A
Allycat
Guest
Well, there we go again. New ep, new chances. For me it was the first actual writing for this season. I hope you enjoy!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer 9.03 "Cheating Death"
By mistymidnight and Allycat
TEASER
INT. EDMONSVILLE HOSPITAL "“ SUNSET
The sun is setting over Edmonsville. Buffy is walking down
the hallway, presumably leaving work for the day. She passes
a receptionist, BRENDA and pauses to say goodbye.
BUFFY
Bye"¦
(She glances at the
woman's name tag.)
"¦Brenda.
BRENDA
Buffy, right?
BUFFY
The one and only.
(Pauses.)
You're new, right?
BRENDA
(Happily.)
My second day on the job.
BUFFY
Cool. What do you like best so far?
BRENDA
Nothing really yet. But there's
this one thing I'm really looking
forward to.
BUFFY
What's that?
BRENDA
Killing you.
Brenda leaps across the reception desk and tackles Buffy,
trying to choke her. Buffy throws her off, almost casually,
and stands up.
BUFFY
I always just have to ask.
She prepares herself for another attack from Brenda and
shakes her head.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Just another day at the office.
CUT TO:
INT. EDMONSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL "“ SUNSET
Dawn, Kara, and Lux walking down the hallway.
DAWN
I'm absolutely beat.
(Shudders.)
No more three-hour long study
sessions for me.
KARA
It was worth it.
Lux and Dawn give her 'you've-gotta-be-kidding-me' looks.
KARA (CONT'D)
Well, if you're me.
LUX
I'm with Dawn. The next time we
study, I vote it's at someone's
house. Y'know, where there's
actually food.
DAWN
We could've gone to the cafeteria.
LUX
I said 'food'. Nothing in this
school qualifies as edible.
KARA
Oh, like that's ever stopped you
before.
LUX
(Playfully.)
What's that supposed to mean?
KARA
You order lunch here every day.
LUX
That's only 'cause I'm horrible at
making sandwiches.
DAWN
(Playfully sarcastic.)
'Cause it just takes so much skill,
Lux.
LUX
I'm just not meant to be a culinary
mastermind.
They push open a door at the end of the hall and we
CUT TO:
EXT. EDMONSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PARKING LOT "“ SUNSET
(CONT'D)
The girls walking into the parking lot. Kara fishes in her
purse.
KARA
Oh, God, where are they?
LUX
What?
KARA
I can't find my keys.
DAWN
Perfect. You finally pass Driver's
Ed and now you can't find your
keys.
KARA
I know I had them with me this
morning"¦ of course I did, 'cause I
drove to school.
LUX
Way to make a connection, genius.
KARA
Don't get mad at me! It's not like
I planned for this to happen!
DAWN
Okay, guys, just calm down. We'll
go look for the keys. They probably
just fell out of your purse
somewhere. Maybe a janitor found
them.
KARA
I hope so. My mom will kill me if I
lose my keys.
Lux is staring at something off camera. She points at it and
says:
LUX
(Fearfully.)
Not if that thing kills us first.
CUT TO:
Demon standing about three parking spaces away. This one's
tall and heavyset, with a dry, flaky skin-like covering. It
charges at the girls, who all scream at the same time
(despite having dealt with demons before).
CUT TO:
EXT CONSTRUCTION SITE "“ SUNSET
CAMERA ON: XANDER, who is headed for his car. He takes the
keys out of his pocket and clicks the automatic unlock
button. He gets into the car and sits down, slamming the door
shut. As he puts the keys into the ignition, a flaky-looking
demon hand/claw thing (the same kind of demon that's
attacking the Trio) reaches from the backseat and grabs his
neck.
CUT TO:
EXT. EDMONSVILLE UNIVERSITY GROUNDS "“ SUNSET
CAMERA ON: WILLOW walking across the campus grounds"”all by
herself and looking a little lonely. She holds her books to
her chest and carries herself in a way that brings to mind
her "nerdy" days, a la Season one. Suddenly, she is attacked
(sensing a pattern here?) by the same type of demon Xander
and the Trio have been attacked by. She manages to choke out:
WILLOW
So much for peace and quiet.
OPENING CREDITS (click to watch)
Michelle Trachtenberg
Iyari Là¬mon
Nicholas Brendon
Alyson Hannigan
Carly Pope
Lindsay Lohan
and Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
Guest starring: Elizabeth Anne Allen, Sir Anthony Hopkins
ACT I
EXT. AFRICAN VILLAGE - DAY
SUBTITLE
Several thousand years ago.
In this african village in the Savanna with clay huts, the
native people of the land are working around the house. A
young boy is playing in the field, he is running through it.
We follow him as he gets away from the village and through
the higher grass makes his way through the savannah
FADE TO:
EXT. AFRICAN SAVANNAH - DAY
The boy is still running through the higher grass when he
spots a group of men in the middle of the savannah. He closes
in on them, and hides in the bush to look on. The African men
are fighting with a demon. As four warrior circle around it,
another old man dressed elaborately dances and sings. As the
demon charges a bit towards one of the men, another demon; a
baby demon is revealed on the group. The other demon is its
mother. As the mother charges one of the men; another pokes
the baby with his spear. The mother rapidly turns around, but
only the have the man she was charging stab her in the back.
She tries to turn around again, but another one of the
warrior stabs her. As she tries to break the spears the other
two men stab her too and finally, she drops to the ground.
Where the warriors continue stabbing her, making sure she's
dead. Then they turn to the wounded baby demon. The medicine
man looks up at the sun, then walks off; the other men walk
away with him, leaving the baby demon to wither and die alone
in the heat. When they've left, the boy comes from his hiding
place and hurries to the baby demon, which doesn't look as
fearsome as demon usually look; in fact, like any baby, it's
quite cute. The boy tends to the baby demon's wounds.
FADE TO:
EXT. EDMONSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PARKING LOT "“ SUNSET
The demon goes straight for Dawn, who backs away, trying
desperately to think of a plan. She glances down at her book
bag, which still holds tons of books as a result of the study
session. Using every bit of strength she can, she swings the
bags around and hits the demon on the head with it. It
stumbles backwards, giving Dawn, Kara, and Lux the
opportunity to make a break for it. They run toward the car.
Dawn jiggles the passenger door handle.
DAWN
(Panicked.)
Are you sure you don't have those
keys, Kara?
Kara is struggled to open the locked driver's side door. She
suddenly stops and gets an "oh-my-God-can-this-day-get-any
worse" look.
KARA
Oh, I've got the keys. I just can't
use them to unlock the door.
CAMERA ON: Kara's keys, sitting on the passenger seat inside
the locked car.
LUX
Break the windows with something!
The DEMON comes at Dawn and tries to punch her. She ducks
just in time, and the demon's fist shatters the window.
LUX (CONT'D)
That works.
KARA
Ooh, my mother is gonna KILL me!
Dawn tries to hit the Demon with her backpack, but it's
prepared for her this time. It grabs the backpack and uses it
to push Dawn to the ground. It throws the backpack aside and
comes at her, preparing to choke her as she lies on the
ground, apparently helpless. As it closes in, she kicks it,
putting all her strength behind her sharp-looking, likely-to
instill-pain-in-demons high-heeled boots. As the boots make
contact, the demon howls in pain and backs off momentarily.
CUT TO:
Meanwhile Kara is running around to the passenger's side of
the car, sticking her hand through the broken window,
unlocking the door, opening it, and is gingerly crawling over
the broken glass to reach her keys.
LUX
Hurry up, Kara!
KARA
I'm going as fast as I can!
She reaches the drivers side and inserts the keys in the
ignition. The car roars to life. She hits the automatic
unlock button, and Lux opens the door to the backseat and
jumps in.
LUX
Hurry!
CUT TO:
Dawn, throwing small rocks at the demon. This isn't slowing
it down, just irritating it.
DAWN
A little help here, guys!
Suddenly, Kara's car smacks into the demon from the side.
Dawn seizes the opportunity and sprints for the car. She
jumps in, and Kara turns the car around, slamming it into the
demon twice more.
KARA
Is it dead?
DAWN
Who cares? Just drive!
With a screech of tires, they're out of there.
CUT TO:
INT. EDMONSVILLE MENTAL HOSPITAL "“ SUNSET
CAMERA ON: Buffy and Brenda, fighting in the hospital lobby.
BUFFY
Y'know, as a new employee, this
might not be the impression you
want to make. Wanna start over?
BRENDA
Not really.
BUFFY
Fine, time for a chick-fight move.
She grabs hold of Brenda's hair and pulls"”hard. And, lo and
behold, Brenda's hair comes off!
BUFFY (CONT'D)
May I just say, "Ick!"?
Of course, once Brenda's hair is gone, her face soon follows,
and we see that in reality, she is a humanoid demon with
really wrinkly skin.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Y'know, with skin like that, I
really don't blame you for wearing
a mask and all.
BRENDA
Now, Slayer, do you really want
those to be your last words? They'd
be a real disappointment to read on
your tombstone.
BUFFY
Hey, last time I died, my last
words were beautifully deep and
insightful. And if THEY didn't end
up on my tombstone"”which they
didn't"”I'm not gonna worry too much
about this time. Capice?
She flips Brenda onto the ground and grabs her chin and the
top of her head.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Then again, these aren't my last
words.
She twists Brenda's neck"”it snaps. The demon lies lifeless on
the ground. Buffy gets an irritated look on her face.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
How the hell am I gonna get this
out of here?
FADE TO:
EXT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE "“ DRIVEWAY "“ JUST AFTER SUNSET
CAMERA ON: Kara's car, pulling into the driveway, just as
Xander pulls in behind her and Buffy gets out of her recently
parked car. They all look at each other and exclaim in
unison:
BUFFY, XANDER, KARA, LUX, AND DAWN
You'll never guess what just
happened!
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMERS LIVING ROOM "“ JUST AFTER SUNSET
CAMERA ON: Willow and Kennedy. Willow sits on the couch and
Kennedy's wheelchair is positioned right next to her.
WILLOW
So we were all attacked at sunset?
KENNEDY
I wasn't.
Willow absently pats her knee.
CAMERA ON: AMY
AMY
I think it's safe to say that the
same person is targeting all you
guys.
CAMERA ON:
DAWN
Yeah. By the way, how'd you guys
fight yours off?
BUFFY
A little fighting, little neck
snapping action.
WILLOW
Magic.
Everyone looks expectantly at Xander.
XANDER
I, uh, fought him off like a man.
A beat.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Okay, I beat him with a crowbar.
But that's still fighting, right?
DAWN
Sure.
AMY
The question is, why you guys?
Buffy scoffs.
BUFFY
Why us? Why not?
WILLOW
We're kind of"¦ always"¦ on
somebody's hit list.
LUX
We're practically walking around
with freaking targets on us.
DAWN
Which we all learned last week.
Someone's after us, and I'll bet it
was the same someone that set us up
both times.
KARA
So someone's suddenly after us.
Since when? I mean, these attacks
have been pretty close together"”
BUFFY
Since Amy got here with the box.
Everyone turns to look at Amy. She looks somewhat insulted.
AMY
Are you saying this thing followed
me here?
BUFFY
I'm saying we didn't have problems
until you showed up. Make someone
angry on your way here, Amy?
AMY
No. I told you, I've been doing the
goody-two-shoes thing for a while
now.
WILLOW
Maybe it's the box.
A beat. Everyone takes this in.
XANDER
So, something's after the box?
DAWN
Duh.
KARA
It does seem pretty likely. I mean,
weren't you saying how powerful it
is? Maybe someone's looking for a
power boost.
She checks her watch.
KARA (CONT'D)
I gotta get home. I have to stop
at the grocery store for some
popcorn. I promised my mom we'd do
mother-daughter movie night.
DAWN
Tonight's movie?
KARA
Fools Rush In.
DAWN
Never seen it.
LUX
It's really good. We should all
rent it sometime.
DAWN
I dunno.
LUX
Matthew Perry's in it.
DAWN
Oh, okay.
(to Kara)
Bye, Kara.
LUX
Bye, Kare.
BUFFY
Need someone to walk you home? I
mean, what with this habit we all
have of getting attacked.
KARA
No thanks. I doubt I'll be attacked
again tonight.
BUFFY
Not to be pessimistic, but I don't
doubt it.
KARA
I'll be fine. I've got a bunch of
books in my bag. Anything comes
near me, I'll hit it with my stuff.
DAWN
Call us when you get home, okay?
KARA
Okay. See you tomorrow, guys.
FADE TO:
EXT. GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT "“ EARLY EVENING
CAMERA ON: Kara, leaving the supermarket with a plastic bag
full of junk food for her mother/daughter movie night. There
are a few people walking about, all in a rush, none paying
attention to her. Suddenly, a MAN bumps into Kara.
MAN
I'm sorry, miss.
Kara looks dazed.
MAN (CONT'D)
Miss?
Kara continues to look dazed. It appears she is having one of
her visions of someone dying. We"¦
CUT TO:
EXT. BUSY ROAD "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: A car, wrecked, on the side of the road, next to a
restaurant where a sign outside reads, "$10,353 RAISED. THANK
YOU." It's pouring rain, and the road looks slippery.
CUT TO:
EXT. BUSY ROAD "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Fire trucks and police cars pulling up to the
accident scene.
CUT TO:
EXT. BUSY ROAD "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: A police officer in an orange raincoat, holding
the victim's cell phone, searching for identification on it.
ZOOM IN to show a label on the back of the phone reads,
"Property of Robert Cumberdale". The police officer turns the
phone over and we see the date displayed on the cell phone's
call screen, as well as the time.
CUT TO:
EXT. EDMONSVILLE STREET "“ EARLY EVENING
CAMERA ON: Kara, looking more dazed and confused than before.
KARA
(RE: the date/time on cell
phone in her vision)
That's last week.
FADE TO BLACK.
ACT II
EXT. EDMONSVILLE STREET "“ EARLY EVENING
CAMERA ON: Kara, being supported by the man she bumped into.
She looks quite drained, as well as more than a little
confused. I mean, wouldn't you be?
MAN
Are you all right, miss?
Kara gently pushes him away and stands, rather unsteadily, on
her own.
KARA
I'll be okay.
She takes a step and stumbles. The man reaches out to prevent
her from falling.
KARA (CONT'D)
Or not. I guess I'm just a little
dizzy. Maybe I'm dehydrated or
something.
MAN
Here, sit down a minute.
He helps KARA sit down in a no-parking space, where she sits
in silence for a moment. It's obvious to the audience that
she's trying to figure out what just happened with her weird
vision. Then, inspiration strikes:
KARA
Hey, don't I know you?
MAN
I don't believe so.
KARA
Yeah, you're"¦ Robert Cumberdale,
right?
ROBERT CUMBERDALE
Yes, I am. And you are?
KARA
I'm Kara. I think I know you from
somewhere.
A beat.
KARA (CONT'D)
Help me out, here, Mr. Cumberdale.
ROBERT CUMBERDALE
Well, I teach at Edmonsville
Elementary School"¦ do you have any
siblings that go there?
KARA
Only child. So, no.
ROBERT CUMBERDALE
Um"¦ during the summer I lead
conferences for teachers statewide.
KARA
Nope.
ROBERT CUMBERDALE
Maybe we go to the same church?
KARA
(Lying, and not very
well.)
Yes! Yes, that's it! We definitely
go to church together, at"¦
She realizes she has no idea what church Mr. Cumberdale
attends. She finishes lamely:
KARA (CONT'D)
"¦at the church where we both go.
ROBERT CUMBERDALE
Yeah, I'm so glad I found St.
Anthony's. Originally, I was going
to Our Lady of Peace over on Barton
Street, but the atmosphere at St.
Anthony's is so much friendlier,
don't you think?
KARA
Sure, sure.
She gets up from the ground and turns to face Mr. Cumberdale.
KARA (CONT'D)
Well, it was sure nice talking to
you, Mr. Cumberdale. I'll see you
Sunday.
Cumberdale nods and begins to resume his walk toward the
grocery store, calling over his shoulder:
ROBERT CUMBERDALE
(In a friendly voice.)
I'll keep an eye out for you!
KARA
(Also friendly.)
Great!
As soon as he is out of earshot, she turns back in the
direction she was coming from and mutters dryly:
KARA (CONT'D)
Just great.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMERS KITCHEN "“ EARLY EVENING
CAMERA ON: Dawn, eating spaghetti as Buffy scoops some pasta
out of the pot for herself.
DAWN
Do you think Superman could take
Dracula in a fight?
Buffy raises her eyebrows and sits next to Dawn at the table.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Just wondering.
Suddenly, Kara comes in.
KARA
Okay, forget the spaghetti. The
weirdest thing just happened to me.
DAWN
Spill.
KARA
I was at the supermarket and I
bumped into a man and I had one of
my visions, except I saw him dying
last week.
BUFFY
Vampire attack?
KARA
Car crash.
BUFFY
Nothing otherworldly about that.
KARA
Uh-uh.
DAWN
So who is this guy? Do you know?
KARA
His name is Robert Cumberdale. He's
an elementary school teacher in
town and he conducts statewide
teacher conferences during the
summer. He used to go to Our Lady
of Peace Church over on Barton, but
now he goes to Saint Anthony's.
DAWN
And you know all this because"¦?
KARA
I pretended I went to Saint
Anthony's, too.
DAWN
You don't?
KARA
It's a Catholic Church.
Dawn doesn't seem to get what Kara is saying.
KARA (CONT'D)
I'm Episcopalian.
DAWN
Oh.
KARA
Anyway, I can't figure out why this
would happen. How can he still be
walking around if he's supposedly
been dead a week?
BUFFY
Maybe he didn't die in the car
crash.
KARA
Come again?
BUFFY
Maybe something happened with the
car crash that directly affects how
he's about to die.
KARA
I don't see visions of why people
die. I see visions of how they die.
DAWN
Did you actually see him die?
KARA
What?
DAWN
Did you see, y'know, him having
some kind of fatal heart attack at
the wheel, or his body, or, like, a
pile of his mangled flesh?
BUFFY
Dawn!
KARA
Eew. And no.
DAWN
So maybe he got into an accident
and survived. Maybe he's gonna die
soon of injuries sustained from the
crash.
KARA
But then I'd see him dying of those
injuries in my vision. I wouldn't
see what gave him the injuries.
Like when that freaky bone-monster
thing"¦
DAWN
The Twalitor.
KARA
Right, the Twalitor. When it was
coming after you, I didn't see
visions of you being a monster
hunter type, and therefore a
target. I just saw boom, monster,
boom, you, and boom, death. Same
with every other time in between.
That time with the girl that
would've drowned? Boom, lake, boom,
girl, boom, death. And so on and so
on. Get where I'm going with this?
DAWN
I see where you're going.
Buffy glances at her watch.
BUFFY
And now I know where I should be
going. Time for patrol. See you
later, ladies.
Buffy grabs a bag of weapons from the floor and exits.
KARA
Hey, where is everyone?
DAWN
Xander got called back to work.
Apparently when he fought off that
demon, he did some damage to the
site.
KARA
Oh, no.
DAWN
Anyway, he can't work too late,
'cause it's getting dark, but he'll
be gone for awhile. Willow and Amy
are out doing magic-type things,
and I'm trying really hard not to
think about it, 'cause the last
time Willow and Amy went out doing
magic-type things, it wasn't
pretty.
KARA
Where's Kennedy?
DAWN
You know what? I'm not sure. I
think Will and Amy dropped her off
at home before they went out.
She looks down at her plate, and Buffy's untouched dinner on
the table next to it. She picks up the plate and holds it up
to Kara, asking:
DAWN (CONT'D)
Want some spaghetti?
CUT TO:
EXT. XANDER'S CONSTRUCTION SITE "“ EARLY EVENING
CAMERA ON: Xander, observing damage to the frame of a
building. There is evidence of crowbar hittage. He sighs and
turns around, coming face-to-face with Kennedy. Well, not
exactly face-to-face, 'cause she's in her wheelchair, but you
get the picture.
XANDER
Whoa, Ken. Kinda startled me there.
KENNEDY
That's me. Stealthy Slayer on
Wheels.
A beat.
KENNEDY (CONT'D)
Listen, the reason I came down here
was to apologize for being so
stupid at the beach. I made a
complete fool of both of us, and
I'm really sorry. I"”
XANDER
Ken, it's okay.
KENNEDY
No, it's not. Just 'cause I can't
walk all of a sudden doesn't give
me the right to"”
XANDER
To grieve? Kennedy, listen to me.
You have every right to be upset.
If a friend of yours had someone
close to them die, would you expect
them to just go on, all hunky-dory
peachy-keen? No. It's okay to be
upset over a loss. Okay, in your
case, it wasn't the loss of a human
life, but that doesn't mean it's
not an important loss. Your life
will never be the same, and it's
perfectly fine to be angry and
scared and sad.
KENNEDY
You didn't get drunk over losing
your eye.
XANDER
That's 'cause I had bigger things
to worry about"¦ like staying alive,
for one.
A beat.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Kennedy, do whatever you have to do
to grieve. Just don't get drunk and
wheel yourself to inevitable doom
and destruction, okay?
Kennedy smiles a little bit.
KENNEDY
Okay.
XANDER
Good. Now, I'm really sorry, but I
have to get back to work.
He smiles at her and waves, and she smiles and waves back,
before he turns and walks away. As soon as he has turned
away, the smile fades from Kennedy's face and she looks down,
lonely.
FADE TO:
EXT. CEMETERY "“ EVENING
CAMERA ON: Buffy, walking along, talking, seemingly to
herself.
BUFFY
So apparently, the guy died last
week, and we're just hearing about
it now.
ZOOM OUT. We see that she's talking to Mercutio, who is
walking along with her.
MERCUTIO
That's strange.
BUFFY
Tell me about it. And"¦
She stops and sniffs the air.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
What is that smell?
(To Mercutio.)
Can you smell that?
MERCUTIO
For quite some time.
BUFFY
And you didn't say anything
because"¦
She looks at Mercutio and finishes her own sentence.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
You're a vampire-type with
heightened senses and you thought
it was just you. I got it.
She sniffs again.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
I think it's coming from over
there.
She gestures to some bushes and begins to walk in that
direction. Mercutio is slightly ahead of her.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Ick, I need to find a job with a
better smell to it. Or better yet,
no smell at all.
Suddenly, Mercutio stops short.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
What?
MERCUTIO
I don't think you want to see this.
BUFFY
Sorry, it's my job. So what are we
dealing with"¦
CLOSE UP: Buffy's face. Whatever she sees has truly disgusted
her.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
"¦now?
CUT TO:
INT. CAVE - NIGHT
The young African boy from before is in a cave with the baby
demon, who has grown a bit. The wound has healed; the boy is
feeding the demon and taking care of him.
FADE TO:
INT. CAVE - NIGHT
The same scene, but the demon is fully grown now, and so is
the African man. Instead of the scraps he brought the demon
before; he's now carrying lots of food in and giving it to
the demon. The demon and him seem to be on friendly terms.
FADE TO:
EXT. AFRICAN VILLAGE - DAY
A young African woman is working on the land near her hut,
when she is approached by the African man from before. He
kisses her, then takes her hand and he signals her to come
with him; she looks around to see if she can be missed,
another older woman nods approvingly. Then they run off
through the savannah, laughing happily.
FADE TO:
EXT. CAVE - DAY
They young man and woman have now reached a cave; the man
steps in confidently, but the woman has her reservations. The
man signals her to follow him and as he disappears further
into it, she decides to follow him.
CUT TO:
INT. CAVE - DAY
A bit scared the woman makes her way through the cave;
finally she reaches the young man. Then she spots the demon,
with whom the young man is sitting. Her eyes widen, as she's
visibly frightened of it.
The young man tries to comfort her, but she begins to scream.
The young man approaches her to try to keep her quiet, but
she runs off. Then the man sighs.
FADE TO BLACK.
ACT III
INT. SUMMER'S LIVING ROOM "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Willow and Amy, walking in.
WILLOW
So what's the big nasty?
BUFFY
Huh?
WILLOW
You called and said it was urgent
and that we should come right away.
So what's the newest big bad?
BUFFY
That's the problem. We don't
actually know.
AMY
You don't know"¦?
BUFFY
That's right. Mercutio and I were
patrolling, and we found this"¦
body.
WILLOW
And"¦?
BUFFY
And this body was eaten.
WILLOW
Buff, as patrol-time discoveries
go, this isn't exactly news.
BUFFY
This body"¦ it was horrible, Will.
I've seen a lot, but this was just"¦
it was too much. And then we found
another. And another.
WILLOW
So we're looking for something that
brutally murders and eats humans.
That narrows things down to"¦ oh"¦
one in millions?
BUFFY
This thing wasn't feeding, Will. It
was eating.
AMY
The difference being"¦?
BUFFY
If something feeds on humans, it's
probably 'cause they're its natural
food source. If something's eating
them, it's not doing it 'cause it
has to. It's doing it because it
wants to.
WILLOW
The way a cannibal eats humans.
BUFFY
Yes. Ew, but yes. Maybe we should
be looking up things under
'cannibalistic'?
WILLOW
Then you'd be looking for a human.
BUFFY
Right. So never mind.
WILLOW
Okay. So this body, was it torn
apart by sharp teeth or dull teeth?
BUFFY
I hate this job.
FADE TO:
INT. KARA'S BEDROOM "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara, lying awake in bed. We hear a distant rumble
of thunder, and rain begins to gently patter outside. Kara
sighs.
CUT TO:
INT. KARA'S KITCHEN "“ NEXT MORNING
CAMERA ON: Kara, coming in. She grabs a plate of food from
the counter, where her mother has left it for her. She then
walks to the table and sits down, poking at her food and
occasionally taking a bite. KARA'S MOTHER notices and says
sarcastically:
KARA'S MOTHER
Don't wolf your breakfast, down,
sweetheart, it's not good for you.
Kara looks glumly at her mother.
KARA'S MOTHER (CONT'D)
What's wrong, Kara?
KARA
Nothing. There's just this problem
I have that I don't know how to
solve.
KARA'S MOTHER
I'm sure you'll figure out a
solution, honey.
She sits down next to Kara at the table and opens the
newspaper.
KARA'S MOTHER (CONT'D)
More rain expected for tonight. If
you're going to be out late, take
your umbrella.
KARA
Okay, Mom.
She stands up and takes her plate over to the garbage can,
where she scrapes her barely eaten breakfast into the trash
before putting the plate into the sink.
KARA (CONT'D)
I gotta go.
KARA'S MOTHER
Okay, sweetheart, have a good day.
Kara's Mother holds the paper up to read it. As Kara walks
by, she notices the headline: LOCAL RESTAURANT RAISES
$10,000+ DOLLARS FOR CANCER FUND. She looks for a second as
if she's trying to remember where she's heard or seen this
information before, but after a moment she brushes it off and
continues out the door.
FADE TO:
INT. EDMONSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA "“ DAY
CAMERA ON: Dawn, Lux, and Kara, walking to a lunch table with
their trays.
LUX
So he died last week?
KARA
Apparently.
DAWN
So what's the plan? How are you
going to figure out when he'll die?
KARA
Well, I went online and checked the
events schedule for Saint
Anthony's. Mr. Cumberdale is
apparently a lector at the seven o'
clock mass tonight. So I think I'll
head over there and try to glean
some more information out of him.
DAWN
Such as?
KARA
Anyone who might want him dead.
The girls sit down at their table.
LUX
I thought he died in a car crash.
KARA
Yeah, that's what my vision said.
But then again, this is the same
vision that's telling me this guy
died last week. So I'm keeping my
possibilities open for Mr. Dead Man
Walking. Ooh! I did get his home
address, though. (Off Dawn and
Lux's looks) It's not like I'm
stalking him. It's all there on the
website. Apparently he lives on
Weathersfield Drive, off Perkins
Street.
DAWN
Quite a commute to go to church.
Our Lady of Peace is definitely
closer.
KARA
Much closer. But he did say he
liked the atmosphere at Saint
Anthony's better.
LUX
So is this guy like, mad religious
or something?
KARA
He didn't give me a Bible and tell
me to repent while I still had
time, if that's what you mean.
DAWN
You don't have to be super
religious just to go to church,
Lux.
LUX
I wouldn't know. My family is the
exact opposite of super-religious.
In my family, we consider anyone
who sends Christmas cards with any
form of the word "Hallelujah" on
them to be way religious.
KARA
That's kind of depressing.
LUX
Don't I know it.
FADE TO:
INT. SAINT ANTHONY'S CHURCH "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara, walking into the church. She sits down in
the back and looks around for ROBERT CUMBERDALE. She spots
him sitting in front and sits back, intent on keeping an eye
on him.
FADE TO:
LATER. Mass has ended and Kara gets up, searching for
Cumberdale in the crowd. She finds him and walks over to him.
He doesn't see her at first, as he is fiddling with his cell
phone.
KARA
Mr. Cumberdale!
He looks up.
CUMBERDALE
Hello, Kara!
KARA
I just thought I'd come over and
say hi"¦
She notices his frustrated look.
KARA (CONT'D)
What's wrong?
CUMBERDALE
Oh, my cell phone keeps telling me
I've got a new voicemail, but every
time I try to call my inbox, the
phone beeps at me. I tried to fix
it, but I think I just reset all
the settings or something. I guess
I'm what you'd call
'technologically challenged'.
KARA
I can never figure out my cell
phone either, if it's any
consolation.
CUMBERDALE
Yeah. It makes me feel just a bit
less inept.
He and Kara smile.
CUMBERDALE (CONT'D)
Well, I have to get going. It looks
like it's going to rain soon, and
I've gotta get home. Perkins Street
is just horrible when it's wet.
KARA
I know!
CUMBERDALE
Oh, did you read that article about
the restaurant on Perkins that
raised all the money for cancer
research?
KARA
Yeah, I saw it in the paper this
morning.
CUMBERDALE
It's nice to see people still care
in this world, huh? I was thinking
about that all through Father
Brightman's homily today.
KARA
Uh, sure. Me, too.
CUMBERDALE
Well, I really have to get going.
I'll see you later.
KARA
Bye.
She stands there, looking as if there's something she should
know, but she hasn't quite connected the dots yet. Then she
realizes:
FLASH TO:
EXT. BUSY STREET "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: A car, wrecked, on the side of the road, next to a
restaurant where a sign outside reads, "$10,353 RAISED. THANK
YOU." It's pouring rain, and the road looks slippery.
FLASH TO:
CLOSE-UP: Newspaper headline: LOCAL RESTAURANT RAISES
$10,000+ FOR CANCER RESEARCH.
FLASH TO:
INT. KARA'S KITCHEN "“ DAY
CAMERA ON: KARA'S MOTHER.
KARA'S MOTHER
More rain expected for tonight. If
you're going to be out late, take
your umbrella.
FLASH TO:
INT. SAINT ANTHONY'S CHURCH "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: CUMBERDALE
CUMBERDALE
Well, I have to get going. It looks
like it's going to rain soon, and
I've gotta get home. Perkins Street
is just horrible when it's wet.
FLASH TO:
EXT. BUSY ROAD "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: A police officer in an orange raincoat, holding
the victim's cell phone, searching for identification on it.
ZOOM IN to show a label on the back of the phone reads,
"Property of Robert Cumberdale". The police officer turns the
phone over and we see the date displayed on the cell phone's
call screen, as well as the time.
FLASH TO:
INT. SAINT ANTHONY'S CHURCH "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: CUMBERDALE
CUMBERDALE
Oh, my cell phone keeps telling me
I've got a new voicemail, but every
time I try to call my inbox, the
phone beeps at me. I tried to fix
it, but I think I just reset all
the settings or something. I guess
I'm what you'd call
'technologically challenged'.
END FLASHES
INT. SAINT ANTHONY'S CHURCH "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara, looking surprised and rather upset.
KARA
He didn't die last week. He's going
to die tonight.
FADE TO BLACK.
ACT IV
EXT. SAINT ANTHONY'S CHURCH "“ PARKING LOT "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara, running toward CUMBERDALE's car. The rain is
starting to fall as she yells:
KARA
Mr. Cumberdale! Stop! It's not
safe!
But he doesn't hear or see her, seeing as he's already in his
car driving away.
KARA (CONT'D)
Dammit!
She turns and runs for her car, pulling her keys out of her
purse as she runs.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMERS LIVING ROOM "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Dawn, walking into the room.
DAWN
So, we got a name for our big bad
yet?
BUFFY
Not exactly. I keep coming across
this one name.
CUT TO:
INT. CAVE - NIGHT
The African man and his demon friend are in the cave,
silently contemplating the woman who left them, when suddenly
there's a noise coming from the entrance, flickering red
lights are coming from the direction. Within no time a group
of African warriors armed to the teeth enter the cave, behind
them a group of villagers with torches, and of course the
medicine man dancing and singing. Two older warriors grab
hold of the African man, and pin him to the wall, while a
group of six others close in on the demon. They start poking
him with their spears from a distance, while the African man
is screaming out. When one of the warriors gets too close,
the demon jumps at him and bites him in the neck, taking a
big chunk out. The warrior puts his hands on the wound to try
and stop the bleeding to no avail, and he soon collapses. But
as the demon pays attention to the dieing man, one of the
other warriors sees and seizes an opportunity to stick his
spear in the demon. As soon as he does, the demon turns
around to him, but again he's attacked from the back and
pinned down with two spears in him the other warrior attack
too. They continue to hack into him with their spears, even
when he's already long down. Finally, the step away. The
African man is still screaming over his friend. The warriors
pinning him down let him go and he runs to the demon and
kneels in front of him, as the others leave the cave. The
demon is breathing heavily and his death is inevitable. As
the African man is kneeled by his side, the demon raises his
paw with his blood. The African man looks at his friend
confused, but then the demon raises his paw with the blood
closer to the man's mouth. Finally, the man drinks it, as
soon as he does, he begins to glow and suddenly a white ghost
like figure comes out of the demon and starts circling around
the cave. Finally the thing rushes towards the African man
and as it hits his chest, there's a white flash and then the
whole cave goes nearly completely dark.
BUFFY (V.O.)
Masiya
Then the man opens his eyes and they're glowing yellow and in
the dim light we can see odd paintings have appeared on his
face.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMER'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (CONT'D)
Continued from before.
BUFFY
Masiya, that's the name we kept
coming across, but I don't know if
that's a demon or one of the victim
or a sorcerer or what. So we're not
much better off than we were
before.
DAWN
Before what?
BUFFY
Before Willow fell asleep and Amy
ditched. She said she had to use
the bathroom, but she's been gone
forty-five minutes. My guess is,
she's taking a bubble bath. That's
what I'd be doing right now, given
a choice.
DAWN
Maybe you"”
She is cut off by the telephone ringing. She grabs the
cordless phone off the table next to her and answers.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Hello?
CUT TO:
INT. KARA'S CAR "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara, talking on her cell phone. Her car's
windshield wipers are going at top speed to help her see
through what has become a downpour of rain.
KARA
Hi, it's me.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMERS LIVING ROOM "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: DAWN.
DAWN
Hey, Kara. What's up?
CUT TO:
INT. KARA'S CAR "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara. She's squinting through the rain and can
barely see the headlights of Cumberdale's car on the road
ahead of her.
KARA
I'm on my way to save Cumberdale. I
figured it out. He wasn't supposed
to die last week. It's a mistake.
DAWN (V.O)
How do you know?
KARA
In my vision, I saw the sign for
the restaurant on Perkins
announcing how they'd raised over
ten thousand dollars for cancer
research. That benefit didn't
happen last week"”it happened a
couple days ago. And in my vision,
there was rain. It didn't rain any
night last week, not even on the
date I saw displayed on
Cumberdale's cell phone. And today
he told me himself he thought he'd
reset the settings on his cell
phone while trying to dial his
voicemail. I think he accidentally
reset the date and the clock when
he was trying to dial the voicemail
number.
DAWN (V.O)
So what are you going to do?
KARA
I tried to stop him from driving
away, but I couldn't catch him in
time. So I'm driving after him,
hoping I can just get emergency
help fast once he crashes.
DAWN (V.O)
Hate to be pessimistic here, but
all the quick response in the world
won't help if he's killed
immediately.
KARA
He won't be. I didn't see a body in
my vision, remember? I'm taking
that to mean he died later, at the
hospital. I don't know why I didn't
see that part in my vision, but I'm
planning on worrying about it long
and hard after I try and save
Cumberdale's life.
DAWN (V.O)
Good luck, Kare. Now get off your
cell phone!
The driving's bad enough right now
without me being an added
distraction. Bye.
KARA
Bye.
Instead of putting the cell phone away, however, Kara dials
three numbers, hits send, and puts the phone up to her ear.
OPERATOR (V.O)
what is your emergency?
KARA
There's a car crashed on Perkins
Street, right next to that
restaurant where the cancer benefit
was. Hurry, I think he might be
hurt bad.
OPERATOR (V.O)
Emergency vehicles have been
dispatched to your location.
KARA
Okay, thanks.
Kara hangs up the car phone and concentrates on driving.
Suddenly, CUMBERDALE's car's taillights begin to swerve to
the side of the road. We hear a thud and a faint crunch.
KARA (CONT'D)
Oh, my God.
She pulls over and grabs her cell phone, dialing 9-1-1.
OPERATOR (V.O)
What is your emergency?
KARA
There's a car crashed on Perkins
Street, right next to that
restaurant where the cancer benefit
was. Hurry, I think he might be
hurt bad.
OPERATOR (V.O)
Emergency vehicles have been
dispatched to your location.
KARA
Okay, thanks.
She throws the phone to the floor of her car before opening
the door and charging out into the pouring rain.
KARA (CONT'D)
Mr. Cumberdale!
She reaches the side of his car. We can see Cumberdale
through the windshield, which is broken. He looks bloody and
pretty badly hurt, but he's still strapped into his seat. He
groans in pain.
KARA (CONT'D)
Mr. Cumberdale! Listen to me! Hold
on to my voice. There's an
ambulance coming, okay? Just hold
on. Listen to me. Help is coming.
You're gonna be fine. Just hang on
for a couple minutes, okay?
In the distance, we can hear sirens faintly approaching.
KARA (CONT'D)
Hear that? That's the ambulance
that's gonna come get you out of
here, okay? You're gonna be fine.
Just stay with me. Stay with me.
Listen to me. Concentrate on what
I'm saying to you. You're gonna be
fine.
The sirens are louder and closer now. Kara glances toward the
road and sees some lights beginning to show through the
downpour. She continues to talk to Cumberdale, growing more
and more panicked.
KARA (CONT'D)
Mr. Cumberdale, listen. I don't go
to your church. I'm not even
Catholic. I knew this would happen.
I'm really sorry I didn't stop it.
I hope I'm not too late. Just keep
listening to me. Listen to me!
The sirens are nearly at the scene. Kara looks a little
relieved.
KARA (CONT'D)
Stay with me, Mr. Cumberdale. Don't
leave me. Stay with me.
The ambulances have finally arrived.
ZOOM IN: On Kara's face. As we zoom in, the picture gets
blurrier and the sound slowly fades out until all we can hear
is Kara's panicked, ragged breathing.
FADE TO WHITE.
INT. EDMONSVILLE HOSPITAL "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara, sitting alone in the waiting room.
CAMERA ON: Dawn and Buffy, rushing in.
Dawn rushes over to hug Kara, who absently hugs Dawn back.
DAWN
Are you okay, Kara?
KARA
I don't know. I don't even remember
how I got here. It's all been a
blur.
BUFFY
You probably saved his life.
KARA
That would mean a lot more if I
wasn't responsible for this whole
thing in the first place.
DAWN
Kara, this isn't your fault. You
helped this guy. You didn't hurt
him.
KARA
I should have figured it out
sooner"¦ then I could have caught
him before he got into his car"¦ the
accident wouldn't have happened"¦
DAWN
Kara, the accident wasn't you. It
was bad luck. That's all. You saved
this guy's life.
BUFFY
Imagine if no one else had traveled
that road until an hour or so after
he'd crashed. He never would've
made it. That's why you saved him.
You called it in right away.
DAWN
Kara, you're a hero.
CAMERA ON: Kara, not looking quite convinced.
A DOCTOR enters.
DOCTOR
Which of you called in the
accident?
KARA
I did. How is he?
DOCTOR
Well, young lady, he'll be okay,
thanks to you. If that call had
come any later, his chances would
have been slim to none. You saved
his life.
CAMERA ON: Kara, not looking convinced at all.
DAWN
Kara?
No answer.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE AFRICAN VILLAGE - NIGHT
LONG SHOT
From a distance, we see the village. We hear a lot of singing
and there's light from a big campfire. It seems there's a
celebration over the killed demon. Suddenly, from behind the
camera, Masiya walks into the frame. He's confidently walking
toward the village.
CUT TO:
EXT. AFRICAN VILLAGE - NIGHT
It's the edge of the village, a man is on the outlook. Masiya
is walking toward him. The man points his spears at Masiya to
signal him he's not welcome, but Masiya steps forward and
with one swift strike breaks the spear and as the guard looks
at him in fear, Masiya reveals his razor sharp teeth and
opens his mouth ready to bite him.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE AFRICAN VILLAGE - DAY
LONG SHOT.
We're looking out over Savannah and the village in the middle
of it. Slowly, we close in on the village, and as we do, the
dead guard is revealed. As the camera moves into the village
past some of the huts, more dead bodies are revealed. The
camera moves past the smouldering ashes of the campfire and
we witness the results of last nights massacre as around the
campfire the bodies of the villagers, including the medicine
man and the warriors are laying about.
Finally, we leave the village and look into the sunset on the
horizon and we see the lone figure of Masiya, walking into
its direction.
FADE TO BLACK.
END OF EPISODE.
For an archive of the other episodes in this project visit our website at www.virtualslayer.tk
Next week, a series of unexplained murders on prostitutes will finally puts Angel and his face to face with Drogyn.
By all means tell me what you thought!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer 9.03 "Cheating Death"
By mistymidnight and Allycat
TEASER
INT. EDMONSVILLE HOSPITAL "“ SUNSET
The sun is setting over Edmonsville. Buffy is walking down
the hallway, presumably leaving work for the day. She passes
a receptionist, BRENDA and pauses to say goodbye.
BUFFY
Bye"¦
(She glances at the
woman's name tag.)
"¦Brenda.
BRENDA
Buffy, right?
BUFFY
The one and only.
(Pauses.)
You're new, right?
BRENDA
(Happily.)
My second day on the job.
BUFFY
Cool. What do you like best so far?
BRENDA
Nothing really yet. But there's
this one thing I'm really looking
forward to.
BUFFY
What's that?
BRENDA
Killing you.
Brenda leaps across the reception desk and tackles Buffy,
trying to choke her. Buffy throws her off, almost casually,
and stands up.
BUFFY
I always just have to ask.
She prepares herself for another attack from Brenda and
shakes her head.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Just another day at the office.
CUT TO:
INT. EDMONSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL "“ SUNSET
Dawn, Kara, and Lux walking down the hallway.
DAWN
I'm absolutely beat.
(Shudders.)
No more three-hour long study
sessions for me.
KARA
It was worth it.
Lux and Dawn give her 'you've-gotta-be-kidding-me' looks.
KARA (CONT'D)
Well, if you're me.
LUX
I'm with Dawn. The next time we
study, I vote it's at someone's
house. Y'know, where there's
actually food.
DAWN
We could've gone to the cafeteria.
LUX
I said 'food'. Nothing in this
school qualifies as edible.
KARA
Oh, like that's ever stopped you
before.
LUX
(Playfully.)
What's that supposed to mean?
KARA
You order lunch here every day.
LUX
That's only 'cause I'm horrible at
making sandwiches.
DAWN
(Playfully sarcastic.)
'Cause it just takes so much skill,
Lux.
LUX
I'm just not meant to be a culinary
mastermind.
They push open a door at the end of the hall and we
CUT TO:
EXT. EDMONSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PARKING LOT "“ SUNSET
(CONT'D)
The girls walking into the parking lot. Kara fishes in her
purse.
KARA
Oh, God, where are they?
LUX
What?
KARA
I can't find my keys.
DAWN
Perfect. You finally pass Driver's
Ed and now you can't find your
keys.
KARA
I know I had them with me this
morning"¦ of course I did, 'cause I
drove to school.
LUX
Way to make a connection, genius.
KARA
Don't get mad at me! It's not like
I planned for this to happen!
DAWN
Okay, guys, just calm down. We'll
go look for the keys. They probably
just fell out of your purse
somewhere. Maybe a janitor found
them.
KARA
I hope so. My mom will kill me if I
lose my keys.
Lux is staring at something off camera. She points at it and
says:
LUX
(Fearfully.)
Not if that thing kills us first.
CUT TO:
Demon standing about three parking spaces away. This one's
tall and heavyset, with a dry, flaky skin-like covering. It
charges at the girls, who all scream at the same time
(despite having dealt with demons before).
CUT TO:
EXT CONSTRUCTION SITE "“ SUNSET
CAMERA ON: XANDER, who is headed for his car. He takes the
keys out of his pocket and clicks the automatic unlock
button. He gets into the car and sits down, slamming the door
shut. As he puts the keys into the ignition, a flaky-looking
demon hand/claw thing (the same kind of demon that's
attacking the Trio) reaches from the backseat and grabs his
neck.
CUT TO:
EXT. EDMONSVILLE UNIVERSITY GROUNDS "“ SUNSET
CAMERA ON: WILLOW walking across the campus grounds"”all by
herself and looking a little lonely. She holds her books to
her chest and carries herself in a way that brings to mind
her "nerdy" days, a la Season one. Suddenly, she is attacked
(sensing a pattern here?) by the same type of demon Xander
and the Trio have been attacked by. She manages to choke out:
WILLOW
So much for peace and quiet.
OPENING CREDITS (click to watch)
Michelle Trachtenberg
Iyari Là¬mon
Nicholas Brendon
Alyson Hannigan
Carly Pope
Lindsay Lohan
and Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
Guest starring: Elizabeth Anne Allen, Sir Anthony Hopkins
ACT I
EXT. AFRICAN VILLAGE - DAY
SUBTITLE
Several thousand years ago.
In this african village in the Savanna with clay huts, the
native people of the land are working around the house. A
young boy is playing in the field, he is running through it.
We follow him as he gets away from the village and through
the higher grass makes his way through the savannah
FADE TO:
EXT. AFRICAN SAVANNAH - DAY
The boy is still running through the higher grass when he
spots a group of men in the middle of the savannah. He closes
in on them, and hides in the bush to look on. The African men
are fighting with a demon. As four warrior circle around it,
another old man dressed elaborately dances and sings. As the
demon charges a bit towards one of the men, another demon; a
baby demon is revealed on the group. The other demon is its
mother. As the mother charges one of the men; another pokes
the baby with his spear. The mother rapidly turns around, but
only the have the man she was charging stab her in the back.
She tries to turn around again, but another one of the
warrior stabs her. As she tries to break the spears the other
two men stab her too and finally, she drops to the ground.
Where the warriors continue stabbing her, making sure she's
dead. Then they turn to the wounded baby demon. The medicine
man looks up at the sun, then walks off; the other men walk
away with him, leaving the baby demon to wither and die alone
in the heat. When they've left, the boy comes from his hiding
place and hurries to the baby demon, which doesn't look as
fearsome as demon usually look; in fact, like any baby, it's
quite cute. The boy tends to the baby demon's wounds.
FADE TO:
EXT. EDMONSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PARKING LOT "“ SUNSET
The demon goes straight for Dawn, who backs away, trying
desperately to think of a plan. She glances down at her book
bag, which still holds tons of books as a result of the study
session. Using every bit of strength she can, she swings the
bags around and hits the demon on the head with it. It
stumbles backwards, giving Dawn, Kara, and Lux the
opportunity to make a break for it. They run toward the car.
Dawn jiggles the passenger door handle.
DAWN
(Panicked.)
Are you sure you don't have those
keys, Kara?
Kara is struggled to open the locked driver's side door. She
suddenly stops and gets an "oh-my-God-can-this-day-get-any
worse" look.
KARA
Oh, I've got the keys. I just can't
use them to unlock the door.
CAMERA ON: Kara's keys, sitting on the passenger seat inside
the locked car.
LUX
Break the windows with something!
The DEMON comes at Dawn and tries to punch her. She ducks
just in time, and the demon's fist shatters the window.
LUX (CONT'D)
That works.
KARA
Ooh, my mother is gonna KILL me!
Dawn tries to hit the Demon with her backpack, but it's
prepared for her this time. It grabs the backpack and uses it
to push Dawn to the ground. It throws the backpack aside and
comes at her, preparing to choke her as she lies on the
ground, apparently helpless. As it closes in, she kicks it,
putting all her strength behind her sharp-looking, likely-to
instill-pain-in-demons high-heeled boots. As the boots make
contact, the demon howls in pain and backs off momentarily.
CUT TO:
Meanwhile Kara is running around to the passenger's side of
the car, sticking her hand through the broken window,
unlocking the door, opening it, and is gingerly crawling over
the broken glass to reach her keys.
LUX
Hurry up, Kara!
KARA
I'm going as fast as I can!
She reaches the drivers side and inserts the keys in the
ignition. The car roars to life. She hits the automatic
unlock button, and Lux opens the door to the backseat and
jumps in.
LUX
Hurry!
CUT TO:
Dawn, throwing small rocks at the demon. This isn't slowing
it down, just irritating it.
DAWN
A little help here, guys!
Suddenly, Kara's car smacks into the demon from the side.
Dawn seizes the opportunity and sprints for the car. She
jumps in, and Kara turns the car around, slamming it into the
demon twice more.
KARA
Is it dead?
DAWN
Who cares? Just drive!
With a screech of tires, they're out of there.
CUT TO:
INT. EDMONSVILLE MENTAL HOSPITAL "“ SUNSET
CAMERA ON: Buffy and Brenda, fighting in the hospital lobby.
BUFFY
Y'know, as a new employee, this
might not be the impression you
want to make. Wanna start over?
BRENDA
Not really.
BUFFY
Fine, time for a chick-fight move.
She grabs hold of Brenda's hair and pulls"”hard. And, lo and
behold, Brenda's hair comes off!
BUFFY (CONT'D)
May I just say, "Ick!"?
Of course, once Brenda's hair is gone, her face soon follows,
and we see that in reality, she is a humanoid demon with
really wrinkly skin.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Y'know, with skin like that, I
really don't blame you for wearing
a mask and all.
BRENDA
Now, Slayer, do you really want
those to be your last words? They'd
be a real disappointment to read on
your tombstone.
BUFFY
Hey, last time I died, my last
words were beautifully deep and
insightful. And if THEY didn't end
up on my tombstone"”which they
didn't"”I'm not gonna worry too much
about this time. Capice?
She flips Brenda onto the ground and grabs her chin and the
top of her head.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Then again, these aren't my last
words.
She twists Brenda's neck"”it snaps. The demon lies lifeless on
the ground. Buffy gets an irritated look on her face.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
How the hell am I gonna get this
out of here?
FADE TO:
EXT. SUMMERS RESIDENCE "“ DRIVEWAY "“ JUST AFTER SUNSET
CAMERA ON: Kara's car, pulling into the driveway, just as
Xander pulls in behind her and Buffy gets out of her recently
parked car. They all look at each other and exclaim in
unison:
BUFFY, XANDER, KARA, LUX, AND DAWN
You'll never guess what just
happened!
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMERS LIVING ROOM "“ JUST AFTER SUNSET
CAMERA ON: Willow and Kennedy. Willow sits on the couch and
Kennedy's wheelchair is positioned right next to her.
WILLOW
So we were all attacked at sunset?
KENNEDY
I wasn't.
Willow absently pats her knee.
CAMERA ON: AMY
AMY
I think it's safe to say that the
same person is targeting all you
guys.
CAMERA ON:
DAWN
Yeah. By the way, how'd you guys
fight yours off?
BUFFY
A little fighting, little neck
snapping action.
WILLOW
Magic.
Everyone looks expectantly at Xander.
XANDER
I, uh, fought him off like a man.
A beat.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Okay, I beat him with a crowbar.
But that's still fighting, right?
DAWN
Sure.
AMY
The question is, why you guys?
Buffy scoffs.
BUFFY
Why us? Why not?
WILLOW
We're kind of"¦ always"¦ on
somebody's hit list.
LUX
We're practically walking around
with freaking targets on us.
DAWN
Which we all learned last week.
Someone's after us, and I'll bet it
was the same someone that set us up
both times.
KARA
So someone's suddenly after us.
Since when? I mean, these attacks
have been pretty close together"”
BUFFY
Since Amy got here with the box.
Everyone turns to look at Amy. She looks somewhat insulted.
AMY
Are you saying this thing followed
me here?
BUFFY
I'm saying we didn't have problems
until you showed up. Make someone
angry on your way here, Amy?
AMY
No. I told you, I've been doing the
goody-two-shoes thing for a while
now.
WILLOW
Maybe it's the box.
A beat. Everyone takes this in.
XANDER
So, something's after the box?
DAWN
Duh.
KARA
It does seem pretty likely. I mean,
weren't you saying how powerful it
is? Maybe someone's looking for a
power boost.
She checks her watch.
KARA (CONT'D)
I gotta get home. I have to stop
at the grocery store for some
popcorn. I promised my mom we'd do
mother-daughter movie night.
DAWN
Tonight's movie?
KARA
Fools Rush In.
DAWN
Never seen it.
LUX
It's really good. We should all
rent it sometime.
DAWN
I dunno.
LUX
Matthew Perry's in it.
DAWN
Oh, okay.
(to Kara)
Bye, Kara.
LUX
Bye, Kare.
BUFFY
Need someone to walk you home? I
mean, what with this habit we all
have of getting attacked.
KARA
No thanks. I doubt I'll be attacked
again tonight.
BUFFY
Not to be pessimistic, but I don't
doubt it.
KARA
I'll be fine. I've got a bunch of
books in my bag. Anything comes
near me, I'll hit it with my stuff.
DAWN
Call us when you get home, okay?
KARA
Okay. See you tomorrow, guys.
FADE TO:
EXT. GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT "“ EARLY EVENING
CAMERA ON: Kara, leaving the supermarket with a plastic bag
full of junk food for her mother/daughter movie night. There
are a few people walking about, all in a rush, none paying
attention to her. Suddenly, a MAN bumps into Kara.
MAN
I'm sorry, miss.
Kara looks dazed.
MAN (CONT'D)
Miss?
Kara continues to look dazed. It appears she is having one of
her visions of someone dying. We"¦
CUT TO:
EXT. BUSY ROAD "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: A car, wrecked, on the side of the road, next to a
restaurant where a sign outside reads, "$10,353 RAISED. THANK
YOU." It's pouring rain, and the road looks slippery.
CUT TO:
EXT. BUSY ROAD "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Fire trucks and police cars pulling up to the
accident scene.
CUT TO:
EXT. BUSY ROAD "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: A police officer in an orange raincoat, holding
the victim's cell phone, searching for identification on it.
ZOOM IN to show a label on the back of the phone reads,
"Property of Robert Cumberdale". The police officer turns the
phone over and we see the date displayed on the cell phone's
call screen, as well as the time.
CUT TO:
EXT. EDMONSVILLE STREET "“ EARLY EVENING
CAMERA ON: Kara, looking more dazed and confused than before.
KARA
(RE: the date/time on cell
phone in her vision)
That's last week.
FADE TO BLACK.
ACT II
EXT. EDMONSVILLE STREET "“ EARLY EVENING
CAMERA ON: Kara, being supported by the man she bumped into.
She looks quite drained, as well as more than a little
confused. I mean, wouldn't you be?
MAN
Are you all right, miss?
Kara gently pushes him away and stands, rather unsteadily, on
her own.
KARA
I'll be okay.
She takes a step and stumbles. The man reaches out to prevent
her from falling.
KARA (CONT'D)
Or not. I guess I'm just a little
dizzy. Maybe I'm dehydrated or
something.
MAN
Here, sit down a minute.
He helps KARA sit down in a no-parking space, where she sits
in silence for a moment. It's obvious to the audience that
she's trying to figure out what just happened with her weird
vision. Then, inspiration strikes:
KARA
Hey, don't I know you?
MAN
I don't believe so.
KARA
Yeah, you're"¦ Robert Cumberdale,
right?
ROBERT CUMBERDALE
Yes, I am. And you are?
KARA
I'm Kara. I think I know you from
somewhere.
A beat.
KARA (CONT'D)
Help me out, here, Mr. Cumberdale.
ROBERT CUMBERDALE
Well, I teach at Edmonsville
Elementary School"¦ do you have any
siblings that go there?
KARA
Only child. So, no.
ROBERT CUMBERDALE
Um"¦ during the summer I lead
conferences for teachers statewide.
KARA
Nope.
ROBERT CUMBERDALE
Maybe we go to the same church?
KARA
(Lying, and not very
well.)
Yes! Yes, that's it! We definitely
go to church together, at"¦
She realizes she has no idea what church Mr. Cumberdale
attends. She finishes lamely:
KARA (CONT'D)
"¦at the church where we both go.
ROBERT CUMBERDALE
Yeah, I'm so glad I found St.
Anthony's. Originally, I was going
to Our Lady of Peace over on Barton
Street, but the atmosphere at St.
Anthony's is so much friendlier,
don't you think?
KARA
Sure, sure.
She gets up from the ground and turns to face Mr. Cumberdale.
KARA (CONT'D)
Well, it was sure nice talking to
you, Mr. Cumberdale. I'll see you
Sunday.
Cumberdale nods and begins to resume his walk toward the
grocery store, calling over his shoulder:
ROBERT CUMBERDALE
(In a friendly voice.)
I'll keep an eye out for you!
KARA
(Also friendly.)
Great!
As soon as he is out of earshot, she turns back in the
direction she was coming from and mutters dryly:
KARA (CONT'D)
Just great.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMERS KITCHEN "“ EARLY EVENING
CAMERA ON: Dawn, eating spaghetti as Buffy scoops some pasta
out of the pot for herself.
DAWN
Do you think Superman could take
Dracula in a fight?
Buffy raises her eyebrows and sits next to Dawn at the table.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Just wondering.
Suddenly, Kara comes in.
KARA
Okay, forget the spaghetti. The
weirdest thing just happened to me.
DAWN
Spill.
KARA
I was at the supermarket and I
bumped into a man and I had one of
my visions, except I saw him dying
last week.
BUFFY
Vampire attack?
KARA
Car crash.
BUFFY
Nothing otherworldly about that.
KARA
Uh-uh.
DAWN
So who is this guy? Do you know?
KARA
His name is Robert Cumberdale. He's
an elementary school teacher in
town and he conducts statewide
teacher conferences during the
summer. He used to go to Our Lady
of Peace Church over on Barton, but
now he goes to Saint Anthony's.
DAWN
And you know all this because"¦?
KARA
I pretended I went to Saint
Anthony's, too.
DAWN
You don't?
KARA
It's a Catholic Church.
Dawn doesn't seem to get what Kara is saying.
KARA (CONT'D)
I'm Episcopalian.
DAWN
Oh.
KARA
Anyway, I can't figure out why this
would happen. How can he still be
walking around if he's supposedly
been dead a week?
BUFFY
Maybe he didn't die in the car
crash.
KARA
Come again?
BUFFY
Maybe something happened with the
car crash that directly affects how
he's about to die.
KARA
I don't see visions of why people
die. I see visions of how they die.
DAWN
Did you actually see him die?
KARA
What?
DAWN
Did you see, y'know, him having
some kind of fatal heart attack at
the wheel, or his body, or, like, a
pile of his mangled flesh?
BUFFY
Dawn!
KARA
Eew. And no.
DAWN
So maybe he got into an accident
and survived. Maybe he's gonna die
soon of injuries sustained from the
crash.
KARA
But then I'd see him dying of those
injuries in my vision. I wouldn't
see what gave him the injuries.
Like when that freaky bone-monster
thing"¦
DAWN
The Twalitor.
KARA
Right, the Twalitor. When it was
coming after you, I didn't see
visions of you being a monster
hunter type, and therefore a
target. I just saw boom, monster,
boom, you, and boom, death. Same
with every other time in between.
That time with the girl that
would've drowned? Boom, lake, boom,
girl, boom, death. And so on and so
on. Get where I'm going with this?
DAWN
I see where you're going.
Buffy glances at her watch.
BUFFY
And now I know where I should be
going. Time for patrol. See you
later, ladies.
Buffy grabs a bag of weapons from the floor and exits.
KARA
Hey, where is everyone?
DAWN
Xander got called back to work.
Apparently when he fought off that
demon, he did some damage to the
site.
KARA
Oh, no.
DAWN
Anyway, he can't work too late,
'cause it's getting dark, but he'll
be gone for awhile. Willow and Amy
are out doing magic-type things,
and I'm trying really hard not to
think about it, 'cause the last
time Willow and Amy went out doing
magic-type things, it wasn't
pretty.
KARA
Where's Kennedy?
DAWN
You know what? I'm not sure. I
think Will and Amy dropped her off
at home before they went out.
She looks down at her plate, and Buffy's untouched dinner on
the table next to it. She picks up the plate and holds it up
to Kara, asking:
DAWN (CONT'D)
Want some spaghetti?
CUT TO:
EXT. XANDER'S CONSTRUCTION SITE "“ EARLY EVENING
CAMERA ON: Xander, observing damage to the frame of a
building. There is evidence of crowbar hittage. He sighs and
turns around, coming face-to-face with Kennedy. Well, not
exactly face-to-face, 'cause she's in her wheelchair, but you
get the picture.
XANDER
Whoa, Ken. Kinda startled me there.
KENNEDY
That's me. Stealthy Slayer on
Wheels.
A beat.
KENNEDY (CONT'D)
Listen, the reason I came down here
was to apologize for being so
stupid at the beach. I made a
complete fool of both of us, and
I'm really sorry. I"”
XANDER
Ken, it's okay.
KENNEDY
No, it's not. Just 'cause I can't
walk all of a sudden doesn't give
me the right to"”
XANDER
To grieve? Kennedy, listen to me.
You have every right to be upset.
If a friend of yours had someone
close to them die, would you expect
them to just go on, all hunky-dory
peachy-keen? No. It's okay to be
upset over a loss. Okay, in your
case, it wasn't the loss of a human
life, but that doesn't mean it's
not an important loss. Your life
will never be the same, and it's
perfectly fine to be angry and
scared and sad.
KENNEDY
You didn't get drunk over losing
your eye.
XANDER
That's 'cause I had bigger things
to worry about"¦ like staying alive,
for one.
A beat.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Kennedy, do whatever you have to do
to grieve. Just don't get drunk and
wheel yourself to inevitable doom
and destruction, okay?
Kennedy smiles a little bit.
KENNEDY
Okay.
XANDER
Good. Now, I'm really sorry, but I
have to get back to work.
He smiles at her and waves, and she smiles and waves back,
before he turns and walks away. As soon as he has turned
away, the smile fades from Kennedy's face and she looks down,
lonely.
FADE TO:
EXT. CEMETERY "“ EVENING
CAMERA ON: Buffy, walking along, talking, seemingly to
herself.
BUFFY
So apparently, the guy died last
week, and we're just hearing about
it now.
ZOOM OUT. We see that she's talking to Mercutio, who is
walking along with her.
MERCUTIO
That's strange.
BUFFY
Tell me about it. And"¦
She stops and sniffs the air.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
What is that smell?
(To Mercutio.)
Can you smell that?
MERCUTIO
For quite some time.
BUFFY
And you didn't say anything
because"¦
She looks at Mercutio and finishes her own sentence.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
You're a vampire-type with
heightened senses and you thought
it was just you. I got it.
She sniffs again.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
I think it's coming from over
there.
She gestures to some bushes and begins to walk in that
direction. Mercutio is slightly ahead of her.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
Ick, I need to find a job with a
better smell to it. Or better yet,
no smell at all.
Suddenly, Mercutio stops short.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
What?
MERCUTIO
I don't think you want to see this.
BUFFY
Sorry, it's my job. So what are we
dealing with"¦
CLOSE UP: Buffy's face. Whatever she sees has truly disgusted
her.
BUFFY (CONT'D)
"¦now?
CUT TO:
INT. CAVE - NIGHT
The young African boy from before is in a cave with the baby
demon, who has grown a bit. The wound has healed; the boy is
feeding the demon and taking care of him.
FADE TO:
INT. CAVE - NIGHT
The same scene, but the demon is fully grown now, and so is
the African man. Instead of the scraps he brought the demon
before; he's now carrying lots of food in and giving it to
the demon. The demon and him seem to be on friendly terms.
FADE TO:
EXT. AFRICAN VILLAGE - DAY
A young African woman is working on the land near her hut,
when she is approached by the African man from before. He
kisses her, then takes her hand and he signals her to come
with him; she looks around to see if she can be missed,
another older woman nods approvingly. Then they run off
through the savannah, laughing happily.
FADE TO:
EXT. CAVE - DAY
They young man and woman have now reached a cave; the man
steps in confidently, but the woman has her reservations. The
man signals her to follow him and as he disappears further
into it, she decides to follow him.
CUT TO:
INT. CAVE - DAY
A bit scared the woman makes her way through the cave;
finally she reaches the young man. Then she spots the demon,
with whom the young man is sitting. Her eyes widen, as she's
visibly frightened of it.
The young man tries to comfort her, but she begins to scream.
The young man approaches her to try to keep her quiet, but
she runs off. Then the man sighs.
FADE TO BLACK.
ACT III
INT. SUMMER'S LIVING ROOM "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Willow and Amy, walking in.
WILLOW
So what's the big nasty?
BUFFY
Huh?
WILLOW
You called and said it was urgent
and that we should come right away.
So what's the newest big bad?
BUFFY
That's the problem. We don't
actually know.
AMY
You don't know"¦?
BUFFY
That's right. Mercutio and I were
patrolling, and we found this"¦
body.
WILLOW
And"¦?
BUFFY
And this body was eaten.
WILLOW
Buff, as patrol-time discoveries
go, this isn't exactly news.
BUFFY
This body"¦ it was horrible, Will.
I've seen a lot, but this was just"¦
it was too much. And then we found
another. And another.
WILLOW
So we're looking for something that
brutally murders and eats humans.
That narrows things down to"¦ oh"¦
one in millions?
BUFFY
This thing wasn't feeding, Will. It
was eating.
AMY
The difference being"¦?
BUFFY
If something feeds on humans, it's
probably 'cause they're its natural
food source. If something's eating
them, it's not doing it 'cause it
has to. It's doing it because it
wants to.
WILLOW
The way a cannibal eats humans.
BUFFY
Yes. Ew, but yes. Maybe we should
be looking up things under
'cannibalistic'?
WILLOW
Then you'd be looking for a human.
BUFFY
Right. So never mind.
WILLOW
Okay. So this body, was it torn
apart by sharp teeth or dull teeth?
BUFFY
I hate this job.
FADE TO:
INT. KARA'S BEDROOM "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara, lying awake in bed. We hear a distant rumble
of thunder, and rain begins to gently patter outside. Kara
sighs.
CUT TO:
INT. KARA'S KITCHEN "“ NEXT MORNING
CAMERA ON: Kara, coming in. She grabs a plate of food from
the counter, where her mother has left it for her. She then
walks to the table and sits down, poking at her food and
occasionally taking a bite. KARA'S MOTHER notices and says
sarcastically:
KARA'S MOTHER
Don't wolf your breakfast, down,
sweetheart, it's not good for you.
Kara looks glumly at her mother.
KARA'S MOTHER (CONT'D)
What's wrong, Kara?
KARA
Nothing. There's just this problem
I have that I don't know how to
solve.
KARA'S MOTHER
I'm sure you'll figure out a
solution, honey.
She sits down next to Kara at the table and opens the
newspaper.
KARA'S MOTHER (CONT'D)
More rain expected for tonight. If
you're going to be out late, take
your umbrella.
KARA
Okay, Mom.
She stands up and takes her plate over to the garbage can,
where she scrapes her barely eaten breakfast into the trash
before putting the plate into the sink.
KARA (CONT'D)
I gotta go.
KARA'S MOTHER
Okay, sweetheart, have a good day.
Kara's Mother holds the paper up to read it. As Kara walks
by, she notices the headline: LOCAL RESTAURANT RAISES
$10,000+ DOLLARS FOR CANCER FUND. She looks for a second as
if she's trying to remember where she's heard or seen this
information before, but after a moment she brushes it off and
continues out the door.
FADE TO:
INT. EDMONSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA "“ DAY
CAMERA ON: Dawn, Lux, and Kara, walking to a lunch table with
their trays.
LUX
So he died last week?
KARA
Apparently.
DAWN
So what's the plan? How are you
going to figure out when he'll die?
KARA
Well, I went online and checked the
events schedule for Saint
Anthony's. Mr. Cumberdale is
apparently a lector at the seven o'
clock mass tonight. So I think I'll
head over there and try to glean
some more information out of him.
DAWN
Such as?
KARA
Anyone who might want him dead.
The girls sit down at their table.
LUX
I thought he died in a car crash.
KARA
Yeah, that's what my vision said.
But then again, this is the same
vision that's telling me this guy
died last week. So I'm keeping my
possibilities open for Mr. Dead Man
Walking. Ooh! I did get his home
address, though. (Off Dawn and
Lux's looks) It's not like I'm
stalking him. It's all there on the
website. Apparently he lives on
Weathersfield Drive, off Perkins
Street.
DAWN
Quite a commute to go to church.
Our Lady of Peace is definitely
closer.
KARA
Much closer. But he did say he
liked the atmosphere at Saint
Anthony's better.
LUX
So is this guy like, mad religious
or something?
KARA
He didn't give me a Bible and tell
me to repent while I still had
time, if that's what you mean.
DAWN
You don't have to be super
religious just to go to church,
Lux.
LUX
I wouldn't know. My family is the
exact opposite of super-religious.
In my family, we consider anyone
who sends Christmas cards with any
form of the word "Hallelujah" on
them to be way religious.
KARA
That's kind of depressing.
LUX
Don't I know it.
FADE TO:
INT. SAINT ANTHONY'S CHURCH "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara, walking into the church. She sits down in
the back and looks around for ROBERT CUMBERDALE. She spots
him sitting in front and sits back, intent on keeping an eye
on him.
FADE TO:
LATER. Mass has ended and Kara gets up, searching for
Cumberdale in the crowd. She finds him and walks over to him.
He doesn't see her at first, as he is fiddling with his cell
phone.
KARA
Mr. Cumberdale!
He looks up.
CUMBERDALE
Hello, Kara!
KARA
I just thought I'd come over and
say hi"¦
She notices his frustrated look.
KARA (CONT'D)
What's wrong?
CUMBERDALE
Oh, my cell phone keeps telling me
I've got a new voicemail, but every
time I try to call my inbox, the
phone beeps at me. I tried to fix
it, but I think I just reset all
the settings or something. I guess
I'm what you'd call
'technologically challenged'.
KARA
I can never figure out my cell
phone either, if it's any
consolation.
CUMBERDALE
Yeah. It makes me feel just a bit
less inept.
He and Kara smile.
CUMBERDALE (CONT'D)
Well, I have to get going. It looks
like it's going to rain soon, and
I've gotta get home. Perkins Street
is just horrible when it's wet.
KARA
I know!
CUMBERDALE
Oh, did you read that article about
the restaurant on Perkins that
raised all the money for cancer
research?
KARA
Yeah, I saw it in the paper this
morning.
CUMBERDALE
It's nice to see people still care
in this world, huh? I was thinking
about that all through Father
Brightman's homily today.
KARA
Uh, sure. Me, too.
CUMBERDALE
Well, I really have to get going.
I'll see you later.
KARA
Bye.
She stands there, looking as if there's something she should
know, but she hasn't quite connected the dots yet. Then she
realizes:
FLASH TO:
EXT. BUSY STREET "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: A car, wrecked, on the side of the road, next to a
restaurant where a sign outside reads, "$10,353 RAISED. THANK
YOU." It's pouring rain, and the road looks slippery.
FLASH TO:
CLOSE-UP: Newspaper headline: LOCAL RESTAURANT RAISES
$10,000+ FOR CANCER RESEARCH.
FLASH TO:
INT. KARA'S KITCHEN "“ DAY
CAMERA ON: KARA'S MOTHER.
KARA'S MOTHER
More rain expected for tonight. If
you're going to be out late, take
your umbrella.
FLASH TO:
INT. SAINT ANTHONY'S CHURCH "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: CUMBERDALE
CUMBERDALE
Well, I have to get going. It looks
like it's going to rain soon, and
I've gotta get home. Perkins Street
is just horrible when it's wet.
FLASH TO:
EXT. BUSY ROAD "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: A police officer in an orange raincoat, holding
the victim's cell phone, searching for identification on it.
ZOOM IN to show a label on the back of the phone reads,
"Property of Robert Cumberdale". The police officer turns the
phone over and we see the date displayed on the cell phone's
call screen, as well as the time.
FLASH TO:
INT. SAINT ANTHONY'S CHURCH "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: CUMBERDALE
CUMBERDALE
Oh, my cell phone keeps telling me
I've got a new voicemail, but every
time I try to call my inbox, the
phone beeps at me. I tried to fix
it, but I think I just reset all
the settings or something. I guess
I'm what you'd call
'technologically challenged'.
END FLASHES
INT. SAINT ANTHONY'S CHURCH "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara, looking surprised and rather upset.
KARA
He didn't die last week. He's going
to die tonight.
FADE TO BLACK.
ACT IV
EXT. SAINT ANTHONY'S CHURCH "“ PARKING LOT "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara, running toward CUMBERDALE's car. The rain is
starting to fall as she yells:
KARA
Mr. Cumberdale! Stop! It's not
safe!
But he doesn't hear or see her, seeing as he's already in his
car driving away.
KARA (CONT'D)
Dammit!
She turns and runs for her car, pulling her keys out of her
purse as she runs.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMERS LIVING ROOM "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Dawn, walking into the room.
DAWN
So, we got a name for our big bad
yet?
BUFFY
Not exactly. I keep coming across
this one name.
CUT TO:
INT. CAVE - NIGHT
The African man and his demon friend are in the cave,
silently contemplating the woman who left them, when suddenly
there's a noise coming from the entrance, flickering red
lights are coming from the direction. Within no time a group
of African warriors armed to the teeth enter the cave, behind
them a group of villagers with torches, and of course the
medicine man dancing and singing. Two older warriors grab
hold of the African man, and pin him to the wall, while a
group of six others close in on the demon. They start poking
him with their spears from a distance, while the African man
is screaming out. When one of the warriors gets too close,
the demon jumps at him and bites him in the neck, taking a
big chunk out. The warrior puts his hands on the wound to try
and stop the bleeding to no avail, and he soon collapses. But
as the demon pays attention to the dieing man, one of the
other warriors sees and seizes an opportunity to stick his
spear in the demon. As soon as he does, the demon turns
around to him, but again he's attacked from the back and
pinned down with two spears in him the other warrior attack
too. They continue to hack into him with their spears, even
when he's already long down. Finally, the step away. The
African man is still screaming over his friend. The warriors
pinning him down let him go and he runs to the demon and
kneels in front of him, as the others leave the cave. The
demon is breathing heavily and his death is inevitable. As
the African man is kneeled by his side, the demon raises his
paw with his blood. The African man looks at his friend
confused, but then the demon raises his paw with the blood
closer to the man's mouth. Finally, the man drinks it, as
soon as he does, he begins to glow and suddenly a white ghost
like figure comes out of the demon and starts circling around
the cave. Finally the thing rushes towards the African man
and as it hits his chest, there's a white flash and then the
whole cave goes nearly completely dark.
BUFFY (V.O.)
Masiya
Then the man opens his eyes and they're glowing yellow and in
the dim light we can see odd paintings have appeared on his
face.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMER'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (CONT'D)
Continued from before.
BUFFY
Masiya, that's the name we kept
coming across, but I don't know if
that's a demon or one of the victim
or a sorcerer or what. So we're not
much better off than we were
before.
DAWN
Before what?
BUFFY
Before Willow fell asleep and Amy
ditched. She said she had to use
the bathroom, but she's been gone
forty-five minutes. My guess is,
she's taking a bubble bath. That's
what I'd be doing right now, given
a choice.
DAWN
Maybe you"”
She is cut off by the telephone ringing. She grabs the
cordless phone off the table next to her and answers.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Hello?
CUT TO:
INT. KARA'S CAR "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara, talking on her cell phone. Her car's
windshield wipers are going at top speed to help her see
through what has become a downpour of rain.
KARA
Hi, it's me.
CUT TO:
INT. SUMMERS LIVING ROOM "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: DAWN.
DAWN
Hey, Kara. What's up?
CUT TO:
INT. KARA'S CAR "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara. She's squinting through the rain and can
barely see the headlights of Cumberdale's car on the road
ahead of her.
KARA
I'm on my way to save Cumberdale. I
figured it out. He wasn't supposed
to die last week. It's a mistake.
DAWN (V.O)
How do you know?
KARA
In my vision, I saw the sign for
the restaurant on Perkins
announcing how they'd raised over
ten thousand dollars for cancer
research. That benefit didn't
happen last week"”it happened a
couple days ago. And in my vision,
there was rain. It didn't rain any
night last week, not even on the
date I saw displayed on
Cumberdale's cell phone. And today
he told me himself he thought he'd
reset the settings on his cell
phone while trying to dial his
voicemail. I think he accidentally
reset the date and the clock when
he was trying to dial the voicemail
number.
DAWN (V.O)
So what are you going to do?
KARA
I tried to stop him from driving
away, but I couldn't catch him in
time. So I'm driving after him,
hoping I can just get emergency
help fast once he crashes.
DAWN (V.O)
Hate to be pessimistic here, but
all the quick response in the world
won't help if he's killed
immediately.
KARA
He won't be. I didn't see a body in
my vision, remember? I'm taking
that to mean he died later, at the
hospital. I don't know why I didn't
see that part in my vision, but I'm
planning on worrying about it long
and hard after I try and save
Cumberdale's life.
DAWN (V.O)
Good luck, Kare. Now get off your
cell phone!
The driving's bad enough right now
without me being an added
distraction. Bye.
KARA
Bye.
Instead of putting the cell phone away, however, Kara dials
three numbers, hits send, and puts the phone up to her ear.
OPERATOR (V.O)
what is your emergency?
KARA
There's a car crashed on Perkins
Street, right next to that
restaurant where the cancer benefit
was. Hurry, I think he might be
hurt bad.
OPERATOR (V.O)
Emergency vehicles have been
dispatched to your location.
KARA
Okay, thanks.
Kara hangs up the car phone and concentrates on driving.
Suddenly, CUMBERDALE's car's taillights begin to swerve to
the side of the road. We hear a thud and a faint crunch.
KARA (CONT'D)
Oh, my God.
She pulls over and grabs her cell phone, dialing 9-1-1.
OPERATOR (V.O)
What is your emergency?
KARA
There's a car crashed on Perkins
Street, right next to that
restaurant where the cancer benefit
was. Hurry, I think he might be
hurt bad.
OPERATOR (V.O)
Emergency vehicles have been
dispatched to your location.
KARA
Okay, thanks.
She throws the phone to the floor of her car before opening
the door and charging out into the pouring rain.
KARA (CONT'D)
Mr. Cumberdale!
She reaches the side of his car. We can see Cumberdale
through the windshield, which is broken. He looks bloody and
pretty badly hurt, but he's still strapped into his seat. He
groans in pain.
KARA (CONT'D)
Mr. Cumberdale! Listen to me! Hold
on to my voice. There's an
ambulance coming, okay? Just hold
on. Listen to me. Help is coming.
You're gonna be fine. Just hang on
for a couple minutes, okay?
In the distance, we can hear sirens faintly approaching.
KARA (CONT'D)
Hear that? That's the ambulance
that's gonna come get you out of
here, okay? You're gonna be fine.
Just stay with me. Stay with me.
Listen to me. Concentrate on what
I'm saying to you. You're gonna be
fine.
The sirens are louder and closer now. Kara glances toward the
road and sees some lights beginning to show through the
downpour. She continues to talk to Cumberdale, growing more
and more panicked.
KARA (CONT'D)
Mr. Cumberdale, listen. I don't go
to your church. I'm not even
Catholic. I knew this would happen.
I'm really sorry I didn't stop it.
I hope I'm not too late. Just keep
listening to me. Listen to me!
The sirens are nearly at the scene. Kara looks a little
relieved.
KARA (CONT'D)
Stay with me, Mr. Cumberdale. Don't
leave me. Stay with me.
The ambulances have finally arrived.
ZOOM IN: On Kara's face. As we zoom in, the picture gets
blurrier and the sound slowly fades out until all we can hear
is Kara's panicked, ragged breathing.
FADE TO WHITE.
INT. EDMONSVILLE HOSPITAL "“ NIGHT
CAMERA ON: Kara, sitting alone in the waiting room.
CAMERA ON: Dawn and Buffy, rushing in.
Dawn rushes over to hug Kara, who absently hugs Dawn back.
DAWN
Are you okay, Kara?
KARA
I don't know. I don't even remember
how I got here. It's all been a
blur.
BUFFY
You probably saved his life.
KARA
That would mean a lot more if I
wasn't responsible for this whole
thing in the first place.
DAWN
Kara, this isn't your fault. You
helped this guy. You didn't hurt
him.
KARA
I should have figured it out
sooner"¦ then I could have caught
him before he got into his car"¦ the
accident wouldn't have happened"¦
DAWN
Kara, the accident wasn't you. It
was bad luck. That's all. You saved
this guy's life.
BUFFY
Imagine if no one else had traveled
that road until an hour or so after
he'd crashed. He never would've
made it. That's why you saved him.
You called it in right away.
DAWN
Kara, you're a hero.
CAMERA ON: Kara, not looking quite convinced.
A DOCTOR enters.
DOCTOR
Which of you called in the
accident?
KARA
I did. How is he?
DOCTOR
Well, young lady, he'll be okay,
thanks to you. If that call had
come any later, his chances would
have been slim to none. You saved
his life.
CAMERA ON: Kara, not looking convinced at all.
DAWN
Kara?
No answer.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE AFRICAN VILLAGE - NIGHT
LONG SHOT
From a distance, we see the village. We hear a lot of singing
and there's light from a big campfire. It seems there's a
celebration over the killed demon. Suddenly, from behind the
camera, Masiya walks into the frame. He's confidently walking
toward the village.
CUT TO:
EXT. AFRICAN VILLAGE - NIGHT
It's the edge of the village, a man is on the outlook. Masiya
is walking toward him. The man points his spears at Masiya to
signal him he's not welcome, but Masiya steps forward and
with one swift strike breaks the spear and as the guard looks
at him in fear, Masiya reveals his razor sharp teeth and
opens his mouth ready to bite him.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE AFRICAN VILLAGE - DAY
LONG SHOT.
We're looking out over Savannah and the village in the middle
of it. Slowly, we close in on the village, and as we do, the
dead guard is revealed. As the camera moves into the village
past some of the huts, more dead bodies are revealed. The
camera moves past the smouldering ashes of the campfire and
we witness the results of last nights massacre as around the
campfire the bodies of the villagers, including the medicine
man and the warriors are laying about.
Finally, we leave the village and look into the sunset on the
horizon and we see the lone figure of Masiya, walking into
its direction.
FADE TO BLACK.
END OF EPISODE.
For an archive of the other episodes in this project visit our website at www.virtualslayer.tk
Next week, a series of unexplained murders on prostitutes will finally puts Angel and his face to face with Drogyn.
By all means tell me what you thought!