaches, dagger raised to attack, but before he can strike, Anya runs him through with her sword.
As the Bringer drops to the floor dead, a third Bringer runs up behind Anya and slashes downward with his dagger. The razor-sharp knife slices Anya cleanly in two, from her right shoulder down to her left hip. Her body goes rigid and her eyes go wide in shock as she dies instantly.
Wood dispatches a Bringer with his fighting knives and turns to face his next attacker only to be slashed across the abdomen with a sword. He staggers backward a step, looking curiously at the bloody gash across his midsection. Giles runs the Bringer through with his sword, killing him, then catches Wood before he can fall over.
The battle rages on. For every Turok-han that dies, three more take its place.
Faith deals death with every swing of the scythe but there are too many. Moments before she is overwhelmed, she calls out.
Rona!
Then she hurls the scythe to Rona just as she's driven to the ground beneath five of the Turok-han vampires.
Rona catches the scythe and picks up where Faith left off, swinging the gleaming blade in a deadly arc.
Lying on the ground, bleeding and barely conscious, Buffy watches with dismay as Chao-ahn is seized from behind by a Turok-han. The vicious beast sinks its fangs into her neck, tearing into her flesh and killing her.
Then a bloody stake falls to the ground right in front of her and Buffy's head turns in time to see Amanda fall, her face covered in blood, her dead eyes staring sightlessly at Buffy.
Buffy's own eyes close as the pain becomes too much. The battle may go on but Buffy's part in it is over.
Then suddenly the sound of fighting fades around her and she hears her own voice. She looks up to see a mirror-image herself standing over her, an identical puncture wound in her belly dripping blood. It's The First.
Oh, no... ow! Mommy, this mortal wound is all... itchy.
The First crouches down next to Buffy.
You pulled a nice trick. You came pretty close to smacking me down. What more do you want?
Buffy stares at The First with smoldering hatred. The fight slowly comes back into her eyes and her face hardens with grim determination.
I want you... to get out of my face!
She pushes herself up onto her hands and knees, then regains her feet. The First backs away and vanishes.
Rona slashes the neck of a Turok-han with the scythe, then tosses it back to Buffy who whips it around in a 180° arc, taking out half a dozen Turok- han and driving several others back over the edge of the precipice to slam into the cavern floor far below.
Next to Buffy, a pile of raging Turok-han suddenly explodes outward and Faith leaps to her feet, her arms and legs a deadly ballet as she lands one killing blow after another.
All around Buffy, the Slayers find renewed strength and determination, beating back their attackers one at a time.
In one fluid motion, Vi rakes her stake through the abdomen of one vampire, then pirouettes and brings it down through the neck of another.
Kennedy sends one attacker reeling with a roundhouse kick and follows through with her sword, decapitating another of the snarling beasts.
Spike suddenly staggers backward in mid-blow, clutching his chest as if having a heart attack. He braces himself against the wall as a surge of energy wells up within him.
Oh, bollocks...
The white-hot energy coalesces around the amulet and rockets upward, punching a hole up through the ceiling of the cavern and through the basement of the school, tearing up and out through the building.
Still lying on the floor drained of energy, Willow looks up in shocked amazement as the energy pulse slams up through the floor and out the roof of the school.
Spike stands pinned in the center of a glowing ring of orange light.
Buffy!
Buffy looks over at Spike and can't believe her eyes.
Spike!
Before she can move, the medallion suddenly flares into life, lit with the intensity of a million suns. Streams of pure solar energy radiate outward in a circle like beams from a lighthouse.
The energy pulses sweep the cavern, destroying every Turok-han they touch. The vampire creatures scream in agony as they are cut down and annihilated by the hundreds, then by the thousands as the light extends down into the chasm.
Buffy runs to Spike's side as the cavern around them begins to shake and tremble. Chunks of rock and pointed stalactites tumble from the ceiling as the ground lurches beneath their feet.
Everybody out now!
The girls follow Faith's lead and dash up the stairs and into the school basement. Faith stays behind, helping the injured to safety as Buffy stands before Spike who is still pinned in place, illuminated by a crimson glow. She wants to help him but is unsure what to do.
I can feel it, Buffy.
What?
My soul. It's really there. It kind of stings.
Buffy looks around desperately as the last of the Slayers climb up and out of the Hellmouth.
The Slayers run through the school, heading for the exit, as the building trembles beneath them. Chunks of the ceiling rain down and the walls crack and sway.
As the girls round the corner, the motion of the building rolls a dead Bringer off Andrew who lies bloody and beaten beneath him. He stares up at the girls in shock.
Why?
They drag him to his feet and pull him toward the exit.
Vi and another Slayer emerge from the school, supporting Rona between them. They look across the quad where Giles is pulling Wood to safety. He pushes Giles off of him and points to a parked school bus.
The bus. Get them on the bus!
He staggers off toward the bus as Giles runs back to help the girls.
Everybody! This way!
Kennedy helps Willow out through the shaking school with Dawn and Xander right behind. As they rush out the exit, Xander stays behind, dodging chunks of mortar and falling steel beams, searching for Anya.
Anya! Anya!
Dawn runs back in and grabs his hand, dragging him to safety. Unseen by the others, Anya's bloody corpse lies in the rubble nearby, a fallen hero at rest.
All the girls are gone, having escaped up through the Seal and into the school. It's just Buffy and Spike now.
Go on, then.
No! No, you've done enough! You could still--
No, you've beaten them back. It's for me to do the cleanup.
Behind her a vast section of the cavern ceiling collapses inward, millions of tons of rock crashing into the abyss.
Faith calls down frantically from the top of the stairs near the Seal.
Buffy, come on!
She takes one last desperate look at Buffy, then leaps up into the school above.
Gotta move, lamb. I think it's fair to say, school's out for the bloody summer.
Spike!
I mean it! I gotta do this.
The light emanating from the amulet flares even brighter and Buffy reaches out and takes Spike's hand in her own, entwining her fingers with his. A moment, then both their hands burst into flame.
Buffy ignores the fire and holds his gaze with her own.
I love you.
Spike looks at Buffy, a flood of emotions pouring through him. He smiles at her ironically.
No, you don't. But thanks for saying it.
The share one last look between them, two souls come together as one at last, then the ground heaves beneath their feet and chunks of stone slam down like bombs around them.
Now go!
Buffy lets go of Spike's hand and runs up through the Seal. Spike trembles with the intensity of the energy pouring through him. He stares at the maelstrom of destruction in front of him and grins sardonically, the same old Spike to the last.
I want to see how it ends.
The front of the school explodes in a shower of dust and debris. From within the hellish storm of flying brick and masonry, a lone figure emerges, running for her life.
It's Faith.
She dashes across the parking lot and leaps onto the school bus with the others.
Go!
As the bus pulls away, Dawn stares out the back window, searching for any sign of her sister.
Buffy dodges and weaves through the crumbling hallways as they disintegrate around her.
She comes to the front entrance but finds the way completely blocked. Turning around, she sees sunlight streaming down from above and runs up the stairs.
Spike smiles wickedly as the magickal energy coursing through him reaches a fever pitch. His face begins to blacken in spots which rapidly join together as he's consumed from within by the power of the sun. Within seconds he disintegrates into dust.
The smile never leaves his face as he dies a hero.
Dies a champion.
Dies good.
The school bus races through the deserted town at full speed, barely staying ahead of the onrushing destruction.
Xander and Giles tend to the injured, applying bandages where necessary.
Rona is in bad shape and fading fast. Blood streaming down her own face, Vi shakes Rona, yelling at her, bringing her back to consciousness.
Look at me! This is nothing! Stay awake! This is nothing!
Andrew sits by himself and stares out the window, bewildered and mumbling to himself.
Why didn't I die?
As the bus races down the street, Buffy paces it on the rooftops of the adjacent buildings above, running for all she's worth, even gaining on the bus as it flies toward the city limits at 60+ miles per hour.
Behind her, the buildings fall away as the town is slowly sucked into the Hellmouth.
As the warehouse beneath her feet collapses into rubble, she leaps two dozen feet to the next building and keeps running.
Looking out the back window of the bus, Dawn spots her sister just as Buffy makes one last desperate super-human leap into mid-air. She sails past the Sun Cinema marquee and lands hard on top of the bus.
Buffy turns around and watches as the bus shoots away from the town that has been her home for the last seven years. Watches as the entire city disappears into the abyss, leaving nothing but a vast gaping hole in its place.
Faith watches the as the destructive radius slows, then stops. She motions for Wood to pull over.
Ease off. We're clear.
Wood pulls the bus to a screeching halt, then collapses backward onto the seat, barely conscious.
When the bus stops, Buffy immediately leaps off the back and stares in shock at the smoking black crater before her.
Then the back door opens and Dawn leaps out into her arms. The two sisters share a silent beat of joy and thanks in each other's embrace.
Buffy releases Dawn as Giles, Willow and the others disembark and gather around, staring in awed disbelief at the total destruction of Sunnydale.
I don't understand. What did this?
Spike.
As Buffy walks forward toward the edge of the pit, she notices a green sign balanced precariously on the very edge and bearing the logo
Welcome to Sunnydale!The sign sways in the wind, then falls backward into the hole, a final coda to the town's history.
Back at the bus, Xander turns to Andrew as he steps off.
So did you see?
I... I was scared. I'm sorry.
Did you see what happened?
Andrew looks up at him. The tears are there and so is the answer.
She was incredible. She died saving my life.
Xander nods and squeezes Andrew's shoulder, trying to hold back tears of his own.
That's my girl... always doing the stupid thing.
Andrew smiles and Xander moves off to join the others by the pit.
Faith kneels next to Robin Wood as he lies gasping in the driver's seat of the bus.
It's not bad. You just sit here. I'll get someone to--
She gets up but he stops her.
Hey... did we make it?
We made it. We won.
He smiles at her... and then he's just staring. And still. Faith looks at him for a beat, wistfully contemplating and mourning what might have been, then reaches up to close his eyes.
He suddenly coughs, spasming back to life, and she jerks her hand back. They both stare at each other, equally startled.
Surprise...
She smiles it him knowingly, then joins the others outside so that Vi can tend to his wound.
Faith, Giles, Dawn, Willow and Xander all gather around Buffy on the edge of the crater.
Looks like the Hellmouth is officially closed for business.
There's another one in Cleveland. Not to spoil the moment.
We saved the world.
We changed the world. I can feel them, Buffy. All over. Slayers are awakening everywhere.
We'll have to find them.
We will.
Yes, because the mall was actually in Sunnydale so there's no hope of going there tomorrow.
We destroyed the mall? I fought on the wrong side.
All those shops, gone. The Gap, Starbucks, Toy R Us... who will remember all those landmarks unless we tell the world of them?
We have a lot of work ahead of us.
Can I push him in?
You've got my vote.
Faith playfully shoves Giles.
I just want to sleep, yo. For like a week!
I guess we all could. If we wanted to.
Yeah, The First is scrunched so... what do you think we should do, Buffy?
Yeah, you're not the one and only Chosen anymore. Just gotta live like a person. How's that feel?
Yeah, Buffy. What are we going to do now?
Buffy Anne Summers looks off into the future, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.