Épisode La Maison Hantée S04E18 - Buffy, The Vampire Slayer Saison 4

L’épisode commence en pleine bataille alliant Buffy et Riley contre un vampire. Au moment où nos deux héros s’apprêtent à planter l’ennemi et pensent en avoir fini, un démon débarque et s’allie au vampire. Ce qui leur oblige à continuer leur bagarre. Une fois les deux horreurs anéanties, Buffy se demande pourquoi une alliance entre un démon et un vampire a-t-elle eu lieu. Nos amoureux en discutent tout en se touchant avec attirance et pour Buffy, il faudrait aller parler de cette alliance à Giles. Ce n’est pas tout à fait ce qu’il se passe car quelques minutes après, nous les retrouvons dans la chambre de Riley afin qu’ils puissent faire leurs bêtises.

L’épisode reprend dans le foyer de l’Initiative, plus précisément dans la chambre de Riley. Celui-ci et sa chérie sont en train de dormir paisiblement jusqu’à ce que Riley se réveille en pleine nuit. Il se lève sans faire de bruit et sort de la chambre. Une fois sur le pallier, il entend un bruit étrange et, tout en suivant le bruit, il atterrit dans la salle de bain. Le rideau de douche est fermé, il s’avance lentement vers celui-ci, l’ouvre et s’aperçoit que le bruit n’était qu’un robinet mal fermé.

Le jour a débuté lorsqu’on se retrouve avec Alex et Anya dans le camion de glace dans lequel ils travaillent. Ils se mettent à parler de la fête qui aura lieu au foyer de l’Initiative. Anya ne voulant pas y aller, leur conversation dévie vers leurs problèmes de couple. Ils n’ont par exemple pas fait l’amour le jour d’avant. La jeune fille prend alors cela pour une séparation et Alex n’y comprend pas grand-chose. Il la remet tout de suite dans le droit chemin en lui disant qu’ils ne se séparent pas et que ce n’est pas parce qu’ils n’ont pas fait l’amour la veille que c’est un problème. Anya commence à douter des performances sexuelles de son copain, ce qui pousse ce dernier à lui montrer que tout va bien. Il déboutonne sa chemise et réalise soudain qu’une dizaine de personnes attendent afin d’avoir leur glace.

Nous retournons à l’Université où Giles, Buffy, Riley, Willow et Tara discutent de la bagarre du soir d’avant. Buffy a finalement décidé de parler de l’étrange alliance à son observateur. Ils vont vers l’hypothèse qu’Adam soit derrière tout cela. Riley dit qu’il enverra ses hommes patrouiller et qu’ils feront aussi attention pendant la fête du lendemain. Giles est invité mais celui-ci refuse car il a soi-disant une réunion d’adultes ce soir là. Les deux amoureux se regardent à nouveau avec une grande attirance. Ils se touchent et se dévorent du regard. Ils inventent une excuse afin de pouvoir se retirer dans une chambre à nouveau.

Le soir venu, on se retrouve, une fois de plus, dans le foyer de l’Initiative où Riley et Buffy font l’amour. Les amis du garçon ont froid et essaient de s’allumer un feu. Une fois cela fait, l’un d’eux s’assoie devant la cheminée. Au plus le temps passe, au plus nous voyons les deux tourtereaux en plein ébats sexuels et ceux-ci de plus en plus intenses. Retour au rez-de-chaussée où d’un seul coup, le feu jaillit hors de la cheminée et vient bruler le jeune assis.

Nous rejoignons maintenant Anya qui marche dans la rue et qui se fait saisir par Spike. Il essaie de paraître terrifiant mais ca n’a pas l’air de franchement fonctionner. Ils commencent à discuter ou plutôt à se disputer.

De leur coté, toute la bande d’amis se retrouvent à la fête de l’Initiative. Alex parle à Willow, Tara et Buffy de sa dispute avec Anya. Mais Buffy, elle, semble dans la lune en regardant Riley qui se retrouve de l’autre coté de la pièce.

Anya et Spike, eux, discutent dans un bar. Ils pleurent leur passé, l’un s’ennuie de ne plus être un vampire et l’autre s’ennuie de ne plus être un démon.

A la fête, deux jeunes discutent. Le garçon parle d’un sujet totalement ennuyeux et la fille devant lui l’écoute calmement. Soudain, quand le gars pose sa main sur le mur, il est envahi d’un plaisir sexuel intense.

Alex, lui, entame une conversation avec une jeune fille rousse qu’il vient de rencontrer. Cela semble bien parti pour lui.

Retour chez Buffy qui demande à Riley de jeter un coup d’œil à une disserte qui bien sur n’existe pas. Le seul objectif : monter dans la chambre.

On retourne chez les 2 jeunes, le garçon appelle un de ses amis afin qu’il puisse, lui aussi, toucher le mur. Il est, à son tour, pris d’un énorme plaisir.

Willow et Tara, elles, discutent des poneys sur les marches des escaliers. Quelque chose d’étrange se produit alors. Quand la jeune sorcière pose sa main sur le genou de Tara, celle-ci se recule rapidement lui répondant de ne pas la toucher car c’est dégoutant. Willow s’excuse et Tara ne comprend pas ce qui lui arrive. Cette dernière décide d’aller se passer de l’eau froide sur le visage.

On retrouve Anya et Spike qui arrivent à la fête. Le vampire n’est pas au courant qu’ils se trouvent au beau milieu des personnes qui lui ont implanté la puce. Quand Anya lui dit, il la traite de malade et c’est à ce moment qu’Alex arrive. Celui-ci à l’air jaloux et Spike, évidemment, se moque de lui. Cela à pour conséquence d’énerver le jeune amoureux qui se met à crier « Hostile 17 » tout haut. Par chance, personne ne fait attention et le grand blond part se chercher un verre. Le couple, lui, se dispute encore une fois et ils en viennent à mettre fin à leur relation. Alex part de son coté et tombe sur un groupe d’adolescents jouant au jeu de la bouteille. Il est sur le point de repartir lorsqu’il aperçoit sa rousse au milieu de la bande. Il se joint donc au jeu. On apprend que la rousse s’appelle Julie lorsque celle-ci tombe sur Alex en faisant tourner la bouteille. Comme le divertissement le dit, ils doivent s’embrasser. Il se rapproche d’elle et lui fait un bisou rapide sur la joue. Julie, qui n’en a apparemment pas eu assez, saute sur le garçon et l’embrasse à pleine bouche. Elle s’arrête et on voit qu’elle ne l’a pas fait exprès, elle ne sait pas ce qui lui arrive et elle s’encourt.

Alex poursuit son chemin dans la maison et tombe sur une file de gens voulant poser leur main sur le mur afin de ressentir le plaisir. Il entend des sanglots provenant d’un placard et reconnaît Julie, il tente d’ouvrir la porte mais elle est fermée. A l’intérieur de l’armoire ; la jeune fille pleure. Elle est en train de se couper les cheveux à l’aide d’un couteau et ne dit qu’une phrase : « je suis mauvaise ».

De son coté, Willow tape à la porte de la salle de bain en appelant Tara mais celle-ci ne répond pas. Elle entre donc dans la pièce et, ne voyant pas son amie, elle se passe un peu d’eau sur le visage et s’essuie. Quand elle se redresse, elle entend le même bruit que Riley au début de l’épisode. Elle se demande ce que c’est et se dirige lentement vers le rideau de douche. Elle l’ouvre et voit un jeune garçon en train de se noyer dans la baignoire. Elle veut l’attraper pour le sortir de l’eau mais il disparaît soudainement. Elle se retourne légèrement choquée et se retrouve nez à nez avec le garçon qui se noyait deux secondes auparavant. Elle pousse alors un cri d’horreur.

Dans la chambre de Riley, les deux amoureux sont toujours en train de faire l’amour. Le jeune homme s’arrête quelques secondes car celui-ci a entendu un le cri de Willow. Buffy, elle, s’en fiche et ils reprennent là où ils en étaient.

Alex, lui, retourne chez les jeunes avec qui il a joué à la bouteille un peu avant. Il veut leur dire que Julie pète un plomb mais personne n’a l’air de vraiment la connaître. Ils continuent leur jeu se fichant totalement de ce qu’Alex leur dit.

Willow redescend l’escalier en courant. Elle crie après Alex et Tara et finit par trouver son ami qui regarde toujours la bande de jeunes jouant. Elle lui explique ce qu’elle vient de vivre et il réagit en se demandant si tout ce fichu foyer est hanté. Tara les retrouve et leur dit qu’elle va mieux mais qu’il y a un truc étrange dans cette maison. Pour elle, ils feraient mieux de s’en aller. Soudainement, quelque chose attire leur attention, la bouteille qu’un des jeunes vient de tourner ne semble pas s’arrêter mais accélérer et finit par exploser. Les 3 amis courent prévenir Buffy. Ils montent l’escalier et frappent à la porte de la chambre mais des plantes épineuses se mettent à pousser et à sortir du dessous de la porte. Voyant cela, ils appellent plus fort mais la Tueuse et son chéri n’entendent rien. Ils continuent de faire l’amour comme si de rien n’était, comme s’ils étaient seuls. Un peu après, Riley demande à Buffy si elle veut les rejoindre mais elle ne veut pas le faire tout de suite. De l’autre coté de la porte, ils essaient toujours de les appeler mais cela ne marche pas. Pourtant, ils doivent les sortir de là.

Les plantes continuent à pousser et, pendant que Willow et Alex les regardent terrifiés, Tara se retourne et marche jusqu’à la rambarde de l’escalier. La maison se met à trembler et tout le monde s’encoure. Nos 3 amis tombent à terre et Spike, parti boire un verre au début de la soirée, se fait attacher sur une chaise. Tout le monde coure dans la maison et Forrest rejoint Graham afin de lui demander de l’aide pour sortir le monde du foyer. Ce dernier dit des choses insensées comme « Refuse l’impure, trouve ton salut au pied de la croix du Seigneur… ». Forrest tire alors son ami vers l’entrée secrète de l’Initiative.

Anya, elle, est au rez-de-chaussée. La terre arrête de trembler et elle retrouve peu à peu son équilibre. Elle s’avance dans un couloir et voit une fille courir vers elle en criant. L’ex-démon met ses mains devant elle pour se protéger mais l’autre fille lui passe à travers et disparaît. Anya se calme et la terre recommence à trembler. Willow, Alex et Tara redescendent du premier étage et le garçon dit à ses 3 amies (Anya les a rejoint) qu’il faut qu’ils s’en aillent. Ils se dirigent vers la porte et des livres se jettent sur eux. Spike, lui, se détache de sa chaise et se tire aussi de la maison. Les filles sortent et Alex se retournent une dernière fois vers l’intérieur d’où il voit arriver Julie. Celle-ci n’a presque plus de cheveux sur la tête et elle implore de l’aide. Il court vers elle et l’emmène dehors.

A l’Initiative, Graham a repris ses esprits. Forrest et lui reçoivent des ordres qu’ils commencent à suivre.

On est à nouveau sur le pallier du foyer. Toute la bande est dehors à part Buffy et Riley. Julie s’est enfuie et, pour Alex et Willow, il faut retourner sauver les deux personnes manquantes. Anya s’en fiche totalement et utilise l’argument « C’est une Tueuse et lui un soldat, ils s’en sortiront tout seuls ! ». Alex la remet donc en place en lui énumérant toutes les choses étranges qui se produisent à l’intérieur. Il est sûr de lui, il faut y retourner, il demande donc qui y va avec lui. Contre toute attente, c’est Spike qui se porte volontaire. Il leur dit qu’il sait qu’il n’est pas un héro de premier choix et qu’il les déteste tous. Et finit par se rendre compte qu’il n’a aucune raison de faire cela. Il part en se demandant si la maison d’Asien est ouverte. Anya tente à nouveau de dissuader Alex mais celui-ci est bel et bien décidé à y aller. Il ouvre la porte fait deux pas à l’intérieur et se fait projeter en arrière sur le trottoir. Etalé sur le sol, il relève la tête en disant qu’ils seraient mieux d’appeler Giles. Tara rappelle qu’il avait une soirée entre amis et qu’il ne sera donc pas chez lui. Willow est sûre d’une chose, il n’avait pas de réunion entre amis, il est surement à l’Expresso Pump.

Giles fait son entrée après un long moment d’absence. Il est en train de chanter devant des gens dans un café (L’Expresso Pump). Alex, Anya et les deux jeunes sorcières sont aussi là et le regardent d’un air ébahi. Ils adorent la voix de l’Observateur. Celui-ci s’étonne lorsqu’il voit ses jeunes amis et il continue de chanter.

On retourne quelques minutes dans le foyer, les plantes s’étalent de plus en plus. Buffy et Riley font toujours l’amour mais ils fatiguent. Ils s’arrêtent quelques secondes mais pour la Tueuse, son amoureux est trop loin d’elle, elle le veut. Ils reprennent donc.

Retour chez nos autres amis, Giles a finit de chanter et ils se trouvent dans une bibliothèque à première vue. L’observateur leur demande si Buffy et Riley ont répondu ou crier quand ils les ont appelé. La réponse est évidemment non car ils étaient bien trop occupés. Willow relève le fait que durant toute la soirée, tout le monde semblait être pris d’une agitation sexuelle. Giles lance quelques hypothèses et la jeune sorcière trouve alors quelque chose d’intéressant : le foyer aurait été, quelques années auparavant, un home d’enfant perturbés. Tara demande si certains sont morts dans la maison mais il n’y a aucune information sur ce sujet. La seule info qu’il y ait est sur l’ancienne propriétaire, celle qui s’occupait de ses jeunes. Vu qu’elle vit encore, ils décident d’aller la voir.

Les voilà chez la propriétaire, Geneviève Holt. Giles lui demande s’il y a eu des morts mais d’après elle il n’yen a pas eu. Elle devient étrange en disant qu’elle récompensait les plus gentils et punissait les plus sales. L’observateur ne comprend pas mais Anya oui : elle ne parle pas de saletés du genre se rouler dans la boue. Non, elle parle des filles qui étaient bien trop vaniteuses avec leurs longs cheveux. Du coup, elle les leur coupait. Elle les empêchait de se regarder dans le miroir. La baignoire, elle, servait soi disant à redonner le baptême et à purifier les plus méchants. La vieille femme s’énerve en leur demandant à quoi servent toutes ces questions. Giles, lui aussi, s’emporte et lui balance ses vérités : elle a abusé de ces enfant et les a terrifié. C’est à cause d’elle qu’il se passe tout cela ! Ils se font jeté hors de l’appartement.

Une fois dehors, Anya ne comprend pas pourquoi est-ce qu’un fantôme l’a traversée alors qu’aucun n’a été tué juste torturé. Giles dit alors qu’ils n’ont pas à faire à des fantômes mais plutôt à des apparitions. Celles-ci auraient été engendrées par l’intense souffrance et l’énergie sexuelle de ces jeunes. Et lorsque Buffy et Riley ont commencé à faire l’amour, ils ont dû libérer quelque chose. Le Poltergeist (les apparitions) se nourrit d’eux deux. Ce sont donc nos deux amoureux qui alimentent la chose, ils sont comme les piles de la machines. Le problème est qu’une fois qu’ils n’auront plus de force, une fois que les piles seront mortes, ils mourront.

Au même moment, nous voyons Buffy et Riley. Ils sont toujours en pleine action mais ils commencent tout de même à fatiguer.

Nous sommes maintenant, à nouveau, en compagnie du reste de la bande. Willow, Tara et Giles s’apprêtent à lancer un sort afin de neutraliser les esprits du foyer assez longtemps pour qu’Alex et Anya puissent sortir leurs deux amis de la maison. Ils ne savent malheureusement pas combien de temps ils pourront les retenir car le tour de magie est assez dur.

Alex et Anya attendent devant la maison, arme à la main. Quand le garçon demande à sa copine ce qu’elle ressent, elle vient avec des réponses totalement différentes. On apprend donc qu’elle a faim et que ca la désole qu’ils se séparent. Alex la reprend en lui disant qu’il parlait de la situation. La jeune fille, regardant par la fenêtre, se rectifie alors en affirmant que la maison est encore hantée.

Tara, Willow et Giles commencent à réciter leur sortilège. Ils se donnent les mains et voient, autour d’eux, tous les jeunes réunis.

La porte de la maison s’ouvre alors toute seule et, Alex, regardant à l’intérieur, en déduit qu’ils ont réussi le sort. Ils entrent calmement dans la maison et sont d’abord surpris par l’ampleur qu’a prit la plante. Celle-ci s’étend sur tout le premier étage ainsi que dans l’escalier. Alex se ressaisit et accélère le pas car ils doivent faire vite, ils ne savent pas combien de temps cela durera. Ils commencent à monter l’escalier tout en coupant, grâce à leur arme, les plantes dans le chemin.

Pendant ce temps, les 3 autres membres du groupe font toujours de la magie. Ils essaient de garder les esprits avec eux. Anya et Alex poursuivent leur montée mais quand le jeune homme tente d’ouvrir la porte de la chambre, un grand courant d’air se réveille. Celui-ci souffle dans la maison mais aussi chez Giles et compagnie. Ceux-ci réunis autour d’une table essaient tout de même de continuer leur magie mais la table vole en éclat et les enfants disparaissent.

Dans la maison, Alex est tiré en arrière et est trainé sur le sol par quelque chose d’invisible. Anya voulant le rattraper se fait projeter au rez-de-chaussée et tombe sur le canapé où elle semble s’être évanouie. Pendant ce temps, notre Alex se fait noyer dans la baignoire par les fameuses apparitions. La jeune fille en bas se relève et remonte l’escalier avec détermination. Elle se fait même transpercer la main par une branche mais elle l’enlève et poursuit sa route ce qui lui permet de sortir son compagnon du bain. Ils ressortent ensemble de la salle de bain et, après quelques égratignures causées par les plantes, ils réussissent enfin à ouvrir la porte de la chambre. Toute la verdure disparait d’un coup et Buffy reproche à Alex de ne pas avoir frappé à la porte. Notre Tueuse et son soldat ne sont vraiment pas au courant de tout ce qu’il vient de se passer. Anya et Alex se regardent d’un air fatigué et se retourne en même temps pour descendre les escaliers.

La fin de l’épisode se déroule à la cafétéria de l’école. Buffy commence par dire qu’ils ne se doutaient de rien. On pense qu’elle parle de ce qu’il vient de se passer mais elle parle, en réalité, du fait que Giles chante. Tout se passe à nouveau à merveille entre Alex et Anya. Riley et sa petite amie ont quand même été mis au courant de se qu’il s’est passé et ils s’en veulent. Mais on les rassure en leur disant que ce n’était pas de leur faute, qu’ils étaient sous influence. Willow dit qu’elle aurait trouvé cela horrible si elle avait été à leur place. A ce moment, les deux amoureux se regarde et, tout les deux, affirme.

Shot of Anya dropping her dress. Xander looking surprised.

Giles: Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer...

Anya: Please remove your clothing now.

Shot of Anya and Xander kissing.

Anya: Relationship. What kind do we have, and what is it progressing toward?

Tara: They don't even know I exist, right?

Willow: I just like having something that's just, you know, mine.

Shot of Tara putting something on Willow's forehead and lips.

Tara Voiceover: I am, you know.

Willow Voiceover: What?

Tara: Yours.

Shot of Buffy and Riley kissing, embracing. Shot of Buffy in bed looking up at Riley as he bends down to kiss her.

Episode begins:

(Buffy fighting a vampire. She kicks him, they exchange a few punches, she throws him across the graveyard. Riley joins in and kicks the vampire. They exchange punches as Buffy loads her crossbow. She brings it to her face and aims. Riley throws the vampire over his shoulder. Buffy lowers the crossbow to smile proudly. Riley lifts the vampire and holds him in position. Buffy fires, but a demon appears and shoves Riley out of the way, then helps the vampire up. Buffy drops her crossbow and joins the fight. She kicks the vampire and then the demon, then moves aside to regroup.)

BUFFY: Okay, you get Fang, I'll get Horny. (Riley looks at her.) I mean...

(The vampire attacks. He throws Riley over his shoulder. Riley rolls and comes up holding a stake.)

(Buffy kicks the demon in the chest, then a circular kick to knock him over. She kicks his knee and punches him several times in the back. Riley knees the vampire in the back. Buffy has the demon by the neck and stabs him in the back. Riley stakes the vampire and he's dust.)

(Buffy throws down her weapon and sighs. Riley puts his stake back in a thigh holster.)

BUFFY: Whoo! Vampire-demon tag team. (Brushing hair out of her face) Who says we can't all get along?

RILEY: Don't recall ever seeing that before. (Steps close to her.)

BUFFY: It never happened. (Touching his face) Vamps ... hate demons ... (Riley strokes her hair) Like stripes and polka dots. (Running her hands down his arms) Major ... clashing. (She and Riley caressing each other) So, uh ... I guess we should tell Giles about this.

RILEY: Right.

BUFFY: I mean, it's the kind of thing he'd ... wanna know about.

RILEY: Uh-huh.

BUFFY: Like, as soon as possible.

RILEY: As soon as possible.

(Cut to Riley's bedroom door opening. Riley comes in holding Buffy, kissing enthusiastically. She's pulling his shirt off.)

BUFFY: I mean it now. First thing... (smooch) In the morning... (smooch) We go tell Giles. (Riley's carrying her across the room.)

RILEY: First thing. Good plan. (They fall onto the bed.)

Opening credits.

Guest starring Amber Benson, Leonard Roberts, Bailey Chase, Kathryn Joosten, and Emma Caulfield as Anya.

Written by Tracey Forbes, directed by David Solomon.

(Camera pans slowly across the lobby of Lowell House, darkened. We see chairs, couches, fireplace. Pan up the stairs and across the landing to the door of Riley's room. Cut to inside the room. Riley and Buffy asleep, snuggling. Riley wakes up, looks at Buffy, kisses her shoulder, gets out of bed. Creepy music, sounds like the same music in "Hush." Riley puts on pants and leaves, closing the door quietly. He hears a rattling noise and looks around, looks downstairs, walks slowly through the dark halls toward a door. Shot of the doorknob and his hand grasping it. He opens the door and walks into a bathroom. Turns on the light. The noise continues. Camera pans through the bathroom: sinks, toilet stalls, bathtub with the shower curtain pulled shut. Riley looks around the bathroom, approaches the tub slowly. He yanks back the shower curtain. There's nothing there except a drippy faucet. Riley makes a face and turns it off. He stands there looking at it as cheerful music starts.)

(Cut to an ice-cream truck driving down the street, daylight, making cheery music. Cut to Xander driving the truck, wearing a red-and-white striped shirt and matching hat. Anya sitting next to him.)

XANDER: Aw, come on. Big party at Riley's house. It's gonna be fun. Why don't you wanna go? (He stops the truck)

ANYA: You know why not. Those initiative men make me... not comfortable. And you don't care.

XANDER: They don't even know that you're an ex-demon. And we don't know that they'd care even if they did know. Which, by the way, they're not gonna find out. (Gets up and goes into back of truck to set up) Anyways, they'll probably be too busy flirting with every other girl at the party to even notice you.

ANYA: So ... you don't think I'm desirable enough to be flirted with? (X looks surprised) Is that it?

XANDER: I'm just not gonna win here, am I?

ANYA: (sighs. Accusingly) You don't find me attractive any more.

XANDER: What are you talking about? I think you're gorgeous.

ANYA: Oh, really? Well then, why didn't we have sex last night?

XANDER: (looks up) Is that what this is about? We've gone other nights without sex.

ANYA: (angry) I know. Twice! I can't believe we're breaking up.

XANDER: Breaking- We're not! Are we?

ANYA: Of course we are. You, you've obviously grown tired of me. I mean, I've seen it happen to thousands of women over the centuries, I just never thought it would happen to me.

XANDER: Anya, there's a lot more to you and me than the sex. (Anya rolls her eyes) Well, there should be! I mean, a relationship is something that you work at. Work through. Together.

ANYA: I don't understand. I'm pretty, I'm young... I mean... (stands up, walks closer) Why didn't you take advantage of me? Is something wrong with your body?

XANDER: (getting mad) There's nothing wrong with my body.

ANYA: Well, there must be. I saw that wrinkled man on TV talking about erectile dysfunction-

XANDER: Whoa! Hey. (Chuckles nervously) All systems go here. (Gesturing at his crotch) No function problem, okay?

(Anya looks skeptical)

XANDER: (claps his hands, starts unbuttoning his shirt) You want sex? Let's have sex. Right here. Hot, sweaty, big sex.

(Camera angle changes so we see into the truck from the perspective of the customer window in the side of the truck. Xander's hands stop moving. His and Anya's heads turn together.)

(Shot of a group of kids and parents staring up at them.)

(Shot of Xander and Anya giving false smiles.)

GILES VOICEOVER: There's always been great discord between them.

(Cut to Giles holding a rolled-up piece of paper.)

GILES: And yet you say that the, the vampire went to the demon's aid. The two of them were working as a team?

BUFFY: (sitting on Riley's lap, nods) Everything except giving each other little pats on the behind.

(We see the interior of a college lounge room. Buffy and Riley in one chair, Giles on their right, Willow and Tara on the sofa across from them.)

GILES: Extraordinarily odd. (Sits back, crosses his legs, gestures with the paper) As a rule, demons ... have no empathy for any of the species other than their own.

(Shot of Buffy and Riley giving each other affectionate looks)

GILES: In fact, most think of (sees someone walking by, lowers his voice) vampires as ... abominations. Mixing with human blood and all.

WILLOW: So ... what brought these two together?

RILEY: Not what. Who.

GILES: (realizing) Adam. (Pulls off his glasses)

BUFFY: Think about it. Who better to bring together a bunch of ... demon types than someone who's made out of a ... bunch of demon types?

TARA: So he's, um, bridging the gap between the races.

WILLOW: Huh, like Martin Luther King.

(Shot of Giles raising his eyebrows skeptically)

GILES: Um, (clears throat) I suggest that, uh, over the next several nights, you two (Shot of Buffy's and Riley's hands stroking each other) concentrate your patrol in that same area. If there's any other peculiar pairings or groupings, you let me know.

RILEY: I'll let the squad know as well. They're patrolling. (To Buffy) We'll have a, uh, reserve unit out during the party.

GILES: (frown) Party?

RILEY: Tomorrow night. We're having a thing.

GILES: At a time like this? Who, well, whose idea was that?

RILEY: Mine. Boys are pretty ragged, need to let off steam.

(Giles nods.)

GILES: Point taken.

RILEY: You're welcome to come.

GILES: Well, much as I, uh, long for a good kegger, I have other plans. The Espresso Pump. (Sits back, looks embarrassed)

(Buffy and Riley exchange another amorous look, more hand stroking)

WILLOW: What are you doing there?

GILES: I'm, um, uh, it's a, a meeting of, uh, grownups. It couldn't possibly be of any interest to you lot.

RILEY: Buffy, hey, look at the time. Don't you, uh, have a class?

BUFFY: Yeah, in about 20 minutes.

RILEY: Yeah, but ... I have that ... thing... (Buffy gets it)

BUFFY: Right, that ... thing, we could ... squeeze in ... before.

RILEY: Yeah.

(They get up)

BUFFY: Bye!

RILEY: Gotta run.

(Giles waves his paper)

WILLOW: (stretching, grinning) They, they're probably going to- (Tara grins)

GILES: Yes, thank you Willow, I did attend university in the Mesozoic era, I do remember what it's like.

(Cut to exterior shot of Lowell House, night. Cut to inside. It's dark. Forrest and Graham come down the stairs from the second floor, shivering.)

FORREST: Didn't we just get the furnace fixed? It's freezing!

GRAHAM: I'll call in the AM, get somebody to come-

(They hear a noise, turn. Walk over to Riley's door and listen. Rhythmic moaning from behind the door.)

FORREST: Oh, you gotta be kidding me. When do these two come up for air?

(Graham grins.)

GRAHAM: Slaves to the rhythm.

(They walk off. Focus on the door.)

(Cut to inside the room. Buffy and Riley in bed, smooching and rolling around. Panting, moaning. A hand opens the drawer on the bedside table. There are lots of condoms inside. The hand grabs one and retreats.)

(Cut to downstairs. Another Initiative guy (Mason) is putting wood on the fire in the fireplace. Forrest and Graham come down the stairs.)

FORREST: Room shoulda warmed up by now.

MASON: I been building this thing for an hour. It's still an icebox in here.

GRAHAM: Don't bother, Mason, we got a couple of heat generators pumpin' away upstairs.

(Mason looks up and grins.)

(Forrest and Graham grin too, rubbing their arms to keep warm.)

(Cut to the bedroom. Pan up a naked leg. Buffy and Riley smooching. Shot of hands on a naked back. Shot from above with Buffy on top. Closeup on kissing mouths. Long shot of them rolling over so Riley's on top.)

(Cut to downstairs. Mason finishes with the fire and stands up, blowing on his hands and rubbing them together. He sits in a chair in front of the fire.)

(Shot of Graham watching the fire, Forrest walking away.)

(Lingering shot of the fire crackling, flames building.)

(Lingering shot of Riley's bedroom door.)

(Cut to the bedroom. More smooching, moaning. Buffy's back on top. They get more and more passionate.)

(Cut to downstairs. Flames explode out of the fireplace. Mason flinches as the flames engulf him.)

GRAHAM: Jeez!

(Mason screams. His sleeves and the front of his shirt are on fire.)

(Forrest looks around, grabs a banner and uses it to extinguish the flames on Mason. Graham moves forward.)

FORREST: Call a medic. Get help!

(Graham runs off.)

(Shot of the fireplace. The flames look very contained now.)

Commercial.

(Anya walking down an alley, looking annoyed. She turns a corner onto the street. We see the entrance to the Bronze in the distance.)

SPIKE: Grr!

(Spike leaps out, wearing his vampire face, growling. Anya jumps back with a yell. Spike looks annoyed.)

SPIKE: Oh, it's you. (Morphs back to human face)

ANYA: Spike! (petulantly) What are you doing? You made me yell really high.

SPIKE: Hey! Yeah, I did. I scared you. (Grins. Walks right up to her until his face is inches from hers) Gimme money.

ANYA: I'm not paying you for scaring me. (Pushes him away.)

SPIKE: You're not paying me. I'm robbing you.

ANYA: Oh, well now that's just ludicrous. You can't hurt me because you've got that chip in your brain. Also, I like my money the way it is... when it's mine. (Starts to walk past him.)

(Spike growls and spins her around.)

ANYA: Oh, now come on. You're not even bumpy any more.

SPIKE: (feels his forehead with fingers) Oh. I was just a minute ago. Hang on. (Steps back, preparing) Get me mad again.

ANYA: (sighs) Does this really work? Scaring people into giving you their money?

SPIKE: Yeah, it works. Keeps me in blood and beers. (Grins) Plus, you know, funny. Watching those little humans quail.

ANYA: I'm beginning to understand why you're so friendless.

SPIKE: Look who's talking! (Looks her up and down) I don't see droopy boy on your arm. (Softly) Did he have better things to do?

(Anya crosses her arms and raises one eyebrow dangerously.)

(Cut to exterior of Lowell House. Loud party music, people walking in and out, holding beers. Cut to inside, more of the same. Xander, Buffy, Willow and Tara standing together.)

(Shot of Buffy looking across the room and smiling.)

FORREST VOICEOVER: You're kidding.

(Shot of Graham, Forrest and Riley by the stairs holding beers. Riley's looking across the room (at Buffy), not paying attention.)

FORREST: Mason requested to go on patrol?

GRAHAM: He just didn't want the girls to see him with his eyebrows all burnt off.

(Shot of Riley smiling across the room at Buffy.)

(Shot of Buffy smiling back.)

FORREST: He's lucky that's all he lost.

GRAHAM: You shoulda seen it, Rye. Weird as hell.

RILEY: (not listening) Mm-hmm.

(Forrest and Graham frown, look where Riley's looking. Cut to Buffy and the gang.)

WILLOW: How many kids?

XANDER: I dunno, a whole herd of them. And some parents to boot. (Buffy glances at him, then looks past him and smiles) It was kind of embarrassing, which, welcome to life with Anya.

TARA: So you don't even know if she's coming tonight.

XANDER: I'm thinking no. She was... pretty upset. Which, makes me wonder, is it me? Am I the crazy one? (Willow and Tara shrug at each other)

BUFFY: (still looking at Riley, not listening) Uh-huh. Absolutely.

(The others look where Buffy's looking.)

WILLOW: Hey, Buffy, this might be a good time to mention that someone, so not me, spilled something purply on your new peasant top which I would never borrow without asking. Still love me?

BUFFY: Uh-huh.

(Willow and Tara look at each other and laugh.)

(Buffy ponders for a moment, then looks at Willow.)

BUFFY: Huh? What about my peasant top?

WILLOW: Nothin'.

TARA: (quickly) Xander was just talking about Anya.

(Buffy nods.)

XANDER: Oh, it's nothing much. Just feeling pretty glad right now that a certain ex-demon doesn't have any powers.

(Buffy's attention is gone again, staring over at Riley.)

ANYA VOICEOVER: Boy, I miss those powers.

(Cut to Anya and Spike sitting on a couch at the Bronze, holding beers and looking morose. Spike has his arm along the top of the couch, almost touching her.)

SPIKE: Yeah, tell me about it.

ANYA: A year and a half ago, I could have eviscerated him with my thoughts. Now I can barely hurt his feelings. (Sighs) Things used to be so much simpler.

SPIKE: (wistfully) You know ... you take the killing for granted. (Anya nods nostalgically.) And then it's gone, and you're like, "I wish I'd appreciated it more." Stopped and smelled the corpses, you know?

ANYA: Yeah. Now everything's complicated.

SPIKE: It's a terrible thing, love is. I been there myself. (Pause) It ended badly.

ANYA: Of course it did. It always does. Seen a thousand relationships. First there's the love, and sex, and then there's nothing left but the vengeance. That's how it works.

(Spike smiles, leans in really close.)

SPIKE: You and I ... should just go do the vengeance. Both of us! You eviscerate Xander, and I'll stake Dru. Like a project.

(Anya looks tempted.)

ANYA: I don't know. I just can't. (Sighs)

(Spike looks resigned. He takes his arm down.)

ANYA: (encouraging) You can go do Dru though.

SPIKE: (nods) Yeah. I will. (Sits still for a moment) Maybe later.

(Anya smiles. They sit together quietly.)

(Cut back to the party. People dancing, having fun.)

(The Snobby Guy from "Beer Bad" is talking to a girl.)

SNOB: See, the thing that they're afraid to teach us about is the inherent sensuality of language. I mean, you, you learn French and they make it all about conjugations and, uh, fronted vowels ... but nobody really talks about ... you know, the way language tastes, you know, the, the way it feels, rolling over your tongue. I mean, just think about "car" versus "voiture." (He leans his hand on the wall, makes a startled face) Oh!

(The girl looks puzzled. He stares at the wall. Shot of his hand on the wall.)

SNOB: Wow. (Nervous chuckle)

GIRL: Are you all right?

SNOB: Fine! I - oh! (Gasps. The girl looks concerned.) Oh my god. Wow, wow. (Chuckle)

GIRL: So you really like French, huh?

SNOB: Yeah, well... (satisfied smile and sigh)

(Cut to Xander walking through the crowds. He walks up to a girl (Julie) who's looking at a cabinet of trophies.)

XANDER: (reading trophy inscription) "Lowell house. 1962."

(Julie smiles.)

JULIE: Yes.

XANDER: Um, just, you know, impressing you with my knowledge of local history. Or my knowledge of reading.

JULIE: (friendly teasing) You didn't even have to sound anything out.

XANDER: You should see me add short columns of small numbers.

(Julie laughs.)

JULIE: You're funny.

XANDER: Thanks. I mean ... funny "how amusing," or funny "back away and avoid eye contact"?

JULIE: Hmm ... kinda both.

(Xander nods.)

JULIE: Who are you here with?

XANDER: (shrugs) Right now I seem to be here with you.

(She smiles. He smiles back.)

(Cut to Buffy approaching Riley.)

BUFFY: Hey, uh, can we- (points upstairs) I, um, need you to take a look at an ... essay, for ... class.

RILEY: That ... essay, right. Here. (Hands his drink to Forrest. Forrest looks annoyed. Graham looks amused)

RILEY: I'll catch you guys in a minute, uh, essay ... gotta look at ... (Buffy pulling him upstairs)

(Forrest and Graham watch them go.)

GRAHAM: And *I'm* the one who got a D in covert ops.

(Forrest shakes his head. They drink their beers.)

(Cut to Snob Guy still talking to the girl. Another guy walks by.)

SNOB: Hey, Evan, Evan, come here. You gotta see this.

(Evan looks confused.)

EVAN: I'm getting a beer.

SNOB: No, no, no, first ... just ... put your hand right ... here. (Points at the wall)

EVAN: (comes over) Okay. Somehow this is a trick, I know it.

SNOB: Here. (Grabs Evan's hand and puts it on the wall. The girl watches with a grin) Now stay. Don't move. (We see some other people in the background watching and grinning)

EVAN: Whoa. (Breathing heavily) What is that? (The others laugh) I kinda feel ... (heavy breathing, gesturing with his other hand near his crotch) Oh my god. Oh god. (Girl laughs)

(Cut to Willow and Tara sitting on the stairs.)

WILLOW: Horses, like big ... tall ... teeth that can take your arm off horses?

TARA: Well, sure. I learned to ride when I was a kid. It's fun. (Smiling) And, by the way, most horses don't like arm very much.

(Willow looks uncertain.)

WILLOW: I had a bad birthday party pony thing when I was four. I, I look at horses and I see really big ponies.

TARA: You should ride with me sometime. I guarantee safety and fun.

(Willow smiles.)

WILLOW: Well... if you promise you'll look after me.

(Puts her hand on Tara's knee. Tara suddenly jumps back.)

TARA: Don't touch me!

(Willow frowns in confusion.)

TARA: That's ... just disgusting. (Standing up)

WILLOW: (standing) Tara ... what's the matter?

TARA: (panting) I don't, I don't know.

WILLOW: I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to ... are-are you feeling okay?

TARA: I'm f-fine, I just wanna ... (pointing upstairs) go to the bathroom ... (runs up the stairs)

(Willow watches her go, concerned.)

(Cut to Spike and Anya entering the party together. Spike stares at a guy exiting.)

SPIKE: Hey ... I know these guys from somewhere.

ANYA: Initiative soldiers, they live here. Experiments happen in the lab under the house. (Spike beginning to look nervous and angry) It's where they kept you, put in your chip. Let's have fun!

SPIKE: (angry) What are you doing? You brought me *here*?

XANDER: (offscreen) Anya? What are you doing? (Anya turns)

XANDER: (pointing at Spike) You brought *him* here?

SPIKE: That's what *I* said! Only I hit the "here" part.

XANDER: Anya, this is crazy. (Anya crosses her arms, glares at him) We had a little fight. It just means that we have to work our way through some stuff. It doesn't mean that we rebound with the evil undead. (Spike looks offended) And what have we been doing with him anyway?

SPIKE: (grinning) Oh, who's the puffed-up manly man? All splotchy and possessive. (Walks over to Xander)

ANYA: It's not very convincing, is it?

SPIKE: Yeah. I see now what you said about him earlier. (Looks Xander up and down) No follow-through.

XANDER: (loudly) Hey! What a surprise! Hostile 17! (Spike trying to shut him up) Can I get you a drink, Hostile 17?

(Spike looks around anxiously to see if anyone heard.)

ANYA: Xander, stop.

(Spike jumps back from some people who walk by. A bunch of guys walk past, ignoring them. Spike looks around.)

SPIKE: Pfft! (Regaining his confidence) Well, may be some fun to be had in the lion's den after all. You two keep scraping. I'll find the liquor. (Walks away)

XANDER: Anya. What are you doing with him?

ANYA: (angry) We didn't have sex, if that's what you mean. That's all I do now, not have sex.

XANDER: You're overreacting. We had a fight. But see, it's okay. It's normal.

ANYA: Yes. The normal part of the ending a relationship right before the vengeance begins.

XANDER: Right. No! Vengeance?

ANYA: Relax, I'm not gonna do it. I'm just trying to tell you that we have nothing in common besides both of us liking your penis. And now I don't even have that! So I get to say when it's done. And it's done.

XANDER: Okay, you know what? You don't deserve to be the one to walk away from this. I've put up with a hell of a lot from you ... much of that in the last minute ... and if anyone gets to be the one to leave, it's me. (Starts to walk away)

ANYA: (incredulously) You're leaving *me*?

XANDER: Yes. I am.

ANYA: Where are you going?

XANDER: To enjoy the party. (Walks away)

ANYA: (yells as she pushes through the crowd, moving away from him) Well then, then I'm staying too, to, to show you how much I'm not bothered by you having fun! Because I'll be having more fun!

XANDER: (yells across the room) I'm having fun already!

ANYA: (yells) Me too! (Unhappy face) Woo hoo! (Turns and stalks off)

(Xander looks frustrated, walks off in the other direction.)

(Cut to a bunch of people cheering and laughing. Xander turns a corner and discovers some people sitting on the floor playing Spin The Bottle.)

XANDER: Huh. Sometimes I just don't get the sophisticated college lifestyle.

(He starts to leave, then notices one of the players is Julie, the girl he was talking to earlier. She notices him too. She looks surprised, then smiles. She motions with her head indicating that he should join them. Xander grins and comes to sit down.)

XANDER: Gee, it's a good thing Mom's out. We'd be in trouble.

(Cut to Spike sitting by the beer kegs watching other people drink (and he's drinking too). The drunk Initiative guy across from him frowns.)

DRUNK GUY: Hey, buddy. You look familiar.

SPIKE: Yeah. I get that a lot.

(The guy keeps frowning and looking at him. Spike just sits.)

(Cut back to Spin The Bottle. Xander spins, and it lands pointing at Julie.)

JULIE: Hey, Xander.

XANDER: Julie! (Looks around nervously) Okay. This, then, would be the kissing. (Nods nervously.)

(Julie gets on all fours and leans toward him. He moves forward, looking around for Anya, and quickly kisses her cheek.)

XANDER: Very smooth cheek you have there. Do you exfoliate?

(Suddenly Julie grabs him and plants a passionate kiss on him. The others laugh and cheer. She climbs on top of him, still kissing.)

XANDER: Whoa! (More kissing. He grabs her arms and pulls her away.)

XANDER: Julie! What?

(She suddenly looks horrified.)

JULIE: I'm sorry. I didn't... I'm sorry! (She jumps up and runs off. Xander looks confused, then runs after her.)

(Xander walks through the crowds, looking around. We hear a girl yelling "Oh my god!" happily. X finds a group of people around the spot on the wall. Snob's girl is touching it and going "Oh, oh, oh! Touch it!" She falls back against Snob Guy. He puts his hand on the wall. The others chatter loudly.)

(Xander hears crying noises from behind a closed door.)

XANDER: Hi, uh, you okay? (More crying) Julie? (He tries the doorknob but it's locked.)

(Cut to inside the closet. Julie is crying and cutting her hair off with a straight razor or knife.)

JULIE: I'm bad. I'm bad.

(She keeps crying and repeating "I'm bad" while chopping off pieces of hair and dropping them on the floor.)

(Cut to Willow knocking on bathroom door.)

WILLOW: Tara? It's me. (Nothing. She knocks again) Tara? (Opens door) Tara? (Walks into bathroom, looks around. The camera pans through the bathroom exactly as it did with Riley at the beginning of the episode.)

(Willow goes to the sink, turns on the water, splashes it on her face. She straightens up, drying her face with a towel. She hears a gurgling noise and turns around. Frowns, walks over to the bathtub. Dripping noises. Willow pulls back the shower curtain and finds a young boy in the bathtub, under water, arms crossed over his chest, struggling. She reaches down to grab him but he disappears and there's just a tub full of water.)

(Willow straightens up, turns around. The boy is standing behind her, dripping wet, arms still crossed over his chest. She screams.)

(Cut to Buffy and Riley in bed, kissing. Buffy's on top. They hear the scream and stop kissing, look toward the door.)

RILEY: (panting) Was that Willow?

BUFFY: (panting) I don't know. (Looks at him.) Doesn't matter. (They resume smooching)

(Cut to Spin The Bottle game. Two people kiss while the others cheer. Xander enters.)

XANDER: Hey guys, that girl Julie, she's freakin' out. (They ignore him, still playing the game.) Is anyone friends with Julie? (Laughter, ignoring him.)

(Cut to Willow coming down the stairs.)

WILLOW: Xander? Tara? (Runs through the house. Finds Xander staring at the Spin The Bottle people.)

WILLOW: Xander. Ghost boy. Drowning in a tub. I, I tried to save him, but, being a ghost already, well, I was way too late.

XANDER: A ghost? (Willow nods) What's the deal? Is every frat on this campus haunted? And if so, why do people keep coming to these parties, cause it's not the snacks.

(Tara walks up, touches Willow's arm.)

WILLOW: Tara, how are you?

TARA: I'm okay, but ... I, I don't like it here. This house ... I, I think we should go.

(Willow nods.)

(Xander looks over as there's more laughter from the bottle game.)

(Closeup on the bottle spinning. Instead of slowing down it gets faster and faster. The players look puzzled. Suddenly the bottle explodes. People yell as broken glass sprays at them.)

WILLOW: We need Buffy. (She and Xander run off. Tara follows.)

(They run upstairs.)

XANDER: (yells) Buffy?

WILLOW: (yells) Buffy? Riley?

(They pound on the door. No answer.)

(Suddenly, sharp-looking spiny thorns, with green leaves, sprout from the cracks around the edges of the door. Willow and Xander jump back.)

XANDER: Buffy!

(Long shot of Buffy and Riley in bed, smooching and writhing. We hear panting and moaning, which echoes, and faintly we can hear Xander still pounding and yelling Buffy's name. The bed recedes until it's just a small square in the middle of the screen, with blackness all around.)

Commercial.

(Long shot of the bed as a tiny square in the middle of a black screen.)

RILEY: Do you wanna go back?

BUFFY: Never.

(Cut to Xander still pounding on the door.)

WILLOW: Buffy! Riley!

XANDER: Buffy!

(Tara turns and looks behind them)

XANDER: We gotta get them outta there.

(Tara starts to walk away while Willow and Xander stare at the writhing thorns still growing from under the door.)

(Tara walks to the balcony and looks down on the main floor. The people are looking around as the building starts to shake. People scream and run around. Glass rattling, everything shaking. The people scream and run toward the door. Suddenly there's a strong tremor and everyone falls onto the floor including Tara, Willow and Xander. People get up and run around.)

(Shot of Spike sitting calmly in his chair as people run around panicking. Spike smiles.)

SPIKE: Well, this party's starting to liven up after all.

(Suddenly straps shoot out of the chair he's sitting in, wrapping around his chest, wrists, legs, and one over his mouth. He drops his plastic cup of beer.)

SPIKE: Mmph!

(Shot of Graham standing still, looking grim, as people run screaming past him. Forrest runs toward him, against the flow of people.)

FORREST: Graham, quit standing around! Help get these people to safety!

GRAHAM: Touch not the impure thing...

FORREST: What?!

GRAHAM: Or ye shall perish. Find salvation in the cross of our lord and savior.

FORREST: Right. (He goes to the wall and flips a switch. Grabs Graham and turns him to face the wall as the green scanner light travels across their faces.)

COMPUTER VOICE: Retinal scan accepted.

(Elevator opens. Forrest gets in, looks back at Graham, who just stands there. Forrest grabs him and pulls him into the elevator. The door closes.)

(The building is still shaking. People running and screaming. Shot of Anya in the midst of them. The shaking stops. Anya looks around, panting. Suddenly she sees a girl screaming and waving her arms, running toward her. The girl runs right to Anya and through her. Anya gasps and puts her hands on her stomach. Looks behind her but the girl has disappeared. Anya looks around. The shaking begins again.)

(Cut to the bottom of the stairs. Willow, Xander and Tara coming down. Anya runs over to them.)

XANDER: Anya. We gotta get out of here. Come on!

(Books start flying off the shelves and attacking them. They all duck and run away.)

(Shot of Spike struggling, managing to pull the restraints off himself. Jumps out of the chair and runs off.)

(The gang and a few others running toward the door and out. Xander looks back and sees Julie, bald, staggering toward him.)

JULIE: Please help me.

(Xander runs over and grabs her, helps her toward the door. There are patchy clumps of hair still on her head but she's mostly bald.)

(Cut to the Initiative labs: people working on computers. Forrest and Graham enter. They go over to a scientist who's on the phone.)

FORREST: We got trouble upstairs.

(Scientist motions them to wait.)

SCIENTIST: (into phone) Now. (Hangs up, starts to walk away. Forrest and Graham follow.)

FORREST: Some sort of disembodied presence in the house.

SCIENTIST: We've been paging you.

FORREST: Whatever this thing's outputting, it must be scrambling all the frequencies.

SCIENTIST: Guard section 2, level 5 precautions. If the cell door locking mechanisms malfunction ... you know what to do.

FORREST: Got it.

(Scientist walks off. Forrest looks at Graham.)

FORREST: You with me?

GRAHAM: I'm good.

FORREST: Let's lock it down.

(They walk off.)

(Cut to exterior of Lowell House. Xander helps Julie out. Tara, Willow, Spike, and Anya are there. Julie immediately runs off. Spike takes out a cigarette and lights it.)

WILLOW: We have to go back in there.

ANYA: Why?

XANDER: Because Buffy and Riley are trapped.

ANYA: So? (Willow and Tara look surprised) She's the Slayer, he's a big soldier boy, what do they need you for?

XANDER: Anya, look around! There's ghosts and shaking, and people are going all Felicity with their hair... We're fresh out of superpeople, and somebody's gotta go back in there. (Deep breath) Now who's with me?

(Willow and Tara hesitate.)

SPIKE: I am.

(Everyone looks at Spike in surprise.)

SPIKE: I know I'm not the first choice for heroics ... (drops his cigarette and grinds it out with his foot) and Buffy's tried to kill me more than once. And, I don't fancy a single one of you at all. But... (pauses) Actually, all that sounds pretty convincing. (Frowns, shakes his head and walks away.) I wonder if Danger Mouse is on.

ANYA: Xander, let's get out of here.

XANDER: You wanna bail, fine. (Points into house) I'm going back in there, and I'm not coming out till I bring my friend with me.

(He walks to the door, opens it, peeks inside. Takes a few steps in, then something invisible pushes him out. He flies backward and lands several yards down the path. Groans and makes a pained face. Shot of Anya looking upset.)

XANDER: Or ... it ... could be Watcher time.

WILLOW: We'll, we'll go to Giles'.

TARA: No, no, wait, he, he isn't there. He was going to the Espresso Pump.

WILLOW: Right, he-he told us not to come. He, he needed some grownup time.

(They hurry off.)

(Cut to Giles in the coffee bar, playing a guitar. He's wearing casual clothes and has an earring in his left ear. Lots of people are sitting and watching/listening.)

GILES: (sings) No one knows what it's like

To be the bad man

To be the sad man

Behind blue eyes

No one knows what it's like

To be hated...

(Shot of Anya, Willow, Xander and Tara watching, amazed. Willow's and Anya's mouths hanging open.)

ANYA: Oh.

WILLOW: Wow.

GILES: (sings) To be fated...

XANDER: Um, could we go back to the haunted house? Cause, this is creeping me out.

TARA: Does he do this a lot?

XANDER: Sure. Every day the earth rotates backward and the skies turn orange.

GILES: (sings) But my dreams, they are as empty, as my conscience... (Notices the kids watching, looks embarrassed but keeps singing) seems to be...

(Willow smiles.)

GILES: (sings) I have hours, only lonely...

WILLOW: Now I remember why I used to have such a crush on him.

GILES: (sings) ...my love is vengeance[?]...

TARA: Well, he *is* pretty good.

GILES: (sings) ...that's never free-ee....

ANYA: (agreeing) His voice ... is pleasant. (All three girls are riveted.)

XANDER: What?!

GILES: (sings) No one knows what it's like... [unintelligible]

WILLOW: Oh, come on, he is kinda sexy.

GILES (sings) Like I do...

XANDER: I'm fighting total mental breakdown here, Will. No more fueling the fire please.

GILES: (sings) And I blame you...

(The song trails off as we cut back to Lowell House, now deserted, wreckage everywhere. The camera pans across the room and up the stairs to Riley's door, just like before, only now the vines cover the entire door and much of the ceiling and floor nearby. Muffled howling and screeching noises.)

(Cut to Buffy and Riley in bed. They let go of each other and lie side by side, panting.)

BUFFY: You're, you're too far away from me.

RILEY: I'm right here.

BUFFY: (panting) You ... have to ... keep touching me... (Rolls over and starts kissing him again. Moaning, panting)

(Cut to the college library. Giles pacing while the others sit at a table.)

GILES: When you called to Buffy and Riley, they didn't cry out or, or respond in any way?

ANYA: (bored) No. They're probably dead.

XANDER: Unless they're too busy doin' it to answer.

GILES: Doing what? (Sits at the table across from Xander)

XANDER: You know, for a god of acoustic rock, you're ... kind of naive.

GILES: (rolls his eyes) I didn't think you meant ... In the midst of all that, do you really think they were keeping it up?

(Everyone looks at him.)

GILES: Oh, for a different phrasing.

WILLOW: Well, see, that's the thing. People all over the party were starting to act ... weird. (Quietly) Sexually.

GILES: In what way?

WILLOW: You know. (Embarrassed) Ways. (Looking through an old book)

GILES: Well, it could be some form of, uh, succubi, or a satyr's prank. It could even be energy coming from the, the lab underneath the Lowell fraternity.

WILLOW: It wasn't always a fraternity, look!

(They all come to look at her book.)

WILLOW: (reading) "Between 1949 and 1960, the Lowell Home for Children housed upwards of 40 adolescents: runaways, juvenile delinquents, and emotionally disturbed teenagers from the Sunnydale area."

TARA: Children? Did any of them, um, die in there?

GILES: If there were deaths, then, uh, perhaps we're dealing with a fairly ... standard haunting.

WILLOW: It doesn't say. It's mostly about the old house director, Genevieve Holt. "Sunnydale Children's Aid. 30 years of community service. Giving disadvantaged kids the love and care they deserve."

GILES: When did she die?

WILLOW: (looks at book, looks up at Giles) She didn't.

(Cut to old lady's house. She opens a pair of French doors and ushers in Giles, Xander, and Anya.)

MRS. HOLT: No, no, I don't mind at all. I was up. Early morning prayer.

GILES: Of course.

MRS. HOLT: And I like talking about my kids. (Sits in chair)

(Xander and Anya looking around the room)

MRS. HOLT: I still call them that. My kids.

GILES: I, I suppose you were like a mother to them. (Sits on sofa) You did everything for them?

MRS. HOLT: Oh yes. I fed them clothed them, educated them in the way of the lord. I was given a medal.

(Xander and Anya sit on sofa beside Giles)

GILES: Yes, wonderful. Uh, congratulations. Um, this'll sound a little strange, but, ah, did you notice any odd... disturbances in the house?

MRS. HOLT: (frowns) I don't understand.

GILES: We-well, um, like uh, furniture moving of its own accord, or, uh, objects appearing out of nowhere, or, or perhaps you saw someone appear one moment, and then they were gone the next, i-inexplicably.

MRS. HOLT: Why, that sounds like crazy talk.

GILES: Yes, it does, doesn't it? Yes. Um... (Looks at Xander and Anya) Well, forgive me for, for asking this, but um, the children in your care, were any of them ever ill, or did anything ever happen to any of them?

MRS. HOLT: Well, some had the flu and such. No one died, if that's what you mean. The engraving on the medal says how good I was with the children. (Smiles)

GILES: (smiles) Oh, yes.

MRS. HOLT: I treated them as I would my own flesh and blood. Gave them hugs and praise when they were good, and ... punished them when they were dirty.

GILES: Well, ah, children will be children. They, you know, they do like to play in the, uh, the muck. (Smiling)

(Mrs. Holt looks disapproving.)

ANYA: You didn't mean mud dirty.

MRS. HOLT: My kids didn't think I knew, but I did.

GILES: (starting to understand) Very, uh, perceptive of you.

MRS. HOLT: Without me they would have been shut out of the kingdom. Lost to lust.

GILES: But you ... helped them.

MRS. HOLT: The girls felt the vanity more than the boys. I'd see them preening like Jezebel. Doting over their pretty hair.

XANDER: So you'd hack it off.

MRS. HOLT: I'd remove the temptation to admire themselves. (Giles removes his glasses) They were better for it.

ANYA: What about the bathtub? Something happened there.

MRS. HOLT: I performed baptisms on the most unclean. Those who were tainted with impure thought and deed.

GILES: You held them under?

MRS. HOLT: They needed to be reborn. (Rises) You choose to pass judgment on me?

GILES: (Rises) Well, someone ought to! You traumatized and, (she waves her hand dismissively) and abused these children, children who, who have no doubt become extremely disturbed adults! (She starts to walk away; he pursues her) You have ruined lives, Mrs. Holt. Furthermore, what you did has now manifested itself as a, a malevolent presence which threatens still more lives! You have a great deal to answer for.

MRS. HOLT: I refuse to listen to this when I can smell the sin on each and every one of you. (Points to them all)

XANDER: Yeah? You smell sin? Well let me tell you something, lady, she who smelt it dealt it!

(Giles looks at him.)

XANDER: It's like what you said, but faster.

(Cut to the three of them leaving her apartment.)

XANDER: Well, that totally adds to my "old people are crazy" theorem.

ANYA: I don't get it. I mean, those kids were tortured, but they weren't killed, so where are those ghosts coming from?

GILES: I don't believe there are any ghosts.

ANYA: One ran right through me.

GILES: Not a ghost. An apparition. I believe we're dealing with a kind of poltergeist. A whole cluster of them, in fact, born out of intense adolescent emotion and sexual energy.

ANYA: Both of which were totally pent up during Mrs. Holt's reign of repression.

XANDER: So with Buffy and Riley having ... you know, acts of nakedness around the clock lately, maybe they set something free. Like a ... big burstin' poltergasm.

GILES: Yes. And now the poltergeists are drawing more and more energy out of them. Feeding on them in fact. Buffy and Riley are, are powering this whole thing.

XANDER: Okay, they're the battery in the boo factory, so what happens when the battery's drained?

(Cut to Buffy and Riley in bed. Blurry slow-motion kissing.)

GILES VOICEOVER: They die.

Commercial.

(Buffy and Riley in bed. Blurry slow-motion kissing. Panting, moaning. Riley pulls away, lies back.)

BUFFY: Don't stop. Never stop touching me.

(She turns his face toward her and they kiss again.)

(Cut to Tara spreading a red cloth on a table, then sitting in a chair . Willow brings candles and sets them on the table, sits down. We see Giles sitting on the floor. They're in Willow and Buffy's dorm room.)

ANYA: What good are weapons against disembodied spirits, Xander? They have no ass to kick.

(We see Xander rummaging in Buffy's weapon chest.)

GILES: She's right. (Gets up, holding a book) You should just stay outside.

WILLOW: We'll bind the spirits long enough for you to get Riley and Buffy out.

XANDER: How much time will you buy us?

TARA: Could be tricky, we're calling upon the communal spirit of a certain time and place. (Willow lighting candles. Xander takes out weapons, hands one to Anya, holds a machete.)

XANDER: Let's go.

(Anya looks at the sword he gave her, and follows him.)

(Cut to Xander outside the Lowell House. He sighs.)

XANDER: What do you feel?

ANYA: (pressed against the window) Sad, afraid of being without you, and a little hungry.

XANDER: I meant about the house.

ANYA: Oh. Still haunted.

(Cut to the dorm room.)

TARA: Give me your hands. Form a circle.

(She and Willow and Giles hold hands, eyes closed.)

TARA: Children of the past, spirits of Lowell, be guided by our light. Come forth and be known to us.

GILES: Ho-how will we know when it works? (A noise. They all open their eyes and see a bunch of ghostly children standing around them.)

TARA: We'll know.

(They look around nervously.)

(Cut to exterior of house. The door swings open. Xander and Anya look in nervously. Xander steps forward, looks in.)

XANDER: House is clean.

ANYA: Let's go. You first.

(Xander takes a breath, walks in. Anya follows. They look up. The entire staircase is covered in the leafy, spiny vines.)

XANDER: We need to work fast. Never know how long before the munchkins get homesick.

ANYA: Or the human battery conks out.

(They start walking up the stairs, through the vines.)

XANDER: Watch your fingers.

(He starts hacking at the vines with his machete.)

TARA: We implore you ... be still. (Ghost children watching silently)

GILES: Find it in your hearts to leave our friends passage.

WILLOW: Transform your pain. Release your past. And ... uh ... get over it.

(Giles looks at her, nervous. Willow shrugs.)

(Cut back to Lowell House. Xander is ahead of Anya, hacking at vines.)

XANDER: You okay?

(Anya looks angry, hacking at a vine.)

(Xander makes it to Riley's door, tries to reach for the knob. A sudden wind comes up.)

(Cut to dorm room. The wind blows Willow's hair around. The children look up. Their hair is blowing too. The wind howls loudly. Screeching noises.)

TARA: (yelling) Find here the serenity you seek, the peace you -

(The red-covered table flies out from under their hands and crashes against the door. The wind stops. They look around.)

GILES: What's happened?

TARA: We lost them.

WILLOW: Xander.

(Cut to Lowell House. The howling and wind continue. Xander is suddenly thrown back from the door, landing on his back.)

ANYA: Xander!

(The vines grab Xander, throw him into the bathroom and shut the door.)

ANYA: Xander! (Runs to the door and grabs the knob. She is thrown back, through the balcony railing and down to the floor below. Lands half on the floor, half on a sofa.)

(Cut to Xander in the bathtub, being held underwater by unseen hands, struggling. Through the water he can see the children standing over him, watching. He can't breathe.)

(Cut to Anya getting painfully to her feet, looking determined. Starts up the stairs. Howling and screeching noises continue.)

ANYA: Shut up, repressed crybabies!

(A huge thorn suddenly sprouts from the vine her hand is resting on. The thorn goes right through the middle of her hand. She screams.)

ANYA: Ow!!

(Pulls the thorn out, looking even madder. Continues up the stairs.)

(Cut to Xander still struggling. Through the water he sees Anya reaching for him. She pulls him out of the water and helps him up.)

(They burst out of the bathroom into the hall. There are more vines everywhere.)

XANDER: Come on, we just gotta-

(A vine knocks him down.)

ANYA: Xander!

(Anya helps him up and they continue fighting their way through the vines.)

ANYA: We can make it through this.

(The push on cautiously. A bunch of vines wrap around Anya.)

ANYA: Xander, get it off!

(He unwraps her. They clutch each other, make their way to the door. Twist the knob and push the door open.)

(Shot of the bed seen from far away, as before, suddenly rushing closer and closer.)

(The howling noises stop.)

(Shot of Xander and Anya framed in the doorway.)

(Buffy and Riley in bed, naked. The light from the doorway illuminates them. They sit up, clutching the sheets against themselves.)

BUFFY: Xander! Don't you knock?

(Shot of Xander and Anya looking disheveled. They look at each other, turn and walk away.)

RILEY VOICEOVER: I can't believe it really happened.

(Cut to cafeteria the next day.)

BUFFY: I just had no idea. It's so creepy! (Looks up at the others) He was really singing?

(Willow nods.)

XANDER: I'd say it was more like crooning. (To Anya) If we grow old together, remind me to skip the midlife crisis. (Puts his hand on her knee.)

ANYA: (smiling, softly) Okay. (They look affectionately at each other.)

WILLOW: Come on, you have to admit, it was kinda sexy.

XANDER: Please stop saying that. I'm willing to offer cash incentives.

RILEY: We're just lucky no one got injured. (Looking at Buffy) No thanks to us.

WILLOW: Don't be too hard on yourself.

BUFFY: He's right, Will. If Riley and I hadn't ... gotten so wrapped up in each other, none of this would've happened.

ANYA: True. Feel shame.

(Riley looks like he is doing just that.)

XANDER: My girlfriend. Mistress of the learning plateau.

WILLOW: Really, it wasn't your fault. You were under the influence of powerful magicks.

BUFFY: We were like zombies. I had no control over myself at all.

WILLOW: Must have been horrible.

(Buffy looks sidelong at Riley.)

(Riley looks at her, looks down.)

BUFFY: Yeah. Horrible.

(They both nod firmly.)

RILEY: Uh-huh.

BUFFY: Mm-hmm.

RILEY: It was bad.

Épisode La Maison Hantée S04E18 - Buffy, The Vampire Slayer Saison 4

#418 : La Maison Hantée

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