6.20
Villains
TEASER
EXT. STREET IN BUFFY'S NEIGHBORHOOD/BUFFY HOUSE - DAY
We are riding alongside an AMBULANCE as it speeds through Buffy's neighborhood.
In the best of all worlds - this is ONE CONTINUOUS SHOT as the ambulance pulls
up next to BUFFY'S HOUSE and WE FOLLOW the paramedics as they jump out and run
toward-
XANDER, who is running toward them, bloodied and panicked, the phone in his
hand.
XANDER
She's in the back, This way-
He directs them to the backyard where Buffy is.
PARAMEDIC
She was shot?
XANDER
It's in the chest, I think she may-
PARAMEDIC #2
Accidental?
XANDER
No. No - it was... He was trying to
kill her-
WE CONTINUE WITH THEM AS THEY MOVE INTO THE BACKYARD. The paramedics immediately
rush to BUFFY and start working on her. The energy of all of this is rushed and
kinetic - a horrible, real world.
OFF XANDER
Helpless.
INT. WILLOW'S ROOM - DAY
Meanwhile, upstairs, unbeknownst to the others, Tara lies dead in a pool of
blood. Willow, eyes black, holds Tara as she tries to do a spell - tries to
bring Tara back.
WILLOW
Come back. Come back...
Some slight magical energy crackles around Tara - but Tara doesn't respond. She
lies as still and lifeless as before. Willow's state shifts, becomes more
panicked.
WILLOW (cont'd)
Oh God. no-- Please, please...
Come on, come on... Tara! Come
back, baby...
But, still, there is nothing. Tara lies limp, completely gone. Willow's
expression grows more intent - darker. She focuses and, suddenly, mystical
energy crackles around them. The air in the room above them darkens and STORM
CLOUDS SEEM TO GATHER IN THE ROOM... What was a plea becomes a fierce command,
an incantation. Willow raises her hands, drawing the energy into Tara.
WILLOW (cont'd)
By Osiris, I command you! Bring her
back!
EXT. BUFFY'S BACKYARD - DAY
Xander and the paramedics tend to Buffy - who is barely conscious. Buffy's
breath comes wet and raspy, as if she is fighting for every ounce of air she can
take in... It's a horrible sound.
PARAMEDIC #2
Pulse is 100 and weak. Lung sounds
are wet-
XANDER
What does that mean? Is she going to-
PARAMEDIC
You need to stand back, okay? If you
want us to help her we need some
space.
The paramedics keep working. Xander stands back, trembling and lost.
INT. WILLOW'S ROOM - DAY
It's still big with the magic in here. The clouds Willow manifested in the room
crackle with electricity. Willow is still incanting, over Tara.
WILLOW
Hear me! Keeper of darkness-
Now Tara and Willow are enclosed in a swirling burst of light and mystical power
- and the room is suddenly filled by the enormous HEAD of an incredibly imposing
demon. His voice BOOMS as he looks down on Willow and Tara.
IMPOSING DEMON
Witch! How dare you invoke Osiris in
this task?
Willow, desperate, appeals to the creature.
WILLOW
Please. Please... Bring her back-
IMPOSING DEMON
You may not violate the laws of
natural passing-
WILLOW
How? How is this natural?
IMPOSING DEMON
It is a human death, by human means.
WILLOW
But I-
IMPOSING DEMON
You raised one killed by mystical
forces. This is not the same - she
is taken by natural order. It is
done.
WILLOW
No. There's got to be a way-
IMPOSING DEMON
It is done.
Willow, trembling, screams - and it is horrible, full of rage and pain so deep
it has no end...
WILLOW
NO!
The scream unleashes a terrible energy. Suddenly the demon is engulfed in a
blaze of white light and heat - HE CRIES OUT IN HORRIBLE AGONY, DYING.
OFF THIS IMAGE - WE GO TO WHITE.
END OF TEASER
Act One
EXT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
We are in the front yard now. The same real, manic energy continues as Buffy,
clinging to life, is wheeled out on a gurney toward the ambulance. Xander is at
her side. Paramedic #2 is on his radio.
PARAMEDIC #2
Sunnydale memorial, do you copy? We
have a caucasian female, 21, GSW to
the chest-
Xander holds Buffy's hand... Talks to her, despite the fact that she looks lost,
disoriented.
XANDER
Come on, Buff. Hang on. We're going
to get you to the hospital-
Xander stops when he sees WILLOW moving out of the front door. She has Tara's
blood all over her white shirt. Her eyes have returned to normal, but she still
looks intense - darkly determined. The Paramedics continue on with Buffy,
loading her into the ambulance, while Xander hangs back to talk to Willow-
XANDER (cont'd)
Willow. God, are you okay?
WILLOW
(ignoring)
How did this happen?
XANDER
Warren. He had a gun-
WILLOW
Warren?
XANDER
It went down too fast. I couldn't
stop him-
Without another word. Willow starts to walk off.
XANDER (cont'd)
Hey-
But Willow keeps moving. Xander is thrown, watching her walk off in seeming
shock.
XANDER (cont'd)
Will?
Then Paramedic #1 calls to Xander-
PARAMEDIC
Sir, we have to go! Are you riding
with us or not?
This jolts Xander back into action. He sprints for the ambulance. Climbs in.
They close the doors and the ambulance speeds off.
INT. SUNNYDALE POLICE STATION/JAIL CELL - DAY
We move through the police station to the HOLDING CELL, where ANDREW AND
JONATHAN languish amidst a few other detainees.
Jonathan paces near the bars, totally freaked. Andrew looks more relaxed, if a
bit bored.
ANDREW
You think they'll let my aunt bring
me my disc man?
JONATHAN
That's what you're worried about?
In-flight entertainment? We're in
jail-
ANDREW
We're in custody. We haven't been
charged yet-
JONATHAN
Thank you, Dragnet.
(hushed)
It doesn't matter what they call
it - they got us, okay? We're going
down.
Jonathan glances at an innocuous guy across the way.
JONATHAN (cont'd)
And that guy's been looking at me.
I think he wants to make me his butt
monkey.
ANDREW
(rolls his eyes)
Don't flatter yourself.
(then)
I heard him talking to the guard.
He's in for parking tickets.
JONATHAN
That doesn't mean anything! The
joint changes you.
(quieter still/scared)
I heard they like the small ones,
with little hands like their
girlfriends-
ANDREW
You have got to chill. This isn't
"Oz" - it's, like, Mayberry.
Besides, Warren is going to find a
way get us out of here-
JONATHAN
(scoffing)
Yeah. I'm sure he'll be breaking us
out of here any minute-
ANDREW
He will. He's just coming up with a
plan. Like in "War Games", remember?
That decoder Matthew Broderick used?
Jonathan forgets himself for a moment.
JONATHAN
Oh, yeah. That was rad. The one he
made from the scissors and tape
recorder?
ANDREW
(musing)
I miss "Ferris" Matthew. "Broadway"
Matthew - I find him cold.
JONATHAN
Really? I-
(stops himself)
Shut up. This is real life and
nobody's coming to get us. Not your
Aunt, who won't even return your one
phone call-
ANDREW
(hurt)
She must be out of town-
JONATHAN
She. Doesn't. Care. And neither
does your partner in crime, Warren-
ANDREW
Don't say that.
(then)
And what do you mean, my partner in
crime? We're in this together-
JONATHAN
What do you mean - what do I mean?
You guys were totally going to fly
off and leave me holding the bag-
ANDREW
We were not!
(lame lie)
I was going to carry you.
JONATHAN
No, you were setting me up, and then
Warren was going to screw you over
too-
Andrew takes this assertion a bit too personally. It's like telling a little kid
that Santa Claus is dead.
ANDREW
That is so not true!
JONATHAN
Sure. He's a nice murderer who keeps
his word.
ANDREW
You're wrong. And he is coming for
us. He's out there right now,
devising a brilliant way to get us
out of here.
INT. DEMON BAR - DAY
WARREN makes a big entrance, in a suit and shades. Strides down the bar. Nobody
seems to notice him.
This is the same joint where Buffy and Spike came for kitten poker. A demon
dive, in a typical late afternoon torpor.
A few demons and vampires huddle in booths, while the rest of the patrons sit at
the bar, all intently watching the TV.
Warren finds a place at the bar. Slaps down a c-note.
WARREN
Whiskey, straight up. And get a
round for the house. I'm feeling
expansive.
The bartender just looks at him. Takes his money and moves to pour his drink.
Warren looks to the vampire sitting next to him.
WARREN (cont'd)
Hey.
(then)
Bet you don't get a lot of humans in-
The vampire's hand snaps out and grabs Warren by the lapels.
VAMPIRE
(still looking at TV)
I'm watching my program.
Warren replies - more irked than scared at this point. He hasn't played his
trump card yet.
WARREN
Wouldn't want to interrupt your 'me'
time. Not even to buy the guy who
killed the slayer a drink?
This gets the vampire's attention - as well as pretty much everyone in the bar.
He lets Warren go.
VAMPIRE
What's that?
Warren's full bravado returns - he's king of the hill now, baby, and he milks
it.
WARREN
Took her out myself. I've been
heading an organization - the Trio?
I'm sure you've heard of us.
VAMPIRE
Uh - no-
WARREN
Not important. I cut them loose. I
figure, now that Buffy's out of the
picture - things are gonna change
around here. I need a real gang, not
a couple of wannabes.
Now a demon on Warren's other side chimes in, skeptical.
DEMON
And you killed the slayer?
WARREN
With these hands.
DEMON
What are you - a warlock?
WARREN
Funny you mention that. I've
explored all the dark arts -
witchcraft, demonology... You name
it I tried it against the slayer.
But you know what I found really
works?
(off their looks)
Gun.
The others take this in. A small smile creeps across the vampire's face.
VAMPIRE
You killed the slayer with a gun.
WARREN
In her own backyard. Don't under-
estimate science, my friend. Good
old fashioned metal meets propulsion.
Now all the characters at the bar start to chuckle. Warren laughs with them -
thinking this is a classic villainous "mwee ha ha..."
DAMON
Oh man. This is gonna be good.
WARREN
The best. This town is ours.
VAMPIRE
Ours, maybe. You are screwed.
DEMON
Metal meets propulsion, yeah. But
you better be a good shot!
Everyone laughs harder - except Warren, whose smile fades.
WARREN
This... isn't the evil laugh of
victory - is it?
VAMPIRE
More like the evil laugh of "you're
a dead man."
WARREN
Okay. What's the joke?
DEMON
It was just on the news. Girl was
shot-
VAMPIRE
(enjoying this)
In her backyard-
DEMON
She survived. She's at the hospital
Warren's expression falls.
DEMON (cont'd)
Heal fast, slayers. Real fast.
The vampire leans close to Warren, who is quickly joining the ranks of the
panicked.
VAMPIRE
Yeah. I was gonna eat you myself at
the commercial - but now I think
it'll be more fun to let the slayer
de-gut you.
VAMPIRE (cont'd)
Might want to get a head start, "my
friend." That girl is going to be
coming for you, big time.
INT. MAGIC BOX - DAY
BOOM! The doors of the magic box BLOW OPEN and Willow strides in, out for blood
- LIGHT BULBS POPPING AS SHE PASSES. Her eyes are normal, but full of rage.
Anya, who is re-stocking some shelves, reacts.
ANYA
Willow-
WILLOW
Where do you keep the black arts
books?
ANYA
Listen. Something's happened. I
know. But you don't have to-
WILLOW
I need power.
ANYA
But not those books. I can't let
you-
Anya eyes flick to the SECOND LEVEL of the magic shop - the area just above the
magazine racks. WILLOW FOLLOWS ANYA'S GAZE. See what she needs. Starts to move.
Anya follows-
ANYA (cont'd)
Willow-
Willow doesn't let her come closer. Says in a darkly commanding voice-
WILLOW
Stop.
Suddenly, Anya can't move. She struggles, but it does no good.
Willow stops in front of the library area of the store - and looks to the second
level where the most dangerous books are stored.
With a small gesture, THE BOOKS COME FLYING OFF THE SHELVES ON THE SECOND LEVEL
AND PILE ON THE TABLE NEAR WILLOW. It happens fast - in an instant. Willow moves
to the books and reaches out - putting her hands INSIDE THEM. Her hands seem to
melt into the books, merging with them.
Suddenly, the writing from the books seems to scroll up her arms. THROUGH HER
BODY AND UNDER HER CLOTHES - EMERGING AGAIN ON HER CHEST, FACE... Finally, the
inky writing moves into her HAIR, turning it BLACK. She stiffens and her eyes
roll back as she absorbs all the knowledge and power these books contain.
After a long beat, the writing stops coming and Willow REMOVES HER HANDS FROM
THE BOOKS. We can see that the pages of the books are BLANK now.
OFF WILLOW
Who turns from she books, her appearance shockingly altered. Her eyes and hair
are black as death and energy crackles from her fingertips.
WILLOW (cont'd)
That's better.
OFF ANYA
Taking all this in, freaked. It's Dark Phoenix time.
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
Act Two
EXT./INT. - BUFFY'S HOUSE - FOYER - DAY
It is a bit later. Dawn arrives home from school. Finds the front door of the
house standing open - and everything strangely quiet...
DAWN
Buffy?
She goes upstairs and we follow her.
INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY/WILLOW'S ROOM - DAY
DAWN
Hey, hello, the door was...
Dawn moves toward Willow's room - where the door stands open. She can just
barely see something on the floor inside. Moves toward it. We just see a hint of
Tara's head as Dawn pushes the door further open, her voice small-
DAWN (cont'd)
...Tara?
And we GO TO WHITE.
INT. RACK'S OUTER ROOM - DAY
CLOSE ON A DOOR
Which opens, revealing RACK, the hard magic supplier that Willow went to with
Amy back in episode ten. He's looking just as cool and creepy as ever.
He glances at the MAGIC JUNKIES who sit up when he enters, strung out and
jonesing.
RACK
All right... Who's next...
Now we reveal WARREN, who steps in front of Rack. Looking desperate.
WARREN
I am.
Rack smiles. He likes desperation.
RACK
You're new.
Warren flashes a serious wad of cash.
WARREN
Yeah. And I come baring dead
presidents. Think we can skip the
small talk?
INT. RACK'S ROOM - DAY
Now we're in Rack's inner sanctum. Rack paces, staring at Warren, checking him
out. Making him distinctly uncomfortable. Warren, freaked, has little patience
for it.
RACK
How'd you find me?
WARREN
I talked to a guy, one of your
regulars. Offered to show me the way
for twenty bucks.
RACK
Should have haggled. Most of my
customers will bring you here for
five.
WARREN
(growing impatient)
Thanks for the tip.
(then)
Look, I'm in a situation here. I
tried to do us all a favor, eliminate
the slayer. But I guess it didn't
take.
RACK
Killing a slayer. That's big
business for a kid.
Warren takes this badly.
WARREN
I'm not a kid-
RACK
(yeah you are)
okay.
WARREN
Had my own guys, the Trio - you've
heard of us-
RACK
Right. What were you, a band or
something?
WARREN
(exasperated)
I thought word traveled in the
underworld. We were evil? Robots
were my thing. You didn't hear about
the freeze ray?
RACK
Sorry. So why don't your guys help you?
WARREN
Look. I thought this was a cash for
service gig, not an interview
process. I need protection. I've
got the slayer after me-
RACK
Slayer's the least of your problems.
WARREN
You're right. Let's talk about my
skin troubles.
(then)
On the scale of problems - I'd say
she ranks!
RACK
If I were you, I'd be worried about
the witch.
WARREN
(thrown)
Witch? Which witch?
RACK
Willow. Slayer's pal. She's the new
power, man - anybody with intuition
can feel it. She's going to blow
this town away - starting with you.
Warren is flushed with new panic.
WARREN
Me? What did I do to her? I mean,
okay, I shot her friend but-
RACK
(darkly)
I feel death.
WARREN
But the slayer's alive. And - and
she heals-
RACK
She may - but somebody's stone cold.
That's why the witch wants your head.
(then)
She can sense your essence right now.
Matter of time before she finds you.
Warren shoves the whole wad of money into Rack's hands.
WARREN
Take it. There's that - and I can
get more. Just give me something.
RACK
Hide or fight?
WARREN
Both. All of it. I've still got a
few tricks up my sleeve, but not
enough. I need a cover - and lots of
fire power.
RACK
I can't guarantee anything. Not this
time. The girl is running on fury.
Never felt anything like it.
WARREN
(terrified)
Thanks for the tip. Nostradamus.
Just load me up, okay?
INT. EMERGENCY ROOM - HALLWAY/OPERATING AREA - DAY
Xander stands by the windows of an emergency room operating facility, looking
in. He's completely shell-shocked.
INT. OPERATING AREA - CONT.
On the other side of those doors. A medical team is working frantically to save
Buffy, who lies unconscious on the table - hooked up to all the standard
machines. It's not going well.
DOCTOR
We've got more bleeding-
NURSE #1
Where?
DOCTOR
Over by her left ventricle-
NURSE #2
BP is down to 80/palp-
DOCTOR
(more intense)
We need to stop that bleeder!
Suddenly, the lights in the room start to flicker.
NURSE #2
BP - it's... I don't know what it's
doing...
We can hear the heart monitor start to go crazy - slowing and speeding up... Now
we see that all the electrical monitors in the room are malfunctioning.
NURSE #1
What's happening? It's-
A firm voice stops them.
WILLOW (O.C.)
Leave.
REVEAL WILLOW
She's ever so slightly more pale now and still big with the black eyes and hair
(which both stay until further notice). She stands near the doors. Xander moves
in behind her, stunned, as the medical personnel put down their instruments.
XANDER
Willow-
Willow ignores him. Just continues her command.
WILLOW
Now.
NOW THE DOCTOR AND TWO NURSES silently file out of the room.
XANDER
Will! What are you doing?! She's
going to die-
WILLOW
No she isn't.
Willow moves to Buffy - focuses... The lights dim and a GLOW OF MYSTICAL ENERGY
gathers around them.
XANDER
The magic. It's not right. You
said...
But Willow isn't listening. She's in a trance-like state - concentrating
intently on Buffy's chest. A beat - and the BULLET that nearly killed Buffy
slowly RISES OUT of her, Buffy's chest wound magically closing after it lifts
out. Xander is stunned silent.
Willow contemplates the bullet which HOVERS BEFORE HER. Only a hint of the grief
which drives her shows through her grim detachment.
WILLOW
(re: bullet)
It's so small.
After a moment, she covers bullet the with her hand. When she opens her hand,
the bullet is gone.
The mystical energy starts to dissipate. A beat. Buffy's eyes flutter open.
Xander runs to the table.
XANDER
Buffy!
BUFFY
What happened?
Xander nearly cries with relief.
XANDER
Oh my God... Are you okay?
She sits up, confused. Totally healed.
BUFFY
Sure. How'd I get here?
Xander hugs her - joyful through some tears.
XANDER
You've got to stop doing this. I
mean the dying thing is funny once.
Maybe twice-
Buffy looks to Willow.
BUFFY
Willow?
Willow allows herself the smallest moment of relief.
WILLOW
Buffy. Hey-
But Buffy can see that something is very wrong.
BUFFY
What's wrong?
This snaps Willow back to her mission. She cuts Buffy off.
WILLOW
I'll explain. But we've got to go-
Willow starts to move toward the door. Xander and Buffy scramble to keep up with
her.
BUFFY
What? Why?
WILLOW
(darkly)
It's time to find Warren.
INT./EXT. SUNNYDALE BUS STATION - DAY
WARREN, looking apprehensive, stands at the TICKET WINDOW. He speaks to the
clerk.
WARREN
This will get me all the way to the
border?
CLERK
You'll have to change to the city
bus. It's all in the folder.
Warren nods and moves away from the window.
WE FOLLOW HIM
As he exits the station and moves out to where the buses are lined up for
passengers. He boards one heading to SAN DIEGO.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Xander's car speeds down a fairly deserted stretch of highway.
INT./EXT. XANDER'S CAR - DAY
The mood here, needless to say, is tense. Xander is behind the wheel. Willow,
whose EYES ARE NORMAL NOW, and Buffy share the front seat with him. Willow is
completely focused on the road.
WILLOW
Faster-
XANDER
I'm going as fast as I-
Willow now uses her firm, commanding voice.
WILLOW
Faster-
XANDER JUMPS as Willow magically makes the GAS PEDAL HIT THE FLOOR. He didn't
touch it.
XANDER
Would you cut that out, Will!? If
you wanted to drive...
Buffy and Xander exchange worried glances.
BUFFY
Willow. We need to stop. I don't
like this-
WILLOW
We're close. I can feel him.
BUFFY
And we'll catch him - and he'll go to
jail. Believe me, I'm finding the
whole getting shot very motivating.
But you're using magic-
WILLOW
If I wasn't, you'd be dead.
BUFFY
Maybe. But this isn't right. It
isn't how I want it-
WILLOW
Sometimes you don't have a choice.
XANDER
I think Buffy gets the tie-breaker on
this one. She was the one on the
ouchy end of that bullet-
BUFFY
(emphatic)
And you do have a choice. This isn't
good for you, Will-
XANDER
You made the decision to stop for a
reason. You promised us. And can I
just ask - what's with the make-over
of the damned? I mean, the hair-
Willow sits up. Alert.
WILLOW
Turn! Go right!
Xander searches the highway. There's no exit.
XANDER
Go - where?
WILLOW
Over there! Go the other way! Now!
Xander looks across a WIDE WASH that divides two highways, each going in a
different direction.
XANDER
Will-
WILLOW'S EYES GO BLACK AGAIN.
WILLOW
(commanding voice)
Turn.
XANDER REACTS as the WHEEL MAGICALLY TURNS ITSELF. The car starts OFF-ROADING
OVER THE WASH.
Xander, exasperated, simply TAKES HIS HANDS OFF THE WHEEL.
XANDER
Fine! Fine! Puppetmaster wants to
drive? Go right ahead!
EXT. SCRUBBY WASH - DAY
The car bounces across the off-road terrain.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
The car skids to a stop on the edge of the highway. WARREN'S BUS approaches - a
distance away but closing fast
INT. XANDER'S CAR - DAY
Willow gets out of the car. Buffy and Xander barely have time to react-
BUFFY
Will! Wait-
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Willow stands in the middle of the highway. The bus getting closer.
She focuses all her energy on the advancing vehicle.
INT. BUS - DAY
The driver of the bus jerks back and the controls start to move on their own.
The bus starts to SKID TO A HALT.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Willow stands her ground as the bus bears down on her. Buffy and Xander are out
of the car now and moving toward her.
Without turning to look at them, Willow stops them with-
WILLOW
Stay back.
Buffy and Xander freeze in their tracks. Suddenly unable to go any further.
INT. BUS - DAY
Driver and passengers, including Warren, all react as the bus jerks to a stop...
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
The bus finally comes to a full rest about an inch from Willow. But she looks as
cool as could be. She stares at the door.
WILLOW
Get out.
A beat. Then the bus doors open. WARREN, confused and apprehensive, gets off.
Like the others, he looks like he's acting under Willow's power - no will of his
own.
Willow moves to him and grabs him by the neck, lifts him off the ground.
WARREN
Please. Please. I'll do anything-
Willow's expression shifts a little. She starts to SQUEEZE his neck.
ON BUFFY & XANDER
BUFFY
Willow - NO!
WILLOW
Continues to squeeze. Warren's face contorts - the life leaving him. And then he
pops a gasket. Kinda literally. A GLASS EYE POPS OUT OF ITS SOCKET AND THE SKIN
AROUND THE EYE SAGS, REVEALING SPARKING WIRES AND METAL UNDERNEATH. Warren
doesn't even react. He's a BOT. Willow reacts.
WILLOW
It's a robot.
Disgusted, Willow casts him aside.
ON BUFFY AND XANDER
Who are suddenly released from their incapacitation. They move stiffly but they
can move. They go to Willow - stare at the WARREN BOT, dumbstruck.
WILLOW (cont'd)
(momentarily thrown)
I could feel his essence. He tricked
me...
A beat. Then Willow recovers. Heads for the car.
WILLOW (cont'd)
We'll find him another way.
BUFFY
(warily)
And then what?
WILLOW
Then we'll kill him.
Buffy and Xander, following, react to this.
XANDER
What?
BUFFY
(warily)
Will. Stop. You need to calm down-
Willow turns on Buffy - her tone hard.
WILLOW
Calm down?
BUFFY
You're angry. I am too. What Warren
did, there's no excuse, but-
WILLOW
He hit Tara.
Buffy and Xander take this in - stunned silent.
WILLOW (cont'd)
When he shot you, he hit her too.
Upstairs. In my room.
BUFFY
Oh my God-
WILLOW
(bitterly)
Guess the last shot was the charm.
XANDER
She's dead?
WILLOW
She's dead. And now he's dead.
Buffy and Xander are floored by this. Devastated. Buffy starts to cry.
BUFFY
No... Oh God, Tara...
XANDER
Christ, Will. Why didn't you say
anything?
WILLOW
I'm busy.
She heads again toward the car. Buffy recovers enough to grab her.
BUFFY
No. Come on, stop-
WILLOW
Don't -
BUFFY
We love you. And Tara. But we don't
kill humans. This isn't the way-
This stops Willow.
WILLOW
How can you say that? Tara is dead.
BUFFY
I know... And I... I can't
believe... anything. Not what
happened - not what you must be going
through.
(then)
But if you do this - Warren destroys
you too.
XANDER
You said it yourself - the magic is
too strong, Will. There's no coming
back from it.
WILLOW
I'm not coming back.
Willow starts to move away. Buffy goes after her, takes her arm again. Wanting
to hold her, stop her somehow-
BUFFY
Don't. Please. We'll get through
this together-
WILLOW
We won't. Not your way.
BUFFY
Willow-
WILLOW
No. No more talking.
XANDER
But-
WILLOW
It's done!
A FORCE COMES OFF WILLOW, knocking Buffy and Xander off their feet and dazing
them. A beat.
When they look up - Willow's gone. Nowhere to be found.
OFF XANDER AND BUFFY
Stunned and grief-stricken in the middle of a desert highway.
BLACK
OUT.