~~~~~~~~~~ Prologue ~~~~~~~~~~
Underwater. Copious amounts of bubbles rise through it, some larger,
some smaller, as though someone below is doing their best to hold their
breath, but can't continue for much longer. The camera pans down, and
there is Buffy frantically trying to get to the surface. Below her Allan
grabs her ankle and pulls her down. She kicks her legs and flails her
arms, desperately trying to shake loose. Eventually she manages to break
free of his grip and swim to the surface. She breaks through and draws a
deep breath. There, kneeling on the dock above, she sees Faith, who
reaches down and shoves her back underwater.
Cut to Buffy's room. She wakes with a start from the nightmare, and
draws several deep breaths to calm herself as she realizes it was all
just a dream. She sits up in bed and looks around her room. She pushes
the blankets back, gets up and walks out into the hall, where she can
hear the news on the TV in her mother's room.
News Anchor: We go now live to our field reporter, who is standing by
at the waterfront with this breaking news about the murder that has
shocked the Mayor and residents of Sunnydale.
Buffy can see the TV from the hall. It is showing footage of the boat
retrieving Allan's body.
Field Reporter: Fishermen discovered the body today, the victim of a
brutal stabbing. Authorities and citizens alike were shocked when the
slain man was identified as Deputy Mayor Allan Finch.
Buffy can't believe that they not only found the body, but that he was
also a public figure.
Field Reporter: Still reeling from the news, Mayor Wilkins had this to
say.
The news cuts to the Mayor at a press conference.
Mayor Wilkins: Mr. Finch was not only my longtime aide and associate,
he was a close personal friend. I promise you I will not rest until
whoever did this is found and brought to justice. Thank you very much.
Joyce notices Buffy standing behind her.
Joyce: Oh, honey, you're up. (turns back to the TV) Oh, it's just
terrible, isn't it?
Buffy doesn't know what to say or how to react.
Opening credits roll. Buffy's theme plays.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 1 ~~~~~~~~~~
The Sunnydale High School library. Buffy is sitting on the study table
and Faith is sitting in a chair at the table. Wesley paces. Giles is
sitting at the far end.
Wesley: I want you to look into this. Find out everything you can about
the murder of the Deputy Mayor.
Buffy: (nervous and confused) But that's... I-I mean, that's... That's
not really our jurisdiction, is it?
Faith: (eerily calm) It's no big, B. We'll get into it if he wants.
Giles: No, Buffy's right. The Deputy Mayor's murder was the result of
human malice. There's nothing supernatural about it.
Wesley: We don't know that for certain. (brightly) I say it merits
investigation.
Giles: (gets up, walks around the table) Which I'm sure the police are
doing. Meantime, if you ask me, there are better uses for the Slayers'
time.
Wesley: (snootily) Ah. But I don't believe I did. (holds the daily
paper out to him) Ask you.
Giles: (yanks the paper away) Considering the success of your previous
adventure...
Cordelia walks into the library. Giles looks over at her.
Cordelia: Don't let me interrupt. Wait. Let me interrupt. I'm in a
hurry. (raises her eyebrows)
Giles: What did you need?
Wesley turns to see who has spoken, and is immediately taken by her
beauty. He stares at her with his mouth agape, looking her up and down.
Cordelia: Uh, psych class. Freud and Jung. Book me?
Giles: Happily.
Cordelia: (notices Wesley, smiles) Check out Giles: The Next
Generation. What's your deal?
Wesley: (stammering nervously) Uh, I, uh... Well... (swallows) I'm a...
Faith is quite amused. She leans forward on the table.
Faith: New Watcher.
Cordelia: Oh.
Wesley: (turns to Buffy, irritated) Does everybody know about you?
Buffy: She's a friend.
Cordelia: Let's not exaggerate. So... (steps closer) You're the new
Watcher.
Wesley: (summons his poise, holds out his hand) Wesley Wyndam-Pryce.
Cordelia: (takes it) I like a man with two last names. I'm Cordelia.
Wesley: (smiles) And you teach psychology.
Cordelia: I *take* psychology.
Giles walks behind Wesley with Cordelia's books.
Giles: She's a student.
Wesley immediately drops Cordelia's hand.
Wesley: Oh, well. I, uh... (swallows) Yes. (squares his shoulders) In
fact, I am... here to watch... girls. Uh, uh, Buffy and Faith, to be
specific.
Cordelia: (steps closer, smiling brightly) Well, it's about time we got
some fresh blood around here.
Wesley: (laughs nervously) Well. Fresh. Yes.
At the checkout counter Giles stamps the due date into the books.
Giles: Here we go.
Cordelia: (to Giles) Thanks. (to Wesley) So, welcome to Sunnydale.
She gives him a bright smile and goes to retrieve her books. On her way
out she makes sure to put just the right amount of swing in her hips.
Wesley: (watching her back admiringly) My. She is cheeky, isn't she?
Faith: (still amused) Uh, first word: jail; second word: bait.
Wesley: Ahem. (pulls out his handkerchief) Well, uh... (dabs his mouth)
Where were we?
Buffy: (slips off the table) Done. I mean, we were done, right?
Faith: (stands up) Uh, yep. Off to patrol. So we'll see ya.
Wesley: (draws himself up) One moment, girls. I'm your commander now,
and on the matter of this murder, I am resolved. Natural or super, I
want to know.
Faith: Fine by me. Always ready to kick a little bad guy butt.
She touches her hand to Buffy's shoulder, and the two of them walk out.
Wesley smiles beatifically after them.
Cut to an empty classroom. The Slayers walk in. Buffy pulls the door
closed behind her. Faith checks the other door to make sure it's closed,
which it is. They meet in the center of the room.
Faith: (challengingly) So, you gonna rat me out? Is that it?
Buffy: (imploringly) Faith, we have to tell. I can't pretend to
investigate this. I can't pretend that I don't know.
Faith: (snidely) Oh, I see. But you can pretend that Angel's still dead
when you need to protect him.
Buffy: I *am* trying to protect you. Look, if-if we don't do the right
thing, it's only gonna make things worse for you.
Faith: Worse than jail for the rest of my young life? No way!
Buffy: Faith, what we did was...
Faith: (ominously) Yeah. We. You were right there beside me when this
whole thing went down. Anything I have to answer for, you do, too.
You're a part of this, B. All the way.
Faith walks out of the classroom, leaving a shocked Buffy behind.
Cut to the hall. Buffy comes out of the classroom and walks toward the
student lounge. There she sees Willow sitting alone on a couch, and goes
to her. Willow notices her coming, glances up for an instant and takes a
deep breath as she pretends to go back to her reading, apprehensive
about them meeting.
Buffy: Hey.
Willow: Hey. (Buffy sits) Where's Faith? I-I saw her around. Figured
you two were gonna go kill some more nasty stuff.
Buffy: Not right now. I-I, um, I think she bailed.
They both begin to talk again simultaneously.
Buffy: Willow, I was won...
Willow: Actually, I'm...
They both stop. Buffy lets out a deep breath.
Buffy: Um... You go ahead.
Willow: (puts her book away) I'm late. I-I'm meeting Michael. The
warlock guy? We're still trying to de-rat Amy.
Buffy: (smiles thinly) Okay.
Neither of them says anything for a long moment.
Willow: (evasively) So see ya. (gets up and goes)
Buffy: (to herself) See you.
Cut to the scene where Allan was killed. The red and blue flashing
lights of police car light bars illuminate the area. A forensic expert
takes blood and fiber samples from the dumpster as another police
officer holds a Maglite up to it. Detective Stein is also there,
interviewing a potential witness.
Det. Stein: So, uh... You heard the man scream about what time last
night?
Woman: (worriedly) Oh, I'm not sure. 7:00, maybe 8:00.
Det. Stein: Can you be more specific, say between 7:30 and 8:00?
The camera moves through the scene and finds Angel, watching from a
distance. He sees the blood on the dumpster and watches as the samples
are taken. He flashes back to the previous night when he saw the blood
on Buffy's hand.
Angel: Your hand.
Buffy: Oh. It's okay.
He's back in the present, and continues to watch all the activity.
Cut to City Hall. Cut to the Mayor's office. He puts a sheet of paper
into the shredder and listens to it whir through. He follows it with
another. The camera pans up to his face. He's not a happy Mayor.
Mayor Wilkins: It's not working.
Trick: It's supposed to do something besides shred?
Mayor Wilkins: It's *supposed* to cheer me *up*. Usually using the
shredder gives me a lift. It's fun.
Trick: And today you're not getting the ya-yas.
Mayor Wilkins: (morosely) No.
He shreds another sheet.
Mayor Wilkins: Guess it'll take more than this to turn my frown upside
down. I just *don't* understand why Allan would leave such a paper trail
about our dealings. (considers) Do you think he was gonna betray me? Oh,
now, that's a horrible thought. And now he's dead, I'll never have the
chance to scold him.
Trick: Maybe this will change your mood.
He drops a copy of the coroner's report on the desk. The Mayor picks it
up and opens it.
Mayor Wilkins: What is it?
Trick: Bombshell. The Deputy Mayor had wooden splinters in his wound.
Struck right through the heart with a sharp, pointed object. Now, word
is, someone was fighting vampires not a block away from the scene. Any
smart money says it was a Slayer who did this job.
Mayor Wilkins: Why? Do you think he talked? To them?
Trick: If he did, I'm thinking he said the wrong thing.
Mayor Wilkins: (closes the report) Well, this *is* exciting. A Slayer
up for Murder One. That's sunshine and roses to me. It really is.
He laughs as he taps the end of the report on his desk and sets it down.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 2 ~~~~~~~~~~
City Hall at night. Cut to Allan's office. Faith and Buffy break in.
Buffy closes the door behind them, checking to make sure they weren't
seen. She turns on the light. They both look around the office.
Faith: (darkly) I'm telling you, we did the world a favor. (goes to his
chair) This guy was about as interesting as watching paint dry.
Buffy: (uneasily) Faith...
Faith: I'm joking. Jeez, lighten up a little, B.
She looks across his desk and notices a picture of him with the Mayor.
Buffy goes through the papers in his inbox. Faith picks up the picture
and stares at it, cradling it gently.
Faith: He came out of nowhere.
Buffy: (sympathetically) I know.
Faith: (annoyed) Whatever. (puts down the picture) I'm not lookin' to
hug and cry and learn and grow. I'm just saying it happened quick, you
know?
She pulls open his drawer. Everything inside is neat and in place. Buffy
starts to go through some papers lying on top of his filing cabinets.
Faith loses her patience.
Faith: You know what? Let's just blow. Who cares what this guy was
about? It's kind of moot now, don't you think?
Buffy: I don't think he was in that alley by chance. I think he was
looking for us. I'd like to know why.
She opens a file drawer. It's empty.
Faith: So, what, you think there's some big conspiracy?
Buffy closes the drawer and opens another. All the folders in it are
also empty.
Buffy: You were saying?
Faith: So his papers are gone. That doesn't prove anything.
Buffy: Except that somebody didn't want us to prove anything.
Faith begins to get it.
Cut to the hall. Buffy opens the door and peeks out. The hall is clear,
so she steps out into it. Just then the Mayor's door opens further down
the hall, and Mr. Trick steps out. The Mayor is right behind him. Buffy
looks back at Faith, and they both scramble back into Allan's office and
close the door quietly. They can still hear them talking out in the
hall.
Mayor Wilkins: Get as many men on it as you can.
Trick: Yeah. We'll be wanting to turn up the heat.
Cut to the streets. Buffy and Faith step off the sidewalk and into the
street.
Faith: So the Mayor of Sunnydale is a Black Hat. That's a shocker, huh?
Buffy: Actually, yeah. I didn't get the bad guy vibe off of him.
Faith: (exasperated) When are you gonna learn, B? It doesn't matter
what kind of vibe you get off a person. 'Cause nine times out of ten,
the face they're showing you is not the real one.
They step up onto the opposite sidewalk.
Buffy: (evenly) I guess you know a lot about that.
Faith: (stops and faces Buffy) What is that supposed to mean?
Buffy: It's just, look at you, Faith. Less than twenty-four hours ago,
you killed a man. A-and now it's all zip-a-dee-doo-dah? It's not *your*
real face, and I know it. Look, I know what you're feeling because I'm
feeling it, too.
Faith: (insolently) Do you? So fill me in 'cause I'd like to hear this.
Buffy: Dirty. Like something sick creeped inside you and you can't get
it out. And you keep hoping that it was just some nightmare, but it
wasn't. And we are gonna have to figure out...
Faith: (interrupts) Is there gonna be an intermission in this?
Buffy: Just let me talk to Giles, okay? I swear...
Faith: No! We're not bringing *anybody* else into this. You gotta keep
your head, B. This is all gonna blow over in a few days.
Buffy: And if it doesn't?
Faith: If it doesn't, (shrugs) they got a freighter leaving the docks
at least twice a day. It ain't fancy, but it gets you gone.
Buffy: (in disbelief) And that's it? You just live with it? You see the
dead guy in your head every day for the rest of your life?
Faith: (steps closer) Buffy, I'm not gonna *see* anything. I missed the
mark last night and I'm sorry about the guy. I really am! But it
happens! Anyway, how many people do you think we've saved by now,
thousands? And didn't you stop the world from ending? Because in my
book, that puts you and me in the plus column.
Buffy: We help people! It doesn't mean we can do whatever we want.
Faith: Why not? The guy I offed was no Gandhi. I mean, we just saw he
was mixed up in dirty dealings.
Buffy: Maybe, but what if he was coming to us for help?
Faith: What if he was? You're still not seeing the big picture, B.
Something made us different. We're warriors. We're built to kill.
Buffy: To kill demons! But it does *not* mean that we get to pass
judgment on people like we're better than everybody else!
Faith: We *are* better!
Buffy is taken aback.
Faith: (exhilarated) That's right, better. People need us to survive.
In the balance, nobody's gonna cry over some random bystander who got
caught in the crossfire.
Buffy: (sadly) I am.
Faith: (disdainfully) Well, that's your loss.
She turns her back on Buffy and walks away.
Cut to Buffy's house. Her mother sees her coming and meets her at the
door. When she opens it, Buffy can see Detective Stein standing behind
her.
Joyce: Buffy.
Buffy looks at him, eyes widening, remembering him from before.
Cut to the living room. Joyce sits in an armchair with her feet together
and her hands folded in her lap, listening to the detective question her
daughter. Buffy sits on the couch across from her.
Det. Stein: Tell me again. You got home at what time last night?
Buffy: Late. Um, a-a little past 1:00, I guess.
The camera pans around Detective Stein as he asks his next question, and
when it moves away from his back he's talking with Faith in her room.
Det. Stein: Maybe you can explain to me what a girl your age is doing
out all night.
Faith: (playing dumb) Just hanging.
Det. Stein: Hanging. By yourself?
Faith: No. I was with my friend Buffy.
Cut to Buffy.
Buffy: We were at Faith's watching TV.
Joyce listens anxiously to them.
Det. Stein: What did you watch?
Cut to Faith.
Faith: Some old movie.
Cut to Buffy.
Buffy: Infomercial.
Cut to Faith.
Det. Stein: Hmm. (nods) That's funny 'cause I got a couple of witnesses
who put you near the alley.
Faith: (innocently) Witnesses?
He walks around her, eyeing her suspiciously.
Det. Stein: Somebody stabbed this guy through the heart.
Cut to Buffy.
Det. Stein: Strange thing is, the weapon, it was made out of wood.
Cut to Faith.
Det: Stein: Any of this mean anything to you?
Faith: (flippantly) Yeah. That whoever did it wasn't hip to the Bronze
Age.
Detective Stein inhales deeply and sighs. Cut to Buffy.
Buffy: Is that it? I'm kinda beat.
Det. Stein: Yeah, I have enough for now. Buffy, if you know something,
if you're protecting someone, I promise you it'll be better for everyone
if you just come clean.
Cut to Faith.
Faith: You mean am I covering for someone? Hardly. I'm not the throw-
myself-on-the-sword type.
Cut to Buffy.
Buffy: (politely) I wish I could help you.
Det. Stein: Well, call me if you remember anything.
Cut to Faith. Detective Stein hands her his card. Cut outside her hotel
room. He pulls the door closed, takes out his keys and walks to his car.
He opens the door, gets in and starts the engine. In the shadows beyond
Angel watches him. Detective Stein puts the car in gear and drives off.
Cut to Willow's room. She's at her laptop doing research. She hears a
tapping at her French doors, and goes to open them. There she sees Buffy
looking in sadly.
Buffy: Hey.
Willow: Hey.
Buffy: I need to talk to you.
Willow: Good. (Buffy comes in, closes the door) 'Cause I've been
letting things fester. (goes to her bed) And I don't like it. (sits) I
wanna be fester-free.
Buffy: (smiles weakly) Yeah. Me, too.
Willow: (stands up) I mean, don't get me wrong. I-I completely
understand why you and Faith have been doing the bonding thing. You guys
work together. You... You should get along.
Buffy: It's more complicated than that.
Willow: But, see, it's that exact thing that-that's just ticking me
off! It's this whole 'Slayers only' attitude. I mean, since when
wouldn't I understand? You, you talk to me about *everything*. I-it's
like all of a sudden I-I'm not cool enough for you because I can't kill
things with my bare hands.
Buffy suddenly bursts into tears. Willow is aghast at this result.
Willow: (regretfully) Oh! Oh, Buffy! Don't cry. (hugs her close) I'm
sorry. I-I was too hard on you. (lets go) Sometimes I unleash. I-I don't
know my own strength. I-i-it's bad. I-I-I'm bad. I'm a bad, bad, bad
person. (looks for forgiveness)
Buffy: (tearfully) Will, I'm in trouble.
Cut to later, after they've calmed down and Buffy's explained. They sit
on Willow's bed.
Buffy: And Faith acts like she doesn't even care. The way she talks,
it's like she didn't even make a mistake.
Willow: (takes it all in) Do you think she's, like, i-in shock?
Buffy: (sighs) I don't know. And I think that detective knows more than
he's saying. I think he knew that I was lying.
Willow: (decisively) You have to go to Giles, Buffy. He'll know what to
do.
Buffy lets out a deep breath, knowing that her friend is right.
Cut to the library. Buffy comes in quietly and walks past the counter.
Buffy: (troubled) Giles?
She stops when she sees him come out of his office.
Giles: Buffy.
Buffy: Uh... (exhales) I don't really know how to say this, so I'm-
I'm... I'm just gonna say it. I know I've kept things from you before,
but...
Giles turns his head slightly as Faith comes out of his office, too.
Faith gives her a steely look, like she expects Buffy to keep things
quiet.
Buffy: (fumbling) But, um, but I-I've been blowing off my classes. You
know, in-in the sense of not attending. And, uh...
Faith: It's okay, Buffy. I told him.
Buffy: (surprised) You told him?
Faith: I had to. He had to know what you did.
Buffy: (confused) What I did?
She realizes that Faith has told Giles a bold-faced lie.
Buffy: Giles, no. Tha-That's just not what happened.
Giles: (upset) I don't want to hear it, Buffy.
Buffy: (shocked) No! It...
Giles: I don't want to hear any more lies.
Buffy: (frantically to Faith) You can't be serious! You're setting me
up?
Giles: Get in my office, now. Faith, I'll talk to you in the morning.
Buffy: (imploringly) Giles, please, you have to...
Giles: (sternly) Now!
Buffy can't believe what's happening. Faith walks around Giles. Buffy
goes into his office. Faith stops and faces him.
Faith: Um... Sorry.
She leaves at a brisk pace.
Giles looks down for a moment, then goes into his office. Inside Buffy
faces him.
Buffy: (desperately) Giles, I didn't do this. I swear. Look, I know
that I messed up badly, but the murder, i-it... it was...
Giles: (interrupts) Faith. I know.
Stunned, Buffy realizes he was just playing Faith's game.
Giles: She may have many talents, Buffy, but fortunately, lying is not
one of them.
Buffy: Oh. Oh, God. (sits) I thought...
Giles: I'm sorry. I needed her to think that I was on her side. I don't
know how far she'll take this charade.
Buffy: Try far. Like, all the way.
Giles: You should have come to me right off. (sits facing her)
Buffy: I know. Well, I, I wanted to.
Giles: But Faith wouldn't hear of it?
Buffy: It's not all her fault, Giles. We both thought it was a vampire.
I-I only realized it a second before.
Giles: Buffy, this is not the first time something like this has
happened.
Buffy: (confused) It's not?
Giles: The Slayer is on the front line of a nightly war. Now, it's,
it's tragic, but accidents have happened.
Buffy: W-what do you do?
Giles: Well, the Council investigates, um, metes out punishment if
punishment is due. But I... I have no plans to involve them. I mean,
it's the last thing Faith needs at the moment. She's unstable, Buffy. I
mean, she's utterly unable to accept responsibility.
Buffy: She's freaking. So, so then we just have to help her deal,
right?
Giles: She's in denial. There *is* no help for her until she admits
what happened.
Buffy: (uncertainly) I-I could talk to her.
Giles: (sighs) Perhaps.
Buffy: Or maybe I'm too close. Maybe, maybe one of the guys could.
Giles: We should meet. It-it may be that they're seeing a different
side of her.
Buffy: Okay.
Cut to the main area looking into the office. The camera pans past the
window.
Giles: In the meantime, no one else is to know. Understood?
Buffy: Of course.
The camera keeps panning until it comes to rest on Wesley, who is
standing by the counter, arms crossed and listening grimly.
Giles: I mean, this is... extremely delicate. If we scare her off now,
we may lose her forever.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 3 ~~~~~~~~~~
Wesley's apartment. He picks up the phone and dials an international
number.
Wesley: Yes, hello. Mr. Travers, please. Quentin Travers. (listens)
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce calling. (listens, confused) The code word? Monkey.
(listens, exasperated) M-o-n-k... Just put him on, will you? This is an
emergency.
Willow: Well, maybe we should all talk to Faith together.
Cut to the cafeteria. She, Buffy, Xander and Giles sit among the tables,
which have the chairs inverted on them for the night.
Buffy: You mean, like that intervention thing that you guys did on me?
As I recall, Xander and I nearly came to blows.
Xander: Uh, *you* nearly came to blows, Buffy. I nearly came to loss of
limbs.
Giles: No, Faith is too defensive for a confrontation like that. She'll
respond better to a one-on-one approach.
Xander: Well, *I* can be the one... on her one. (gets confused looks)
Let's rephrase. I think she might listen to me. We kind of have, um, a
connection.
Buffy: A connection? Why would you think that...
Xander: (interrupts) I'm just saying it's worth a shot. That's all.
Buffy and Willow exchange a look.
Giles: No, I don't, I don't see it, Xander. I mean, of, of all of us,
you're the one person arguably that Faith has had the least contact
with.
Xander: Yeah, but we hung out a little... recently, and she seemed to
be, um... responsive.
Willow picks up on that, and figures it out. She looks sadly off into
space.
Buffy: When did you guys hang out?
Xander: Oh, she was fighting one of those, uh, apocalypse demon things,
and I helped her. Gave her a ride home.
Buffy: And you guys talked?
Xander: (shakes his head) Not extensively. No.
Buffy: Then why would you... (figures it out also, widens her eyes with
surprise) Oh.
Giles: (gets it, surprised) Oh!
He and Buffy both look at Willow, concerned. She notices and looks up.
Willow: I don't need to say 'oh'. I got it before. They slept together.
Buffy is genuinely sorry that she had to hear it like this. Willow looks
back off into space. A long silence follows. The tension in the air is
very thick. Giles finally breaks it.
Giles: Fine, fine, let's, let's, let's move on.
Buffy: Alright. Look, I-I know that you mean well, Xander, but, um, I-I
just don't see Faith opening up to you. (gently) She doesn't take the
guys that she has a... 'connection' with very seriously. And they're,
they're kind of a big joke to her. No offense.
Xander: (guffaws, sarcastically) Oh, no! I mean, why would I be
offended by *that*?
Giles: However, i-if you still want to be of assistance, I, I, I need
some help with research. There's still the business of the Mayor and Mr.
Trick to attend to.
Buffy: Yeah, they, they seemed pretty cozy the other night.
Giles: Yes. Uh, Willow, c-c-can you, um, access the Mayor's files?
Willow: (comes back to Earth) What? Oh, uh, sure. I can try.
Giles: (stands up) Good, yes, because clearly we, uh, (picks up his
chair) we need to take a harder look at him. (turns it over) He's, he's,
um, he's obviously up to something. (sets it on a table)
Buffy: What about Faith?
Giles: (sighs) I don't know. I need time.
Buffy: She needs help now. (Giles looks at her) I owe her that.
Cut to the girls' bathroom. The camera pulls in to a stall with its door
not quite closed. "Wish We Never Met", by Kathleen Wilhoite, plays over
the scene.
Lyrics: Disappointment stops by from time to time
The sound of sobbing is coming from inside the stall. Cut inside. Willow
sits there crying her eyes out.
Lyrics: To see how I'm doing / And he came by last night right after
you left / My life in ruin
Cut to the library. Xander sits on the steps to the stack level, staring
off into space and tapping his fingers.
Lyrics: When I don't get what I want
Cut to Faith's room. She's lying on her bed, idly watching TV.
Lyrics: The spoiled child inside breaks down
She hears a knock at her door. She rolls off her bed and goes to answer
it. It's Xander.
Faith: (bored) What?
Xander: (awkwardly) I just, uh, came by to see how you are, actually.
Faith: (with hostility) I'm sick of people asking me that, for one
thing.
A long moment of silence ensues.
Xander: Can I come in? Just to talk. I promise.
Faith: (skeptical) Like you could make something happen if I didn't
want it to?
Xander: Hey, yeah. Got me there. Pretty much not gonna try to... take
you under any circumstances. (holds out his arm) See, here, feel that.
(points to his biceps) Probably like a wet noodle to you, huh?
Faith: (steps aside) Five minutes.
Xander: That's all I need. (comes in) For talking and conversation.
(Faith closes the door) I'm, um, quick as a bunny.
Faith: (turns off the TV) Clock is running.
Xander: It's just, uh... I heard about what happened, and I thought you
might need a friend.
Faith: So then, go talk to Buffy. She's the one who killed a guy.
Xander: Yeah. I heard that version.
Faith: (not amused) Version?
Xander: (sighs) Either way, i-it sounds like it was an accident, and
that's the important part.
Faith: (angrily) No, the important part is that Buffy is the (makes
finger quotes) accidental murderer.
Xander: Faith, you may not think so, but I sort of know you. And I've
seen you post-battle. And I know firsthand that you're, um... like a
wild thing. And half the time, you don't know what you're doing.
Faith: (snidely) And you're living proof of that, aren't you?
Xander: See, you're trying to hurt me. But right now, you need someone
on your side. What happened wasn't your fault. And I'm willing to
testify to that in court if you need me.
Faith: You'd dig that, wouldn't you? (gives him a sexy look) To get up
in front of all your geek pals and go on record about how I made you my
boy toy for a night.
Xander: No. N-n-n-n-no, that's not it.
Faith: *I* know what this is all about. (steps closer) You just came by
here (runs her fingertips all around his face) 'cause you want another
taste, don't you?
Xander: No! I mean, it was nice. It was great. It was kind of a blur.
But, okay, some day, sure, yay, but not now. Not like this.
Faith: (grabs hold of his head) More like how then? Lights on or off?
Kinks or vanilla?
Xander: (jerks away) Faith, come on. I came here to help you. (looks
her in the eyes) I thought we had a connection.
Faith can't help but think that's funny and laughs at his gullibility.
She grabs him by his shirt front, shoves him onto the bed and jumps on
top of him.
Faith: (excitedly) You wanna feel a connection? It's just skin. (opens
his shirt) I see... I want... I take. (kisses him hard) I forget.
She keeps moving above him and rubbing his chest and shoulders.
Xander: (nervously) No. No, wait. It was more than that.
Faith: I could do anything to you right now, and you want me to. I can
make you scream.
She licks her tongue over and around his face and returns to his lips,
and kisses him forcefully, seizing his lower lip between her teeth and
pulling at it.
Faith: (breathlessly) I could make you die.
She kisses him again and gets her hand around his neck. When she pulls
away from his lips, he's choking. She kisses him once more, and then
rises above him, never letting up on her chokehold. Xander reaches up
with one hand to try to push her away and tries to pry her hand from his
neck with his other hand, but doesn't have anywhere near the strength
necessary to do so. Faith has both hands tight around his neck now, and
squeezes hard. He begins to lose consciousness. A few moments more and
he's passed out. Faith hears a noise behind her and looks over just in
time to be knocked unconscious by Angel.
Cut to Angel's mansion. Faith is chained to the fireplace mantle. She
rubs her wrists.
Faith: Finally decided to tie me up, huh? I always knew you weren't
really a one-Slayer guy.
Angel: (plays with a bat) I'm sorry about the chains. It's not that I
don't trust you... Actually, it *is* that I don't trust you. (sets the
bat aside)
Faith: The thing with Xander; I know what it looked like, but we were
just playing.
Angel: (evenly) And he forgot the safety word. (gets up) Is that it?
(walks over to her)
Faith: Safety words are for wusses.
Angel: (crouches before her) I bet you're not big on trust games, now,
are you, Faith?
Faith: You gonna shrink me now? Is that it?
Angel: No, I just wanna talk to you.
Faith: That's what they all say. And then it's just, 'Lemme stay the
night. Won't try anything.'
Angel: You wanna go the long way around, hey, I can do that. (stands
up) I'm not getting any older.
He turns his back on her and walks out into the atrium. Buffy waits
there, and stands up when she sees him.
Buffy: How's she doing?
Angel: It's like talking to a wall. Only you get more from a wall.
Buffy: But you'll keep trying, right?
Angel: Sure. We're just getting started.
Buffy: So, what do I do?
Angel: Look, right now, there's nothing that you can do.
Buffy: Well, this could take awhile, right? (goes to the stairs) So,
I'll just go to Faith's and I'll get some of her stuff. That way she'll
see that we're on her side.
Angel: That's a good idea.
Buffy: Okay. (glances at Faith) I'll be back.
Angel: Look, I... I don't want you to get your hopes up, Buffy. She may
not want us to help her.
Buffy: She does. She just doesn't know how to say it.
Angel: She killed a man. That changes everything for her.
Buffy: (shakes her head) Giles said with counseling, they might not
even need to lock her up.
Angel: That's not what I mean. She's taken a life.
Buffy: I know.
Angel: She's got a taste for it now.
Cut to the Mayor's office. He and Trick are reviewing a security camera
tape. On it they see Buffy and Faith enter Allan's office.
Mayor Wilkins: Not one Slayer, but two. Right here in the building.
Trick: There was supposed to be a guard.
Mayor Wilkins: Sh. Here comes my favorite part. (they see them hide in
Allan's office) Where the Slayers see us in the hall together, thick as
thieves. Oh, wait, we are thieves. And worse. And now they know it.
Trick: Well, they're not gonna be much of a threat in jail.
Mayor Wilkins: Well, we don't have near enough evidence to put 'em
away.
On the tape he and Trick walk out of the building.
Mayor Wilkins: No, you're gonna have to come up with a more *efficient*
solution. And Mr. Trick, you better think of it soon.
They watch the tape where the two Slayers leave the office after they've
gone.
Cut to Angel's mansion. He paces past Faith.
Angel: I know what's goin' on with you.
Faith: Join the club. Everybody seems to have a theory.
Angel: Hmm. (faces her) But I know what it's like to take a life. To
feel a future, a world of possibilities, snuffed out by your own hand. I
know the power in it. The exhilaration. It was like a drug for me.
Faith: (looks up at him, sarcastically) Yeah? Sounds like you need some
help. A professional maybe.
Angel: Hmm. (goes to the coffee table) A professional couldn't have
helped me. (sits on it) It stopped when I got my soul back. My human
heart.
Faith: Goody for you. If we're gonna party, let's get on with it.
(holds out her wrists) Otherwise, could you let me out of these things?
Angel: Faith, you have a choice. You've tasted something few ever do.
(stands up, paces) I mean, to kill without remorse is to feel like a
god.
Faith: (struggles angrily) Right now, all I feel is a cramp in my
wrist, (yanks at the chains impatiently) so let me go!
Angel: (crouches) But you're not a god. You're not much more than a
child. Going down this path will ruin you. You can't imagine the price
for true evil.
Faith: Yeah? (sneering) I hope evil takes MasterCard.
Angel: (smiles) You and me, Faith, (straightens up) we're a lot alike.
Time was, I thought humans existed just to hurt each other. (sits next
to her) But then I came here. And I found out that there are other types
of people. People who genuinely wanted to do right. (looks at her) And
they make mistakes. And they fall down. You know, but they keep caring.
Keep trying. If you can trust us, Faith, this can all change. You don't
have to disappear into the darkness.
Suddenly there is a loud pounding on the door. It is broken in, and
Wesley strides straight toward them, holding a large cross and flanked
by three others. Angel rushes to head them off, but has to step back
from Wesley, who nervously holds the cross in his face. One of his
cronies blindsides Angel with a right hook, and he falls to the floor.
Another quickly throws a net over him, and the third starts to beat him
with a crowbar while the others tie Angel up. Wesley goes over to Faith
and removes the shackles from her wrists. While she rubs them and
watches Angel get whaled on, Wesley pulls out a set of heavy cuffs and
chains, and before she knows it her wrists are bound once again.
Faith: (confused) What?
Wesley: By the order of the Watcher's Council of Britain... (lifts her
up) I am exercising my authority and removing you to England, (guides
her out) where you will accept the judgment of the disciplinary
committee.
One of the men helps hold Faith, and they all leave the mansion, leaving
Angel behind entangled in a mass of net and rope.
~~~~~~~~~~ Part 4 ~~~~~~~~~~
The streets of Sunnydale. A stepvan drives down a boulevard. Cut inside.
Faith is chained to a bench on one side. Wesley and one of his men sit
on the bench opposite her.
Wesley: I'm sorry for the extreme measures. Unfortunately, this is a
rather extreme circumstance.
Faith: Whatever.
Wesley: Please believe nobody is rushing to judgment. The first
priority of both myself and the Council is to help you.
Faith pulls at the ring holding her to the bench.
Wesley: Ah, now, none of that. (to his crony) Tighten her restraints.
Faith, there's no point in fighting this.
Faith kicks the man in the knee, and he falls to the floor. She presses
down on his face with her boot.
Faith: Have to disagree with you on that one. Now unlock these or I'll
pop this guy's head like a grape.
Wesley hesitates, then spies a wrench on the floor. Faith sees it, too.
Faith: Don't even think about it.
She holds up her cuffed wrists for him to unlock. He gives in, stands
up, pulls the keys from his pocket and steps over to set her free.
Wesley: Faith, you can't keep running.
She punches him hard in the jaw, and he falls onto the wrench. He grabs
it and tries to swing at her with it, but she grabs his wrist.
Faith: Wrong again, Wes.
She grabs his jacket with her other hand and headbutts him hard. He
falls down unconscious. She goes to the doors, kicks them open and jumps
out onto the street. She rolls a few times before coming to a stop and
watches the van drive away. She looks around to get her bearings and
makes her getaway.
Cut to Angel's mansion. Buffy arrives with some of Faith's things. Once
inside she notices that Faith is gone, and then sees Angel still
struggling to get out of the ropes. She rushes over to help him out.
Cut to the library. Giles, Willow and Xander are all there with Buffy
and Angel.
Angel: It was the new Watcher. He had a couple of guys helping him.
Willow: Then he figured it out?
Giles: Which means that Faith will be soon on her way back to England
to face the Watcher's Council.
Buffy: And then what?
Giles: Most likely they'll lock her away for a good long while.
Buffy: So we head them off at the airport and stop them.
Willow: Can I... I-I'm just wondering. Why? (gets a look from Buffy)
I'm not the most objective, I know. I kind of have an issue with Faith
sharing my people. (looks at Xander, who closes his eyes) But she
murdered someone and accused Buffy. Then she hurt Xander. I hate to say
it, but maybe she belongs behind bars.
Giles thinks about that.
Buffy: She's out of control, I know. But Angel was getting somewhere
with her. She was opening up. If we could just stop Wesley.
Wesley walks into the library.
Wesley: That's no longer an issue.
Giles: You let her get away?
Wesley: 'Let' wouldn't be the way I'd phrase it, but... Yes, she
escaped.
Giles rolls his eyes and takes off his glasses.
Angel: That's good work. (walks across the room) First, you terrorize
her, then you put her back in the streets. (sits on the table)
Wesley: That was hardly my plan. I was trying to save her.
Buffy: (accusingly) But you didn't! You probably destroyed her.
Giles: (interrupts quietly) Buffy, that's enough. (puts his glasses
back on)
Buffy: I better find her before she does any more damage. (stands up)
We're gonna need to split up. I'll check the docks. That's probably
where she is. Giles, why don't you go to her motel? Xander, Willow, her
haunts and be careful.
They all get up to leave.
Angel: I'll try the airport. (goes)
Everyone walks past Wesley on their way out.
Wesley: What can I do? I want to help.
Buffy: (resentfully) You still got your ticket back to the mother
country?
She follows the others out, leaving him standing there alone.
Cut to the docks. The camera closes in on an old, rusty cargo ship and
across to the dock. Buffy walks along it watching for Faith. She passes
underneath the gangplank and stops when she hears Faith behind her.
Faith: You don't give up, do you?
She's on the ship at the top of the gangplank.
Buffy: Not on my friends, no.
Faith: Yeah, because you and me are such solid buds, right? (walks down
the gangplank)
Buffy: We could be. It's not too late.
Faith: (disgusted) For me to change and be more like you, you mean?
Little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes? (stops halfway, leans on the railing) It
ain't gonna happen, B.
Buffy: Faith, nobody is asking you to be like me, but you can't go on
like this.
Faith: (grins evilly) Scares you, doesn't it?
She climbs over the railing and hops down to the dock.
Buffy: Yeah, it scares me. Faith, you're hurting people. You're hurting
yourself.
Faith: (approaches Buffy) But that's not it. That's not what bothers
you so much. What bugs you is you know I'm right. You know in your gut
we don't need the law. We *are* the law.
Buffy: No.
She turns her back and walks away. Faith follows right behind.
Faith: Yes. You know exactly what I'm about 'cause you have it in you,
too.
Buffy: No, Faith, you're sick.
Faith: I've seen it, B. You've got the lust. And I'm not just talking
about screwing vampires.
Buffy stops in her tracks.
Buffy: Don't you *dare* bring him into this.
Faith: (taunting her) It was good, wasn't it? The sex? The danger? Bet
a part of you even dug him when he went psycho.
Buffy: No! (continues walking)
Faith: (follows) See, you need me to toe the line because you're afraid
you'll go over it, aren't you, B? You can't handle watching me living my
own way, having a blast, because it tempts you! You know it could be
you!
Buffy has had enough. She stops, faces her and backhand punches her in
the jaw. Faith comes up smiling wickedly.
Faith: There's my girl.
Buffy: (tries to get away) No. I'm not gonna do this.
Faith: (doesn't let her go) Why not? It feels good. Blood rising.
Buffy hears a noise above, looks up and notices a palette of crates
above them, falling directly at Faith. She shoves her out of the way,
but gets struck herself and goes down. She is dazed, but not out.
Faith gets up and goes to help Buffy, when Mr. Trick and three other
vampires suddenly attack. Faith spins around when she hears them roar,
but is soundly punched in the face by Trick, forcing her body to snap to
the side. He and another one grab her by her jacket and throw her to the
ground. As Faith tries to get to her feet, the second vampire roundhouse
kicks her in the face. She blocks it and drops a bit, but manages to get
up and block an uppercut from the third one by grabbing his hand. She
backhand punches him in the face, making him step back to keep his
balance, and turns to face the second vampire. She high blocks a wide
swing from him and punches him, making him fall, but the third one
behind her flat hands her in the back and she stumbles.
Buffy starts to come out of her daze.
Buffy: (whispers) Oh, God...
The third vampire holds Faith with her arms behind her back. She tries
to get free by snapping her heel backwards and striking his kneecap.
That has no effect, so she snaps her head back and butts him dead in the
nose, but the vamp still doesn't let go of her. The second vampire
launches into a half spinning hook kick intended for Faith, but she
ducks it and the demon holding her takes the blow, lets go of her and
goes down. Faith flies into full spinning, jumping out-to-in crescent
kick, hitting the second vampire hard in the face and sending him
spinning to the ground. The first vampire runs at her, but she sidesteps
him and shoves him into the third, who was just getting up. He isn't
knocked down, though, and comes at her. She grabs him and pulls him with
her toward the water, and throws him off the dock.
Buffy is out of her daze now, and with difficulty pulls her legs out
from under the pallet of crates that fell on her. She gets to her feet,
but is immediately punched by Mr. Trick. She falls spinning onto the
crates and rolls off onto the concrete. She gets to her feet as Trick
approaches and tries to backhand punch him, but he middle blocks it, so
she punches him in the gut instead. Her jab is weak, though, and has no
effect on him. Trick does a painful right hook to her face. Buffy
stumbles backward. Trick advances and swings again, this time snapping
her head back with a powerful uppercut, making her fall onto another
pile of crates.
Faith does a half-spinning hook kick, connecting with the second
vampire's jaw. He falls onto an open barrel and struggles not to fall
in. The first one comes at her again, but she has her stake out now and
jams it home. He explodes into ashes. She looks over and sees Buffy
struggling with Mr. Trick. He wraps a cord around her neck and begins to
choke her. But Faith isn't finished with her fight yet. The second
vampire throws off the barrel, only to become intimate with her stake
and burst into ashes.
Faith sees Trick yank at the cord around Buffy's neck and pull her off
of the crates. He pulls her up and swings her around into a pallet
leaning against still more crates. She hits it hard and falls to the
pavement. Faith looks around, trying to decide what to do. She sees
Trick pick Buffy up again and slam her against the huge crates. Buffy
struggles to get loose, but the cord around her neck is too tight.
Trick: I hear once you've tasted a Slayer, you never wanna go back.
He opens his fang-filled mouth wide and moves in for the bite. Buffy
struggles to keep him away, but can't. Suddenly Mr. Trick stops and
looks up in wide-eyed shock.
Trick: Oh, no. (shakes his head) No, this is no good at all.
He begins to fall and explodes into ashes as Faith pulls her stake back.
The two Slayers look at each other uncertainly for a long while. Faith
lowers her stake. Buffy massages her neck.
Cut to the library. Buffy sits at the table while Giles pours her some
coffee from his thermos.
Giles: So she saved you. (walks slowly around the table)
Buffy: She could have left me there to die, Giles, but she didn't.
Giles: She opted to come back to town with you. That... That bodes
well. (sits) She still has a lot to face before she can put this behind
her.
Buffy: I'm not gonna give up on her.
Giles: (pours himself a cup) Then I think she stands a chance.
Cut to the Mayor's office. He pulls on his overcoat, getting ready to
leave for the night. He looks down at his desk and adjusts the angle of
the penholder, gives a satisfied nod, picks up his briefcase and heads
for the door. When he opens it he is surprised to see Faith standing
there, arms crossed.
Faith: (accusingly) You sent your boy to kill me.
Mayor Wilkins: (unfazed) That's right, I did.
Faith: He's dust.
Mayor Wilkins: I thought he might be. What with you standing here and
all.
Faith: (steps brazenly into the doorway) I guess that means you have a
job opening.
The Mayor steps back to let her enter and closes the door.
