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Same Time, Same Place August 14, 2002 (WHITE) Written by: Jane Espenson Directed by: James Contner | ||||
| Teaser | ||||
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CLOSE ON: A clock. It's 9:24.
We PAN DOWN to see a FAMILY emerge from the jetway into the gate area,
a FATHER leading two kids. The preteen boy drops his backpack and his
sister trips over it. The father doesn't even turn around to say:
You kids stop acting up. The girl swats at her brother. THEIR CROSS LEADS THE CAMERA TO: BUFFY, XANDER AND DAWN They look expectantly toward the jetway and hold a cardboard sign that reads, "Welcome Home Willow!" -- it's so pale it's hard to read.
You think she'll get the sign? BUFFY XANDER DAWN XANDER DAWN BUFFY XANDER DAWN BUFFY XANDER BUFFY DAWN XANDER DAWN Buffy is silent. Xander and Dawn look at her.
Right? XANDER BUFFY DAWN BUFFY XANDER BUFFY XANDER CLOSE ON. The clock. Oddly, it still says 9:24. The same pan down as the family emerges into the gate area. The preteen boy drops his backpack and his sister trips over it.
You kids stop acting up. The girl swats at her brother. CLOSE BEHIND THEM: WILLOW follows, tentative and nervous, carrying her shoulder bag. She looks around. No one is here to meet her.
Welcome home, me. In a WIDE SHOT, she trudges on, alone.
BLACK OUT.
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| Act One | ||||
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EXT. CONSTRUCTION PIT - NIGHT
A TEEN BOY spray-paints graffiti on an unfinished ply-wood wall, He's
writing one of those ornate swirly tagger names, let's say "MACK," though
we'll probably only see parts of it.
The CAMERA IS BLOCKED MOMENTARILY by a figure moving fast from left to
right.
The boy keeps painting, filling in the loopy black letters with red
paint.
Something RUSTLES nearby. The dark figure moves in front of the lens
again, right to left.
A sing-song voice whispers at him. It's soft at first, almost
indistinguishable from the hiss of the spray can.
All alone... The BOY doesn't hear it, keeps painting. CLOSE on a bony hand with cracked and filthy nails, an inch long and pointed. The voice is louder this time, cracked and amused.
Are you frightened to be all alone? The BOY tenses, looks around... BOY'S P.O.V.: nothing there...
Hey! Someone there? GNARL (O.S.) TEEN BOY BOY'S P.O.V. With a TEA-KETTLE SHRIEK, something dark lunges TOWARD CAMERA, blacking out the frame. EXT. SUMMERS' HOME - FRONT PORCH - NIGHT Willow stands on the front porch, waiting. Her suitcase and shoulder bag sit beside her. She rings the bell for what is clearly the second time. She gives up, picks up her luggage and trudges toward the side of the house. INT. SUMMERS' HOME - KITCHEN / DINING ROOM / STAIRS - NIGHT Willow enters through the back door into the lighted kitchen.
Hello? Through the open door we see her luggage on the back porch. She leaves it there and closes the door behind her. As she walks through the kitchen, we see the clock behind her. It shows 10:41. WE STEADICAM with Willow out of the kitchen, through the darkened dining room, to the stairs, up the stairs... lonely... lonely. OMITTED INT. SUMMERS' HOME - JOYCE'S OLD ROOM - NIGHT Willow stands small in the doorway to the room she used to share with Tara. It's now Buffy's room. On the open door we can see a little hanging plaque that reads "Buffy." Willow walks further in, looking around. WILLOW'S P.O.V.: The room is full of Buffy's furniture, photographs... Some of Buffy's clothes are draped over the back of the desk chair. There's a clock on the bedside table that reads 10:44. Willow goes to the window through which Tara was shot. She touches the window pane. It's been replaced. Willow picks up something off the desk: an address book. She opens it. On the first page it lists "FAMILY NUMBERS." Buffy has written in three phone numbers: "Buffy, work," "Xander's office" and "Dawn, cell." No room in the family for Willow. The DOOR DOWNSTAIRS CLOSES: SLAM. Willow jumps and drops the address book. It falls to the floor with a THUMP. Willow exits. We can hear her in the hallway:
Buffy? INT. SUMMERS' HOME - ENTRYWAY - NIGHT Willow comes down the stairs.
Dawn? Did I hear the door? She pauses in the entryway. No one. She crosses into the living room and sits on the sofa. She leans her head back against the cushions. She closes her eyes. She shifts to get more comfy, lying down. INT. SUMMERS' HOME - ENTRYWAY / LIVING ROOM - NIGHT A wall clock by the door reads 10:41. Buffy, Xander and Dawn enter in mid-conversation and continue to talk with the door open.
... absolutely said he put her on the plane in London. XANDER DAWN BUFFY DAWN XANDER BUFFY DAWN BUFFY As Buffy takes a step toward the dining room, Xander closes the door firmly. Immediately after, they hear a THUMP from upstairs. (Willow dropping the address book.) Buffy freezes.
What was that? BUFFY The three of them head up the stairs. As they go:
Willow? That you? INT. SUMMERS' HOME - LIVTNG ROOM - LATER Xander is sitting on the sofa. Dawn and Buffy join him there.
She didn't leave a message. BUFFY XANDER BUFFY XANDER DAWN Xander and Buffy look at Dawn, shocked.
Oh, don't give me shock-face. I mean, what I want to know is, will anyone around here ever ask for help when they need it? Instead everyone just keeps secrets, and suffers alone, and then we're s'posed to be all sympathetic when they start ripping the skins off people or dragging their sisters into the basement! (losing confidence) I may have some stuff to work through. BUFFY DAWN BUFFY MOTION CONTROL SHOT as the camera tracks across them on the sofa...
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SUMMERS' HOME - SAME TIME Continuation of the MOTION CONTROL SHOT as the camera continues to track, only now it's Willow, lying on the sofa, asleep and alone.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMERS' HOME - LIVING ROOM / ENTRYWAY - DAY Morning light fills the room. Willow still lies on the sofa; she spent the night there. She wakes up. She's clearly still alone in the house. She stands up, stretches. She reaches for the phone, studies it, hits speed-dial.
Yes, hello. I'm calling for Giles-- Mister Giles... Right... the Council all day... No, I know he can't be reached there. Thanks. Bye. HIGH ANGLE as Willow hangs up and looks around the living room. She's small, small, small. EXT. MAGIC BOX - DAY HIGH ANGLE WIDE SHOT: Willow (still in yesterday's clothes) walks down the Sunnydale main street. There are few other people out. Lower angle as she stops and looks at something. REVERSE reveals she's looking at the damaged MAGIC BOX edifice. There are "CLOSED" and "CONDEMNED" signs on the front of the building. ANYA emerges from the front door, with a box of damaged merchandise.
Anya! Anya looks up, sees Willow. She takes three steps backwards, right back into the doorway. Willow comes running over.
Don't! Anya, don't run away! ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW Anya comes out of the doorway. She puts down her box and she and Willow sit on the curb. They sit in silence for a beat. Willow looks idly through the box of damaged goods.
(super casual) So, um, where is everybody these days? ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS - DAY We now see that the pit we saw earlier is next to the school, this will be the new gym that Xander is working on. Willow approaches the deserted site.
Xander? She reaches the edge of the pit. A ladder protrudes over the edge.
Xander, you down there? She climbs down the ladder into the pit. INT. CONSTRUCTION PIT - DAY - CONTINUING Willow steps off the ladder. She turns to see... THE DEAD BODY OF THE TEEN BOY from earlier. His spray cans and bloody torn clothes are scattered. He has been FLAYED. Willow gasps off-screen. PAN UP FROM THE BODY and we find Xander and Buffy standing alone looking at the body. (No Willow) The bottom of the ladder is visible behind them. Xander looks a little nauseated.
No skin. XANDER BUFFY XANDER BUFFY SFX: footsteps climbing the ladder. Xander turns to look at the ladder. ANGLE ON: The ladder. WILLOW IS CLIMBING BACK UP THE LADDER. She's stumbling and shaking and streaked with tears. HEAD CONTROL PAN BACK TO BUFFY AND XANDER Xander, dismissing the footsteps, is turning back to face the body. He's responding to a Buffy line we didn't hear:
Yeah, I know exactly what you're thinking. Maybe Willow is back.
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| Act Two | ||||
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EXT. CONSTRUCTION PIT - DAY - CONTINUING
Buffy is on the ladder, a few steps up. Xander is still on the ground.
She stops climbing when he says:
Can I take it back? BUFFY XANDER BUFFY XANDER INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY Willow, in shock from finding the body, walks shakily through a hallway crowded with STUDENTS. It's between classes and everyone is hurrying. A BELL RINGS and the crowd starts to thin as students find their next classes. Willow keeps walking and soon... She's walking alone. INT. HIGH SCHOOL BASEMENT - DAY Willow, still freaked out and trembling, has made her way to the basement. Even though it's day, it's dark down here. She walks carefully, approaching a corner. Slows down, takes a breath.. Turns a corner. Nothing there. She sighs with relief. And SOMETHING LUNGES AT HER.
Ahh! It's SPIKE. He's dirty-looking, rumpled, scorched from his cross-hug last week. Especially raving and angry.
(accusing) Out! This is my place! You need permission to be here. You need a special slip with a stamp! WILLOW SPIKE WILLOW Spike is still angry...
You go off and try to wall up the bad spots, put your heart back in where it fell out, and you call yourself finished, but you're not. You're worse than ever, you are. Willow, already shaken, steps back, alarmed. Spike, suddenly calm now, seems interested in another part of the empty room.
You went away. WILLOW SPIKE WILLOW SPIKE WILLOW SPIKE WILLOW Spike is looking off at nothing.
Look at you, glowing. What's a word means glowing? Gotta rhyme. WILLOW Spike crumples in the face of whatever he's seeing, cowers from an unseen threat.
I should hide, hide from you. Hide my face. You know what I did. WILLOW SPIKE WILLOW SPIKE WILLOW She starts to walk away. She gets a few steps before he says:
They think you did it. Willow turns to look at him.
The Slayer and her boy. They think you took the skin. INT. HIGH SCHOOL BASEMENT - DAY Xander and Buffy make their way through the maze of the basement.
You can't use the blueprints to find your way around, down here. Seems like the walls move or something... BUFFY Xander takes them around a corner. And there's Spike, having a conversation with the air. As we watch this conversation we will realize it's the same one we just saw, only now we can't see Willow.
...and you call yourself finished, but you're not. You're worse than ever, you are. BUFFY SPIKE BUFFY XANDER SPIKE XANDER SPIKE BUFFY XANDER SPIKE Spike stares at Buffy
Look at you, glowin'. What's a word means glowing? Gotta rhyme. BUFFY SPIKE XANDER BUFFY SPIKE BUFFY SPIKE Buffy and Xander exchange a look.
Willow. He's talking about Willow. XANDER BUFFY SPIKE BUFFY XANDER SPIKE And Spike shuffles off around a corner. Buffy and Xander look at each other.
It means nothing. Right? He mentioned Willow and it means nothing. BUFFY She turns and walks away. He follows. As they go:
Wait. We are considering tadpoles? INT. ANYA'S APARTMENT - DAY Anya is in her sparse studio apartment. She sits at a table, sorting through a pile of damaged merchandise. She looks sadly at a collection of six cracked talismans.
Well, there's six poltergeists set free to terrorize, with no one making a penny of profit. There's an urgent POUNDING ON THE DOOR. She hurries to answer it.
All right! Keep your underpants on! She opens the door revealing Willow.
I need help. ANYA WILLOW Anya steps aside, motions Willow in with forced joviality.
Come in! Enjoy my personal space! WILLOW ANYA WILLOW After a beat:
With the skin thing, they're definitely going to think it was you. Buffy is, anyway. WILLOW ANYA Willow is thrown.
I... I don't.. when did you get all insightful? ANYA WILLOW ANYA
TIME CUT TO:
INT. ANYA'S APARTMENT - DAY - LATER The blinds are down, candles are lit, the floor is cleared. Anya and Willow sit on the floor, facing each other. An open map of Sunnydale lies between them.
This isn't gonna get all sexy, is it? WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW Willow closes her eyes, prepares herself...
Okay... scatter! They scatter the powder. Little white lights glow across the map. Some singly, others in groups. There is one very bright concentration. Anya and Willow's faces are lit by the white light.
Oooo. Anya points at one single light.
Hey look! That's me! Anya waves at the tiny light.
Hellooo! (then) What's that huge clump? Willow is studying the map, figuring...
The high school. It's all Hellmouthy underneath. ANYA WILLOW Sure enough, a curl of smoke is peeling off the Hellmouth light-cluster. With a little WHOOSH it BURSTS INTO FLAME. They both jump to their feet. Willow stomps out the fire.
Okay, remember our talk about the carpet? Willow picks up the map. Next to the charred hole left where the high school was is a smaller charred pinprick of a hole.
That could be it. It's strong. It's near the body, and it's by itself. Hiding in the woods, or a cave - couple good caves 'round there... ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW ANYA WILLOW Anya looks at Willow. Seeing the parallel. Finding it within herself to feel compassion.
(struggles with herself, then) I'm sorry, Willow. I wish it was better for you. WILLOW ANYA WILLOW Willow collects her charred map, heads toward the door. Anya calls her back.
Hey, Willow? Isn't there another spell? I mean, you're trying to find Buffy and Xander. Couldn't we use a spell to do that? WILLOW ANYA WILLOW Willow turns and exits. Anya looks after her. INT. SUMMERS' HOME - LIVING ROOM - DAY It's late afternoon and Buffy, Xander and Dawn are using the other (non-sofa) end of the living room as a research center. It's got a table, books and computer. Dawn is at the computer. Xander and Buffy flip through books.
I looked up demons that "skin" their victims and demons that "flay" their victims. Because, you know, same thing. There's a ton of prospects. XANDER DAWN BUFFY XANDER DAWN Buffy closes her book and goes to the weapons chest. She starts looking at her blades and bows. Xander crosses over to her. He crouches next to her.
What's up? BUFFY XANDER BUFFY XANDER BUFFY DAWN (O.S.) Buffy gives Xander a resigned look, she has to go through the motions, then the two of them go over to Dawn.
Demon called Gnarl, with a 'g' . He's a parasite with these nasty long fingernails. He secretes something through them and he uses that to paralyze his victims. Then he cuts strips of skin off while they're still alive. He starts in the middle, like belly-button-centric, and works out. It takes hours. XANDER DAWN XANDER BUFFY DAWN BUFFY DAWN BUFFY DAWN XANDER BUFFY DAWN BUFFY Dawn beams.
Now if we just knew how to find this thing. XANDER BUFFY Xander's not clear on what the insult was...
What? BUFFY DAWN BUFFY DAWN XANDER EXT. WOODS - NIGHT Spike wanders, stumbling, through the woods. He mumbles to himself:
William's a good boy. Carries the water, carries the sin. It's supposed to yet easier, in'it? It's s'posed to help to help. 'Cept it doesn't. And it's still so heavy... Spike passes out of frame. A moment later, Buffy, Xander and Dawn enter it, following him. They have to move quickly to keep up. They're each armed with a crossbow or a sword.
We should've put him on a leash. BUFFY XANDER BUFFY DAWN BUFFY DAWN XANDER Xander has run into the back of Spike, who has stopped still.
This is it. End of the line, everyone off. (to Xander, intensely) Keep your ticket. You'll need that. BUFFY Sure enough, about ten feet in front of Spike is the base of a shear rock cliff.
Hey, Buffy, give him a break. Maybe it's a vicious skin-eating rock cliff. Spike gives Xander a disgusted look.
'S got a cave in it. Look. ANGLE ON: a small natural opening in the base of the cliff. Only a couple feet high.
(to Buffy, re: Xander) I'm insane. What's his excuse? And Spike walks away, leaving them there. EXT./INT. GNARL'S LAIR - NIGHT Willow is at the same cave entrance. She hesitates for a second. Then she crawls into the opening. She looks around. Something skitters and mutters at the edges of her vision.
All alone... EXT./INT. GNARL'S LAIR - NIGHT Buffy, Xander and Dawn are where we left them outside the cave entrance.
Do we just, you know... crawl in? XANDER BUFFY XANDER BUFFY Buffy enters the cave, cautiously crawling through the small entrance. Inside, the cave is large, stand-up-in-able, and she helps Xander through, then Dawn.
Dark and dank. I was hoping it would be dark and dank-- BUFFY They hear something moving.
You hear that? XANDER DAWN BUFFY INT. GNARL'S LAIR - DEEPER INSIDE THE CAVE - NIGHT Willow walks on, increasingly frightened. She looks around, reacting to skittery noises all around her.
Look at the shorn lamb. See how it trembles. Is it the cold wind? A SHADOW jumps across the wall behind her.
Or is it that the flock is nowhere to be seen? INT. GNARL'S LAIR - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS Buffy, Xander and Dawn are still looking around.
Poor little lamb, all alone... DAWN XANDER BUFFY GNARL LEAPS OUT AND SLASHES AT DAWN. He's making that TEA- KETTLE sound again. This is our first real look at him, and it's quick. Ideally, it's an impression of a small, thin naked body with spindly arms and legs and a pointy little face with sharpened brown teeth. Dawn screams. Gnarl leaps up out of frame vertically.
Where'd he go? BUFFY Dawn is standing with her arms crossed over her midsection. She has a confused and blank look on her face.
I... I guess... so. She uncrosses her arms revealing an eight-inch-long slash across her stomach. A seeping, bloody cut is visible. Buffy and Xander stare at it.
I feel kinda... I... can't... Dawn lifts her arm, slowly...
Dawn! (to Xander) We gotta get her out of here. Xander and Buffy scoop up Dawn, carry her between them. The three of them head for the exit in a semi-panic.
We can't deal with him now. Seal him in! GNARL'S LAIR - DEEPER INSIDE THE CAVE - NIGHT Willow, hearing all the commotion...
What's going on? Who's here? She sprints back toward the entrance. As she runs we hear Gnarl's creepy laughter She gets back to the front of the cave just in time to see a big rock closing off the small opening.
NO! Stop! She's trapped. She looks around her, terrified, listening to the laughter.
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| Act Three | ||||
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INT. GNARL'S LAIR - NIGHT
Willow stands in the cave. Behind her we see the closed-off entrance.
She looks around her, frightened, reacting to the SKITTERY NOISES and
falling pebbles caused by Gnarl.
No way out now. No way out. WILLOW A high thin piercing laugh comes out of nowhere.
Gnarl loves spells. He keeps them as pets. They love him and they leave him alone. She gets down on the ground, tries to push the rock free and escape. She can't move it. She stands up and announces:
Maybe you're immune to magic, but I got more than that! You wanna fight? A dark shadow shifts in a corner:
Your friends left you here. No one comes to save you. They wanted me to have you. ON WILLOW'S FACE. Her brave front starts to slip. EXT. WOODS - NIGHT Xander and Buffy move as fast as they can, carrying paralyzed Dawn between them. (Dawn isn't stiff like a hoard, but she isn't limp either, and she can't move on her own.)
The computer. The thing Dawn was reading may have an antidote for the paralysis. DAWN BUFFY DAWN BUFFY XANDER BUFFY DAWN XANDER BUFFY DAWN XANDER A GROUP OF (5 or 6) KIDS DAWN'S AGE pass going the other way. They stare.
(lamely) Right. No need for that. DAWN BUFFY And they move on... INT. GNARL'S LAIR - NIGHT Willow backs up, away from the relentless voice. She still can't see who's taunting her.
Did they leave you as a gifty for me? Are you a tasty little gifty? WILLOW GNARL (O.S.) Willow has backed herself up against the wall.
Were they here? Were my friends really here? I heard something-- Gnarl lunges at her, SHRIEKING, like he did at Dawn, and slashes her across the middle. Willow, one hand over the cut across her stomach, collapses back against the wall and sinks helplessly to the ground.
They were here. Here they were. And there they went. Gone all gone, what a pretty song. They sealed you in with me. I think you're a gifty. Which means they either hate you... CLOSE ON: One of Gnarl's spidery hands as it closes over her tennis shoe and pulls hard. Willow slides down roughly until she's flat on her back.
...Or they love me. I love a gifty. Can't wait to unwrap it. Gnarl pulls himself up onto her. He sits astride her, hunched like a vulture. He sniffs the cut on her stomach. INT. SUMMERS' HOME - ENTRYWAY / LIVING ROOM - NIGHT We're looking at the open front door from the inside. Dawn's feet appear first, coming in horizontally about four feet off the ground. She's face down. Buffy and Xander carry her in, then try to manage the turn into the living room.
Watch her head, watch her head. DAWN BUFFY They get her to the sofa, start to lower her.
Fce up! Fce up! XANDER It's awkward, but Buffy and Xander get Dawn positioned face up on the sofa. Xander sits down on the floor by Dawn. Buffy hurries to the computer.
(typing) I'm looking for the page with the info on this thing... see if there's an antidote. XANDER DAWN XANDER Buffy is poking frantically at the keyboard.
I can't find the right... okay... (fast, run-together) Gnarl blah blah skin blah blah yuck... got it. It says the paralysis is permanent. DAWN BUFFY DAWN BUFFY XANDER DAWN BUFFY DAWN BUFFY XANDER DAWN INT. GNARL'S LAIR - NIGHT Gnarl still crouches, drooling, over Willow. CLOSE ON: her stomach, as he makes a long, barely-bleeding, scalpel-like cut across it with his fingernail.
Gnarl makes a pretty picture. He makes another line, parallel to the first.
It's easy when you know how. It's easy when everyone helps. They helped me. Too bad there's no one to help you... ON: Willow's face as we hear the tearing of her skin.
I bet she's dying. INT. SUMMERS' HOME LIVING ROOM - NIGHT Anya is looking down at Dawn, who is still stretched out on her back on the sofa. Buffy is pulling weapons out, testing them, strapping them onto her and Xander
(indignant) -Nmp! BUFFY ANYA XANDER ANYA Anya abruptly lifts Dawn's feet up into the air, bending Dawn at the waist.
Hey! DAWN Anya lets go of the feet and they stay there.
(to Dawn) Oh! You're posable! BUFFY ANYA She rotates Dawn so she's sitting on the sofa, feet sticking straight out in front of her.
Neat as you please. Hardly need to undo her. Anya opens a can of salted nuts, starts eating.
Ys oo do! BUFFY ANYA BUFFY ANYA DAWN BUFFY ANYA DAWN GROWLS AT ANYA (yes, actually growls).
Xander, she could be there. Willow could be trapped with the Gnarl. ANYA Buffy and Xander exchange a frightened look.
This monster, Gnarl, you know stuff about him? ANYA BUFFY Buffy and Xander head for the door, pulling Anya with them. Dawn is left, alone in frame, bent awkwardly onto the sofa. Buffy runs back into frame, puts the TV remote in Dawn's hand. INT. GNARL'S LAIR - NIGHT Gnarl feeds. We hear the lapping of his wet mouth. Tears have streaked down Willow's face.
(barely able to whisper) They... wouldn't leave... they'll return... Gnarl's mouth is red with blood.
They don't want you. Lock you in, nice white skin... and if they come back, where will they find you? Inside me, you'll already be. He digs his fingers under a strip of skin.
Lovely... And we see Willow's face as we hear it RIPPED off.
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| Act Four | ||||
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EXT. WOODS - NIGHT
Buffy, Xander and Anya on the run back to the cave. Anya is having a
hard time keeping up.
Anya! You've got to keep up! ANYA BUFFY INT. GNARL'S LAIR - WILLOW-VISIBLE - NIGHT Gnarl astride Willow, eating her middle. She's paralyzed, but she can cry and she can manage:
No. No. No. Then, suddenly, Gnarl turns his head and hisses. Willow can't move her head, but she moves her eyes, trying to see what he's reacting to. Suddenly he jumps off her, reacting to something unseen. (It's Buffy.) INT. GNARL'S LAIR - BUFFY-VISIBLE - NIGHT Now we, the audience, see Buffy, but not Willow. Buffy, holding a sharp 5-inch knife, is in mid-motion, swinging at Gnarl. Xander tries to catch him, but he ducks away and disappears off into the shadows in the corner. Buffy stands and calls after Gnarl.
Where is Willow? What did you do to her? ANYA Anya points.
What? Where? Buffy is peering into the shadows. Nothing moves there. Anya watches.
He's tucked way up in the rocks. You may not see him again. Xander feels around the floor where Anya indicated Willow.
There's nothing here. Anya looks at what he's doing.
Your hand. It's going right through her! Xander yanks his hand back, startled.
What's going on? BUFFY XANDER Buffy gives up on the shadows, turns toward Xander and Anya.
I'm getting the feeling that whatever caused this invisibility thing or whatever, it's a whole separate issue from this skin-eating mon-- ANYA It's too late. Gnarl is on Buffy, SHRIEKING and SLASHING. Buffy leaps back. Her top is slashed. On Buffy as she looks at her tummy. He didn't get skin. He keeps striking at her, slashing with the fingernails of both hands. Buffy keeps having to jump out of the way.
Remember what I told you! Get him in the eyes! INT. GNARL'S LAIR - WILLOW-VISIBLE - NIGHT Anya goes to Willow's side. The sounds of the fight continue, although they're a little distance away.
Willow, I'm here. Wow, you're really hurt. WILLOW ANYA ANGLE ON: The fight. Gnarl battles unseen Buffy.
I... I dn't see... ANYA Willow starts crying...
Someone came. Zey din't leav me. ANYA WILLOW Anya glances again at the wound, blanches.
(you're gonna die) Good, you're doing good. INT. GNARL'S LAIR - BUFFY-VISIBLE - NIGHT Buffy is trying to stab at Gnarl's eyes, and he is trying to slash her with his fingernails. Buffy lunges with her blade, driving at his eyes. He laugh- shrieks and skips back.
He's too fast! Buffy lunges again. He leaps straight up out of frame and DROPS DOWN BEHIND HER. She spins, a beat too late.
Watch out! Gnarl is slashing at Buffy again, and she drops into a crouch to avoid him. While she's down, she STABS HIM THROUGH THE FOOT. Gnarl shrieks and tries to move, but the blade has him pinned to the ground. He pivots helplessly.
His eyes! But you don't have the-- Buffy grabs his head and DRIVES HER THUMBS into his eyes. Gnarl collapses, dead.
Ew. Ew. Thumbs. I can't believe you did that! INT. GNARL'S LAIR - WILLOW-VISIBLE - NIGHT WILLOW AND ANYA Where we left them.
(to Willow) Buffy killed him. It was gross. WILLOW The pain hits her...
Oh! INT. SUMMERS' HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT Dawn, simultaneously freed from paralysis, falls off the sofa out of frame.
Ow! INT. GNARL'S LAIR - BUFFY-VISIBLE - NIGHT Dead Gnarl lies on the floor of the cave. Nearby, Buffy and Xander are trying to gather around the invisible, insubstantial Willow. Anya stands over them.
Willow? Are you here? XANDER ANYA BUFFY ANYA Anya runs out. Xander and Buffy gather around Willow.
I think she's sort of... here-ish. BUFFY The ground where Willow is starts to SHIMMER, as if with distorting heat waves.
What's happening? Buffy and Xander draw back a little. Willow FADES IN, her voice fading in with her. She's crying with relief and pain.
...couldn't find you and I looked everywhere... And the monster said you left me... Oh! There you are! There you are! Buffy and Xander aren't looking at her face, though. They're staring in horror at her injuries. They pull back.
Don't go away! XANDER BUFFY WILLOW INT. SUMMERS' HOME - HALL/BUFFY'S OLD ROOM - DAY Buffy walks down the hall toward her old room. She enters... This is clearly Willow's room now. Willow sits on the bed, cross-legged, eyes closed. She's bandaged from ribs to hips. Buffy enters, realizes she's intruding, and turns to leave. Willow, her eyes still closed:
Buffy. Buffy turns back. Willow opens her eyes.
I didn't mean-- Sorry to interrupt. WILLOW Buffy sits at the foot of the bed.
Didn't realize meditating was such hard work. WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY Willow leans back, adjusting pillows behind her and wincing at the pull on her wound.
You're wiped out. I should go. WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW A beat.
I have a confession. I thought it might be you. With the flaying. WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW Willow sits up again, cross-legged, and closes her eyes, clearly meditating.
I thought you were too tired. WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW Buffy shifts on the bed, so that she's sitting cross-legged too, facing Willow. She touches Willow's hand with hers. Observant viewers may notice that this is the first time anyone has touched Willow this episode.
Me, I got so much strength I'm givin' it away. WILLOW BUFFY WILLOW Buffy reaches out her other hand, takes Willow's.
Good. Willow smiles. They sit there, working together, connecting.
BLACK OUT.
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