EXT, SEA, NIGHT
A group of four pirates row the long boat back to their ship through still waters through dense fog. The ship is still as there is not enough wind to fill the sails though a small breeze blows the array of charms hanging like chimes.
EXT. SHIP'S DECK, NIGHT
The pirates climb aboard and are greeted by another.
PIRATE 1: What's wrong?
PIRATE 2: Man wounded.
Stunned, PIRATE 1 looks at the wounded man even as he points to the aft of the ship.
PIRATE 1: Wake him.
PIRATE 2 leaves.
INT. SHIP, CAPTAIN'S CABIN, NIGHT
We see gold and jewels spilling over chests. The pirates are there, waiting on the CAPTAIN'S decision.
PIRATE 1: He slipped in the bilge water, Cap'n, and fell on to the rigger. His hand... I don't know if he'll survive.
The CAPTAIN turns around and looks at the WOUNDED MAN'S hand. There is a small scratch on his finger.
CAPTAIN: You're a dead man, McGrath.
The CAPTAIN turns over McGRATH'S hand to reveal a black spot on his palm.
CAPTAIN: Same as all the others.
A hypnotic woman's voice can be heard singing.
CAPTAIN: She's here.
PIRATE 1: Oh, save our souls.
McGRATH: I've got to escape! (runs from the cabin)
PIRATE 1: Don't go out there! McGrath! Don't listen for God's sake. The siren is a-calling.
EXT. SHIP'S DECK, NIGHT
McGRATH runs onto the deck, tripping on coiled rope.
INT. SHIP, CAPTAIN'S CABIN, NIGHT
The CAPTAIN locks the cabin door. He then takes a pendant from his neck and wraps the leather strap around the door handles. On one side of the pendant is a carved relief of a mermaid.
EXT. SHIP'S DECK, NIGHT
McGRATH holds his knife in one hand, ready to strike. He uses his other hand to try and block out the singing.
INT. SHIP, CAPTAIN'S CABIN, NIGHT
The others hear his scream as the pendant slowly swings at the lock.
EXT. SHIP'S DECK, NIGHT
The other pirates come out on deck. There is no sign of McGrath, only his pistol.
CAPTAIN: (picks up pistol) Same as all the others. No sign of a struggle. No bones or blood.
PIRATE 1: We're shark bait, every single one of us. Stuck on the ocean, waiting until the wind changes. There is a banging from one of the hatches.
CAPTAIN: What's that?
PIRATE 1: The creature, it's returned.
The pirates approach cautiously, the CAPTAIN aims the pistol. The hatch bursts open to reveal the DOCTOR, RORY and AMY.
DOCTOR: Yo ho ho! Or does nobody actually say that?
[SCENE_BREAK]
Matt Smith Karen Gillan Arthur Darvil
"The Curse of the Black Spot" by Steve Thompson
Producer Marcus Wilson
Director Jeremy Webb
[SCENE_BREAK]
INT. SHIP, HOLD, NIGHT
The TARDIS rests among the storage.
INT. SHIP, CAPTAIN'S CABIN, NIGHT
The CAPTAIN is questioning the presence of strangers on his ship.
CAPTAIN: We made no signal.
DOCTOR: Our sensors picked you up. Ship in distress.
CAPTAIN: Sensors?
DOCTOR: Yes. OK. Problem word. Seventeenth century. My ship automatically, er..noticed-ish... that your ship was having some bother.
CAPTAIN: That big blue crate!?
The DOCTOR snaps his fingers.
PIRATE 1: Tis more magic, Captain Avery. They're spirits. How else would they have found their way below decks?
DOCTOR: Well, I want to say multidimensional engineering, but since you had a problem with sensors I won't go there. Look, I'm the Doctor, this is Amy, Rory. We're pirates, same as you. Arghhhhh!
The DOCTOR turns to look at the pirates behind them and when he turns around, AVERY has a pistol aimed at his head.
DOCTOR: Except for the gun thing. And the beardiness.
AVERY: You're stowaways! Only explanation. Eight days, we've been stranded here. Becalmed. You must have stowed away before we sailed.
PIRATE 1: What do we do with 'em?
AVERY: Oh, I think they deserve our hospitality.
EXT. SHIP'S DECK, NIGHT
The DOCTOR is standing at the edge of a plank jutting over the side of the ship. The pirates laugh.
DOCTOR: I suppose that laughing like that is in the job description. "Can you do the laugh?" Check. Grab yourself a parrot. Welcome aboard.
AVERY: Stocks are low. Only one barrel of water remains. We don't need three more empty bellies to fill. Take the doxy below to the galley. Set her to work. She won't need much feeding.
One of the pirates "escorts" AMY to the stairs that lead below-decks.
AMY: Rory, a little help?
RORY is being restrained by another pirate.
RORY: Hey, listen right. She's not a doxy.
AMY: I didn't mean just tell him off. Thanks anyway.
The pirate forces her below.
AVERY: If you're lucky you'll drown before the sharks can take a bite.
DOCTOR: If this is just because I'm a captain too, you shouldn't feel threatened. Your ship is much bigger than mine. And I don't have the cool boots. Or a hat, even.
AVERY: (aims pistol) Time to go.
DOCTOR: A Bit more laughter, guys? (motions with hand)
INT. SHIP, BELOW-DECKS, NIGHT
AMY opens a chest and finds it filled with swords. She takes one out and as she's testing the feel of it in her hand, she sees a long coat and a tricorne hanging on a peg.
EXT. SHIP'S DECK, NIGHT
DOCTOR: Where are the rest of the crew? This is a big ship. Big for five of you. I s'pose the rest of them are hiding some place (holds his nose) and they're going to jump out and shout "boo".
AMY: Boo!
The men turn around to see AMY wearing the coat and hat, sword pointed at AVERY's throat.
AMY: Throw the gun down.
AVERY drops the gun to the deck and AMY kicks it away.
AMY: The rest of you, on your knees.
DOCTOR: Amy? What are you doing?
AMY: Saving your life. OK with that, are you?
AVERY: Put down the sword. A sword could kill us all, girl.
AMY: Yep, thanks. That is actually why I'm pointing it at you.
One of the pirates comes at AMY with a wooden handle, surprising her and forcing her back from AVERY. When the DOCTOR tries to intercede, AVERY pushes him back into the rigging. When AMY advances on the pirates with the sword, they back away, gasping in fear. AMY shows off a little, swishing the sword through the air. The pirates take advantage and push forward again. AMY fights them off. One advances on her with a rope, backing her into a corner. AMY swings through the air on a piece of rigging, swing her sword. She cuts one of them as she passes before landing on a barrel.
PIRATE 3: You have killed me.
AMY: No way. It's just a cut.
A black spot appears on PIRATE 3's hand.
AMY: What kind of rubbish pirates are you?
AVERY: One drop, that's all it takes. One drop of blood and she will rise out of the ocean.
AMY: Come on. I barely even scratched him. What are you all in such a huff about?
One of the pirates approaches her and she swings out on the rope. He stops her and the sword flies from her hand. RORY tries to catch it, but cuts his hand. A black spot appears on his palm.
RORY: Doctor? What's happening to me?
AVERY: She can smell the blood on your skin. She's marked you for death.
RORY: She?
AVERY: A demon, out there in the ocean.
DOCTOR: OK. Groovy. So not just pirates today. We've managed to bagsy a ship where there's a demon popping in. (looks at RORY'S hand) Very efficient. I mean if something's going to kill you, it's nice that it drops you a note to remind you.
The SIREN'S song starts again.
PIRATE 1: Quickly now. Block out the sound.
The others put their hands over their ears.
RORY: What?
AVERY: The creature. She charms all her victims with that song.
RORY: Oh, great, so put my fingers in my ears. That's your plan? Doctor, come on let's go lets get back to the...back to the... (starts acting dopey and giggles)
PIRATE 1: The music. It's working on him. Look.
RORY: (to AMY) You are so beautiful.
AMY: What?
RORY: I love your get up. That's great. You should dress as a pirate more often. Cuddle me, shipmate.
AMY: Rory, stop.
RORY: Everything is totally brilliant isn't it? Look at these brilliant pirates. Look at their brilliant beards. I'd like a beard. I'm going to grow a beard.
AMY: You're not.
AVERY: The music turns them into fools.
RORY and the other wounded pirate continue to act like they're drunk or high.
AMY: Oh, my God.
Off the starboard side of the ship, a section of the water glows green. Everyone watches and soon a woman rises from the water. She, too, glows green. RORY'S jaw drops at the sight of her. AMY grabs his arm and holds him back as the SIREN floats down to the deck. PIRATE 3 walks towards her and the others half-heartedly grab for him as they, too, are entranced. The SIREN has her arm outstretched and PIRATE 3 reaches for her hand. Still held back by AMY, RORY reaches for her. As soon as PIRATE 3's hand touches the SIREN, his body is dispersed. RORY breaks free of AMY.
RORY: I have to touch her. Let me touch her.
AMY pushes her way past RORY and faces the SIREN.
AMY: Sorry, but he is spoken for.
The SIREN hisses and turns red. She sends AMY flying backwards to land on the deck.
DOCTOR: (goes to AMY) Amy! Everybody into the hold.
The pirates head to the hold. RORY stands there, still entranced.
DOCTOR: Rory!
The DOCTOR makes sure AMY is safe before grabbing RORY.
RORY: Hey!
INT. SHIP, HOLD, NIGHT
They make their way down into the hold, splashing through the gathered water.
AMY: What is that thing?
AVERY: The legend. The siren. Many a merchant ship, laden with treasure has fallen prey to her. She's been hunting us ever since we were becalmed. Picking off the injured.
PIRATE 1: Like a shark. A shark can smell blood.
DOCTOR: OK. Just like a shark. In a dress. And singing. And green. A green singing shark in an evening gown.
AVERY: The ship is cursed.
DOCTOR: Yeah right. 'Cursed' is big with humans. Means bad things are happening but you can't be bothered to find an explanation.
RORY: She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
AMY: Actually I think you'll find she isn't. We have to leave. Right now.
AVERY: That thing of yours really is a ship?
DOCTOR: Well, it's not propelled by the wind.
AVERY: Show me. Weigh anchor. Make it sail! (pulls gun)
DOCTOR: And the gun's back. You're big on the gun thing aren't you? Freud would say you're compensating. Have you ever met Freud? No? Comfy sofa.
PIRATE 4: Leave the cursed one, Captain. The creature can have him.
RORY: Yes, please.
AVERY: We don't want the siren coming after us.
The pirates cry out and one lifts his leg from the water. There's something on it.
AMY: It's a leech!
DOCTOR: Everyone out of the water!
Everyone climbs out of the water onto the crates. PIRATE 4 pulls the leech from his leg.
PIRATE 4: It's bitten me, I'm bleeding. (the spot appears)
DOCTOR: She wants blood. Why does she want blood?
AMY: What were you saying about leaving the cursed ones behind?
DOCTOR: It's OK. We're safe down here. No 'curse' is getting through three solid inches of timber.
The SIREN appears behind the DOCTOR and begins to sing.
DOCTOR: Ah. Hello again.
AMY holds back RORY but PIRATE 4 walks forward.
AVERY & DOCTOR: No! No! No!
PIRATE 4 touches the SIREN'S hand and disappears. His hat falls to the floor. Everyone rushes from the hold, the DOCTOR pushing RORY, PIRATE 4's hat in hand.
INT. SHIP, BELOW-DECKS, NIGHT
The DOCTOR bolts the door behind him.
AMY: Safe?
DOCTOR: I have my good days and my bad days.
AVERY: How did she get in?
DOCTOR: (uses sonic on hat) The bilge water - she's using water like a portal, a door. She can materialise through a single drop. We need to go somewhere with no water.
AMY: Well, thank God we're not in the middle of the ocean.
The DOCTOR puts on the hat.
RORY: Did you see her eyes? Like crystal pools.
AMY: You are in enough trouble.
AVERY: The magazine!
AMY: What?
DOCTOR: He means the armoury where the powder's stored.
AVERY: It's dry as a bone.
DOCTOR: Good let's go, there.
AVERY: (pulls gun) I give the orders.
DOCTOR: Ah. Worried because I'm wearing a hat now?! (heads for the magazine) Nobody touch anything sharp!
AMY: Come on Rory. (pulls him by the arm)
In another section below-deck, PIRATE 1 takes out a ring of keys to open a locked door.
AVERY: Quickly, man.
PIRATE 1: The key, 'tis gone, Cap'n.
AVERY: How can it have gone?
DOCTOR: (pushes the door open) Someone else had the same idea.
INT. SHIP, MAGAZINE, NIGHT
They enter the room cautiously. The room is empty.
AVERY: Barricade the door. Careful of that lantern! Every barrel is full of powder.
DOCTOR: Who's been sleeping in my gun room?
AVERY hears a muffled coughing and removes the lid of one of the barrels. He reaches a hand in a pulls out a young boy.
AVERY: You fool. You fool, boy. What are you doing here?
PIRATE 1: Who is he?
DOCTOR: What, he's not one of the crew?
AVERY: No. He's my son.
A few moments later, the BOY is sitting on a bench, AVERY next to him. Everyone else stands and looks on.
AVERY: What in God's name possessed you, boy? Your mother will be searching for you. (the BOY looks down) When?
BOY: Last winter. Fever. She told me all about you. How you were a Captain in the Navy. An honourable man, she said. How I would be proud to know you. (coughs) I've come to join your crew.
AVERY: I don't want you here.
BOY: You can't send me back. It's too late. We're a hundred miles from home.
AVERY: It's dangerous here. There's a monster aboard. She leaves a mark on men's skin.
BOY: The black spot?
The BOY shows the palm of his hand. There's a black spot. AVERY grabs his son's hand. The BOY coughs. A little later, AMY, the DOCTOR and RORY are sitting while the pirates stand. RORY rubs the spot on his palm.
AVERY: There's nothing wrong with the boy. He has no scars.
DOCTOR: Yep. Ignore my last theory.
AMY: He has his good days and his bad days.
DOCTOR: It's not just blood. She's coming for all the sick and wounded. Like a hunter chooses the weakest animal.
AMY: OK, look He's got a fever.
DOCTOR: The siren knows it. Humans. second-rate. Damage too easily. It's only a matter of time before everyone gets bruised. My ship. it can sail us all away from here. You and me, we fetch it. Let's go. (stands)
AVERY: (pulls out pistol) You're not the Captain here, remember?
The BOY opens one of the barrels to reveal water. The SIREN reaches through with her arms. The DOCTOR forces the lid back on.
AVERY: The water's dangerous. That's how she gets through. One touch of her hand and you're a dead man!
PIRATE 1: We're all cursed if we stay aboard!
DOCTOR: It's not a curse. Curse means game over. Curse means we're helpless. We are not helpless! Captain, what's our next move?
AVERY drapes the pendant around the BOY'S neck.
AVERY: Wait with the boy.
PIRATE 1: Captain we're all in danger here.
AVERY: I said wait, and barricade the door after we've gone.
AMY: Sure you want to go?
DOCTOR: We have to get Rory and Toby away. She's out there now, licking her lips, boiling a saucepan, grating cheese.
AMY: OK, well remember, if you get an itch, don't scratch too hard.
DOCTOR: We've all got to go some time.
AMY and RORY exchange a look, remembering what they saw in Utah.
DOCTOR: There are worse ways than having your face snogged off by a dodgy mermaid. (pats RORY on the shoulder)
INT. SHIP, BELOW-DECKS, NIGHT
The DOCTOR and AVERY step out of the room and AVERY puts his gun away.
AVERY: D'you want to draw lots for who's in charge, then?
DOCTOR: Darkness. Demon. You can have first go. (pats AVERY on the chest)
They make their way back to the hold. AVERY slips and nearly puts his hand down on an exposed nail. The DOCTOR grabs his hand just in time.
DOCTOR: Nearly. Phew!
INT. TARDIS
The DOCTOR runs up to the console while AVERY stands just inside the door.
AVERY: By all the... (walks slowly to the console)
DOCTOR: Let me stop you there. Bigger on the inside. Don't mind, do you, if we just skip to the end of that moment? Oh, and sorry I lied by the way, when I said yours was bigger. Kitchen that way. Choice of bathrooms - there, there, there.
INT. SHIP, MAGAZINE, NIGHT
TOBY sits on the floor, coughing. AMY looks at him.
RORY: What's wrong?
AMY: The most beautiful thing you've ever seen.
RORY: Oh, tell me I didn't really say that.
AMY notices the two pirates removing the barrels blocking the door.
AMY: What's going on?
PIRATE 1: We're not staying here to mollycoddle the boy. The Captain's gone soft, it's time for us to leave.
INT. TARDIS
The DOCTOR is typing on the console when AVERY starts pointing and touching controls.
AVERY: What's this do?
DOCTOR: (pointing) That does very very complicated. That does sophisticated, that does whoa, amazing, and that does whizz bang far too technical to explain!
AVERY: Wheel?
DOCTOR: Atom accelerator.
AVERY: It steers the thing.
DOCTOR: No...Sort of...Yes.
AVERY: Wheel. Telescope. Astrolabe. Compass. A ship's a ship. Oh...
INT. SHIP, MAGAZINE, NIGHT
TOBY gets up.
TOBY: He told you to wait, you dog. He's your Captain, a Naval Officer. You're honour-bound to do as he tells you.
PIRATE 1: 'Honour-bound'? Do you know what kind of ship this is? Do you know what your father does?
AMY puts her arms about TOBY'S shoulders.
AMY: Don't listen to him, Toby.
PIRATE 1: We sail under the black flag. The Jolly Roger.
TOBY: Liar!(lunges) He's no wicked pirate!
PIRATE 1: Oh, you think so? I've seen your father gun down a thousand innocent men.
INT. TARDIS
DOCTOR: This is how the professionals do it.
The DOCTOR sets the TARDIS in motion. Its machinery groans and goes nowhere.
DOCTOR: It's stuck. Not responding.
AVERY: Becalmed?
DOCTOR: Mm-hm. Apparently. That's new. You had to gloat, didn't you?
AVERY: I'm not gloating.
DOCTOR: I saw that look just now. Ha-ha his ship is rubbish.
AVERY: True.
INT. SHIP, MAGAZINE, NIGHT
PIRATE 1: (to PIRATE 5) Get what treasure you can I'll meet you in the row boat.
TOBY comes forward, a sword pointed at PIRATE 1.
TOBY: You're going to remain at your post.
PIRATE 1: I am not playing games with you boy, you put that down.
TOBY: One more step and I'll use this, you blaggard.
PIRATE 1: You don't know how to fight with a cutlass, boy.
TOBY: Don't need to, do I?
TOBY lunges forward and cuts PIRATE 1 on the hand.
PIRATE 1: Ah! (breathes heavily) No...
INT. TARDIS
The DOCTOR checks the controls.
DOCTOR: It can't get a lock on the plane.
AVERY: The what?
DOCTOR: The space we travel in. The... ocean. Sort of ocean but not water. The TARDIS can't see. It's sulking because it thinks the space doesn't exist. Without a plane to lock onto we're not going anywhere.
AVERY: I'm confused.
DOCTOR: It's a big club. We should get T-shirts.
There is an explosion and rumblings.
DOCTOR: What's happening?
INT. SHIP, MAGAZINE, NIGHT
PIRATE 1: (turns his palm over to reveal the spot) You little swabber!
AMY: Congratulations. Made it to the menu. Probably shouldn't go out there now.
PIRATE 1: (pulls pistol) You scurvy ape.
RORY: Don't shoot! The powder will blow and kill us all.
PIRATE 2 takes the key ring from PIRATE 1's belt.
PIRATE 1: Mulligan, what are you doing?
MULLIGAN leaves.
AMY: No honour among pirates.
PIRATE 1 lowers his gun and begins to pile the barrels back in front of the door.
INT. TARDIS
The DOCTOR frantically works the controls.
DOCTOR: OK. She's had her little sulk. Now she's heading for the full-on screaming tantrum.
AVERY: Can you fix it?
DOCTOR: The parametric engines are jammed. Orthogonal vector's gone. I'm almost out of ideas.
AVERY: Almost?
DOCTOR: Well, we could try stroking her and singing her a song.
AVERY: Will that help?
DOCTOR: Hard to say, never has before.
The DOCTOR flips a switch in the hopes of regaining control but it doesn't work. The TARDIS rocks.
DOCTOR: Argh! I've lost control of her, she's about to dematerialise we could end up anywhere!
AVERY: That sounds bad.
DOCTOR: Yes, it is! Out! Now! Abandon ship! ABANDON SHIP!
The DOCTOR grabs AVERY and pushes him out the door as the console begins to explode, shooting sparks.
INT. SHIP, BELOW-DECKS, NIGHT
The DOCTOR and AVERY run out of the TARDIS and as far from her as possible in the cramped space. They turn around to see the TARDIS enveloped in a green light as it disappears.
DOCTOR: OK, OK, OK. TARDIS runs off on its own. That's a bit of a new one. Bang goes our only hope of getting them out of here.
AVERY: Not much of a Captain without a ship, are you?
The DOCTOR and AVERY head back to the magazine and are stopped by MULLIGAN who holds two pistols on them. He also carries treasure, a crown around his arm.
AVERY: Mulligan? What are you doing? This is mutiny.
MULLIGAN: She doesn't want me. She only wants Toby and the scrawny looking fellow. (runs off)
DOCTOR: He's got the last of the supplies. We should go after him.
AVERY: Never mind the damned supplies. What about my treasure?
AVERY and the DOCTOR follow MULLIGAN. MULLIGAN fires but they take cover.
DOCTOR: Don't get injured. Don't get injured.
INT. SHIP, STOREROOM, NIGHT
They chase MULLIGAN back to the hold. He locks the door behind him. Using flint, he lights a fire in a small hand-held paddle. drops it when the flames burn his hand.
AVERY: (through door) Come out of there you mutinous dog!
MULLIGAN burns his hand and drops the paddle, leaving him in darkness.
MULLIGAN: Ow!
INT. SHIP, BELOW-DECKS, NIGHT
As the DOCTOR is using the sonic on the lock, they hear the SIREN singing. The DOCTOR and AVERY begin checking each other for injury. The look to the door and see green light through the cracks.
DOCTOR: She's inside.
AVERY: She's come for Mulligan.
MULLIGAN screams. The DOCTOR finally opens the door.
[SCENE_BREAK]
INT. SHIP, STOREROOM, NIGHT
They enter the room and find it empty. The DOCTOR scans the room with the sonic. AVERY grabs the crown.
AVERY: No water in here. How did she take him? You said she uses water like a door. That's how she enters a room.
The DOCTOR looks at the highly-polished crown.
DOCTOR: I was wrong. Please ignore all my theories up to this point.
AVERY: What, again!?
DOCTOR: We're all in danger. The water's not how she's getting in. When we were down in the hold, think what happened. You, me, Amy, Rory, leeches.
AVERY: She sprang from the water.
DOCTOR: Yes, only when it grew still! Still water. Nature's mirror.
AVERY: So... You mean?
DOCTOR: Yes. Not water... Reflection.
INT. SHIP, MAGAZINE, NIGHT
Sitting on the floor, TOBY takes the pendant from around his neck and begins to rub it.
INT. SHIP, STOREROOM, NIGHT
DOCTOR: The siren legend. The curse.
AVERY: You said curses weren't real.
DOCTOR: Folklore springs from truth. She attacks ships filled with treasure. Where else do you get a perfect reflection?
AVERY: Polished metal.
DOCTOR: Hmm.
The DOCTOR puts the crown away in a bag as AVERY automatically reaches for the pendant. It's not there.
AVERY: We must warn them.
INT. SHIP, MAGAZINE, NIGHT
TOBY is now using a cloth to polish the metal.
INT. SHIP, BELOW-DECKS, NIGHT
The DOCTOR and AVERY hurry back to the magazine. They reach the door.
DOCTOR: Amy!
INT. SHIP, MAGAZINE, NIGHT
DOCTOR: (through door) Open the door!
AVERY: (through door) Toby open the door!
AMY and RORY remove the barrels.
AVERY: (through door) Toby!
DOCTOR: (through door) Open the door!
AVERY: (through door) Toby!
AMY and RORY open the door and the DOCTOR pushes his way through, grabs the pendant from TOBY and begins breathing heavily on it to fog the surface. AMY and RORY just stare at him. He gives a thumbs-up and AVERY relaxes. The DOCTOR then runs out the door.
INT. SHIP, CAPTAIN'S CABIN, NIGHT
Using the butt of a rifle, the DOCTOR begins to smash the small panes of glass that make up the aft window.
DOCTOR: We've got to destroy every reflection. Gold, silver, glass. She could spring from any of them. (smashes
mirror) Oh, yes, yes, I know I know. Very bad luck to break it. But look at it this way, there's a stroppy homicidal mermaid trying to kill all.
AVERY: How much worse can things get?
DOCTOR: Yep. (looks at treasure) Help me lug this lot out.
AVERY: Where are we taking it?
DOCTOR: The ocean.
AVERY: No. No! This is the treasure of the Mogul of India.
DOCTOR: Oh, good. For a moment there I thought it was yours.
AVERY: Doctor, wait. Must we do this?
DOCTOR: Any reflection, any mirror, and the siren will attack. We have to protect Rory and Toby. Go and get the crown from the storeroom.
AVERY leaves and the DOCTOR begins to throw the treasure out the broken window.
INT. SHIP, STOREROOM, NIGHT
With a sigh, AVERY takes the crown and leaves.
EXT. SHIP'S DECK, NIGHT
A slight breeze moves the dangling shells and charms and the full moon shines down as the SIREN sings.
INT. SHIP, MAGAZINE, NIGHT
RORY: Just wait?
DOCTOR: Not my most dynamic plan, I realise.
AMY: TARDIS?
DOCTOR: It's been towed.
AMY: What?
DOCTOR: Sorry. We might be stuck here for a while.
RORY: So you're saying that we should all just wait here below?
AVERY: The sea is still calm, like a mirror. If you go out on deck she'll rise up and attack you.
DOCTOR: It's OK. The calm won't last forever. When the wind picks up we'll all set sail.
AVERY: Until it does, you have to hide down here.
LATER... AMY and RORY are asleep on the floor. AVERY goes to sit beside TOBY.
AVERY: I'm sorry about your mother. You miss her a lot.
TOBY: Three years. No word from you.
AVERY: Toby...
TOBY: You promised her. You promised you'd come home. And she believed you would, right up until the day she died. What made you do it? What made you... turn pirate?
AVERY: Get some sleep now.
In her half-sleep state, AMY hears a WOMAN'S voice.
WOMAN: It's fine. You're doing fine. Just stay calm.
AMY opens her eyes and sees the same woman with the eye-patch that she saw at the orphanage. The panel slides shut. AMY sits up but the panel has disappeared.
EXT. SHIP'S DECK, NIGHT
The DOCTOR is looking up at the stars when AVERY joins him.
DOCTOR: It's not one star it's two. (points) The dog star. Sirius. Binary system.
AVERY: I use it to navigate the ocean.
DOCTOR: I've travelled far, like you. Space can be very lonely. The greatest adventure is having someone share it with you.
AVERY: If we get out of this I'll take him back to England. He can't stay with me. I'm not the father he needs.
DOCTOR: Who are you, Henry Avery? Respected naval officer, wife and child at home. How did you end up here, wandering the oceans with a band of rogues?
AVERY: I've set my course now. Nothing I can do to alter it.
DOCTOR: People stared at it for centuries and never knew. Things can suddenly change, when you're least expecting.
(pats AVERY and leaves)
INT. SHIP, CAPTAIN'S CABIN, NIGHT
The DOCTOR is standing quietly in the middle of the room. AMY enters behind him.
AMY: Doctor?
DOCTOR: Sssh.
AMY: What can you see?
DOCTOR: Feels like something's out there, staring straight at me.
There is a crash of thunder and the ship rocks.
DOCTOR: Man the sails! (runs from the room)
EXT. SHIP'S DECK, NIGHT
It's raining hard. AVERY holds the rigging. AMY and RORY rush topside.
AVERY: To the rigging, you dogs! Let go the sails. Avast ye!
AMY and RORY head for the ropes holding the mainsail while AVERY works on the foresail. The DOCTOR is at the wheel.
AVERY: Put the bunt into the slack of the clews.
AMY: I swear he's making half this stuff up.
RORY: What we really need is some sort of phrase book.
AVERY: Toby! Find my coat. My compass is inside it, boy. (TOBY goes below) Heave ho you bilge rats.
RORY: 'Rats' was all I could hear.
TOBY comes back with AVERY'S coat and the crown rolls out along the deck. All they can do is watch. TOBY looks at his father, hurt by the proof that he's a pirate. The SIREN reaches through the reflection on the crown and shoots into the air above the ship. She sings and floats down to the deck, her hand reaching out for TOBY.
AVERY: Don't let her take you!
Enthralled, TOBY walks closer, his hand out.
AVERY: No!
TOBY touches the SIREN and disappears with a scream.
AVERY: No!
AMY holds back RORY as he tries to reach the SIREN. The DOCTOR sneaks behind her and throws the crown into the sea. The SIREN disappears.
AVERY: I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
DOCTOR: You couldn't give up the gold could you? That's why you turned pirate! Your commission, your wife, your son. Just how much is that treasure worth to you man?
At that moment, the main yardarm swing around and knocks RORY into the churning water.
AMY: Rory! Rory! (runs to the side) I can't see him. Doctor, I'm going in!
DOCTOR: He's drowning. You go in after him you'll drown too. There's only one thing that can save him now.
AMY: What are you talking about?
DOCTOR: The siren. The siren, she wants him. We have to release her. (heads for the water barrel)
AMY: Doctor, no.
The DOCTOR removes the lid and releases the SIREN.
DOCTOR: He's drowning. Go find him!
The SIREN dives into the water.
AMY: What did you do?
DOCTOR: If he stays in there he'll die.
AMY: She'll destroy him.
DOCTOR: That thing isn't just some ravenous hunter! It's intelligent. We can reason with it. And maybe, just maybe, they're still alive somewhere. We have to follow.
AVERY: Are you mad?
DOCTOR: If we ever want to see them again, we have to let the siren take us. We'll prick our fingers. All agreed?
(holds out a fist) Yeah?
AVERY: Aye.
AMY: Aye.
DOCTOR: Aye!
The DOCTOR pricks their fingers and the black spot appears. The SIREN appears and sings. They each reach out to her. There is a flash of light.
INT. SPACESHIP, OBSERVATION, NIGHT
They wake up on the floor.
AMY: Where are we?
DOCTOR: We haven't moved. We're in exactly the same place as before.
They look out the window and see the pirate ship.
AVERY: We're on a ghost ship.
DOCTOR: No, it's real. Space ship trapped in a temporal rift.
AMY: How can two ships be in the same place?
DOCTOR: Not the same. Two planes, two worlds, two cars parked in the same space. There are lots of different universes nested inside each other. Now and again they collide and you can step from one to the other.
AMY: OK, I think I understand.
DOCTOR: Good. Cos it's not like that at all. But if that helps.
AMY: Thanks.
DOCTOR: All the reflections have suddenly become gateways.
The DOCTOR picks up a piece of metal from the floor and throws it through the window. It passes through and lands on the deck
DOCTOR: Ever look in a mirror and think you're seeing a whole other world? Well, this time it's not an illusion.
They hear a low beeping and begin to explore.
AMY: The signal.
DOCTOR: Yes.
AMY: The distress call.
DOCTOR: Uh-huh.
They climb the stairs that lead to the rest of the ship.
AMY: There was a second ship here all the time.
They hear the SIREN.
DOCTOR: And the siren is on board.
The DOCTOR unlocks the door and it slides open to reveal the desiccated body of pteradon-like alien. AVERY pulls out his gun but the DOCTOR pushes it away.
DOCTOR: Dead.
The DOCTOR walks past it followed by AMY and AVERY.
INT. SPACESHIP, BRIDGE, NIGHT
On the bridge, they see another alien still at the controls. The DOCTOR walks up to it. The view from the observation window was that of AVERY'S cabin.
AMY: You were right, there was something staring at us the whole time. How long has this ship been marooned here?
AVERY: Long enough for the Captain to have run out of grog.
AMY: I don't understand. If this is the captain, then what's the siren?
DOCTOR: Same as us. A stowaway. (uses the sonic to scan the body)
AMY: She killed it?
DOCTOR: (checks readings) Human bacteria.
AMY: What?
DOCTOR: A virus, from our planet. Airborne, travelling through the portal. (puts away sonic) That's what killed it. (leans on panel) Didn't get its jabs. (lifts his hand to show it covered in slime) Urghhh! Look.
AMY: What is it?
DOCTOR: Sneeze! Alien bogies.
The DOCTOR shakes his hand, trying to get the slime off. He wipes it on AMY's coat as he walks past and out the room.
INT. SPACESHIP, SICKBAY, NIGHT
They enter the room and the DOCTOR immediately begins to scan with the sonic. Suspended from the ceiling are beds on which people are lying unconscious. They have breathing tubes attached to their throats.
AVERY: McGrath! He's one of my men.
AMY: He's still breathing.
The DOCTOR finds what looks like rectangular "discs" holding information.
AVERY: My entire crew is here. Toby! (runs to his son)
AMY: Rory! (runs to her husband)
DOCTOR: The TARDIS! (runs to the TARDIS and practically hugs it)
AVERY: We have to get them out of here.
DOCTOR: Wait! (scans) His fever's gone. (goes to RORY)
AMY: He looks so well.
DOCTOR: She's keeping him alive. His brain is still active but all its cellular activity is suspended. (turns over RORY'S palm to show the spot) It's not a curse. It's a tissue sample. (shows one of the "discs") Why get samples of people you are about to kill?
AMY: Help me get him up.
The DOCTOR reaches around to undo the tube. An alarm sounds and the SIREN sings.
DOCTOR: She's coming.
The three of them hide. The SIREN arrives and approaches RORY who is now awake. He tries to jerk away from her but calms down as she continues to sing.
DOCTOR: Anaesthetic.
AVERY: What?
DOCTOR: The music. The song. So she anaesthetises people and then puts their bodies in stasis.
The SIREN moves to TOBY, her hand resting just above him. AVERY steps out from hiding, gun out.
DOCTOR: (whispers) Avery. (shouts) No!
AVERY fires at the SIREN. She turns on him, red and angry. She hisses and advances on AVERY. The DOCTOR runs to another part of the room to drawn her attention. The DOCTOR sneezes and the SIREN stops advancing on AVERY and turns to the DOCTOR, fire between her hands.
DOCTOR: Whoa. Fire! That's new. What does fire do? Burn? Yes. Destroy? What else? Sterilise! I sneezed. I've brought germs in.
The DOCTOR pulls out a handkerchief and blows his nose then throws the cloth to the floor. The SIREN shoots flames at the handkerchief, destroying it. With the distraction, AMY goes to RORY. The SIREN moves slowly towards AMY.
DOCTOR: Amy stop. Don't interfere. Don't touch him. Anaesthetic, tissue sample, screen, sterile working conditions. Ignore all my previous theories!
AMY: Yeah, well we stopped paying attention a while back.
DOCTOR: She's not a killer at all. She's a doctor!
AMY steps back from RORY'S bed and the SIREN resumes her green glow.
DOCTOR: This is an automated sick bay. It's teleporting everyone on board. The crew are dead and so the sick bay has had nothing to do. It's been looking after humanity whilst it's been idle. Look at her. A virtual doctor! Able to sterilise a whole room.
AMY: Able to burn your face off.
DOCTOR: She's just an interface. Seeped through the join between the planes. Broadcast in our world. Protean circuitry means she can change her form And become a human doctor for humans. Oh, sister you are good!
AMY reaches for RORY again and the SIREN turns red and hisses until AMY backs away. AVERY stands by TOBY.
AVERY: She won't let us take them.
DOCTOR: She's keeping them alive but she doesn't know how to heal them.
AMY: I'm his wife for God's sake! Why can't I touch him?
DOCTOR: Tell her Amy. Show her your ring. (grabs AMY'S left hand) She may be virtual but she's intelligent. You can't do anything without her consent. Come on! Sophisticated girl like you, that must be somewhere in your core program.
AMY: Look He's very ill! OK, I just want to look after him. Why won't you let me near my husband!?
The SIREN holds out her left hand and a ring of light appears around it.
DOCTOR: Consent form. Sign it. Put your hand in the light. Rory's sick. You have to take full responsibility.
AMY puts her hand through the ring and the SIREN disappears. AMY and the DOCTOR rush to free RORY. AMY turns
off the power and RORY jerks and gasps.
DOCTOR: He can't breathe, turn it back on.
AMY: (turns it back on) What do we do? I can't just leave him here.
AVERY: He'll die if you take him out.
AMY strokes RORY'S face.
AMY: Rory? Wake up.
RORY: Where am I?
DOCTOR: You're in a hospital. If you leave you might die.
AMY: But if you don't you'll have to stay forever.
RORY: You're saying that if I don't get up now...
AMY: You can never leave.
DOCTOR: The siren will keep you safe.
RORY: And if I come with you?
DOCTOR: Drowning, on the point of death.
RORY: I'm a nurse.
AMY: What?
RORY: I can teach you how to save me.
AMY: Hold on.
RORY: I was drowning. You just have to resuscitate me.
AMY: Just?
RORY: You've seen them do it loads of times in films. CPR. The kiss of life.
AMY: Rory, this isn't a film, ok. What if I do it wrong?
RORY: You won't.
AMY: OK, what if you don't come back to life? What if...?
RORY: I trust you.
AMY: What about him? I mean why do I have to be the one? Why do I have to save you?
RORY: Because I know you'll never give up.
AMY nods. The DOCTOR walks over to AVERY.
DOCTOR: We have to send this ship back into space. Imagine if the siren got ashore. She would have to process every injured human.
AVERY: What about Toby?
DOCTOR: I'm sorry. Typhoid fever. Once he returns it's only a matter of time.
AVERY: What if I stay with him? Here. The siren will look after him. I can't go back to England. And what home does he have now, if not with me?
DOCTOR: Do you think you can sail this thing?
AVERY: Just point me to the atom accelerator.
The DOCTOR smiles and pats AVERY on the back before going back to AMY and RORY.
RORY: I know you can do this. Of course if you muck it up I am going to be really cross. And dead.
AMY: I'll see you in a minute.
AMY looks at the DOCTOR who nods and the two of them hurry to unhook RORY from the life support. He gasps for air. Together, the DOCTOR and AMY carry him to the TARDIS.
INT. TARDIS
They set RORY on the floor just inside the door and AMY starts CPR.
DOCTOR: Come on, come on Rory. Not here. Not this way. Not today.
AMY: He trusted me he trusted me to save him.
DOCTOR: You still can. You can still do this. He believes in you. Come on, Amy. Come on!
AMY presses harder on the compressions.
AMY: Please, please, please wake up, wake up, wake up.
AMY sobs and she and the DOCTOR sit back from RORY'S prone body. The DOCTOR reaches a comforting hand over to rest on her back. RORY starts to sputter and cough up water. The DOCTOR stands and looks down at the couple in amazement.
RORY: Amy. Amy, you did it, you did it! (hugs her as she sobs)
INT. SPACESHIP, BRIDGE, NIGHT
AVERY and TOBY sit at the controls. TOBY still has the medical tube attached. Father and son smile at each other and the other five pirates walk in behind them. They head into space, steering by Sirius.
INT. TARDIS
AMY and RORY head up the stairs from the console.
AMY: I thought I was an excellent pirate.
RORY: I thought you were an excellent nurse.
AMY: Easy tiger. (turns to look at the DOCTOR) Goodnight, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Goodnight, Amelia.
AMY: You only call me Amelia when you're worrying about me.
DOCTOR: I always worry about you.
AMY flashes on the DOCTOR's death.
AMY: Mutual.
DOCTOR: Go to bed, Pond.
RORY: (whispers) You can't tell him. It's his future.
They look at the DOCTOR as he fiddles with the monitor.
AMY: I know.
The couple goes upstairs. The DOCTOR looks at the monitor. The TARDIS is still confused over AMY'S pregnancy scan.
DOCTOR: Oh, Amelia.


•I do not own the characters or situations of BTVS and I claim no credit for the content of this episode. I have merely transcribed what appeared on my screen, with help from the closed captions. •I prefer that you link to this transcript on the Psyche site rather than post it on your site, but you can post it on your site if you really want, as long as you keep my name and email address on it. Please also keep my disclaimers intact. DO NOT POST MY TRANSCRIPT ON YOUR SITE WITHOUT MY NAME ON IT! • I apologize in advance for my lame transcription of the fight scenes. I don't know the names of different punches and kicks. Use your imagination.
[SCENE_BREAK]
No teaser. Episode opens right where "Two To Go" left off.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Act I
[SCENE_BREAK]
Open on Buffy lying on the floor of the Magic Box. She lifts her head, sits up and stares toward the door.
BUFFY: Giles? Giles just stands there with a grim expression. Anya, on the floor in another part of the magic shop, also looks over as she stands up.
ANYA: Giles? Giles still doesn't respond to either of them.
WILLOW: (O.S.) Uh oh. Reveal Willow still lying on the floor where Giles's blast of magic threw her.
WILLOW: (sarcastic) Daddy's home. I'm in wicked trouble now. Willow sits up and wipes her bloody nose with her hand, looks at the blood, wipes again. Her hair is still black and her face still covered with dark veins, although her eyes are normal.
GILES: You have no idea. (Willow sitting up) You have to stop what you're doing.
WILLOW: (fake smile) Uhh, sorry. Can't do that. (Giles walking closer) I'm not finished yet. Willow starts trying to get up, somewhat shaky.
GILES: Neither am I. Stay down. Giles gestures at Willow with one hand and she falls back onto the floor, wincing.
ANYA: (softly to Giles) How'd you do that? Giles ignores Anya, still completely focused on Willow.
WILLOW: (small laugh) That's borrowed power. No way is it gonna be strong enough-
GILES: I'm here to help you.
WILLOW: (rolling eyes) Thanks, but I can kill a couple geeks all by myself. (Giles walking slowly closer) But, hey, if you'd like to watch ... I mean, that's what you Watchers are good at, right? Watching? Butting in on things that don't concern you?
GILES: You concern me, Willow. Stay on this path and you'll wind up dead.
BUFFY: Willow. Listen to him. I don't want to fight you anymore.
WILLOW: I don't want to fight you either. (looking at Giles) I wanna fight him. Willow starts to get up again, not normally but with magic, rising up to her feet without apparent effort.
GILES: Stay down. Giles makes his gesture again but Willow makes one of her own and blocks him.
WILLOW: No. Giles looks a little alarmed. Buffy looks wary, moves over to stand beside Giles.
WILLOW: Remember that little spat we had before you left? (shot of Anya watching nervously) When you were under the delusion that you were still relevant here? (walking closer) You called me a rank, arrogant amateur. Well buckle up, Rupert... Anya, Buffy, and Giles continue to watch Willow uneasily. Suddenly a magic light from nowhere begins to light up Willow's body, and her eyes go black again as a humming noise begins to rise in pitch and volume.
WILLOW: (deep resonant voice) 'Cause I've turned pro. The humming/whirring noise continues as Willow begins a spell.
WILLOW: Asmodea, bring forth--
GILES: (gesturing) Vincire! Green magic energy shoots from Giles's hand and forms a band around Willow's torso, pinning her arms against her body. It glows with a green light that makes Willow's skin appear green too.
WILLOW: What? No! Get off! (struggling) Solvo, libero... Giles continues holding out his hand toward her. Suddenly Willow throws back her head and closes her eyes, apparently unconscious. Her body floats up into the air and hovers about a foot off the ground. The band of magic holding her changes to a more contained blue-grey color. Anya and Buffy watch warily. Buffy moves closer to Giles. Willow continues to float in midair.
BUFFY: What did you do?
GILES: Contained her and her powers within a binding field. It puts her in a kind of ... stasis for the time- Giles looks at Buffy for the first time, pauses. Buffy continues staring at Willow.
GILES: You cut your hair. Buffy looks at him, gets teary and hugs him. Anya watches them hugging. She walks up behind them and fidgets for a moment.
ANYA: I'm blonde. Giles and Buffy look at her, still with their arms around each other.
ANYA: I, I colored my hair. (pauses) Again. I'm blonde.
GILES: Yes, I noticed. Giles holds out one arm and Anya joins the hug. After a moment Giles disengages from Anya and Buffy, looks at Willow again. He walks over to Willow who is still floating in the air, unconscious, with her head hanging back.
GILES: I'm very sorry about Tara. Giles looks sad, stands there for a moment, starts to walk away.
WILLOW: This... Giles pauses, looks at her in surprise. Willow opens her eyes a little and cranes her neck toward him.
WILLOW: ...won't hold me ... forever. Giles looks a bit alarmed. Buffy and Anya look grim.
Cut to later. Buffy and Giles are in the workout room at the back of the magic shop. Buffy stands by the pommel horse while Giles is picking nervously at the practice dummy in a corner.
GILES: I came as soon as I heard.
BUFFY: The Council?
GILES: The Council haven't a clue. About much of anything, really. (walking toward Buffy, leaning on the horse) No, there's an ... an extremely powerful coven in Devon. They sensed the rise of a dangerous magical force here in Sunnydale. A dark force, fueled by grief.
BUFFY: Willow.
GILES: I'd so hoped it wasn't her. (pauses) And then a seer in the coven told me about Tara. That's when the coven ... imbued me with their powers.
BUFFY: And sent you here to bring Willow down.
GILES: (looks at her) Buffy, what's happened here?
BUFFY: (pacing) God. I don't even know where to start.
GILES: Well, Willow's clearly been abusing the magicks.
BUFFY: (nods) She has. She was ... and I barely even noticed. Giles, everything's just been so... (sighs) Xander left Anya at the altar, and Anya's a vengeance demon again... (Giles looking shocked) Dawn's a total klepto ... money's been so tight that I've been slinging burgers at the Doublemeat Palace ... (looks down at the floor) And I've been sleeping with Spike. Buffy pauses, looks up at Giles, looks as if she can't believe she just said that. Giles stares at her. She looks away again, embarrassed. Suddenly Giles starts laughing. He covers his mouth with his hand but can't stop. Buffy stares at him, pouty.
GILES: (trying to calm down) Sorry. He bursts out laughing again. Buffy rolls her eyes, now just looks amused. Giles keeps laughing and slowly Buffy starts to laugh too. They both stand there laughing.
Cut to the main Magic Box room. Anya is cleaning up some of the debris on the floor. She puts a bunch of stuff into a small basket and carries it toward the counter, past the still floating Willow. Willow's eyes open slightly and she watches Anya walk across the room. Her voice echoes between them although her mouth doesn't move.
WILLOW: (telepathically) Anya... Anya turns around, looks at Willow nervously.
ANYA: Willow.
WILLOW: (telepathically) I need you, Anya. I need you to do something for me. Anya twists her hands together nervously, gathers her nerve and moves a little closer to Willow.
ANYA: I know what you're trying to do. And I hate to burst your bubble, but that mind control mojo doesn't work on vengeance demons, so why don't you just-
WILLOW: (telepathically) Stop talking and listen.
ANYA: (nods) Okay.
WILLOW: (telepathically)You need to free me.
ANYA: (uncertain) No. Anya turns and starts walking toward the back.
WILLOW: (telepathically) You don't want to call out to them. (Anya stops) You want to take away this binding spell.
ANYA: (turns back toward Willow) I don't know how.
WILLOW: (telepathically) I do. Do you want me to tell you? Anya hesitates, looking anxious. Cut back to the workout room. Buffy and Giles are still laughing helplessly. Buffy is leaning over the pommel horse.
GILES: (laughing) Duct tape?
BUFFY: (laughing) On their mouths. So the demon could eat them...
GILES: Because they were figments. More laughing.
BUFFY: All of it! You, Sunnydale ... And I was just some nutcase in L.A.
GILES: (still laughing) Of course. Why didn't we see it before? Slowly they stop laughing, and look much calmer than before. Buffy holds her stomach. GILES Can you forgive me?
BUFFY: For what?
GILES: I should never have left.
BUFFY: No. You were right to leave. We're just ... stupid.
GILES: I know you're all stupid. (Buffy smiling) I should never have abandoned you.
BUFFY: No. Giles, you were right about everything. It is time I was an adult.
GILES: Sometimes the most adult thing you can do is ... ask for help when you need it.
BUFFY: Now you tell me. They smile. Giles chuckles a little.
BUFFY: (quietly) I guess ... I wasn't ready before. It took a long time for that feeling to go away ... the feeling that I wasn't really here. It was like ... when I clawed my way out of that grave, I left something behind. Part of me. I just... (pauses, looks Giles in the eye) I don't understand ... why I'm back.
GILES: You have a calling.
BUFFY: But it was my time, Giles. Someone would have taken my place. (Giles grimacing) So why? Giles looks away, pensive, not answering.
BUFFY: Right. (sighs) What's gonna happen to Willow? Giles looks at her, straightens up.
GILES: Well, the coven is working on a ... way to extract her powers without ... killing her. And, uh, should she survive, you ought to know, Buffy, that there's no guarantee she'll ... be as she was. (Buffy looking concerned) Willow has killed a human being. How will she be able to live with herself?
WILLOW: (O.S.) I wouldn't worry about that. Giles and Buffy turn toward the doorway. We see Anya hovering in the doorway, apparently unconscious. Giles and Buffy stare in alarm. Willow moves out from behind Anya. Her eyes are black again.
WILLOW: Willow doesn't live here anymore. Willow lets go of Anya and she falls to the floor. Zoom in on Buffy looking alarmed. Blackout.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Act II
[SCENE_BREAK]
Open on the same scene. Willow stands in the doorway over Anya's unconscious body. Buffy looks at Giles, then starts forward to attack Willow. Willow lifts her hand and sends a bolt of magic at Buffy, who flies back, crashes against the wall opposite, and falls to the ground. Giles watches this with alarm, then starts toward Willow himself.
GILES: Vincire! Giles holds out a hand toward Willow, sending another binding spell toward her, but she waves her hand at it.
WILLOW: Solutum. The binding field dissolves. Giles lowers his hand. Willow takes a few steps into the room.
WILLOW: (small smile) Fool me once... On the wall behind Willow we see a variety of knives and throwing-weapons hanging in a case. They suddenly lift off the wall and hover in the air.
GILES: Willow...
WILLOW: (shaking a finger) Shame on you. The knives begin to fly toward Giles. He looks to his left and yells something. The practice dummy flies over in front of Giles, and all the knives slam into it. Willow makes an angry face and waves her hand. The dummy falls aside. Giles looks determined, makes a ball of magic in his hand and throws it at Willow.
GILES: Excudo! Willow flies backward into the brick wall and through it into the main Magic Box room behind. She slams into a pillar that supports the upper loft, and falls to the floor in a shower of bricks, debris, etc.
Cut to: exterior residential street, night. Dawn and Xander walk along, with Jonathan and Andrew behind them.
DAWN: Where are we going?
XANDER: I have no idea.
DAWN: What?
XANDER: I don't know, okay? I can't even run away well. And that's something I'm usually good at.
DAWN: Maybe we should we go back and help.
XANDER: Yeah, 'cause I've been such a big help already. Standing around like a monkey while Buffy gets shot. Tara's dead ... and Willow ... losing...
DAWN: (annoyed) Well, feeling sorry for yourself isn't helping either, Xander, okay? Beat. Dawn has a calculating expression.
DAWN: You know, if Spike were here, he'd go back and fight.
XANDER: Sure, if he wasn't too busy trying to rape your sister. Dawn stops walking and stares.
DAWN: What?! Xander pauses, then continues walking, shaking his head.
XANDER: Forget it.
DAWN: (following) I don't believe you.
XANDER: Fine.
DAWN: (uncertain) He wouldn't do that.
XANDER: Is this blind spot like a genetic trait with the Summers women? The only useful thing Spike ever did was finally leave town.
Cut to the cave in Africa. Weird screaming and screeching noises, sounds of punching. Something goes flying across the dark cave, hits the ground and rolls into a convenient patch of light. It's a bald demon head with big pointy ears. Pan up to reveal Spike who strolls in holding another demon head in one hand. He's bare-chested and bruised in many places.
SPIKE: Well, that was a bloody doddle and piece o'piss. He staggers and goes to his knees wearily, but maintains his sarcastic tone.
SPIKE: Got any more ruddy tests for me, you ponce? I'll take anything you can throw at me, if it'll get me what I need to take care of the Slayer. Give her what's coming to her. (sniffs angrily) So you just bring it on. Bring on the whole- He pauses, looks confused. Weird skittering noises.
SPIKE: Bloody hell. We see Spike from the waist up as lots and lots of large black insects, maybe beetles, start crawling up his body. They swarm up his chest and neck and onto his face as he squeezes his eyes shut and grunts in distaste.
Cut to: magic shop, main room. The pillar is lying on the floor and furniture, sparking occasionally with electricity. Pan slowly across the wreckage of the shop, which has taken quite a beating from all the fighting. Pan down to reveal a large wooden piece of furniture (bookcase?) lying on its side. Next to it is a pile of books, some of which are on fire. A pair of feet walk up next to the books. Pan up to reveal Willow. Still wearing all black (though her clothes are now dirty), still with the veiny face and the black hair. Her eyes are normal. There's a cut across her cheek. She smiles.
WILLOW: That all you got, Jeeves? Reveal Giles standing in the doorway to the workout room. He looks very tired and bruised. His clothes are dirty also.
WILLOW: 'Cause, I could stand to go another ten rounds. Whereas ... you can barely stand.
GILES: (wearily) Your powers ... may be undeniably greater. But I can still hurt you if I have to.
WILLOW: Boy, you just don't get it, do you? Nothing can hurt me now. She lifts a hand to indicate her bloody face.
WILLOW: This? She waves her hand in front of her face and the cut heals.
WILLOW: ...is nothing. It's all ... nothing.
GILES: I see. If you lose someone you love ... the other people in your life who care about you... Buffy appears in the doorway behind Giles, watching.
GILES: ...become meaningless. I wonder what Tara would say about that.
WILLOW: (grimly) You can ask her yourself. Willow lifts her hand and sends a bolt of magic toward Giles. Buffy rushes forward, pushes Giles forward and out from under the loft. And just in time, as the latest magical blast destroys the loft's stability and the whole thing comes tumbling down. Buffy and Giles land in a heap on the floor, books and rubble raining down on them. Buffy lifts herself up on her elbows to look at Willow.
WILLOW: You're always saving everyone. It's kinda pesky. Willow looks down at the burning stuff next to her. She bends down and picks up a ball of flame in her hand. Buffy stares.
WILLOW: You probably even think you're buying escape time for Jonathan and the other one. Well, I got a little secret for ya. (Buffy looking upset) I can kill them from anywhere I want. (looking at the ball of flame) With this. Willow waves her other hand over the ball of flame and it begins to grow.
WILLOW: It'll find them. It'll bury them. (Giles lifting his head painfully) Along with anyone helping those Dead Men Walking. Buffy gets painfully to her feet, staring at the ball of flame.
BUFFY: Don't.
WILLOW: (mockingly) Unless ... somebody, somehow ... can get there in time to save them. (pause) Huh. Oh, well. She throws the ball up into the air. It bursts through the ceiling, leaving a large hole.
WILLOW: Fly, my pretty, fly. The ball of fire disappears through the hole. We can see stars above.
WILLOW: (to Buffy, smiling) See what I did there? Buffy looks down at the injured Giles.
GILES: Go. Buffy runs past Willow and toward the door.
WILLOW: Good luck. Willow turns her attention back to Giles.
WILLOW: Thought she'd never leave. (walking toward him) Now I finally have you all to myself.
Cut to the street. Buffy runs out onto the sidewalk, looks up and sees the fireball flying away several dozen feet off the ground. She runs after it. Cut back to the magic shop. Willow paces back and forth.
WILLOW: You're such a hypocrite. Waltzing in here with your borrowed magicks. So you can tell me what? Magic's bad? Behave? Be a good girl? (chuckles) Well, I ... I don't think you're in any position to be telling me what to do. Willow looks up. Pan up to reveal Giles pinned against the ceiling, groaning in pain.
WILLOW: Do you? Willow gestures with one finger and Giles falls to the floor. He lands hard, on his stomach, and stays there making pained faces. He still has blood all over his face.
WILLOW: (scornful) I used to think you had all the answers. That I had so much to learn from you.
GILES: Willow... She gestures again. Giles flies up to the ceiling again, groaning as he slams into it.
WILLOW: (looking up at him) You were jealous. Still are. Just couldn't bear that I was the one with power. That's why you ran away.
GILES: Incurso! Green magic flies from Giles's mouth and hits Willow.
WILLOW: That's why you- She stumbles backward from the magic blow, and Giles falls to the floor again.
WILLOW: (panting) That ... was rude! Now I forgot what I was saying.
GILES: (painfully) Perhaps you're not as strong ... as you think you are. Willow glares at Giles as he struggles to get up.
GILES: You're expending way too much of your mystical energy to maintain your powers. At this rate you're going to ... burn out. And up.
WILLOW: (annoyed) Blah blah blah.
GILES: (on his knees) Willow, you ... you need to stop.
WILLOW: What I need... Suddenly she moves forward with magic speed and is next to Giles, grabbing him.
WILLOW: ...is a little pick-me-up. She puts her hand on Giles's chest and it glows with orange-red energy. Giles gasps in pain. Close shot on Willow's hand as she drains energy out of Giles. Suddenly she lets him go and staggers backward. Giles falls over on his back.
WILLOW: Whoa. Head rush. She stumbles against the counter and slides down it to sit on the floor, her image blurring. She gasps and pants with pleasure.
WILLOW: Wow. Whoa. Who's your supplier? This is ... wow. Shot of Giles lying there barely conscious.
WILLOW: It's incredible. (panting) I mean, I am so juiced ... Giles, it's like ... no ... mortal person has ... ever had ... this much power. Ever. It's like I, I'm connected to everything ... I can feel ... it feels like ... I ... I can feel... She pauses and her smile begins to fade.
WILLOW: ...everyone. Oh. Oh my God. All the emotion. All the pain. No, it, it's too much. It's just too much.
GILES: (weakly) Willow ... It doesn't have to be ... like that. You ... you can stop it. Willow is bent over now with her hands on the floor as if in pain.
WILLOW: (panting) Yeah. I, I can. I have to stop this. (getting up) I'll make it go away.
GILES: Willow...
WILLOW: Oh, you poor bastards! Magic begins to swirl around Willow and she lifts into the air. Lightning flashes around her body.
WILLOW: Your suffering has to end. A cloud of magic like a tornado gathers around her and she disappears.
GILES: No... Blackout.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Act III
[SCENE_BREAK]
Open on a close shot of a wall or door, and a foot kicking it.
XANDER: (O.S.) Ow. (kicks again) Ow.
Cut to wider shot. We're in a cemetery and Xander is kicking the door of a crypt, repeating "ow" with each kick. A few yards away Dawn stands watching. Pan past Dawn to discover Jonathan and Andrew at another crypt, using their swords in an attempt to pry the door open.
JONATHAN: Ow! Son of a bitch!
ANDREW: Buttwipe!
JONATHAN: I wasn't talking to you.
ANDREW: Oh. Reflex.
XANDER: (still kicking) Man, they've really tightened security up here lately. One too many squatters from the Hellmouth. Andrew and Jonathan walk toward Xander.
ANDREW: (sarcastic) Hide out in the cemetery. What a fantastic idea.
XANDER: Yeah, I'm working on a whole "shut the hell up" pitch you might like too.
DAWN: (noticing something above and behind them) Xander?
XANDER: (to Andrew) I've had just about as much as I can stand baby-sitting a couple of social retards who don't appreciate-
DAWN: Xander!
XANDER: What?
DAWN: What is that? Xander moves closer to her and looks up where she's looking. The Nerds look too. We see Willow's fireball flying toward them.
BUFFY: (O.S.) Get out of there! In the distance we see Buffy running toward the others, leaping over headstones and such.
BUFFY: Move! She leaps forward and grabs both Jonathan and Andrew, pulling them to the ground. The fireball hits the ground between them and all five are thrown to the ground. Xander hits his head on a tombstone. Dawn falls down but immediately starts trying to crawl toward Buffy. The earth shakes and Dawn staggers.
BUFFY: Dawn! Dawn, hold on. Buffy gets up and tries to reach Dawn but suddenly a huge hole opens up in the ground, right underneath Dawn. Dawn screams as she falls into the hole. Buffy, trying to grab Dawn, also falls. They land on a dirt floor some twenty or thirty feet below. Dirt from the hole rains down on them. Buffy looks up, just in time to see one of the Geeks' swords falling at her. She rolls out of the way just in time. The sword lands with its point in the ground. Dawn stares fearfully. Buffy stands up. The second sword falls next to the first. Dawn continues looking frightened. Buffy brushes dirt off herself and looks around. They're in some sort of cave with uneven rock/dirt walls. Sections of coffins protrude from the walls in various places. They both look up at the hole above them. It doesn't look easily climbable.
Cut to above. Andrew and Jonathan get up and walk to the edge of the hole, stare into it. It's dark and we can't really see Dawn and Buffy at the bottom. The Nerds look over at Xander, lying unconscious next to the headstone that he hit. Jonathan turns to Andrew.
JONATHAN: Mexico, huh? Andrew looks at him. They turn and run off.
Cut to the Magic Box. The door to the workout room opens and Anya comes out. As she walks through the opening, the door falls off its hinges. Anya jumps and gasps, startled. She walks slowly into the main room, looking around at the destruction. Suddenly she spots Giles.
ANYA: Giles. She runs over and kneels next to Giles, who is lying on the floor with his eyes closed, unmoving. Anya shakes him slightly.
ANYA: Giles! His eyes pop open, staring at the ceiling. Anya looks relieved.
GILES: Anya.
ANYA: (upset) I'm so sorry. Willow forced me to free her with her brain. Are you okay?
GILES: I can see...
ANYA: (uncertain) Oh. It's a ... miracle.
GILES: Willow ... I can see her. She took the magic I had and ... now ... I know where she is. I can feel what ... Oh, God.
ANYA: Giles ... you have to rest.
GILES: Silly girl. I'm dying.
ANYA: (alarmed) No you're not.
GILES: It was ... It was the only way. I thought we ... there'd be a chance ... now ... I know where Willow is. She's going to finish it.
ANYA: Finish what?
GILES: The world. Anya stares at him.
Cut to: shot of the sun rising through clouds.
Cut to: shot of the hole in the ground in the cemetery, the morning sunshine lighting it.
Cut to: close shot of hands clutching the tree roots that line the edges of the hole. We see Buffy standing on a coffin, attempting to climb up the side of the hole. Dawn stands below, watching anxiously. The roots in Buffy's hands give way and she falls back onto the top of the coffin with a yell.
DAWN: Buffy! Buffy quickly scrambles off the coffin and brushes herself off, staring up at the hole.
DAWN: Are you okay?
BUFFY: We have to get out of here. (yells) Xander!
DAWN: I think I saw him hit his head.
BUFFY: (yells) Xander! No response. Far above, the girls can see sunny blue sky and palm trees. Buffy goes over to a wall and starts tugging on a wooden coffin that's sticking out of the wall.
DAWN: This looks a little like Spike's place. You know, under his crypt. Buffy ignores this, continues tugging frantically.
DAWN: What are you doing?
BUFFY: If we can pull these out, we can use the coffins for height. (tugging) Maybe get out of here! Buffy looks around, picks up one of the swords and tries to use it to pry the coffin loose.
DAWN: Maybe one of the tunnels Spike uses is around here. Uh, we could use it to get to his place.
BUFFY: (digging) That's the last place on Earth we need to be.
DAWN: (annoyed) Oh, but it was good enough for you to take me there after what he did to you. Buffy finally turns to look at her.
BUFFY: What he...
DAWN: Tried to do. Whatever.
BUFFY: (realizing, annoyed) Xander.
DAWN: So it's true?
BUFFY: Dawn, you may not have noticed, we're in really big trouble here. This isn't-
DAWN: Why did you not tell me?
BUFFY: Because you didn't need to know.
DAWN: Yes, I do. I need to know! I'm not a kid anymore.
BUFFY: (angry) Dawn, I'm trying to protect you.
DAWN: (angry) Well, you can't! Look around, Buffy. We're trapped in here! Willow's killing and people I love keep dying! And you cannot protect me from that. Beat. Buffy looks sad as she realizes Dawn is right.
BUFFY: (whispers) Dawn...
XANDER: (O.S.) Hello? Buffy and Dawn look up.
BUFFY: (calls) Xander? We see Xander kneeling by the edge of the pit, looking down.
XANDER: Buffy, you okay? Where's Dawn? Shot of the pit from Xander's POV. Dawn moves next to Buffy so he can see her.
DAWN: Here.
BUFFY: Are Jonathan and Andrew up there with you? Xander looks around.
XANDER: No, they musta skedaddled when I was out. Weasels. Whoa! The edge of the pit, where Xander's hands were leaning, gives way. The earth and grass fall into the hole as Xander just barely manages to avoid falling in.
BUFFY: Xander, you've gotta find some kind of rope or something and get us out of here.
XANDER: (looking around) Right. Okay, I'll, uh, I'll take a look around.
BUFFY: And hurry up before- Suddenly Anya appears in front of Buffy, in a shimmer of magic.
ANYA: (looking around) Holy frijole!
BUFFY: Anya! What are you doing here? Where's Giles?
DAWN: Giles?
ANYA: He's still at the magic shop.
DAWN: Giles is back? (Buffy rolling her eyes) You didn't tell me that.
BUFFY: (to Anya) Did he stop Willow?
ANYA: No. And things just got a whole lot worse. Shot of Xander looking down. He can hear the conversation.
BUFFY: How worse?
ANYA: End of the world worse. Willow's going to destroy it.
DAWN: (amazed) She can do that?
ANYA: She can and she will when she gets to where she's going.
BUFFY: Where's she going?
ANYA: Big old Satanic temple. Kingman's Bluff? Dawn and Buffy frown.
BUFFY: There's ... no temple on Kingman's Bluff.
Cut to a wide stretch of ground (Kingman's Bluff). Aerial shot of the bluff. A huge steeple begins rising out of the ground, pushing through the earth and rising up at an angle. We see Willow standing a few yards away, holding out her hands toward it. Her eyes are black again. The steeple continues to rise. Various stone carvings (gargoyles, etc.) decorate its surface. There's a large carving of a snake-haired woman with her mouth open and a long snakelike tongue sticking out, another snake wrapped around her body. At the very top of the steeple there's a pentacle (five-pointed star with one point down) topped by a trident (three-pronged fork). Willow continues to hold out her arms as her magic lifts the steeple out of the ground. It protrudes from the earth at a slightly crooked angle.
BUFFY: (O.S.) Proserpexa? Cut back to the pit.
BUFFY: Who's she?
ANYA: Uh, way up there in the hierarchy of she-demons. Her followers intended to use her effigy to destroy the world. They all died when the temple got swallowed up in the big earthquake of '32.
BUFFY: So now seventy years later, Willow's going to make their dreams come true.
ANYA: She's going to drain the planet's life force, and funnel its energy through Proserpexa's effigy and, and burn the Earth to a cinder. (Dawn looking at Buffy in alarm)
BUFFY: Not if I can help it.
ANYA: You can't. Buffy and Dawn stare at Anya. ANYA Something else Giles said. No magic or supernatural force can stop her.
BUFFY: What does that mean?
ANYA: Don't know. He, he said, "the Slayer can't stop her," and then he said a bunch of other stuff. (anxiously) He really wasn't too clear.
BUFFY: Anya, what are you-
ANYA: (nervous) I ... I should get back to him. He's alone.
BUFFY: (worried) Is he okay? Anya fidgets nervously as Buffy and Dawn watch, anxious.
ANYA: Don't think he ... has a lot of time left. (Dawn gasping) I'm sorry. Anya disappears, leaving Buffy and Dawn both looking solemn and worried. After a moment Buffy looks upward and yells harshly.
BUFFY: Xander! Where is that rope?!
DAWN: Buffy...
BUFFY: Xander! (quieter) Where is he?
DAWN: (upset) You heard what Anya said ... you hear what Giles said.
BUFFY: I heard. (upset) And I don't care, I have to try... Buffy bends over and begins trying to move one of the coffins.
Cut to the bluff. Willow stands opposite the temple. The carving of the woman is at ground level and life-size, facing Willow.
WILLOW: From the pit of forgotten shadows... Cut back to the pit as Buffy and Dawn shove at a coffin. Willow's and Buffy's lines overlap:
BUFFY: I'm not just gonna sit here while Willow incinerates what I'm chosen to protect.
WILLOW: Awaken, sister of the dark, awaken- Cut back to the bluff. Willow pauses, looks to her right as if she can hear Buffy.
BUFFY: I have to stop her.
WILLOW: Always the Slayer... Cut back to the pit. Buffy pauses, hearing Willow's words. She straightens up, looking surprised.
WILLOW: (O.S.) Right to the last.
BUFFY: (uncertain) Willow? Fade from Buffy to Willow, who has turned away from the temple to face the direction of the cemetery.
WILLOW: And it is the last, you know? For all your fighting ... thinking you're saving the world... Cut back to the pit. Buffy listens in amazement.
DAWN: Buffy? Buffy puts up a hand to silence Dawn.
WILLOW: And in the end ... I'm the only one that can save it.
BUFFY: By killing us?
WILLOW: It's the only way to stop the pain.
Cut to the Magic Box. Giles is still lying on the floor with Anya kneeling by him. Giles frowns slightly, as he can hear the conversation too.
WILLOW: (O.S.) I can't take it anymore. But I know you, Buffy. Cut alternately between the bluff and the pit for the next few lines.
WILLOW: You're a warrior. You won't go out without a fight. I don't really have time for one. But you should go out fighting.
BUFFY: Willow, what are you-
WILLOW: It was me that took you out of the Earth. Well, now... Buffy listens with alarm.
WILLOW: ...the Earth wants you back. The ground around Buffy and Dawn begins to rumble. Suddenly the walls themselves start to turn into monsters, earth-creatures made up of dirt and rock and vines, which detach themselves from the walls and move toward Buffy and Dawn. Close on the monsters' hands with a pair of large blades/claws on each hand. Buffy and Dawn look around, very scared. Blackout.
[SCENE_BREAK]
Act IV
[SCENE_BREAK]
The cave. Buffy is fighting two earth-monsters at once, swinging the sword and kicking them. Another monster detaches from the cave walls. Dawn watches fearfully.
DAWN: Buffy! Buffy swings the sword and one monster's claw-hand is sliced off, falls to the ground. Buffy turns around, kicks the third monster in the head. It slumps against the cave wall. Buffy stands next to Dawn, looking around. More monsters are detaching from the walls.
BUFFY: They just keep coming. I can't take them all. Close on another monster's claw-hand coming out of the wall. Buffy turns to Dawn.
BUFFY: Dawn. Will you help me? Dawn looks nervous, but determined. Buffy puts the sword into Dawn's hand.
DAWN: I got your back. Buffy turns, picks up the other sword from the ground. Kicks one of the monsters back. Dawn sets her jaw and rushes forward into the fray.
Cut to the bluff. Willow stands with her arms by her sides chanting.
WILLOW: Proserpexa ... let the cleansing fires from the depths burn away the suffering souls and bring sweet death. Lightning crackles between Willow and the statue of Proserpexa. Close on Willow with her black eyes and hair, black veins on her face, lightning sizzling around her. The ground begins to shake and the wind gets even stronger. Bolts of green magic shoot from Willow's body toward the statue.
Cut to the magic shop. Anya kneels next to Giles as the ground shakes here too. A light fixture falls from the ceiling and Anya ducks.
Cut to the cave. Buffy and Dawn also feel the rumbling, as it makes them stagger backward. Buffy looks up nervous.
BUFFY: Willow...
Cut to the magic shop. The rumbling/shaking stops. Anya looks up, looks around nervously, then looks at Giles. His eyes are closed and he doesn't move.
ANYA: Giles? Giles! Don't die. (tearfully) Not yet, there-there are things I wanna tell you. She pauses for a moment, as if collecting her thoughts.
ANYA: Thanks a lot for coming. It was good of you to teleport all this way. Another tremor hits and Anya ducks again, hiding her face against Giles's chest until it subsides.
ANYA: Though in retrospect, it probably would have been better if you hadn't come and given Willow all that magic that made her like ten times more powerful. (sadly) That would have been a plus. Cut back to the bluff. Green magic continues flowing from Willow toward the statue. Wind swirls around them, filled with dirt and debris, etc. Also, the ever-present lightning. The statue glows bright yellow-white. Suddenly the stream of magic is interrupted and the glowing subsides, as Xander appears in front of the statue. Willow looks surprised.
XANDER: Hey, black-eyed girl. Whatcha doin'?
WILLOW: Get out of here.
XANDER: Ah, no. You're not the only one with powers, you know. You may be a hopped-up uber-witch, but ... this carpenter can dry-wall you into the next century.
WILLOW: I'm not joking, Xander. Get out of my way. Now. Willow sends a bolt of magic at Xander. It lifts him off his feet and throws him to the ground at the base of the statue.
Cut to: close-up on Giles's face, still bloody, still lying on the magic shop floor. His eyes pop open.
GILES: (whispers) There... Pan up to reveal Anya looking at him in surprise. She has one hand under his head.
ANYA: What?
GILES: (whispers) It's not over. Giles gives a small smile, moves his hand to touch Anya's hand by his head.
Cut to the cave. Buffy takes a hit from a monster. Dawn is fighting another, swinging her sword with great concentration. The monster hits Dawn's hand, making her drop the sword, and then slashes her upper arm with its claws. Dawn grabs her arm with her other hand, takes a hit to the face and goes down with a shriek. Buffy ducks underneath a monster's arm and swings her sword at another. It goes down.
BUFFY: Dawn! I'm coming! Dawn looks up with a determined expression as her monster prepares to attack her again. Buffy is still being kept away by another monster, looks toward Dawn with alarm. Dawn ducks as the monster grabs for her, and does a somersault-roll past it, landing by her sword. She grabs the sword, gets up, and stabs the monster in the chest. Buffy watches with amazement. Dawn swings the sword again, slicing off the monster's head. It falls down dead. Buffy stares.
DAWN: (holding up the sword, tiny smile) What? You think I never watched you? Buffy still looks amazed. There's a very brief moment of quiet. Then more monsters start to appear. Buffy and Dawn back up, and end up back-to-back facing the monsters, each holding her sword. They begin to fight.
Cut to the bluff. Close on the statue. Lightning continues to flash around it. Wide shot of Willow with the lightning going. The green magic begins flowing from her again, toward the statue. Earth rumbling, winds swirling, etc. Xander sits up at the base of the temple, holding his ribs. He staggers to his feet and blocks the flow of magic again. The magic stops flowing. Willow glares at him.
WILLOW: You can't stop this.
XANDER: Yeah, I get that. It's just, where else am I gonna go? You've been my best friend my whole life. World gonna end ... where else would I want to be?
WILLOW: (scornfully) Is this the master plan? You're going to stop me by telling me you love me?
XANDER: Well, I was going to walk you off a cliff and hand you an anvil, but ... it seemed kinda cartoony.
WILLOW: Still making jokes.
XANDER: I'm not joking. I know you're in pain. I can't imagine the pain you're in. And I know you're about to do something apocalyptically (glancing back at the statue) evil and stupid, and hey. (spreading out his arms) I still want to hang. You're Willow.
WILLOW: (angry) Don't call me that.
XANDER: First day of kindergarten. You cried because you broke the yellow crayon, and you were too afraid to tell anyone. You've come pretty far, ending the world, not a terrific notion. But the thing is? Yeah. I love you. I loved crayon-breaky Willow and I love ... scary veiny Willow. So if I'm going out, it's here. If you wanna kill the world? Well, then start with me. I've earned that.
WILLOW: (upset) You think I won't?
XANDER: It doesn't matter. I'll still love you.
WILLOW: (angry) Shut up. Willow gestures with her hand. No magic bolts of light, but Xander's head jerks to the side as if he's been hit. Three parallel cuts appear on his cheek, bloody as if scratched. He puts his hand up to them, looks at his fingers. Willow watches, panting and looking a bit nervous. Xander looks back up at her.
XANDER: I love you. Willow makes another slashing gesture. Xander doubles over and falls to his knees. Panting, he gets up again, and we see that his shirt is ripped open over the heart, more scratches visible on his chest. He pants and grimaces from the pain but faces Willow again.
XANDER: (panting) I ... love y-
WILLOW: Shut up! Now she does throw a blast of magic at him, and he staggers backward but doesn't fall down. Willow still holds her hand out, a little bit of magic crackling around it but not as much as she had expected. She looks surprised and anxious. Xander moves slowly toward her.
XANDER: I love you, Willow.
WILLOW: Stop! She sends another magic blast, but it's weak and barely hurts Xander at all. He continues walking toward her. Willow continues holding out her hand and making the magic gesture, but nothing happens. She starts to get teary.
XANDER: I love you.
WILLOW: Stop. Willow starts to cry and, as Xander gets right up to her, she starts hitting him with her fists. Xander just stands there and takes it. After a moment she stops hitting and starts to cry for real. She falls to her knees and Xander kneels with her, puts his arms around her and holds her while she sobs.
XANDER: I love you. As Willow continues to cry in Xander's arms, the veins fade away from her face and her hair returns to its usual red.
Cut to the cave. The earth monsters suddenly stop moving and crumble into dirt that falls to the floor.
DAWN: What happened? Buffy looks around, looks up toward the hole. The cave lightens as the sun begins to shine again. Cut back to the bluff. Xander still holding Willow as she cries.
Cut to the magic shop. Anya sits on the stairs with her head in her hands. In foreground, Giles suddenly appears in the frame, pushing himself up onto his elbows. Anya looks up in surprise.
ANYA: Giles! She gets up and rushes back over to him, kneels beside him.
ANYA: You're not dead!
GILES: No. Anya gives a little cry of happiness and hugs Giles hard. He winces, makes a pained face.
GILES: However, I am still in some pain.
ANYA: Oh... (lets him go) Well ... why aren't you dead? (frowns) Why aren't I dead?
GILES: Uh, the threat's gone. Willow's been stopped. Giles tries to sit up and Anya helps him.
ANYA: Oh. You mean she's-
GILES: No, she's alive. It, uh ... the magic she took from me, it-it did what I hoped it would do.
ANYA: Oh. (getting it) You dosed her.
GILES: Yes.
ANYA: You knew she'd going to take your powers all along.
GILES: The gift I was given by the coven was the true essence of magic. Willow's magic came from a ... place of rage and power.
ANYA: And vengeance. Don't forget vengeance.
GILES: Oh. How could I? In any case, the magic she took from me tapped into ... the spark of humanity she had left. Helped her to feel again. Gave Xander the opportunity to ... reach her.
ANYA: Xander?
GILES: Yes. It was he who got to her in time. (smiling) He saved us all. Anya gazes at Giles, absorbing this, slowly starting to smile.
Cut to the cave. Buffy walks forward slowly, looking around. Dawn follows.
DAWN: I ... I think it's over, Buffy. (Buffy sitting down on a coffin) The world's still here. Dawn gives a deep sigh of relief, then looks over at Buffy again. Buffy bursts into tears, not looking at Dawn. Dawn scowls.
DAWN: (sarcastic) Sorry to disappoint y- She pauses, looks at Buffy again. Buffy continues sobbing.
DAWN: Wait, is ... is that happy crying?
BUFFY: (sniffles) Yes, dummy. (looks at Dawn) You think I wanted the world to end?
DAWN: I don't know. (uncertainly) Didn't you? Buffy stops crying, looks at Dawn in dismay.
BUFFY: Dawn ... I'm so sorry. Buffy gets up and hugs Dawn, begins crying again.
BUFFY: (crying) I'm sorry. Dawn hugs Buffy, rubs her back.
DAWN: It's okay, Buffy. It's okay.
BUFFY: No. It hasn't been. It hasn't been okay. Buffy pulls back to look Dawn in the face.
BUFFY: But it's gonna be, though. I see it.
DAWN: See what?
BUFFY: You. Dawn looks touched.
BUFFY: Things have really sucked lately, but it's all gonna change. And I wanna be there when it does. (starting to cry again) I want to see my friends happy again. And I want to see you grow up. The woman you're gonna become. Because she's gonna be beautiful. Now Dawn gets a little teary as well.
BUFFY: And she's going to be powerful. Buffy turns around, back toward the coffin.
BUFFY: I got it so wrong. I don't want to protect you from the world. I want to show it to you. She turns back to Dawn again.
BUFFY: There's so much that I want to show you. They hug again, smiling. Cue slow music: "The Prayer of St. Francis" by Sarah McLachlan. Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Cut to a close shot of the grassy edge of the pit. A hand appears, then another, and Buffy hauls herself up onto the grass, reaches back to pull Dawn up behind her. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon... Buffy and Dawn climb fully out of the pit and kneel on the ground panting. Dawn looks over at Buffy. Buffy looks around at the world, smiling. Where there is doubt, faith...
Fade to the bluff. Xander still holding the crying Willow. Where there is despair, hope Where there is darkness, light And where there is sadness, joy...
Fade to the Magic Box. Anya helps Giles up and puts his arm around her shoulders to support him. They duck under the fallen pillar and walk toward the front door. O divine master grant that I may...
Cut to the front grille of a truck. ...not so much seek to be consoled as to console... Pan up to reveal the truck driver holding the wheel, glancing over at the passenger seat. He grins nastily. ...to be understood as to understand... Pan across to reveal Jonathan and Andrew, looking nervously at the truck driver, and then trying to squeeze even farther away from him than they already are, pressing against the door. ...to be loved as to love...
Fade to the cemetery. Buffy walks forward, looking toward the rising sun, looking pleased. For it is in giving that we receive Dawn walks forward to stand beside Buffy.
Fade to another part of the cemetery. Dawn and Buffy walk along, with their arms around each other. There's greenery and flowers and blooming trees all around. And it's in pardoning that we are pardoned And it's in dying that we are born...
Fade to the cave in Africa. ...to eternal life... Pan across the darkness to reveal Spike lying on his back on the ground, motionless. Amen. The music fades and stops. A shadow moves across Spike's face
DEMON VOICE: You have endured the required trials.
SPIKE: Bloody right I have. Slowly, painfully, Spike rolls onto his side and pushes himself up onto his knees. His face is swollen and bruised, more bruising and injuries on his chest and arms.
SPIKE: So you'll give me what I want. Make me what I was. So Buffy can get what she deserves. Close on the demon's glowing green eyes.
DEMON: Very well. Spike watches the demon nervously.
DEMON: We will return... The demon's hand reaches out toward Spike's chest.
DEMON: ...your soul. The hand touches his chest and it glows fiery yellow-orange. Spike's eyes glow the same color. He throws back his head and screams. Blackout.
Executive Producers: Joss Whedon and Marti Noxon.