Surprise
~~~~~~~~~~ Prologue ~~~~~~~~~~
In every generation there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.
Buffy's room at night. She sleeps fitfully. She wakes with a start and puts her hand to her head. She reaches over to her lamp, turns it on and lets out a sigh. She takes her glass from her nightstand for a drink, but finds it nearly empty. She gets up to fill it. Cut to the hall. Buffy comes out of her room holding the glass and walks down the hall. Behind her Drusilla stalks her. Buffy opens the door to the bathroom and suddenly finds herself at the Bronze. A slow ballad, "Anything", by Shawn Clement and Sean Murray, is playing. Buffy ventures in. She finds Willow sitting at a table with a large cup of cappuccino and an organ grinder's monkey.
Translation: The hippo stole his pants. The monkey on the table with her squeaks. Buffy walks up to the table and looks at Willow curiously. Willow smiles at her and waves.Buffy raises her hand back, but remains confused about the monkey. Buffy continues on and finds her mother holding a large cup and saucer. Her mother sees her coming, and she turns to face her daughter.
Buffy: What?
Joyce drops the saucer. Buffy watches it fall. It shatters on the floor. Joyce just turns and slowly walks away. Buffy watches her go, then looks around the room again. She walks past Willow again and through the crowd to the stage. It's empty, no band tonight. She turns around and smiles warmly. Angel is standing at the pool table. He smiles and starts toward her. Buffy begins to walk toward him. ... Drusilla suddenly appears behind Angel. She is vamped out, and thrusts a stake into his back and pulls it out. He arches backward in pain.
Buffy: ANGEL! They reach out for each other. Before she can touch him his hand begins to disintegrate to dust. The rings on his fingers fall to the floor. His body doesn't explode like most vampires', but just crumbles to dust. Drusilla lowers the stake and takes the few steps over to Buffy.
Drusilla: Happy Birthday, Buffy.
Cut to Buffy's room. She wakes from her nightmare and quickly sits up, surprised and confused. Opening credits roll. Buffy's theme plays.
Angel's apartment. There's a knock at the door.
He reaches for the knob and opens it. Buffy is standing there with a worried look on her face.
Buffy: That's what I was gonna ask you. You're okay, right?
Angel: Sure. I-I'm fine. (gestures for her to come in) What's up?
She comes in and puts her bag down. He swings the door partially closed and walks over to grab a shirt.
Buffy: Um... I-I had this... dream that Drusilla was alive.
Angel: (pulls on the shirt) What happened?
Buffy: She killed you. Right in front of me.
Angel: It was just a dream. It wasn't real.
Buffy: But it felt so real.
Angel: (puts his hand to her cheek) It wasn't. I'm right here.
Buffy: Angel, th-this happened before. The dreams that I had about the Master, they came true.
Angel: (reassuringly) Still, not every dream you have comes true. I mean, what else did you dream last night? Can you remember?
Buffy: (looks down) I dreamt... I dreamt that Giles and I opened an office supply warehouse in Vegas.
Angel: See my point?
Buffy: (exhales) Yeah, I-I do, but... what if Drusilla is alive? We never saw her body.
Angel: (reassures) She's not. But even if she was, we'd deal.
Buffy: W-w-what if she is...
He grabs and kisses her, and she responds. A couple of kisses later they break off and look at each other.
Buffy: (whispers) I'm sorry. Were we talking?
Angel leans over to kiss her again. They put their arms around each other and hold each other closely as they kiss. Buffy suddenly breaks off and looks down.
Buffy: I'm sorry. I, um... I-I have to go to school.
She turns and quickly heads for the door.
He follows her, takes her arm, turns her around and kisses her again passionately. They take hold of each other again. They stop kissing a moment later but keep touching foreheads.
Buffy: Oh, God, you feel...
Angel: You have to go to school. (guides her to the door)
Buffy: Right. I know. This is me. (backs into and shuts the door) I'm going.
They begin kissing passionately again. After a while they stop and look at each other.
Buffy: (smiles) Surprise me.
Angel: (smiles) Okay. I will.
They kiss.
Buffy: (smiles) This is nice. I like seeing you first thing in the morning.
Angel: It's bedtime for me.
Buffy: Well, then I like seeing you at bedtime. Um... Um, heh... Y-you know what I mean.
Angel: I think so. What do you mean?
Buffy: I like seeing you. The part at the end of the night where we say good-bye... It's getting harder.
Angel: Yeah. It is.
Willow: 'I like you at bedtime?'
Cut to the lawn under the trees at Sunnydale High. Willow and Buffy are walking.
Buffy: I know, I know.
Willow: Man, that's like... I-I dunno, it's moxie or something.
Buffy: Totally unplanned. It just... came out.
Willow: (giggles) And he was into it? I mean, he wants to see you at bedtime, too?
Buffy: Yeah, I, I, I think he does. Well, I, I mean he-he's cool about it.
Willow: Well, of course he is. 'Cause he's cool. I mean, he would never... you know...
Buffy: Push.
Willow: Right. H-he's not the type.
Buffy: Will, what am I gonna do?
Willow: What do you wanna do?
Buffy: I don't know. I... I mean, (they sit on a bench) 'want' isn't always the right thing *to* do. To act on want can be wrong.
Willow: True.
Buffy: But... to *not* act on want... What if I never feel this way again?
Willow: Carpe diem. You told me that once.
Buffy: 'Fish of the day'?
Willow: Not carp. (smiles) Carpe. It means 'seize the day.'
Buffy: Right. I... I think we're going to. Seize it. Once you get to a certain point, then seizing is sort of inevitable.
Willow: (wide-eyed) Wow...
Buffy: (smiles) Yeah.
Willow: Wow...
The school bell rings.
Buffy: Oh... (gets up and goes)
Willow: (gets up and follows) Wow!
Cut to them still walking. Willow stares at Buffy.
Buffy: (smiles) Yeah.
She looks over to the side and sees Oz sitting at a bench with his guitar.
Buffy: Hey, speaking of 'wow' potential, there's Oz over there. What are we thinking, any sparkage?
Willow: (smiles) He's nice. Hey, I like his hands.
Buffy: Mm. A fixation on insignificant detail is a definite crush sign.
Willow: Oh, I don't know, though. I mean, he is a senior.
Buffy: (stops) You think he's too old 'cause he's a senior? Please. My boyfriend had a bicentennial.
Willow: That's true. (unsure) Uh... I guess... I just...
Buffy: You can't spend the rest of your life waiting for Xander to wake up and smell the hottie. Make a move. Do the talking thing.
Willow: Well, what if the talking thing becomes the awkward-silence thing?
Buffy: Well, you won't know until you try.
She walks off leaving Willow to consider her next action. She looks at Oz, at Buffy walking away and back at Oz. Cut to Oz on the bench. He's practicing with his guitar. Willow walks around the bench and stands next to him.
Oz: (looks up) Hey. (gives her his attention)
Willow: Do you guys, uh, have a gig tonight?
Oz: Oh, no. Practice. See, our band's kinda moving towards this new sound where... we suck, so... practice.
Willow: (smiles) I think you guys sound good.
Oz: Thanks.
Willow: I bet you have a lot of groupies.
Oz: (nods) It happens. Now, I'm living groupie-free nowadays. I'm clean.
Willow: (smiles) Oh. (begins to feel awkward)
Oz: I'm gonna ask you to go out with me tomorrow night. And I'm kinda nervous about it, actually. It's interesting.
Willow: Oh. Well, if it helps at all, I'm gonna say yes.
Oz: Yeah, it helps. It-it creates a comfort zone. (Willow smiles) Do you wanna go out with me tomorrow night?
Willow: (cringes and slaps her hand to her forehead) Oh! I can't!
Oz: Well, see, I like that you're unpredictable.
Willow: Oh, it's just it's Buffy's birthday, and we're throwing her a surprise party.
Oz: It's okay.
Willow: But you could come. If you want to.
Oz: Well, I don't wanna crash.
Willow: No, it's fine! Well, you could be m... my date.
Oz: (nods) All right. I'm in. (smiles)
Willow smiles back, and after a moment indicates she has to go. Oz nods to give her leave. She starts away, smiling widely.
Cut to Cordelia's locker. The camera is inside looking out. Cordelia swings the door open. Xander is standing behind her. Xander: So... Buffy's party. Manana.
Cordelia: Well, just because she's Miss Save-The-World and everything, you have to make a big deal? I have to cook! And everything.
Xander: You're cooking?
Cordelia: Well, I'm chips and dips girl.
Xander: (gasps) Horrors! All that opening and stirring.
Cordelia: And shopping and carrying.
Xander: Well, then you should have a person who does such things for you.
Cordelia: Well, that's what I've been saying to my father, but does he listen?
Xander: Um, so, uh... You're going, and, and, and I'm going. Should... we maybe... go?
Cut outside the locker.
Xander: I dunno. This... thing with us, despite our better judgment, it keeps happening. Maybe we should just admit that we're dating.
Cordelia: Groping in a broom closet isn't dating. You don't call it a date until the guy spends money.
Xander: Fine. I'll spend, then we'll grope. Whatever. I just think it's some kind of whacked that we feel we have to hide it from all our friends.
Cordelia: Well, of course *you* wanna tell everybody. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I, on the other hand, have *everything* to be ashamed of.
Xander: You know what? 'Nuff said. Forget it. It must've been my multiple-personality guy talking. I call him Idiot Jed, glutton for punishment.
He looks at her and exhales, then turns and walks off. Cut further down the hall. Giles comes walking out of the lounge and sees Xander.
Xander: Absolutely. You ready to get down, you funky party weasel?
Giles looks at the stairs and sees Jenny and Buffy coming down.
Xander: You coulda just said, 'shh!' God, are all you Brits such drama queens? (to Buffy) Buffy, I feel a pre- birthday spanking coming on.
Jenny: I'd curb that impulse if I were you, Xander.
She and Buffy sit at a table in the lounge.
Giles: (sits also) You alright, Buffy? You seem a little fatigued.
Buffy: Rough night. I had a dream that Drusilla was alive and she killed Angel. I-it just really freaked me out.
Giles: You fear it was more of a, a... a portent?
Buffy: See, I don't know. I don't wanna start a big freakout over nothing.
Giles: Still, best to be, uh, on the alert. If Drusilla is alive, i-i- it could be a fairly... cataclysmic state of affairs.
Xander: Again, so many words! Couldn't you just say, 'we'd be in trouble'?
Giles: (gives Xander a look) Go to class, Xander.
Xander: Gone. (gets up and starts away, but stops) Notice the economy of phrasing: 'gone.' Simple. Direct. (points at Giles and leaves)
Buffy: Maybe I should get 'gone', too. (stands up)
Giles: (stands up) Uh, don't worry unduly, Buffy. I-I-I'm sure it's nothing.
Buffy: I know. I should keep my Slayer cool, but... it's Angel, which automatically equals maxi-wig.
Giles: Hmm.
He gives her a smile as she goes. Cut to Spike's warehouse. Dalton comes in carrying a large wooden box.
Spike: Just put it on the table... near the other gifts.
Dalton walks past the camera to the table as Spike rolls into view in a wheelchair. Drusilla follows him, guiding the chair.
Drusilla: But the invitations are sent.
Spike: Yeah. It's just I've had it with this place. Nothing ever comes off like it's supposed to.
Drusilla: (leans in and puts her hands on his chest) My gatherings are always perfect. Remember Spain? (crouches next to him) Hey... The bulls? (walks her fingers up his arm)
Spike: I remember, sweet. But Sunnydale's cursed for us. Angel and the Slayer see to that.
Drusilla: Shhh... (into his ear) I've got good games for everyone. (licks his cheek) You'll see.
She walks over to the table and inspects the roses and other red flowers that have been woven into the high backs of the chairs. She steps up to one.
Spike: Let's try something different with the flowers then.
She looks at him and calms down a bit. Then she eyes the boxes on the table and slowly walks around to them.
Spike smiles at her, and she smiles back.
Spike: Just a peek, love.
She excitedly reaches for the latch on one of them.
He wheels himself over to her. Cut inside the box. Drusilla lifts the lid, inhales in wonder and smiles.
Drusilla: It reeks of death.
Cut outside the box. She sighs and kneels in front of Spike.
Spike: Why is that?
Drusilla: Because...
She stands back up and leans toward the box.
Cut inside the box.
She slams the lid shut.
The kitchen at the Summers house. Joyce gets up from the far side of the island and takes her plate over to the sink. Buffy is sitting on the other side of the island.
Buffy: Space on a mom-sponsored shopping opportunity? Not likely.
Joyce: Hmm. So, does, um, 17 feel any different than 16?
Buffy: It's funny you should ask that. (gets Joyce's attention) You know, I woke up feeling more responsible, mature and levelheaded.
Joyce: Really? Tch. It's uncanny.
Buffy: I now possess the qualities one looks for in a... licensed driver. (looks at her mom hopefully)
Joyce: Buffy...
Buffy: You said we could talk about it again when I was 17.
Joyce: Do you really think you're ready, Buffy?
She gives her mom a surprised look. Joyce drops her plate. Buffy watches it fall and sees it shatter on the floor. Cut to Ms. Calendar's classroom. She walks to her desk with an arm full of papers. She sets down her mug and a couple of other things and begins to go through them. Behind her a man in a dark suit and hat approaches her. He stops and looks at her.
Jenny spins around, startled. She stares at him in surprise.
Enyos: You look well. (steps up to her desk)
Jenny: Yes, I'm fine. (goes around her desk) I know I haven't written as much lately. I've been busy.
Enyos: I cannot imagine what is so important to make you ignore the responsibility to your people.
Jenny: Well, I've been working and...
Enyos: (interrupts) The elder woman has been reading signs. Something is different.
Jenny: Nothing has changed. The curse still holds.
Enyos: The elder woman is never wrong. She says his pain is lessening. She can feel it.
Jenny: (looks down) There is...
Enyos: There is what?
Jenny: (looks up) A girl.
Enyos: (exhales in disgust) What? How could you let this happen?
Jenny: I promise you. Angel still suffers. And he makes amends for his evil. He even saved my life.
Enyos: So you just forget that he destroyed the most beloved daughter of your tribe?! That he *killed* every man, woman and child that touched her life?! Vengeance demands that his pain be eternal as ours is! If this, this girl gives him one *minute* of happiness, it is one minute too much!
Jenny: I'm sorry. I thought...
Enyos: You thought what?! You thought you are Jenny Calendar now?! You are still Janna, of the Kalderash people! A Gypsy.
Jenny: I know... Uncle. I know.
Enyos: Then prove it. Your time for watching is past. The girl and him, it ends now! Do what you must to take her from him!
Jenny: I will see to it.
Cut to the library. Buffy is sitting at the table while Giles paces behind her.
Buffy: ...and then my mom broke the plate. It was just like my dream. Every gesture, every word. (looks up at him) It was so creepy.
Giles: Yes, well, I-I-I'd imagine it would be... fairly unnerving.
He sits on the end of the table. Xander and Willow come bounding in.
Willow: It's Happy Birthday Buffy!
She jumps over to the table, hugs Buffy's shoulders and gives her a big smile. She lets go and goes around to the other side of the table with Xander. Buffy just looks down and pulls her hair behind her ear.
Giles: I-it's just that, um, part of the nightmare that Buffy had the other night actually transpired.
Buffy: Which means Drusilla might still be alive. Giles, in my dream, I couldn't stop her. She blindsided me. A- Angel was gone before I knew what happened.
Giles: Even if she is alive, uh, we can still protect Angel. Dreams aren't prophecies, Buffy. Y-y-y-you dreamt that the Master had risen, but you stopped it from happening.
Xander: You ground his bones to make your bread.
Buffy: That's true. Except for the bread part. (to Giles) Okay, so, fine. We're one step ahead, but I wanna stay that way.
Giles: Absolutely. (stands up) Let me read up on Drusilla, uh, see if she has any particular patterns. (starts toward his office) Why don't you meet me here at 7:00? We'll map out a strategy.
Buffy: What am I supposed to do until then?
Giles: Go to classes, do your homework, have supper...
Buffy: Right. Be *that* Buffy.
She gets up from the table, grabs her bag and heads out of the library.
Willow: So much for our surprise party. I bought little hats and everything.
Xander: Mm hm.
Willow: Oh, well. I guess I'll tell Cordelia. (starts to go)
Giles: No, you won't. (Willow and Xander stop) We're having a party tonight.
Xander: (stares at Giles) Looks like Mr. Caution Man, but the sound he makes is funny.
Willow frowns and nods in agreement.
Willow: But Buffy and Angel...
Giles: May well be in danger... as they have been before, and, I imagine, will be again. One thing I've learned in my tenure here on the Hellmouth is that there is no good time to relax. And Buffy's turning 17 just this once, and she deserves a party.
Xander: You're a great man of our time.
Willow: (smiles) And anyway, Angel's coming. So she'll be able to protect him *and* have cake.
Giles: Precisely. He goes into his office.
Willow and Xander leave with a happy bounce in their step. Cut to the school that night. Cut to a hall. Buffy comes walking down. Jenny sees her.
Buffy: (startled) Oh, my God, I didn't see you there.
Jenny: Sorry. Um, Giles wanted me to tell you that there's been a change of plans. Uh, he wants to meet you someplace near his house 'cause he had to run home and get a book or something.
Buffy: 'Cause heaven knows there aren't enough books in the library.
Jenny: Uh, he's... very thorough.
Buffy: Oh, which is not to bag. It's kind of manly in an obsessive- compulsive kind of way, don't you think?
Jenny: Mm hm. Um, you know, my car's here. Why don't I drive you?
Buffy: Okay.
She starts out to the parking lot. Jenny watches her go a few steps and then follows. Cut to the alley outside the Bronze. Jenny's Beetle rolls slowly along.
Buffy: Are we goin' to the Bronze?
Jenny: I'm not sure. Giles gave me an address. I'm just following his directions.
They round a corner, and Buffy sees something going on.
Buffy: This looks funky. Stop for a sec.
A truck is parked in an adjacent loading area. A man jumps off of the truck bed while another walks across the loading dock.
Buffy: Sorry. Sacred duty, yada yada yada.
She gets out of the car and goes to investigate.
Cut to the truck. Buffy walks up and stops by the cab. She sees Dalton carrying a wooden box.
Buffy: Every time I see you, you're stealing something. (Dalton growls) You really should speak with someone about this klepto issue.
The truck's engine starts. Buffy turns and reaches for the door handle. Dalton makes a hasty escape. The truck door swings open before Buffy can reach it, and a vampire kicks out at her, hitting her in the arm, but not hard. She grabs for him and pulls him out of the cab and onto the ground. Dalton lifts the box onto the back of the truck. The vampire gets up from the pavement, and Buffy punches him, knocking him back down again. She backs up toward the truck to get around him, but a third vampire standing in the bed grabs her by the jacket and lifts her up. He gets her in a full Nelson hold. She pushes him back into a large box. He is stunned and lets go of his hold. She snaps her head back and butts him hard. The other vampire has climbed onto the truck bed also and comes at her. She punches him, turns and punches the one behind her, turns and punches the other one again, then kicks him in the chest, making him fall and roll over a crate. She blocks a swing from the one behind her, grabs his arm and shoves his head into the crate. Cut inside the Bronze. Angel peeks out from behind a pillar and looks around.
Willow: Shhh! I think I hear her coming.
Cut outside. Buffy punches one of the wooden bed retainers and breaks off a piece. She jams it into one of the vampires' chests, and he bursts into ashes. The other grabs her from behind, lifts her up and carries her onto the loading dock. He throws her at a door. She hits it and rolls away. Cut inside. The gang hears the fighting going on outside and looks toward a window. Cut to the window. Buffy and the vampire come crashing through and hit the floor. Everyone gets up to look. Buffy scrambles to her feet and kicks the vampire as he comes for her. He stumbles back a few steps. The others come closer to see. Buffy grabs a drumstick from a drum set, spins around with it, thrusts it into the vampire's chest and pulls it back out. The vampire explodes into ashes. Oz watches in astonishment. Cordelia jumps up from behind the pool table with her arms raised high.
The others all look back at her.
Xander shakes his head at Cordelia.
Buffy hops down from the stage. Angel goes over to her. Cordelia lowers her arms.
Giles: Yes. W-what happened?
Buffy: (points behind her) Uh, there were these vamps outs... (looks around) W-what's going on?
Giles: Oh, um... A surprise party. (blows on a party favor)
Cordelia: Happy birthday.
Buffy: (smiles) You guys did all this for me? (to Angel) That is so sweet.
Angel: You sure you're okay?
Buffy: Yes, I'm fine.
Willow: (to Oz) Are you okay?
Oz: Yeah. Hey, did everybody see that guy just turn to dust?
Willow: Uh, well, uh... sort of.
Xander: Yep. Vampires are real. A lot of them live in Sunnydale. (gestures between Willow and Oz) Willow will fill you in. (walks off)
Willow: I know it's hard to accept at first.
Oz: Actually, it explains a *lot*.
Jenny comes into the Bronze carrying Dalton's box.
Angel and Giles take it from her and set it on a table.
Buffy: What is it?
Giles: I have no idea. Can, can it be opened?
Buffy: Yeah. This looks like a release right here.
She works the latch and opens the box. Inside is an arm clad in armor. Buffy looks over at Giles in disgust. Suddenly the arm raises up, grabs Buffy by the throat and begins choking her. The Bronze. Buffy struggles with the arm. Angel tries to pull it off of her. Between them they get it off, and Angel stuffs it back into the box while Buffy steps back and tries to catch her breath. Giles slams the lid shut. Buffy coughs as Angel helps her aside.
Giles: Good heavens. Buffy, are you all right?
Buffy: Man, that thing had major grip.
Willow: W-what was that?
Oz: It looked like an arm.
Angel: It can't be. She wouldn't.
Xander: What, uh, vamp's version of 'snakes in a can', or do you care to share?
Buffy: Angel?
Angel: It-it's a legend... (Giles looks at the box) way before my time... of a demon brought forth to rid the earth of the plague of humanity... separate the righteous from the wicked... and to burn the righteous down. They call him the Judge.
Giles: The Judge? This is he?
Angel: Not all of him.
Buffy: (raising her hand) Um, still needing backstory here.
Giles: Um... He, he, he couldn't be killed, yes? Um, a-an army was sent against him. Most of them died... but, uh, finally they were able to dismember him, but, uh... not kill him.
Angel: The pieces were scattered... buried in every corner of the earth.
Jenny: So all these parts are being brought here.
Buffy: By Drusilla.
The vamps outside were Spike's men.
Willow: Do what, reassemble the Judge?
Angel: And bring forth Armageddon.
Cordelia: Is anybody else gonna have cake? (goes to the pool table)
Giles: We need to get this out of town.
Jenny: Angel.
Buffy: What?
Jenny: (to Angel) You have to do it. You're the only one that can protect this thing.
Buffy: What about me?
Jenny: What, you're just gonna skip town for a few months?
Buffy: 'Months'?
Angel: She's right. I gotta get this to the remotest region possible. (goes to Buffy)
Buffy: But that's not months.
Angel: (gestures grandly) I gotta catch a cargo ship to Asia, maybe trek to Nepal...
Buffy: You know, those newfangled flying machines really are much safer than they used to be.
Angel: I can't fly. There's no sure way to guard against the daylight. I-I-I don't like this any more than you do, Buffy. But there's no other choice.
Buffy: When?
Angel: Tonight. As soon as possible.
Buffy: But it's my birthday.
Jenny: (comes over) I'll drive you to the docks.
Cut to Spike's warehouse. Drusilla is confronting Dalton. He has his eyes lowered. Drusilla: You lost it? You... lost my present.
Dalton: I know. I'm sorry.
Spike: It was a bad turn, man. She can't have her fun without the box.
Dalton: The Slayer. She came out of nowhere. I didn't even see her. She...
Drusilla cuts him off by putting her finger to his lips. She stares into his eyes. She lifts off his glasses and drops them to the floor. She stomps on them and grinds them into the concrete. She lifts her head with her eyes closed.
Dalton: What?
She holds two fingers up to his eyes.
Spike: You might give him a chance to find your lost treasure. He is a wanker, but he's the only one we've got with half a brain. If he fails, you can eat his eyes out of the sockets for all I care.
Dalton: I'll get it. Please. I swear.
Drusilla thrusts both hands at him and pulls them back at the last instant and up into raised fists, and smiles at him evilly. She bends down and picks up his glasses.
She unfolds them and sets them back on his nose.
She steps over to Spike and sits in his lap. Dalton breathes a sigh of relief and leaves to begin his task. Cut to the docks. Buffy and Angel make their way to a ship. Angel has the box on his shoulder. They walk arm in arm. Buffy leans into him, and he kisses her on the head. When they reach the gangplank Angel sets the box down. They take a few steps away from the box.
Buffy: Okay.
Angel: But I'll be back. I will.
Buffy: When? Six months, a year? You don't know how long it's gonna take or if we'll even... (looks down)
Angel: Hey... (raises her chin) If we'll even what?
Buffy: (tears in her eyes) Well, if you haven't noticed, someone pretty much always wants us dead.
Angel: Don't say that. We'll be fine.
Buffy: We don't know that.
Angel: We can't know, Buffy. Nobody can. That's just the deal. (reaches into his pocket) I have something for you. For your birthday. I... I was gonna give it to you earlier, but... (shows her a ring with an intricate design)
Buffy: It's beautiful.
Angel: My people -- before I was changed -- they exchanged this as a sign of devotion. It's a claddagh ring. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty... and the heart... Well, you know... Wear it with the heart pointing towards you. It means you belong to somebody. Like this.
He shows her his own ring on his finger. She touches his hand, leans over and kisses the ring.
He takes the ring from her and slips it onto her finger.
Buffy: (sobs) I don't wanna do this.
Angel: Me either.
Buffy: So don't go.
They kiss. She puts her arms around him. After several kisses they stop and look at each other.
Two vampires suddenly jump at them from some cargo netting. One pulls Buffy off of Angel and throws her back. The other begins to fight with Angel. Buffy rolls to her feet. The vampire swings at her, but misses. She grabs him and starts pummeling his gut. Angel flips the other one over onto his back. He gets up, and Angel swings at him three times, but he blocks all of them. Angel's next punch lands on the vampire's face. Buffy ducks a swing, lifts herself up on the dock railing and kicks her assailant in the chest with both feet, sending him staggering back into the gangplank. She gives chase and grabs him by the back of the shirt and hair. He growls. Dalton drops out of the cargo netting now, too, runs over to the box, grabs it and starts to run.
Buffy: Angel! The box!
Angel ducks a roundhouse kick, grabs the vampire's arm and flips him over onto his back. He runs after Dalton and tackles him to the deck. Buffy's attacker shakes free of her and shoves her into a stack of crates. He follows up with a roundhouse kick, but she ducks it and he just hits the crates. She makes a grab for him, but he punches her in the face. Angel gets ready to punch Dalton but gets distracted when the vampire he was fighting before grabs the box and makes a run for it. Buffy's opponent grabs her by the jacket and roars as he swinger her around, over the railing and into the water. Angel sees her go flying.
He jumps over the railing and into the water after her. Cut to the library. Giles is researching the Judge. He looks up from his books.
Willow: Maybe Buffy needed a few minutes to pull herself together. Poor Buffy, on her birthday and everything.
Xander: Hmm, it's sad, granted. But let's look at the upside for a moment. (gets up) I mean, what kind of a future would she've really had with him? (Willow looks sadly up at him) She's got 2 jobs -- Denny's waitress by day, (Giles looks up, too) Slayer by night -- and Angel's always in front of the TV with a big blood belly, and he's dreamin' of the glory days when Buffy still thought this whole creature of the night routine was a big turnon.
Willow: You've thought way too much about this.
Xander: No, no. That's just the beginning. Have I told you the part where I fly into town in my private jet and take Buffy out for prime rib?
Willow: (sees Buffy come in) Xander...
Xander: And she cries?
Giles: (stands up) What happened? (Xander sits)
Buffy: Dru's guys ambushed us. They got the box.
Giles: Where's Jenny?
Buffy: Uh, she took Angel to get clothing. I, I had some here.
Xander: And we needed clothes because...
Buffy: We got wet. Giles, what do we know?
Giles: The more I study the Judge, the less I like him. His touch can literally burn the humanity out of you. A true creature of evil can survive the process. No human ever has.
Xander: What's the problem? We send Cordy to fight this guy, and we go for pizza. (smiles)
Buffy: Can this guy be stopped? Without an army?
Giles: Um, (reads) 'no weapon forged can kill him.' Not very encouraging. If we could only stop them from assembling him.
Buffy: We need to find his weak spots, and we need to figure out where they'd be keeping him.
Giles: This could take time.
Willow: Better do a round robin. Xander, you go first.
Buffy: Good call.
Xander heads for the phone.
Willow: It's when everybody calls everybody else's mom and tells them they're staying at everyone's house.
Buffy: Thus freeing us up for world saveage.
Willow: (smiles) And all-night keggers! (gets looks from Buffy and Giles) What, only Xander gets to make dumb jokes?
Xander: (on the phone) Mom, hi. Xander. Yeah, uh, Willow and I are gonna be studying all night long, so I'm not gonna be coming home.
Cut to later. The research is going hot and heavy. Xander walks over to Willow at the counter with another open book.
Willow: I can't get over how cool Oz was about all this.
Xander: Gee, I'm over it.
Willow: (smugly) You're just jealous 'cause you didn't have a date for the party.
Xander: No, I sure didn't.
Giles: (comes out into the main room) Angel? Any luck?
Angel comes down out of the stacks. Giles sees Buffy asleep in his office and holds up his hand to silence Angel. He follows Giles' gaze into the office.
They see Buffy with her head down on the desk. He waves Angel to follow him.
Angel: Yeah. She hasn't been sleeping well. Tossing and turning. (everyone looks at him) She told me. Because of her dreams?
They all go back to their tasks. The camera closes in on Buffy and loses its focus. Cut to Spike's warehouse. Buffy walks in, looking at the party decorations. All around candles on tall sticks have burned way down. She goes to the table and walks around it. On the other side she sees Jenny walking the other way. She's confused about that, but gets distracted by several boxes sitting on the floor and goes over to them.
Buffy spins around to see her on the upper level holding Angel in front of her.
She puts a sharp blade to Angel's neck.
Buffy: No!
Cut to Giles' office. Buffy wakes from her nightmare with a start.
Buffy: Angel!
Angel: Buffy, it's okay. (she turns to him) I'm here. (she hugs him close) I'm right here.
Cut to Spike's warehouse. Drusilla stands at the top of the spiral staircase and claps her hands.
She bobs her head to the gothic beat as she descends the steps. The party is going well. She makes her way to the head of the table and begins to dance there. "Transylvanian Concubine", performed by Rasputina, plays. Spike comes rolling in with a large box in his lap.
Drusilla looks over at him. Drusilla smiles and steps over to him.
She takes the box from him and hands it to two vampires. The two vampires take it over to where the other boxes have been assembled into the shape of a body. They raise the box and set the head in place. Once in place bright lights emanate through the cracks from within.
The front of the now unified boxes opens like a pair of twin gates to allow the Judge to step out. His skin is blue, and he had small horns on his forehead. He opens his eyes.
Spike looks up at her.
She steps back to him and takes his hand.
Spike's warehouse. Drusilla looks up at the Judge.
The Judge steps out of his box. He has difficulty keeping his balance. He points at Drusilla.
Spike: (rolls over to him in Dru's defense) Ho, ho, ho. What's that, mate?
Judge: You two stink of humanity. You share affection and jealousy.
Spike: Yeah. What of it? (taps his armor) Do I have to remind you that we're the ones who brought you here?
Drusilla: (smiles) Would you like a party favor? (indicates her guests)
The Judge looks at the party guests. His gaze settles on Dalton.
Another vampire grabs Dalton and keeps him from running away.
Judge: My full strength will return in time. Until then... I need contact.
The Judge steps over to Dalton.
The Judge puts his hand on Dalton's chest, and he begins to smoke. Drusilla watches excitedly. The Judge's hand begins to burn into Dalton, and he quickly combusts, disappearing in a flash of flame and smoke.
She smiles down at Spike. The Judge smiles as he feels his power begin to return. Cut to the library. Buffy comes striding out of the cage. Angel follows her out. Giles looks down at them from the stacks.
Angel: She had another dream.
Buffy: I think I know where Spike and Drusilla are.
Giles: (comes down the stairs) That's very good, however, you, you do need a plan. I-I know you're concerned, Buffy, but you can't just go off half-cocked.
Buffy: I have a plan. Angel and I go to the factory and do recon, figure out how far they've gotten assembling the Judge. You guys check any places the boxes could be coming into town. Shipping yards, airports, anything. We need to stop them from getting all the boxes in one place.
Giles: Yes. Yes, well, um, actually, that's quite a good plan.
Buffy: This thing is nasty, and it's real, Giles. We can't wait for it to come get us.
Giles: Right.
Buffy grabs her bag, and she and Angel make tracks for the door. Cut to outside Spike's warehouse. The camera pans up to a second floor window. Cut inside. Buffy and Angel sneak quietly along the upper level. They look down at the party going on below. They walk to the railing.
Buffy: I saw this. (whispers) The party.
They see the Judge walk into view flanked by Spike with Drusilla following. The Judge stops and senses something.
The Judge looks around, then up at Buffy and Angel and growls.
They try to make a run for it, but there are vampires heading them off on both sides. They are captured. Cut below. Buffy and Angel are brought before Spike, Drusilla and the Judge.
Buffy: I'm sure our invitations just got lost in the mail.
Drusilla: It's delicious. (licks her fingers) (to Angel) I only dreamed you'd come. Rrrr.
Angel: (struggles) Leave her alone.
Spike: Yeah, that'll work. Now say 'pretty please'. (smiles)
Judge: The girl.
Drusilla: Chilling, isn't it? She's so full of good intention.
Angel gets himself between the Judge and Buffy.
Buffy: No!
Angel: Take me instead of her!
Spike: (raises his hand) Uh, you're not clear on the concept, pal. There is no instead. Just first and second.
Drusilla: And if you go first, you don't get to watch the Slayer die.
Angel's captors pull him back. The Judge reaches for Buffy. Angel looks up and around for a way out of this. Drusilla wraps her arms around Spike and smiles. Angel sees the chains holding up Spike's video monitors. Then he sees Buffy getting ready to defend herself.
Buffy kicks the Judge in the chest and knocks him back. Angel shakes off his captors and lunges for the chains. The Judge comes to a stop beneath the monitors, and Angel releases them. They crash to the floor on top of the Judge, hard enough to knock a hole in the floor. Buffy struggles free also, and runs to Angel. She sees the hole in the floor.
Buffy: This way!
They go to the hole, and Buffy jumps down into the sewers below. Cut to the sewers. Buffy rolls away from the hole, and Angel drops down behind her. They get to their feet and start down the tunnels. Cut inside the warehouse. Drusilla gives the order to pursue.
Two vampires rush to give chase. Cut to the sewers. Buffy and Angel pull a door closed behind them as their two pursuers drop through the hole and start after them. They look around to see where they went, but don't see anyone. They start down the tunnel, checking the side tunnels as they go, and continue past the door. When they've gone by Buffy opens the door and checks if the coast is clear. Seeing no one she steps over to a ladder and starts up. Cut to the surface. She lifts a manhole cover up, pushes it aside and quickly climbs out into the pouring rain. Angel follows right behind.
Cut to Angel's apartment. He opens the door, and they come in. He turns on the light. Buffy closes the door behind them. He takes off his heavy coat and lays it aside. Buffy is soaked through to her skin without a coat or jacket.
Buffy: Cold.
Angel: Let me get you something.
He gets some things from his armoire and hands them to her.
Buffy walks over to his bed and sits down. She looks up at him. He faces away to give her privacy.
Buffy takes off her top shirt and winces and inhales in pain.
Buffy: Oh, um... It's okay. I just have a cut or something.
Angel: Can I... Lemme see.
Buffy clutches her shirt to her chest.
Buffy: (whispers) Okay.
Angel turns around and sits down on the bed behind her. He gently touches her back and looks at the cut.
Buffy leans back into him and cuddles her face to his. He puts his arms around her.
Buffy: You almost went away today.
Angel: We both did.
Buffy: (sobs) Angel... (sniffles) I feel like I lost you... (sniffles) You're right, though. We can't be sure of anything.
Angel: Shhh. I...
She turns around to look at him.
Buffy: You what?
Angel: I love you. I try not to, but I can't stop.
Buffy: Me, me, too. I can't either.
They start to kiss. After a moment Angel breaks off.
Buffy: (stops him) Don't. Just kiss me.
Cut to later. They are both in bed asleep. Outside lightning strikes, and Angel wakes with a start and gasps for air as he sits up.
He gets up from the bed and hurries off. Cut outside to an alley. Angel has dressed and crashes through the door into the rain. He stumbles over some trashcans and falls to the pavement. He cries out in pain and fear.
Cut to the apartment. Buffy stirs slightly but keeps sleeping.
To be continued...
{Bad Eggs} {Innocence} {The Series 2 Index} {The Index}