Gone

Written and Directed by: David Fury

INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - WILLOW'S ROOM - EVENING (DAY 1)

CLOSE ON a collection of CRYSTAL BALLS, a few EFFIGIES, TAROT CARDS, etc., carelessly arranged on a small table. An ARM reaches into frame and unceremoniously sweeps them all into a large cardboard box resting on the floor.

ON WILLOW, sitting on the bed, with a pained expression.

WIDEN to find BUFFY, as it was her arm that did the sweeping. A sullen DAWN is at the bookshelf, pulling out books. Buffy stands, grabs two candlesticks and tosses them into the box.

DAWN
Candles? We can't have candles?

BUFFY
It's a magic clearance, Dawn. Everything must go.

She shares a look with Willow.

DAWN
But... they're just candles.

BUFFY
To you and me, they're just candles.
To witches, they're like... bongs.

She crosses toward the bathroom. Dawn glances over at Willow, who meets her eyes for a moment then quickly turns away to watch Buffy as she passes.

BUFFY (cont'd)
So, no candles, no charms, no--

WILLOW
Bird.

Buffy stops and looks at her.

WILLOW (cont'd)
The peacock on the table. There's a
couple of crystals inside it.

Buffy opens it and, in fact, finds two small crystals.

WILLOW (cont'd)
They're Tara's. She... left them.

Buffy eyes her sympathetically, then pockets the crystals.

BUFFY
I'll make sure she gets them back.

Willow nods, resigned.

INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Buffy enters, carrying the cardboard box. Dawn behind her.

BUFFY
Dawn, do me a favor and grab that
fertility god statue on the shelf.

DAWN
(unhappily)
Kokopelli? No! I love him! And he
was Mom's. Why do we have to get rid
of so many things I like?

BUFFY
I explained this, Dawn. Willow's got...
a problem. And these next few weeks are
gonna be crazy hard on her as it is...

Dawn shakes her head and moves off, unmoved. As she continues to explain, Buffy feels behind the sofa cushions.

BUFFY (cont'd)
Any reminder of what she's trying to stay
away from might cause her to give in to
temptation and--

She stops when she pulls out

HER POV - A familiar-looking silver lighter in her hand.

CLOSE ON BUFFY as she

FLASHBACKS to SPIKE (in Ep. 9) - kissing her, moving his hands all over her body, being inside her.

BACK ON BUFFY - As she draws a deep breath and snaps out of it. She looks around, shamefully, then eyes the lighter in her hand. After a moment, she tosses it into the box.

BUFFY (con't)
(to herself)
And that would be bad.

INT. UNDERGROUND LAIR - MEANWHILE - NIGHT

CLOSE ON A HAND as it reaches into a small cardboard box and produces the stolen diamond (from episode 9). The jewel sparkles almost unnaturally in the light.

ON WARREN as he inserts it into an awkwardly constructed gun-like contraption resting in a cradle on the drafting table.

WARREN
Okay. That's it. It's finally done.

ANDREW and JONATHAN appear, converging on either side of him, scrutinizing the weapon as Warren looks on proudly.

WARREN (cont'd)
Still needs a trial run, but it's--

JONATHAN
kinda clunky looking.

WARREN
What?!

ANDREW
Yeah, I was picturing something cooler.
More ILM, less Ed Wood.

WARREN picks up the gun and swings it around, waving it as he speaks making Jonathan and Andrew exceedingly nervous...

WARREN
Wanna see cool? I'll show you cool.

He points the gun at a swivel chair and pulls the trigger. An ENERGY BLAST hits the CHAIR, seemingly vaporizing it.

ON THE TRIO - Warren staring wide-eyed, a power rush. Andrew and Jonathan, awestruck, as they cross in.

JONATHAN
Mama

Andrew touches the space that once contained the chair.

JONATHAN (cont'd)
Did it--? Is it--?

Andrew nods Jonathan jumps into the invisible chair and sits down, seemingly floating. He swivels, laughing giddily.

JONATHAN (cont'd)
Hey, I'd call that a successful test.

WARREN
That was only half the test.

INSERT - He flips a switch DOWN, aims and FIRES again.

JONATHAN
Hey! Hey--

Jonathan cringes as the BLAST hits him. It clears, but the only result is the chair's now visible again. Jonathan feels himself to see he's okay, then stares daggers at Warren

JONATHAN (cont'd)
You penis!

WARREN.
Oh, cheer up, Frodo. Thanks to my
brains and our mystical gem, we got
ourselves an invisibility ray.

PUSH IN on him.

WARREN (cont'd)
And I'd say that makes us pretty much
unstoppable.

BLACK OUT.

END OF TEASER

INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - MORNING (DAY 2)

CLOSE ON BUFFY, at the entrance, calling up.

BUFFY
C'mon, Dawn, you need to eat your
breakfast. Xander'll be here any sec!

No answer. Buffy moves into the messy kitchen. Willow's at the stove, in her pjs, frying up an omelette. A place is set for Dawn and there's a pitcher of juice on the counter.

BUFFY (cont'd)
She's gonna be late for school again.

She looks at Willow, sprinkling raw bacon bits into the pan. BUFFY (cont'd) How you doing?

WILLOW
Not sure. I think I put too much
milk in the eggs. And was I supposed
to cook the bacon before I diced it
and threw it in?

BUFFY
I meant... "Doing, feeling-wise."

WILLOW
Oh. M'okay. Not "ready to return to
classes, face the world" okay, but
shakiness only semi now. Thought I'd
spend the day fishing the net for more
poop on that stolen diamond.

Dawn enters and brusquely moves to the cabinet.

BUFFY
I called you before.

DAWN
Couldn't hear you.

She gets a glass and pours orange juice into it.

WILLOW
(cheerfulness)
'Morning, Dawnie. Making you a tasty
omelette. Or possibly scrambled eggs.

Dawn gives her a dismissive glance.

DAWN
I'm not hungry.

Willow appears crestfallen. Dawn downs her juice and starts out again. Buffy stops her.

BUFFY
You need to eat something.

DAWN
(sarcastic)
Thanks for your concern. Nice to know
you're always there for me.

She exits. After a beat...

WILLOW
'kay, I deserve the wrath of Dawn. But
why's she taking it out on you?

BUFFY
Because I let it happen.

WILLOW
Buffy, I was the one who --

BUFFY
Was drowning. My best friend. And I was too
wrapped up in my dumb life to notice. Too busy--

Suddenly, the back door's flung open and a breathless SPIKE rushes in, a smoking blanket draped over his head.

BUFFY and WILLOW watch as Spike slams the door shut behind him, takes off the blanket, shakes and pats it out. He settles, runs his hand through his hair and looks up.

SPIKE
(real casual)
'Morning.

BUFFY
What-- What are you doing? And here?

SPIKE
Just... taking a stroll. Found
myself in your neck o' the woods.

BUFFY
Couldn't find a less flammable time of day
to take a stroll?

SPIKE
Yeah, well, fact is my lighter's gone missing.
Thought it mighta dropped outta my pocket
last time I was here

ON BUFFY as she turns away, looking busy.

BUFFY
Haven't seen it.

WILLOW
Y'know, I think I'll just head on back to my
room. Get dressed.

Willow leaves before Buffy can urge her not to leave her alone with Spike. A moment passes.

BUFFY
Lame.

SPIKE
What?

Buffy faces him.

BUFFY
You. Making up excuses to--

SPIKE
Don't flatter yourself, Luv. Bloody fond
of that lighter.

BUFFY
Stop trying to see me. And stop calling me that.

Spike moves in on her. She backs away as he gets closer.

SPIKE
So what should I call you then?
"Pet?" "Sweetheart?"

He corners her, his face up to hers. He touches her hair.

SPIKE (cont'd)
"My little Goldilocks?"

He runs his fingers through her locks, twirling the ends.

SPIKE (cont'd)
Y'know, I love this hair. The way it
bounces around when you --

Buffy's hand finds the spatula and she takes a swing at him. He grabs her wrist.

SPIKE (cont'd)
Uh-uh. This flapjack's not ready
to be flipped.

Buffy squints at him. His other hand reaches below frame.

BUFFY
Um, what the hell's that me-- ohh.

Against her will, she lets out a slight, soft moan.

SPIKE'S HAND rubs her thigh, moves up toward her hips.

BUFFY (cont'd)
(hushed)
Stop it.

ON SPIKE as he reacts to something and glances down. Then, looks back to Buffy with a somewhat bemused expression.

XANDER (0.S.)
Good Godfrey Cambridge, Spike...

ON XANDER, standing in the doorway.

XANDER
You're still trying to mack on Buffy?
Wake up already. Never gonna happen.

BUFFY shields her look of embarrassment and shame from Xander, as Spike, throwing a sly glance at her, moves away.

XANDER (cont'd)
Only a complete loser would ever hook
up with you. Unless she's a simpleton like
Harmony or a loonytune like Drusil--

BUFFY
Uh, hey! You really need to get Dawn
to school. Let's go fetch her.
(to Spike)
You can let yourself out. Right?

She walks Xander out of the room. Spike watches them go.

INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - FOYER/FRONT DOOR CONTINUOUS

As Xander and Buffy enter the foyer.

BUFFY
(yelling)
Dawn! Xander's here. Come--

Dawn is at the foot of the stairs with her backpack.

DAWN
I'm here.

BUFFY
Oh. Got all your--

DAWN
Yep.

BUFFY
And after school, you'll--

DAWN
(moving to door)
Yeah, yeah. Let's go, Xander.

BUFFY
(finishing)
You'll come right home.

DAWN
Sure...

She opens the door to exit, not noticing the severe looking WOMAN, at the threshold, about to ring the doorbell. The photo ID clipped to her jacket reads MRS. DORIS KELLER.

DAWN (cont'd)
Maybe we can find some time for you to
get me into another car accident.

She turns and sees Keller

KELLER
Um, good morning. You must be Dawn.

Buffy approaches her.

BUFFY
Can I help you?

KELLER
I'm Doris Keller. From Social
Services. We had an appointment.

BUFFY
For Wednesday.

KELLER
This is Wednesday.

She looks to Xander for confirmation. He nods.

BUFFY
Right. Dawn, you better get--

Dawn wordlessly brushes past Keller

BUFFY (cont'd)
And Xander, you. . . drive safely.

XANDER
Yes, ma'am.

Xander gives Buffy an encouraging look and goes.

KELLER
(re Dawn)
A little on the tardy side, isn't she?

BUFFY
Yeah, well. Been one of those mornings,
y'know?

Keller simply looks at her. Apparently she doesn't know.

BUFFY (cont'd)
Right. Well please. . . Come in.

Keller enters.

INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS - MORNING

Buffy brings Mrs. Keller in. The room's in some disarray from the magic clearance. Books and cushions on the floor. The filled cardboard box rests next to the couch.

BUFFY
Excuse the mess. Doing a little house clean--

She stops when she sees SPIKE standing there, blanket in hand.

SPIKE
So, we gonna chat this out or what?

BUFFY
(gritted teeth)
I... can't right now. I have company.

SPIKE
No worries. I'll wait.

He sits down in a chair in the corner to Buffy's annoyance.

KELLER
(to Buffy)
Ms. Summers, if you need some time with
your boyfriend, I can--

BUFFY
He's NOT...
(calming)
.. my boyfriend! He's--

Stumped, she turns back to Spike, trying to make him understand the importance of the situation.

BUFFY (cont'd)
Spike, this nice lady's from Social
Services...

Spike looks at her, getting it. He tries to be helpful.

SPIKE
Oh, right.
(standing, to Keller)
Hey, Buffy's a great mum. Takes good
care of her li'l sis. Like, when
Dawn was hanging out too much in my
crypt, Buffy put a right stop to it.

KELLER
I'm sorry. Did you say--

BUFFY
Crib! He said 'crib.' You know kids
with the... buggin' street slang.

Keller looks at her, skeptically. Buffy tries to casually, yet forcefully, escort Spike toward the door.

BUFFY (cont'd)
Don't you have to go now,
Spike? Because of that thing.

SPIKE
Thing, yeah. Uh, my blanket.

She grabs the blanket next to the chair and throws it at him. Spike eyes her a beat, then exits.

KELLER
He sleeps here?

BUFFY
What? No. Oh, the blanket?
That's... just a security thing.
He's got issues. No, it's just Dawn
and me living here.

WILLOW (0.S.)
(calling downstairs)
Buffy, I'm not feeling hot so I'm gonna take a
quick nap, okay?

BUFFY
(calling back)
Oh, okay, Will
(to Keller)
That's... Willow. She, uh... kinda
lives here, too. Actually.

KELLER
So you live with another woman.

BUFFY
Yeah. We're friends. It's not a gay thing.
Well, she's gay. But we don't... gay.
I mean, not that...

She stops when Keller notices something in the box near her feet. She reaches down and pulls out a baggie containing dried leafy-like stuff. She holds it up to scrutinize.

BUFFY (cont'd)
Oh, I know what that looks like, but, I
swear, it's not what it looks like. It's
just some kind of magic weed.

She reacts to how that sounds, as Keller looks at her.

BUFFY (cont'd)
And it's not mine!

KELLER
Well, I think I've seen enough.

She drops the baggie back in the box and heads for the door, Buffy on her heels.

BUFFY
No. No, I don't think you--

Keller opens the door and is about to leave.

BUFFY (cont'd)
Look, it's... it's just a bad time...

Keller turns back to Buffy, looking stern.

KELLER
Then it's been a bad time for a while now,
hasn't it, Ms. Summers? Your sister's
grades have fallen sharply in the past
year, due in large part to her frequent
absences and lateness.

BUFFY
There are good reasons--

KELLER
I'm sure there are. But my interest is in
Dawn's welfare and the stability of her
homelife. Something I'm not convinced an
unemployed young woman as yourself can provide.

BUFFY
I can-- I do--

KELLER
Well, we'll have to see about that,
won't we? I'll be recommending immediate
probation in my report.

BUFFY
W-what does that mean?

KELLER
It means I'll be monitoring you very closely,
Ms. Summers And if I don't think things are
improving, I'll be forced to recommend you be
stripped of your sister's guardianship.

BUFFY
You can't do that.

KELLER
I do what I think's in Dawn's best
Interest. As should you. Have a
nice day.

Keller walks off as Buffy watches, then closes the door, on which she leans her forehead for a moment.

SPIKE (0.S.)
Didn't go well, huh.

Buffy spins around to see Spike standing behind her.

BUFFY
Why won't you go?

SPIKE
(sympathetically)
Just thought you'd want--

BUFFY
Get out of here!!

CLOSE ON THEM - SPIKE's look hardens as he leans into her and thrusts his hand into her pants pocket. She GASPS. He pulls his hand out, then holds his LIGHTER up in front of her face.

SPIKE
Just getting what I came for. Luv.

He goes, leaving Buffy alone, looking mortified.

INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - BUFFY'S BEDROOM - DAY

ON BUFFY, entering, slamming the door. She kicks a shoebox and paces, shaking her head, muttering to herself. Plopping down at her vanity, she glances over at her mirror. She starts to touch her hair, twirling the ends as Spike had done, then stops in disgust and looks away, noticing:

A pair of SCISSORS resting on her vanity. She picks them up then looks back at her reflection. After a false start or two, she pulls her hair and Cuts it with increasing savagery.

ANGLE on the floor as her locks fall about her feet.

INT. MANE STREET HAIR SALON - DAY

CLOSE ON CLEO, a hair stylist, frowning with disdain.

CLEO
Hmm. Well, I... I think I can work... with
this. What exactly would you like me to do?

WIDEN to reveal a somewhat less enthusiastic BUFFY, with a raggedly cut coif, sitting in the chair.

BUFFY
Just make .... . different.

EXT. STREET/ALLEY - A LITTLE LATER - DAY

ARCING around the Supervan, parked in a side alley, we find THE TRIO. Warren carries a large gym bag. As they walk...

ANDREW
I'm scared. What if we get caught?

JONATHAN
No way. We'll be invisible. Plus
their security's gotten lax.

WARREN
You should know, you've cased this
joint enough. Okay. This is it.

Now on the street, they look up and we TILT UP to see a sign: "VENUS HEALTH SPA - FOR LADIES ONLY." A smaller banner below touts: "Bikini Wax Wednesday"

WARREN (cont'd)
Remember. We're professionals.

As Warren retrieves the ray gun from the bag, Andrew looks past him and reacts

ANDREW'S POV - BUFFY exiting the hair salon (called "Mane Street") across the street, sporting a kicky new do.

ANDREW (0.S.)
Uh.... Slayer.

WARREN
What? Where?

ANDREW
There. Heading this way.

WARREN'S POV - BUFFY, now crossing the street.

BACK ON WARREN, the other two are gone, as is the ray gun that was in his hand. He ducks back into the alley.

NEW ANGLE to see Jonathan and Andrew fighting over the gun.

JONATHAN
Gimme that--

ANDREW
No! I need to be invisible.

JONATHAN
I need it more than you--

WARREN
Watch it! Don't push the--

The gun starts to malfunction, overload, whirring in a menacing, powersurge-y way. The other two hand it to Warren.

WARREN (cont'd)
I don't want it.

It's passed around like a hot potato, when suddenly, it fires. THE GUN'S BEAM hits a dumpster. It disappears.

ON BUFFY, looking at her reflection in a window, as a tree behind her vanishes, though she fails to notice.

THE BEAM hits a fire hydrant. It's gone.

ON BUFFY, coming into view as the beam slams into her, knocking her off her feet.

ON TRIO, standing in shock for a moment.

ANDREW
Oopsy.

Warren grabs the other two.

ANGLE ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE VAN as it slams shut.

ON REAR TIRE, spinning, SQUEALING, as the van peels out.

ON VAN as it SIDESWIPES the invisible tire hydrant

PAN OVER and PUSH IN to where Buffy went down. There's nothing there, but we hear a dazed Buffy's voice:

BUFFY (V.0.) Wha-- Huh--? Where... Oh. Wow.

BLACK OUT. END OF ACT ONE

INT. MAGIC BOX AFTERNOON

CLOSE ON XANDER, looking concerned.

XANDER
What happened to Buffy? She's gone.

WIDEN to see ANYA with a seating chart. Names on small post-its are stuck around several circles denoting tables.

ANYA
She's right here. At table four. I put
her with your family.

XANDER
Great. Except we DON'T HATE BUFFY. Put
her back at our table.

ANGLE ON the door as it suddenly opens and closes, though the two don't notice. We FOLLOW an invisible Buffy crossing in.

ANYA
Then where do I put D'Hoffryn?

XANDER
We're not inviting D'Hoffryn.

ANYA
I have to! He's my ex-boss! You're inviting
your work buddies.

BUFFY (V.0.)
She's got a point.

Xander and Anya react with a start. Xander looks around.

XANDER
Buffy?! Where-- where are you?

BUFFY (V.0.)
At table four, apparently.

ANYA
That remains to be seen. Like you.

Xander spins around, looking for the trick.

BUFFY (V.0.)
Don't strain yourself looking, Xander.
I'm invisible girl.

Xander feels around to confirm her presence and gropes her.

BUFFY (cont'd) (V.0.)
Uh, Xander...

XANDER
(yanks his hand)
Sorry.
(to Anya)
Her clothes are... invisible... too.

Anya glares at him. Xander turns back to Buffy.

XANDER (cont'd)
Buffy, what -- how did this hap --
Wait a sec. Have you been feeling
ignored lately?

BUFFY (V.0.)
Yah, ignored. I wish. No, this isn't
a Marcie deal. I don't know what happened.
I left Mane Street after getting my hair
cut and was-

ANYA
You cut your hair?

BUFFY (V.0.)
Oh. Yeah.

Xander watches incredulously as the girls talk hair.

BUFFY (V.0.)
About up to here. Well, if you could
see my hand, it's at my shoulders.

ANYA
Oh, that sounds adorable. I was thinking
about cutting mine before the wedding,
maybe layering it.

XANDER
Can we get back to freaking out about
no-show Buffy? This is serious.

BUFFY (V.0.)
(world-weary)
I know. But it kinda fits the day
I've had...

ANGLE ON TWO ORBS as they float out of a basket. Dark circular symbols painted on each give the impression of two large eyeballs. Buffy tosses one in the air and catches it.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0)
Willow's still a wreck. Dawn's mad at both
of us. And this Social Services lady put me
through a wringer. Says she's gonna watch me.

She brings up another "eyeball" and the two look around.

BUFFY
Like to see her try now. Y'know, there
may be an upside to no-see me.

XANDER
Buff, did you see anyone or anything
suspicious before you... cleared up?

ON FLOATING EYEBALLS, looking cross-eyed.

BUFFY (V.0.)
Nope. Didn't see nothin'.
(amusing herself)
See what I did there? With the eyeballs?

ANYA
Why would anyone want to make her invisible
anyway? I mean, invisible Slayer's gotta
be way more effective than the standard
variety.

XANDER
I'm less with the why, and more with the
how. We get the how, then we got how to
make her unseen sight seen again. Right?

A FLOATING SKULL appears over his shoulder. It's mouth Moves.

BUFFY (V.0.)
(a la Sr. Wences)
S'awright.

Xander turns and reacts with a start.

XANDER
Buffy, can you focus please?

The skull floats away.

BUFFY (V.0.)
I am. Just... this is kinda fun.

ANYA
It would help if we had a little more
to go on. Or anything to go on.

XANDER
I could go check out the spot Buffy
disappeared. Snoop for clues.

BUFFY (V.0.)
(distracted)
Yeah. Right. Um... Hey, know what?
I'm just gonna... go for a walk.

She crosses to the door.

XANDER
A walk?!

BUFFY (V.0.)
Yeah. Clear my head. You guys keep
working on the whats and the hows.
(to herself)
"Clear my head."

XANDER
Buffy!

The door opens and closes. She's gone.

ANYA
Well, seems pretty obvious it's some
kind of spell that's done this to her.

XANDER
A spell from who? You said it yourself...
It makes no sense for one of her enemies
to make her invisible.

ANYA
Maybe it was a mistake.

XANDER
A magic mistake. Who'd be messing with
that kinda pow--

They share a look as both come to the same conclusion.

INT. BUFFY'S HOIJSE - DINING ROOM - A LITTLE LATER

WILLOW is at the table, working at her laptop. Non-magic reference books litter the table. She jots down some notes on a pad, then searches through a small pile of books. None are the one she wants. She scans the table and sees

A REFERENCE BOOK at the far end.

Without thinking, she raises her hand toward it.

THE BOOK begins to shudder, about to fly to her.

Then, realizing, she snatches her hand back, shaken at her momentary lapse.

XANDER (O.S.)
Willow...

She sees Xander entering.

WILLOW
Xander

XANDER
How's it going?

WILLOW
Umn, good. I found out stuff about the
diamond stolen from the museum. It's called
"The Illuminata" and there's rumors of it
having quasi-mystical quantum properties--

XANDER
Will, we need to talk.

WILLOW
We are talking. Well, I'M talking. You're
just looking at me funny.

XANDER
Something you wanna tell me?

Willow swallows.

WILLOW
It was nothing. I didn't slip--

XANDER
Will, nobody's mad. Relapse is part of
recovery. We understand that. We just have to
figure away to fix it.

WILLOW
Fix what?

XANDER
Fix Buffy.

WILLOW
Buffy's broken?

XANDER
You know what I-- You don't know?
(off her confusion)
Rhymes with "blinvisible?"

WILLOW
What?

XANDER
Buffy was in town, leaving the haircutting
place, when she suddenly--

WILLOW
Buffy cut her hair?

XANDER
Yeah. It's adorable. Apparently.
I, personally, couldn't tell since
she's all... blinvisible.

WILLOW
(frowning)
And... and you think I had something
to do with this?

XANDER
No. Not- Well, c'mon, Will. Some of
your spells have caused weird stuff to happen
to each of us at one time or another. And
let's not forget the recent forgetting.

WILLOW
(getting miffed)
Oh, I see. So now when anything nasty
happens around here, I get conveniently
blamed for it.

XANDER
No one's blaming-

WILLOW
(standing)
So I guess it wouldn't matter now if I just
jump off the wagon completely, since you're
already convinced I'm making pit stops.

XANDER
Look, if you say you didn't do it--

Willow storms out.

XANDER (cont'd)
Willow. Where you going?

WILLOW (0.S.)
For a walk!

The DOOR SLAMS, off-screen.

XANDER
(to himself)
What is this fascination with walking?

WARREN. (PRE-LAP)
Just needs to cool down a bit....

INT. UNDERGROUND LAIR AFTERNOON

WARREN, wearing goggles, and brandishing tools, examines the ray gun. Andrew and Jonathan pace nervously behind him.

WARREN
A couple of circuits are burned out and
wiring's fried...

JONATHAN
But, you can fix it, right?

Warren turns and looks at him, soberly.

WARREN
All we can do now is pray. And pick
up replacement parts at Radio Shack.

ANDREW
But we had so many plans. Naked women
and... all the naked women.
(to Jonathan)
This is your fault. If you hadn't
grabbed it from me--

JONATHAN
Hey, we got a lot bigger problem,
bonehead. The Slayer's invisible now.

ANDREW
(with mounting drama)
He's right! She could be anywhere.
Even here. Right now. Watching.
Listening to every word we say! For
all we know, she could be ONE OF US!

Warren and Jonathan eye each other for a half beat, until clarity sets in and they throw a look back to Andrew.

ANDREW (cont'd)
Oh... wait.

As he tries to work it out, Warren turns back to work on the gun, a knowing smirk crosses his face, unseen by the others.

WARREN
I wouldn't sweat the Slayer too much.

JONATHAN
Says you. In my book, an invisible
Slayer Means a world of trouble.

EXT. PARK/STREET - AFTERNOON

A GIRL, wearing a rhinestone studded baseball cap, sits on a bench, reading. Suddenly her hat flies off her head.

BUFFY (V.0.)
(eerie voice)
I'm the ghost of fashion victims past.

The hat suddenly flies close to the girl's face.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0.)
Studded caps not a good idea.

Freaked, the Girl SCREAMS and runs away.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0.)
Hey, I'm doing you a favor!

The hat's dropped in a trash can.

A LITTLE BOY is bullying a LITTLER GIRL, keeping her doll out of reach and shoving her away.

Moving in, Buffy shoves the bully to the ground and he drops the doll. The Girl picks her doll up and runs off.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.O.)
Watch who you bully, kid. She might
grow up to be the next chosen one.

The boy pulls himself up and runs away, calling for his mommy.

PAN to A METER MAN writing a ticket for an illegally parked car. PAN OVER to see his scooter off to the side.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0.)
Hmm.

NEW ANGLE on the Meter Man as his scooter goes whizzing past.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0.)
S'long, Copper.

METER MAN
(looking up, stunned)
Hey... Hey!
(running after it)
That's -- Stop!

He continues to chase it as Buffy giggles.

NEW ANGLE as the scooter comes to a stop down the street. PAN OVER to an officious building. An etched stone sign reads: "Sunnydale Department of Social Services."

BUFFY (V.0.)
Hel-lo, Mrs. Keller...

INT. SOCIAL SERVICE 0FFICE - AFTERNOON

ON KELLER, working at her desk. She drinks from a coffee mug. A couple of other Co-workers sit at their desks nearby. MOVE WITH HER as she puts down her mug and reaches across her desk for a pen. Returning, she finds her mug gone.

KELLER
(looking around)
What? Where did--?

And finds the mug on the other side of her computer. She glances up to see her CO-WORKER at the next desk eyeing her.

KELLER (cont'd)
(offering, wryly)
Losing my mind.

The CO-WORKER nods and returns to her work. Keller drinks, then puts the mug down again. She leans over a legal pad to write. Finishing, she reaches for her mug again. It's gone.

KELLER (cont'd)
Okay, who's the--?

She sees the mug atop her monitor. She reaches for it and the cup suddenly begins to JUMP AROUND.

BUFFY (V.0.)
(whispering)
Kill... Kill...

KELLER
(looking around)
What?!

CO-WORKER
I didn't say anything.

KELLER
(snapping at her)
Not you! The mug! It's--

She looks. The mug's resting back on her desk.

KELLER (cont'd)
But... I heard... something.

Keller looks around, waiting for her mug to speak again. She pushes it away. After a moment...

BUFFY (V.0.)
(whispering)
Kill, Doris... Kill everybody...

KELLER jumps to her feet.

KELLER
Stop it! Shut up!!!

She holds her breath and looks around to see everyone in the room staring back at her. Composing herself, she crosses wobbly to a nearby LADIES ROOM.

NEW ANGLE on paperwork being pushed around and moved until we reveal a FILE FOLDER labeled "Summers, Dawn."

BUFFY (V.0.)
Yahtzee!

PAN TO THE COMPUTER KEYBOARD, unseen fingers type upon it.

NEW ANGLE as Keller steps out of the restroom, dabbing a damp towel to the back of her neck, when FRANK approaches.

FRANK
Doris, I've got a few, so if you
want to discuss that case file now...

KELLER
What? Oh. Yes. The Summers
file. It's right over here.

She crosses to her desk, eyes the mug suspiciously and hands the file to Frank. He opens it and reads, then soon frowns.

KELLER (cont'd}
Fifteen-year~old girl under
guardianship of her older sister.
The household's in complete--

FRANK
(reading)
What is this? "All work and no play
Make Doris a dull girl?"

KELLER
What?

FRANK
"All work and no play make Doris...!"
The pages are filled with it.

He notices Keller's printer spewing out more of the same.

KELLER
I didn't do that! I--
(realizing, gasp)
It was the voice!

FRANK
Excuse me?

KELLER
There was a voice. Before. It made my
coffee dance. And told me to...

She stops herself. Frank eyes her, warily.

FRANK
To... what?

KELLER
N-nothing.

FRANK
Doris... Are you taking any prescription
medication?

KELLER
No! God, no!

FRANK
Well, maybe you should. Take the rest
of the day off. See your doctor.

KELLER
But -- But my cases...

FRANK
I'll put someone else on them.
(looking at file name)
Redo the... Summers interview.

ON DOOR as it opens. We hear Buffy happily whistling.

KELLER (O.S.)
I'm not crazy... I'm not...

EXT STREET/ALLEY - AFTERNOON

ON XANDER walking down the sidewalk, then. slowing, as he comes upon WILLOW at the corner by the alley, spray painting a corner of the invisible dumpster -- Now a dazzling hot pink.

XANDER
Hey. Will. What are you--?

WILLOW
(a little testy)
Look, Xander. I figured out this was the
spot Buffy disappeared from what you told
me. So don't start jumping to any conclusions.

XANDER
No jumping. Look! Feet firmly planted.

Willow eyes him wearily.

WILLOW
Not feeling myself right now. Sorry.

XANDER
Me, too, sorry.

They share a small smile. A truce

XANDER (cont'd)
So, what've we found out so far?

WILLOW
Take a look at this...

They move into the alley, and Willow points. PAN DOWN to TIRE TREADMARKS on the pavement.

WILLOW (cont'd)
Something peeled out of here pretty
quick to leave those kinda treadmarks.

XANDER
Those coulda been made anytime.

WILLOW.
But this wasn't.

She hands him a small bottle with bits of paint scrapings.

XANDER
What is it?

They cross over to the curb, as Xander scrutinizes the clue.

WILLOW
Paint I scraped off the fire hydrant.

XANDER
What fire hyd-- Oww!

He slams into the invisible hydrant.

WILLOW
Something hit this hydrant after it
was made invisible. And betcha-by-golly-wow
that something was the same something
that shot out of this alley.

XANDER
Black paint. Buffy's phantom van.
We should let her know-whoa--
(more)

XANDER (cont'd)
(almost stumbling)
There's something there there.

Willow spray paints the area and a TRAFFIC PYLON takes shape.

WILLOW
It's... It's a pylon. One of those
orange traffic cones. You should take it
back to the magic shop.

XANDER
Trying to save a good parking space?

WILLOW
It might help you and Anya figure
out what kind of spell was used.

XANDER
Oh, fun. What about you?

WILLOW
Got paint scrapings and a tire track.
I'm gonna try to find that van that's
been stalking Buf-- By the way...
Where is Buffy?

INT. SPIKE'S CRYPT - LATE AFTERNOON

Spike watches TV. Sinister music plays. A WOMAN SCREAMS.

WOMAN'S VOICE (ON TV)
My God, the blood! Look at the blood!

Spike's stomach GROWLS.

TRAVELLING WITH HIM as he gets up and crosses to his fridge. Opening it, he pulls out a styrofoam container full of blood. As he brings it to his mouth, he suddenly hears the SCRAPING of the crypt door against the floor. He shoots a look over.

SPIKE'S POV - The door's ajar but the crypt's seemingly empty.

SPIKE puts the container down on top of the fridge, then, crossing back in, his eyes scanning the room, suspiciously.

SPIKE
Whatever beastie you are... I know
you're here. And I hurt beasties.

He reacts as something brushes past and behind him.

SPIKE (cont'd)
Here, watch it.

The TV is suddenly switched off.

SPIKE (cont'd)
Ghost, is it? Go haunt the living,
like a good spook.

STEADYCAM CLOSE ON HIM, circling. He seems to sense the presence and suddenly moves to strike out.

NEW ANGLE as his attack is blocked, he's grabbed and thrown up against a wall, hard. Before he can respond, his shirt's ripped open, buttons fly. Looking down at some sensation on his chest, his expression softens, conveying deep confusion.

SPIKE (cont'd)
Buffy?

BUFFY (V.0.)
I told you... Stop trying to see me

Before Spike can say another word, he's thrown OUT OF FRAME.

INT. MAGIC BOX - MEANWHILE - LATE AFTERNOON

Xander and Anya are seated, researching through books. The pink painted pylon sits on the table. After a beat...

ANYA
I've got it!

XANDER
Really?

ANYA
We'll put D'Hoffryn at your parent's
table and move your Uncle Rory to Table 5,
next to the bar--

XANDER
Ahn, honey! we're looking for
invisibility spells here.

He goes back to the book in his hand.

ANYA
Well, obviously, I haven't found
anything yet.At least nothing that would
explain why things near Buffy became invisible like--

She tries to pick up the pylon. Her hand passes through it.

ANYA (cont'd)
Ew. Xander...

XANDER
What happened?

ANYA
An unpleasant tactile experience.
Like putting my hand in pudding.

Xander tries to pick up the cone. His hand also goes through.

XANDER
Ew.

ANYA
Pudding, am I right? Rice. Or
tapioca. Lumpy like that.

XANDER
The cone's losing its substance.
Like it's breaking down or something.
(realizing)
We have to find Buffy. She's gotta
know.

ANYA
I don't think she'll be broken up
over a pylon.

XANDER
Anya. What's happening to the pylon,
will probably happen to her. If we
don't find Buffy... I mean, if we
don't figure out how this was done...

ANYA
She's pudding?

ON XANDER'S fearful look and nod.

BLACK OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

INT. UNDERGROUND LAIR EVENING

ON JONATHAN, concern creasing his brow.

JONATHAN
Whatta you mean she's gonna fade away?

WIDEN to see WARREN working on the ray gun, replacing parts.

WARREN
The Slayer got slammed with a big ass
dose of radiation when the gun overloaded.
Her cells are mutating at an accelerated rate.
Eventually her molecular makeup will start
losing its integrity and... pfft.

ANDREW comes over.

ANDREW
But... wouldn't that... kill her?

WARREN
Well, lemme think... Yeah!

JONATHAN
Wait a minute. We're not killing anybody.
Especially not Buffy.

WARREN
Geez, you guys are so immature.
We're villains! When are you gonna
get that through your thick skulls?

JONATHAN
We're not killers! We're Crime Lords!

ANDREW
Yeah! Like Lex Luthor. He's always
trying to take over Metropolis, but he
never kills Superman.'

WARREN
'Cause it's Superman's book, moron!

ANDREW
But Lex doesn't kill him, does he?

Warren rolls his eyes and returns to work on the gun. Jonathan, his anger building, moves in for a confrontation.

JONATHAN
Listen, Warren. You get that ray
working and the first thing we're
gonna do is find Buffty and revisible
her before it's too late. You got me?

Warren slowly turns to face Jonathan, towering over him. Jonathan looks up at him, and swallows, hard.

WARREN
Fine. Whatever you guys say.

Warren turns away as the others share a relieved look.

INT. SPIKE'S CRYPT - EVENING

XANDER appears in the doorway and steps inside.

XANDER
Spike?

All's quiet. Looking around, he sees...

The chair and end table are toppled over. There appears to've been quite a scuffle. Xander moves in and picks up something... Spike's torn shirt. He looks around.

INT. CRYPT SUBCHAMBER - EVENING

ON XANDER, approaching Spike's bedchamber. He hears Spike GROAN. Xander enters and stops.

XANDER
Spike?

ON SPIKE, a small part of his bedsheet covering his nakedness. He looks up at Xander like a deer caught in a somewhat compromising missionary position.

XANDER (cont'd)
What are you doing?

SPIKE
(thinking fast)
What am I...? What's it look like,
ya nit? I'm... exercising, aren't I?

He does a few "push-ups." BUFFY lets out a tiny GASP Which Spike tries to cover with some manly GRUNTING.

XANDER
Exercising. Naked. In Bed.

SPIKE
Man shouldn't use immortality as an
excuse to let himself go. Gotta keep
fit for the killing.

XANDER
Yuh-huh. Looks like you had a little
trouble upstairs. Mini-disaster area.

Spike sits up on the edge of the bed.

SPIKE
So, what, you just come here to
criticize my housekeeping?

XANDER
No. I'm... I'm looking for Buffy.

SPIKE
(quickly)
Haven't seen her.

XANDER
Well, you wouldn't. Fact is, she's
come down with a slight case of
invisibility.

SPIKE
(feigning surprise)
Yeah? Huh. How did, uh--?

XANDER
We don't know yet.

As Xander talks, Spike's earlobe moves like it's being nibbled. Spike brushes Buffy away.

XANDER (cont'd)
Anyway, she's not at the house...
and I really, really need to find her.

Spike reacts to Buffy's touch down his neck, under his arm. Covering as best as he can from Xander.

SPIKE
Uh, tell you what. I'll take a peek
around first chance I get. And if we
bump into each other, I'll clue her
you're on the lookout.

XANDER
(squinting at him)
After your... exercises.

SPIKE
Yeah. Right.

Xander nods, starts to leave, then turns back.

XANDER
Y'know... kidding aside, Spike...
You really should get a girlfriend.

He leaves.

ON SPIKE, looking chagrined. After a beat...

SPIKE
That was bloody stupid.

BUFFY (V.0.)
(playfully)
What's the matter? Ashamed to be seen with me?

He gets up. We clearly see Buffy's form under the sheet.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0.)
C'mon. He had no idea I was here.
This is perfect.

SPIKE
Perfect for you.

BUFFY (V.0)
(beat)
Well. Picture me confused. I
thought this is what you wanted.

SPIKE
What I want...
(beat, then)
This vanishing act's right liberating
for you, in'it? Be anywhere you want.
Do anything you want.
(pointedly)
Or anyone.

BUFFY (V.0.)
What are you talking-

Spike looks at her.

SPIKE
Only reason you're here is that
You're not here.

Buffy's form sits up in bed.

BUFFY (V.0.)
What? That's -- that's not...

SPIKE
Both know it's true, Luv. So, skip
the denial. May not be able to see you,
but I can still see through you.

BUFFY (V.0.)
I didn't make this happen to me.
I didn't ask for this.

SPIKE
Not too put off by it though, are ya?

She doesn't answer.

SPIKE (cont'd)
Doesn't matter. After your chums
work out how to bring you back to
living color, you'll start stringing
me along again like some lovesick
wanker. Like all this has been just
some sweet, twisted fantasy in my
chip-addled brain...

BUFFY (V.0.)
I... I thought we were... having fun.

SPIKE
Fun's over. Just go. Get dressed,
if you can find your clothes and push off.
'Cause if I can't have all of you, I'd rather--

He stops, suddenly surprised, and looks down at his below-frame nether region.

SPIKE (cont'd)
Okay, that's cheating!

INT. ESPRESSO PUMP - EVENING

PANNING ACROSS various papers and objects on a table: an invoice, a rubbing of the treadmark, an auto-paint color chart, the plastic bottle of paint remnants, TILTING UP to a computer monitor on which we read "DMV Database." And in smaller type: "For Departmental Use Only." The edge of the monitor carries a label: "Internet Access - Five Cents a Minute!"

CUT OUT to find Willow hacking away in a new "cyber corner" of the place. Another table nearby also features a computer. Willow appears a little tense, nervous

ON MONITOR - FLASHING: "Searching..."

ON WILLOW, waiting. She guzzles from her water bottle.

MONITOR - Still flashing: "Searching...

ON HER FINGERS tapping impatiently. FOLLOW as her hand goes up on the edge of the monitor: "Searching..."

ON WILLOW as sweat beads appear on her brow, she licks her lips, jonesing away. She brings her hand back as

ON MONITOR - "Searching..." disappears, replaced by a list.

ON WILLOW, she exhales, relieved, and scans the screen.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

ON A CRUSHED SODA CAN skidding along the pavement.

BUFFY (V.0.)
(talking to herself)
Stupid Spike... Like I'm using him?
That's... that's funny. Ha!

The can is kicked again and skitters along.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0.)
Something wrong with me? I'm the weirdo
in the equation? Right.

And, again, with the can. FOLLOW IT as we see a few YOUNG PEOPLE, oblivious to the can, coming the other way.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0.)
And what are you, Spike? First you
want me, then you don't-

She collides with a couple of them and pushes through.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0.)
(to people)
Hey! I'm walking here!

The people freak, a woman gasps' and they hurry away. Buffy's oblivious as she kicks the can again.

INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT

The back door opens and closes.

BUFFY (V.0.)
(calling)
Willow!
(no answer)
Willow? Dawn?

TRACK Buffy as she crosses in.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0.)
Hey, Dawn. C'mere, wanna see something neat?

Still, nothing. Buffy SIGHS. MOVE with her to the fridge. She opens it. Amnong the contents is a pizza box.

The back door opens again, slowly, and Dawn slips in, checking the coast. Surreptitiously, she closes the door.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0.)
There you are!

Dawn YELPS with surprise.

DAWN
(looking around)
Buffy? W-where are you?

BUFFY (V.0.) I'm invisible. Check this out.

The pizza carton floats out of the fridge and flies around. Dawn watches, wigged out.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0.)
Whooo. Unidentified Flying Pizza.
Coming in for a landing.

The box drops on top of the counter. The top flips open.

DAWN
What-- What are you talking--?

BUFFY (V.0.)
Okay, not the most clever ad-lib,
but, c'mon, points for spontaneity--

DAWN
(freaked)
Stop it. Just... stop!

BUFFY (V.0.)
(sobering)
Sorry, Dawn. I'm sorry. I didn't
mean to freak you out.

DAWN
What'd you think would happen?!
You're... freakin' invisible, Buffy!

BUFFY (V.0.)
I know. Xander and Anya are working
on it. Muldering out what happened.

DAWN
What about you? Shouldn't you be
working on it? Don't you even care?

BUFFY (V.0.)
Of course I--

DAWN
You're not acting like it. Don't you
care about who did this to you or...
or if you're stuck this way?

BUFFY (V.0.)
I-I don't think that's--

DAWN
Do you even care that I just got in
when I'm supposed to be home by five.
You're not even grilling me about
where I was and who I was with.

BUFFY (V.0.)
I thought you hate when I do that.

DAWN
That's not the point.

BUFFY (V.0.)
Um, okay. So, where were you?

DAWN
I can't talk to you like this! I
can't see you! How can I talk to you
when I can't see you scowling at me?

She storms out. Buffy calls after her.

BUFFY (V.0.)
Dawn... Dawn!

BUFFY'S POV - Her answering machine is flashing. She hits the playback button.

XANDER (V.0.)
(on machine)
Buffy, it's Xander. Where are you?
Listen, we got a new problem here...

ANYA (V.0.)
(in b.g., on machine)
Tell her!

XANDER (V.0.)
(to Anya)
I'm trying to
(to Buffy)
Anya and I think whatever made you
invisible is slowly killing you...

PUSH IN ON INVISIBLE BUFFY.

ANYA (V.0.) (in b.g., on machine)
Tell her about the pudding.

XANDER (V.0.)
(on machine)
Anya
(to Buffy)
Buff, it we don't... If this isn't
reversed... You're gonna... Well,
dissolve... or fade... into nothing.

BUFFY (V.0.)
(numbly)
Wow...

EXT. WARREN'S HOUSE - NIGHT

ON WILLOW, stepping into frame, she checks the address.

HER POV - The supervan, parked at the side of the house, a tarp draped over it.

She starts to walk around the house...

INT. UNDERGROUND LAIR - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

ON THE CELLAR DOORS as they open and Willow descends down the steps, quietly looking around. The basement appears deserted.

WILLOW crosses in more, taking in all the nerdly delights - The Supersoakers, novelty posters, action figures, tech stuff.

She notices the greaseboard by the card table with its moronic plans sketched out. Among the list is "Freeze Ray," crossed out with the word "fix bugs" next to it. Another reads: "Invisibility Ray!" A schematic blueprint of the gun is taped there. Willow studies it for a few moments, then...

WILLOW
Cool.

Willow turns and sees the ray gun, sitting in its cradle. She moves closer and is about to touch it when...

WARREN (V.0.)
Now!

Willow spins around as she's grabbed by invisible Jonathan and Andrew.

WILLOW
Hey -- Get off me!

Willow looks up and sees

HER POV - A big spool of duct tape floating toward her.

WARREN (V.O.)
Congratulations. You're our first
hostage.

A strip gets pulled from the spool and comes at Willow. On her muffled cry...

BLACK OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

INT. BUFFY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

The front door opens.

BUFFY (V.0.)
Dawn! I'm going out to find Xander!
If he ca11s--

THE PHONE RINGS. The door slams. TRACK with Buffy as she moves to the phone and picks it up.

BUFFY (cont'd; V.0.)
(into phone)
Xander?

JONATHAN (V.0.)
(on phone)
Don't talk, just listen, Slayer.
You don't have a lot of time.

BUFFY (V.0.)
(on phone)
Who is this? You sound familiar.

Jonathan attempts to disguise his voice further.

JONATHAN (V.0.)
(new voice)
I'm nobody. No one you know. We've
got your friend Willow... And if you
don't want anything nasty to happen to
her, you better meet us. Alone.

BUFFY (V.0.)
Where?

INT. NOAH'S ARCADE - NIGHT

PAN ACROSS the stark, colorfully lit, not-so-crowded (eight or nine teenagers and geeky young adults) place.

ANGLE ON a turnstile near the front, an attendant standing guard by it. The turnstile spins forward and clicks to a stop. The attendant looks over his shoulder, seeing nothing.

TRACK through the crowd with Buffy as she finds Willow standing alone at a video game, on which rests the gun.

BUFFY (V.0.)
You okay, Will?

WILLOW
Buffy!

BUFFY (V.0.)
Where're the bad guys?

WARREN (V.0.)
All around you, Slayer. So, don't
try anything.

WILLOW
He's bluffing, Buffy. There's only
three of them. I think.

WARREN (V.0.)
More than enough to cause some
serious carnage, right, guys?
(no answer)
Guys? Guys!

ANGLE ON a video game being played.

JONATHAN (V.0.)
Kick! Use the kick!

ANDREW (V.0.)
I tried that!. He keeps blocking it
with his drunken monkey fist.

WARREN (V.0.)
(calling over)
Hey! The Slayer's here.

TRACK with Jonathan and Andrew as they come over.

ANDREW (V.0.)
Sorry. Didn't see her.

WARREN (V.0.)
Why don't we continue this in a less
crowded area. Like, over there.

ALL (V.0.)
Where?

WARREN (V.0.)
Over th-
(an exasperated grunt)
Follow me.

He grabs Willow's arm and moves over by an air hockey table

BUFFY
I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess
you're the ones that did this to me.

JONATHAN (V.O.)
It was an accident.

BUFFY (V.0.)
Who's that?

JONATHAN (V.0.)
(changing his voice)
Nobody you know.

WILLOW
They're the ones in your mystery van.

BUFFY (V.0.)
Oh You. So what annoying thing are you
gonna do to me now?

WARREN (V.0.)
Save your life. Make you visible.

BUFFY (V.0.)
Right. I'm supposed to believe that.

ANDREW (V.O.)
He's telling the truth. We don't
wanna hurt anybody.

WILLOW
They told me everything, Buffy.
Something's happening to you. You're--

BUFFY (V.0.)
Fading away. I know.

WARREN (V.0.)
I can fix that.

BUFFY (V.0.)
And you three will just go on your
merry invisible way.

WARREN (V.0.)
That's the idea. Pick up that air
hockey mallet on the table. It'll
give me a target to aim at.

The mallet floats off the table.

WARREN (cont'd; V.0.)
Okay, now hold still. And your
troubles'll soon be gone.

Warren raises the gun and aims it at the mallet.

ON WILLOW - noticing something.

WILLOW
You're on the wrong setting.

WARREN (V.0.)
What?

WILLOW
The gun. It's not set for reversing
the particle ionization. It'll
accelerate her molecular dissolution!
I saw the plans!

WARREN (V.0.)
Mind your own business.

JONATHAN (V.0.)
What's she talking about?

BUFFY (V.0.)
That's what I'd like to know.

WILLOW
Buffy, he's trying to kill you--

The butt of the gun hits Willow and she goes down.

The air hockey mallet sails through the air and bounces off

WARREN (V.0.) Oww!

The gun flies out of his hands and under a pinball machine.

BUFFY (V.0.) Okay, play time's over.

WHIP PAN to Warren.

WARREN (V.0.)
You haven't won yet, Slayer.

WHIP PAN back to Buffy

BUFFY (V.0.)
No, that part comes after I beat the
snot out of you.

WHIP PAN back to Warren.

WARREN (V.0.)
You have to find me first.

START to WHIP PAN off him, then PAN back when he continues.

WARREN (cont'd; V.0.)
And there's three of us against just
one of you.

JONATHAN (V.O.)
Hey, you lied to us.

ANDREW (V.0.)
Fight her yourself.

WARREN (V.0.)
Think she cares about that. I go
down. We all go down.

HARD CUT IN to Buffy

BUFFY
And I promise, you're all going down.

CLOSE on Warren.

WARREN (V.0.)
We may not have your powers, Slayer,
but you'll find we're not so easy to--

Another air hockey mallet careens off his head.

WARREN (cont'd; V.0.)
Owww! Get her!

THE CAMERA moves with them as they rush in. Then the fight! Arch camera MOVES, SWOOPS, and PUSH-INS on. . . nothing. Just dramatic music and sounds of struggle.

ON WILLOW, still on the ground, watching. Then she spots THE RAY GUN under the pinball machine and crawls toward it.

JONATHAN (V.0.)
Wait a minute, wait a minute! Who's
biting my leg?

ANDREW (V.0.)
Sorry. Where is she?

BUFFY (V.0.)
Here.

ANDREW (V.0.)
Whooooaaa!

PAN up and over as Andrew flies through the air and crashes down on top of the pinball machine, shattering the glass. As patrons start to scream and run for the exits.

ANDREW (cont'd; V.0.)
Ouch.

CUT BACK to WARREN and JONATHAN.

WARREN (V.0.)
She can't find us if we split up.
You go that way.

JONATHAN (V.0.)
Which way?

WARREN (V.0.) That way! Over ther-- Oof!

A fierce kick sends him sprawling back into a ball pit.

BUFFY (V.0.)
Just keep talking, boys.

ON WILLOW, now with the gun, and changing its setting.

JONATHAN (V.0.)
Ow. Ow! Watch the chest hair!

BUFFY (V.0.)
I know that voice. You... You're--

Willow aims the gun and fires.

THE BLAST hits them, revealing BUFFY holding JONATHAN up by his collar. She looks at herself, then at him.

BUFFY
Jonathan?

Willow fires a blast at the ball pit. WARREN appears.

BUFFY (cont'd)
Warren?!

Willow now fires a blast at the shattered pinball machine. ANDREW becomes visible, climbing off. Buffy anticipates recognition, then squints.

BUFFY (cont'd)
Who are you?

ANDREW
Andrew. I summoned the flying
monkeys that attacked the high school.

Buffy looks at him blankly.

ANDREW (cont'd)
During the play. You know...

Buffy looks at Willow. They both shrug

ANDREW (cont'd)
(last resort)
Tucker's brother.

BUFFY/WILLOW
Ohhh.

BUFFY
So you three have... what, banded
together to be pains in my ass?

ANGLE ON TRIO as they regroup.

WARREN
We're your arch nemeses. You may've
beaten us this time, Slayer. But
next time... Umm... next time...

JONATHAN
Maybe not.

Jonathan throws down one of his EXPLODING SMOKEBOMBS.

WILLOW and BUFFY wave away the smoke, coughing, and see

THE TRIO huddled at a door near the back, trying to open it.

WARREN
What do you mean it's locked? You
were supposed to check it.

JONATHAN
I forgot!

The three slowly turn and look back at Buffy and Willow.

BUFFY
(to Willow, re Trio)
I give you my arch nemeses.

SECURITY GUARD (0.S.)
What's going on in here?

Buffy and Willow turn to see a SECURITY GUARD at the entrance.

SECURITY GUARD
I got a bunch a scared kids saying
this place is haunted.

ON BUFFY as she turns back to the Trio.

The door's open, its lock smoking. The three are gone.

WILLOW
Oh my God, Buffy...

BUFFY
I know. They're gone.

WILLOW
No, your hair. It is adorable.

EXT. NOAH'S ARCADE - NIGHT

BUFFY and WILLOW exit. The gun in Willow's hand.

BUFFY
Pretty neat your finding the van. So
what did you... do... exactly? I
mean, how'd you manage to locate--

WILLOW
The hard way! The spell-free, all
Natural, oh-my-god-my-head's-gonna-
fall-off-feet-are-killing-me way.

Willow stops and turns to her, strain showing on her face.

WILLOW (cont'd)
I-- I don't know how I made it
through this day.

After a beat...

BUFFY
Well... The important thing is you
did. It's a... good first step.

They start to walk again. After a beat

BUFFY (cont'd)
Y'know, when I got Xander's message
that I was... fading away...I was...
I mean, I actually got scared.

WILLOW
Well, sure. Who wouldn't?

BUFFY
Me. I wouldn't. Not too long ago.
I probably would've welcomed it.
But when he told me...I realized...
(stopping)
Not saying I'm doing backflips about
my life, but... But, I didn't... I
mean, I don't...want to die.
(looks at Willow)
That's something, right?

WILLOW
It's something.

CRANE UP as they numbly walk off into the cold, dark night.

WILLOW (cont'd)
Guess we both took good first steps...

BUFFY
I guess.

WILLOW
(flatly)
Yay for us.

BUFFY
(weakly)
Yay.

BLACK OUT.

END OF SHOW