starring
David Boreanaz
J. August Richards
Amy Acker
and
James Marsters
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EXT. AERIAL SHOT - LOS ANGELES - LATE AFTERNOON - ESTABLISHING INT. UNDERGROUND SEWER TUNNEL CUT TO A SERIES OF SHOTS of the same section of tunnel - WESLEY and GUNN, walking together; then, a moment later, FAITH, RONA, and GWEN; and finally, CONNOR, SPIKE, and ANGEL. ILLYRIA is nowhere to be seen. A SHAFT OF SUNLIGHT from a large overhead grate stipples the floor ahead. Wesley and Gunn pass right through it; then the women; then Connor. MUSIC drifts down through the grate from the street above from a nearby radio. I was just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told.... Spike edges carefully around the shaft of light. Angel glances up - I have squandered my resistance for a pocket full of mumbles, such are promises.... - And gets NICKED on the side of his face by a stray beam. He winces as his flesh smokes briefly and jumps away. Damn it! SPIKE (smirking) Nice move. Very masterful. You're an inspiration to vampires everywhere. ANGEL Shut it. Something distracted me. SPIKE Obviously. CONNOR Must have been an oldies station. SPIKE Obviously. They go back to walking. (muttering, eyes back on the tunnel ahead) Wesley and Gunn are hitting it off. CONNOR Why are we going to the hotel, anyway? ANGEL (shooting a glance at Spike) So I can make nice with Gunn. SPIKE (with a sigh) Obviously. Angel glares, but Spike merely smiles back. Rubbing his wounded cheek, Angel walks on in silence. CUT AHEAD TO Gunn and Wesley, who are talking softly, but with great animation. I just can't wrap my head around this. Fred can't be alive! Her soul was destroyed, consumed by Illyria. GUNN So we thought, but then who was it told us that? Illyria's evil hench-boy, and that cheating, lying bastard Doctor Sparrow. Wesley shakes his head adamantly. No, no, I would have known. I could feel it, Charles. She was gone. GUNN (insistent) She was buried so deep in there that nobody knew. Not until the personalities started switching back and forth. WESLEY But how can you be so sure it really is Fred? It could be a trick, something the Senior Partners cooked up to distract you. GUNN We thought so too, at first. But now I really don't think so. First off, we haven't heard a definitive peep out of the Senior Partners since the Black Thorn aftermath. Second...well, you just said you could "feel" it. ...And to all of us, she just "feels" like Fred. CUT BACK TO Faith, Rona, and Gwen. Faith is armed with her crossbow. Gwen is a few steps ahead of the Slayers. IN LONG SHOT - The three of them are, in turn, ten or so feet behind Gunn and Wesley, just far enough away that the men's voices are indistinct murmurs. Rona seems a bit on edge. So now what? FAITH Now what, what? RONA Shouldn't we be doing something more productive? These tunnels would be the pits, except they aren't that good. Faith thinks for a bit. All right. Why don't you head back and check in with the rest of the girls? Let them know what's up, and that we're five by five. She glances ahead at Gwen, who is nearing a side tunnel. Hey, Zap Mama. Gwen stops in her tracks, exasperated. She turns, clenching her hands into fists. I've asked you not to call me that! I'm not that much older than you are, so could you extend just the slightest bit of respect? Faith peers down the side tunnel, holding her weapon at the ready. Whatever. Rona's ditching this. Feel like tagging along? Gwen pivots and approaches Faith, opens her mouth to speak, then stops as she steps in something that makes an ugly, leather-boot-ruining sound. She glances down and grimaces. I thought you'd never ask. Rona? RONA (nodding) Let's travel. The two of them peel off down the side tunnel. Faith turns from watching them to staring back ahead. CUT BACK TO Gunn and Wesley. GUNN'S POV - Wesley halts suddenly as what Gunn has been describing finally sinks in. He turns to Gunn with a hopeful expression and stops just short of grabbing him by his jacket to hold on for support. She's really alive? GUNN (smiling) Yeah. WESLEY I have.... I don't know how I'm going to explain this. But I have to. GUNN I understand. (he gestures forward) Go, don't wait for us. Wesley gazes at Gunn for a few seconds, then turns away. CUT TO FAITH'S POV - Wesley takes off down the tunnel at full tilt. Faith glances briefly back at - Spike, Connor, and Angel, now thirty feet behind her, then holsters her crossbow and jogs quickly to Gunn's side. He eyes her with concern. (whispering) Problem? FAITH (quietly) He's gone ahead to see her? GUNN Looks that way. FAITH Think this might be more of a shock than...somebody's ready for? GUNN (shrugging) Might be. But what can you do? FAITH Run interference? He nods at her. Faith takes off after Wesley. Gunn watches her go, then glances back over his shoulder. His POV - Connor, Spike, and Angel are so far down the tunnel he can just make them out. He sighs. CUT TO a TIGHT SHOT of the three of them. Angel's mood hasn't improved. Well? You're not going to get anywhere hangin' back here. ANGEL (wearily) Just...let me do this my own way, Spike. It's complicated. SPIKE Because you make it complicated. ANGEL It is. It's not like before. (beat) Gunn has plenty of experience, and obviously he's doing pretty damn well without me. SPIKE Look. You don't do so well anymore when you're trying to be the Lone Avenger. Chuck knows that, I know that, and you bloody well know that somewhere inside that thick skull of yours, too. CONNOR (shrugging) Gunn can have all the experience in the world, but that doesn't mean he can cool all the people all the time. Maybe the demons would rather talk to another...demon. SPIKE Kid's making some sense. Angel glances, disgruntled, at both of them. Spike steps back and SMACKS him on the back of the head. Oi. All that cheap hair gel gone to your head? Listen up, here! Angel halts and turns, rubbing the spot. Would you stop hitting me! (he grimaces) Once again, let me point out-- Gunn and I see things differently. CONNOR So. Shouldn't that be a strength? Angel starts to speak, then stops. Father and son stare at each other for a long moment. God...finally!! INT. HYPERION LOBBY - EARLY EVENING Wesley stands at the entrance to a darkened hallway. A shiver passes through him. Not surprisingly, since he's staring at - FRED, sitting at the desk in what used to be Angel's office, sipping from a blue mug. The light behind her is producing a kind of halo effect around her head. Wesley stares and stares, unmoving, then startles as he hears the SOFT PAD OF FOOTSTEPS approaching. He pivots to face the darkened hallway. (softly) Faith. Where are the others? Faith strides towards him. Be awhile. I came ahead. Wesley turns away from her and looks back at Fred. His POV - She is now standing, pulling a book down from a shelf. Faith watches with him for a good ten seconds or so. (voice soft now as well) Well? She's right there. WESLEY I know. (he compresses his lips) Before, it was all about losing her. Now it seems I'm the one who's lost. Faith pats him solidly on the back of the shoulder. He looks at her, puzzled. Oh, is that all. I can fix that. She pats him a second time, more forcefully. He stumbles and grunts. WIDE CRANE SHOT - The sound of his grunt echoes faintly through the lobby. TIGHT SHOT - Fred looks up and scans the area, frowning. Hey, who's there!? Is that you, Charles? Faith strides out past Wesley and into the lobby proper. Just me. How're ya doin', Fred? Fred steps out of the office as Faith approaches, looking confused and concerned. TWO SHOT, MEDIUM CLOSE-UP - Faith. What is it? Is Charles all right.... Is Angel? FAITH Yeah, they're both cool. But something really wild has happened, and it concerns you, so I'm...I'm bein' the, wha'd you call it, "harp-bringer"? FRED Huh? You mean "harbinger"? FAITH (brightly) Yeah, that's it. Tidings and stuff. Faith's happy expression turns serious, and she shifts a bit closer to Fred. Fred tilts her head just slightly, listening. It's a little awkward, though. You know how we live in this world where the impossible seems to happen at least every other week? (beat) Well, this is one of those weeks. FRED (confused) Impossible? Before Fred can say anymore, Faith turns and beckons at someone across the lobby. (peeved) Faith, really, I.... Fred's POV - WESLEY steps slowly out into the light, eyes locked right on Fred's. (stunned) ...I...I...ohh.... He approaches slowly but deliberately. Fred's eyes widen. She puts a hand to her mouth. Fred? It's me. I can't explain how it happened, but.... I'm alive again. I'm real. A short, hysterical giggle slips out from behind Fred's hand. She falls back against the frame of the office doorway. I--I had to see you. Fred's hand falls limply to her side. The color drains from her face, and she begins to slip down the door frame. Fred? Are you-- Uh-oh. Wesley dives towards Fred as Faith reaches for her. At almost the same instant, Fred catches herself, halting her floor-ward slide. Whoa, easy there, girl. You 're O.K....you're O.K.. WESLEY Dammit...I shouldn't have.... FAITH (glancing at him, peeved) Of course you should. Get over yourself, O.K.? She's tough. Hell, I just about lost it when I first saw you outside the hotel. Fred is steady once again, staring at Wesley, just trying to take it all in. Wes? (long pause) It's.... FAITH (softly) Yeah. It's him. DISSOLVE TO a THREE-SHOT of them, seen from the shadowed hallway threshold Faith and Wesley were in a few moments before. HOLD. THEN CUT TO - INT. THE SEWER TUNNELS - CONTINUOUS Our intrepid threesome are still slogging along, but apparently not for much longer. Connor points. That's it, around that bend. SPIKE Yep. A short saunter down this lovely stone-lined lane, and we shall be en-hoteled. He glances at Angel. The three of them turn the corner and start down the smaller connecting tunnel. Angel slows. (clearing his throat) I wonder where Illyria got to. SPIKE Blue? Dunno, she buggered off right quick back there, didn't she? CONNOR Maybe she headed here by some other route? ANGEL I doubt it. She knows this is where Fred's staying now, and if you want to talk differences.... INT. HYPERION OFFICE - CONTINOUS Fred is now sitting at one end of the old, battered couch; Wesley is seated at the other. Faith is watching the two from the door with an enigmatic smile. There we go. Now everyone's back in the land of the living again. She waves at them and turns to exit. Which means it's my cue. (a smirk) You kids be careful now...don't break anything. She departs. Wesley turns slowly towards Fred and smiles warmly, waiting. Fred is staring at the door where Faith was. Finally, she turns to look at the man seated down from her. (slowly) You're...you're just a mental construct, a dream image of a dead man. I'm asleep right now on that desk and I'm dreaming. Or dead. (beat) Yes, I'm dead and I'm dreaming. That's right. I'm dead and.... WESLEY You're not dead. And now it seems that I'm likewise not. Fred covers her eyes with her hands and shakes her head. This is a dream. Wesley shifts quickly down the couch. He reaches out and tugs gently on her hands. He lowers them. This isn't a dream. FRED I watched you die. So you can't be here, alive. You're not real. WESLEY I am real, and...and.... (caught off-guard) ...What did you just say? FRED See, that's just what someone who wasn't real would say-- Impulsively, Wesley leans in and kisses her. Fred's eyes close, and she seems to fall into the moment effortlessly. The kiss ends; Wesley pulls back and brushes some strands of hair away from her face, smiling. Fred's eyes open, and she stares at Wesley. O.K., you're real. (beat) But then maybe you're not Wesley, you're a shape-shifter. Or a robot. Yes, that's it-- a robot ninja just like that one time. WESLEY I'm not a shape-shifter or a robot...ninja. Ask me anything. FRED (thinking quickly) Oh, right. Um...what's my favorite food? WESLEY Pancakes. With lots of syrup. FRED No, wait, that was stupid. Lots of people know that one. (she looks away) I need to ask something only you would know. She thinks hard, then - What...what was the last thing I said to you? Wesley instantly loses his contented expression. He swallows hard and reaches for Fred's hands again. (softly) You asked me.... He chokes up. She squeezes his hands back, hard. (barely audible) You asked me...why you couldn't stay. Fred looks at him in astonishment; the moment stretches. Finally - But...how? WESLEY (distraught) Does it matter? FRED (shaking her head) No. No, it doesn't. This time it is she who reaches out to him. She pulls him toward her and kisses him passionately. HOLD on that briefly, then - CUT TO a CLOSE-UP TWO-SHOT - They pull back and embrace. Fred's eyes are closed at first, but when they flick open, we clearly see a brief flash of ILLYRIA'S COLD BLUE EYES. SMASH CUT TO - EXT. AERIAL SHOT - LOS ANGELES - EVENING The sun wanes low over the horizon. EXT. A STONE WALL BEHIND THE TRENT/SOUTAR ESTATE ILLYRIA is seated on the parched ground against the stones, arms wrapped around her bent legs, forehead pressed tightly to her knees. The whole pose looks stressed, almost painful. Suddenly her head flies back, SMACKING HARD into the wall with a CRACK. Tiny stone chips drop down onto Illyria's shoulders. She stares out into space. Her legs relax and stretch out a bit, then her hands rise to her head. One winds its fingers around her neck and begins to SQUEEZE TIGHTLY just short of choking. The other wanders over her cheeks, down past her chin, and finally up to her mouth, fingertips pressing lightly and then more firmly on her lips. Her blue eyes close for several seconds. When they open again, they are FRED'S BROWNISH-HAZEL. Illyria stares into space again for several long seconds, unblinking, then - (murmuring) No...no.... She rises to a standing position at lightning speed. No! CLOSE-UP - With a violent shake of her head, she recovers herself. She blinks several times and the hazel color fades. Her irises returns to their normal ice-blue. FULL SHOT - She heads forward towards the rear of the residence, eyes searching, very uncharacteristically muttering to herself as she goes. You will not reside with me. It is a violation, and it will end, or I will destroy all around me until it does! Her POV - a non-descript DOORWAY in the back of the house. She approaches it and tries the knob. It resists. Angrily, she TWISTS MORE FORCEFULLY until it SNAPS. But the door still will not open. She rears back, ready to slam full tilt against the door, then suddenly STOPS. She bends down and examines the broken fixture intently, poking at the damaged metal with a finger. A pleased smile crosses her face. She draws back her finger and JABS IT right at the center of the knob mechanism. INT. ROOM The interior knob and the remains of its shaft FLY OUT from the lock assembly and land on the floor with a soft clunk. EXT. DOOR With two fingers, Illyria tugs the lock's bar sideways out of the jamb. She stands and pushes inward. The door swings open. She slips quietly inside, smiling. Incompetent humans. So easily confounded. RAPID FADE TO BLACK. INT. HYPERION MAIN OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER Wesley and Fred break away from their embrace and sit back on the couch, still holding one another's' hands. I missed you so much. FRED Me too. (beat) Only, I didn't miss me, I missed.... WESLEY (laughing softly) I know. Just then, the firm, masculine clearing of a throat comes from outside the office. Startled, they stand. Their POV - Gunn. And behind him, Angel, Spike, and Connor, watching from the lobby. Spike waves. He's smiling broadly, as are Connor and Gunn. Angel, on the other hand, appears plainly unhappy. When he notices Fred and Wesley looking towards him, though, he makes an effort to smile. (to Fred) Perhaps we'd best go somewhere more...private. FRED Big yes to that. She takes his hand again and they exit the office doorway, the "crowd" parting to let them through. Fred waves as they go by. (with a goofy smile) Hi, guys.... Bye, guys. WESLEY (awkwardly) Uh...we'll...talk later, O.K.? They head to the main staircase as fast as decorum allows and slip up the steps. PAN UP - As they disappear around the corner of the second floor landing, CUT TO - Angel's expression darkens again. Anybody else waiting for the axe to drop? (off everyone's looks) Not literally. Gunn shakes his head. Only you, man, only you. (then he levels his gaze at Angel) So is there a reason you followed me here? ANGEL (awkwardly) Uh, yeah. (then, business-like) Someone needs to go find Michael Barber and see if his fingerprints really are all over this. GUNN You're thinking you? ANGEL I was, yeah. GUNN Suppose he's still ticked at you and has one of those mystical barriers set up around his place? ANGEL (caught off guard) Well, uh...I guess that's possible, and I'll deal with it when I'm there, if I have to. SPIKE You gonna throw rocks through the windows with rude and/or pleading notes attached? Neither Angel nor Gunn spare a glance at Spike. Pretty sure he'd be willing to see me. Angel gives Gunn one final scrutiny. O.K. Grab your stuff and let's go. GUNN I'm ready. Angel pivots and heads towards the lobby entrance. Gunn glances wryly over at Spike and Connor as he starts after him. And we're off to see the wizard. Angel and Gunn head for the door. Spike turns to Connor. Now that Dorothy and Toto are safely away, it's a good time for a drink, methinks. Wanna raid the kitchen? Connor nods and stuffs his hands in his pants pockets. They wander off. CUT TO - INT. THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN - A MOMENT LATER They stop just inside the kitchen door. Spike's eyes widen and he grins. Hey there, Jail-Bird. Whatcha doin'? SPIKE'S POV - Faith, sitting at the kitchen table, beer bottle in one hand. She looks at them. EXT. THE TRENT/SOUTAR ESTATE - FRONTAL VIEW - ESTABLISHING The broad, three-story brick-and-stone mansion looks less impressive set among withered trees and grass. INT. MICHAEL'S LIVING ROOM Michael sits surrounded by a group of news reporters, fellow sorcerers, and curious on-lookers shooting questions at him. He appears tired, as if the interview has been going on for some time. He finishes responding to a question, then gestures a halt. Now, if that's all for tonight.... His voice trails off. With a nod to the group, he rises and turns to exit the room. A dark-blue-robed man jumps up. Wait! I have another question! TV NEWSWOMAN As do I. At least half a dozen others begin to raise their hands or clamor for attention again. Michael turns back and sighs. Please...I'm sure many of you do, and I'm happy to answer any and all of them...but it'll need to be tomorrow. Tonight was only the opening announcement of what I have done and of my plans to stem this tidal wave of chaos. BLUE-ROBED MAN (skeptically) You haven't even told us that much! MICHAEL Then I'll clear everything up for you. Tomorrow. It's been a busy night and I expect most of you are tired, as I am. Michael starts to turn away again. You seem to be taking credit for fixing things, but what have you actually repaired? You say you've brought people back from the dead, but... how exactly will that "fix" anything? MICHAEL (wearily) I brought them back because their deaths were senseless; they should never had happened in the first place. TV NEWSWOMAN There are thousands, even millions of senseless deaths in the world. Are you going to resurrect them all? MICHAEL No, of course not, but-- TV ANCHORWOMAN So why were these victims special? Are you using some kind of racial or social profile to determine who's selected? Michael struggles to control his irritation and remain calm and professional. I assure you...I have a plan for everything. (beat) Now, we must continue this another time. (he forces a calming smile) In the meanwhile, please be patient. All is as it should be. YOUNG MALE VOICE Dad? Michael startles and looks down for the source of the voice. Michael's POV - his SON, dressed in pajamas, gazing up and holding onto his father's pants leg. Daddy, when are you going to read to me? Michael closes his eyes briefly. Then he raises his head and smiles benevolently at the group. Thank you all for coming. (he clasps his hands together) I'm afraid it's been a long day for me, so I must ask all of you to leave. If you wish, we can reconvene here tomorrow, but for now, good night. He turns and exits the frame. The crowd reluctantly begins to rise and file towards the front door. INT. BACK HALLWAY The sounds of their movements continue as Michael trails down the hall. He enters a room to the left near the hallway's end. INT. BEDROOM He walks to the single bed in the far corner of the room and pulls down the covers. Then he stops himself, sits down on the edge of the mattress, and stares at the room. After a moment, he massages the back of his neck and begins to whisper, his words inaudible. FADE SLOWLY TO BLACK. CUT TO - LONG SHOT - INT. THE HALLWAY - A MOMENT LATER Michael emerges from the bedroom in a bathrobe and pulls the door toward him, leaving it slightly ajar. Then he turns and heads toward the living room, rubbing his eyes as he walks. PULL BACK into a WIDE SHOT of the living room proper - it is now empty. Almost. Michael drops his hands and nearly chokes as he sees - ILLYRIA, standing just beyond the kitchen door frame, watching him intently. Michael tries with fierce desperation to keep some semblance of composure in his features. Illyria moves towards him quickly and quietly, stopping just short of him. She studies him. Finally, Michael musters up the focus to return her steely gaze. Illyria. It's...very late, is there something...? Her expression is a cross between curiosity and condescension. When she speaks, condescension wins - It seems that I have underestimated you, Sorcerer. MICHAEL I...well...that's an interesting...assessment. I do think I have...depths that many do not fully appreciate. ILLYRIA Perhaps you do. I am offering you an opportunity to confirm whether this..."assessment" is correct. MICHAEL (parrying) Rest assured I'll do whatever I can. What is it you need? He stares at her with horrified fascination as she moves a hand to her face, then slides it down until it GRIPS HER NECK in a choking gesture. She locks eyes with him, then drops her hand and abruptly turns away. (back to him) The Winifred Burkle memories can no longer be tolerated. I need you to remove them from this body. MICHAEL (taking this in) I see. That's a...challenging request. (a pensive pause) This.... Your situation is unique, as you know. ILLYRIA I wish to be what I was. Since that cannot be, I will settle for freedom. She abruptly turns back to face him. Is it within your powers to grant this? She waits for a response. Michael ponders her request. After a moment, his right hand slides into his robe pocket and CUPS SOMETHING THERE. Whatever it is brings a smile to his face, which broadens as he meets the god-king's gaze. Yes. Yes, I do believe that it is. HOLD on them, then - BLACK OUT. |