BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER "Cordelia... Vampire Slayer?" TEASER FADE IN: EXT. BAD PART OF TOWN - CITY STREET - NIGHT A red car, CORDELIA'S, SPUTTERS to a stop. Unheard from outside she slams her hands on the steering wheel and yells something. Exasperated, she opens the door and steps out. CORDELIA Great. Night. Sunnydale. I'm feeling safe. She SLAMS the door. Then HRMPS. She points her remote. The car BEEPS and locks itself. All of a sudden she's yanked around to the grizzled face of a MUGGER. CORDELIA Not good. The Mugger pulls back to hit her, but YOUCH, she knees him in the groin. She's sooo close to getting away until he snatches her wrist. He's just a tad perturbed but: WHAM-BAM, now he should be really pissed. Another MAN backhands the Mugger, knocking him to the ground. The Mugger scrambles to get up as the Man puts himself in front of Cordelia. The Man looks determined to protect her. The Mugger (bravery not one of his virtues) hesitates, then runs. The Man straightens his suit jacket, then turns back to Cordelia. She takes a step back at first but then stops as she takes him in. The Man is debonair and dressed to kill. In other words he is waaayyy out of place. Cordy (the ever forward thinking) however can't help but be waaayyy impressed. CORDELIA (under breath) Heellloo. MAN (nonchalant) It's late. A pretty girl like yourself shouldn't be out. CORDELIA Maybe you can help me get home. MAN (smiling widely) I would love to. EXT. BAD PART OF TOWN - ALLEY - NIGHT In the darkness deep inside something BANGS AROUND. Then, a CRY and a WHOOSH. A beat. BUFFY appears from the shadows. She carries a stake. With her other hand she brushes her ruffled hair back from her face. Just another night on patrol. BUFFY Call me waif will you. She reaches the end of the alley and looks back and forth. BUFFY Karma says right. She heads off. EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT Cordy and the man stroll along together. She clutches to his arm, doing the helpless maiden bit. The Man stops at the mouth of an alley. MAN If we cut through here, it will be faster. CORDELIA Are you looking for trouble? MAN Don't worry. I won't let anyone else harm you. Cordy looks him up and down. She is very taken. CORDELIA Okay. EXT. ALLEY - CONTINUOUS They walk farther in and then suddenly the Man stops. CORDELIA What is it? He steps away from her, looks around, and sniffs the air. MAN (his back is to her) Damn! CORDELIA We're not in trouble are we? MAN Well. I'm not. He turns to her VAMP FACE and all. Cordelia SCREAMS. MID-SOUND CUT TO: EXT. CITY STREET - CONTINUOUS Buffy hears the cry and spins around. BUFFY So much for karma. EXT. ALLEY - CONTINUOUS The Vampire grabs Cordelia by the neck. He SLAMS her back against the wall and she winces. He leans in, sneers at her. VAMPIRE Pity, my brother would have enjoyed this. You are so succulent. CORDELIA (fearful, but strangely not overly so) Please... I'll give you anything. VAMPIRE Yes, I do believe that you will. He HISSES, about to plunge his fangs in. CORDELIA (last ditch effort) You want money? I have a gold MasterCard. VAMPIRE (pulls back a moment, amused) No, I want to drain you of all your life. You aren't too swift are you? CORDELIA (fumbling in her purse) I was, um, just hoping I could give you something else, like, um... (pulls out) MACE! She sprays him. He rears back away from her rubbing furiously at his eyes. Cordy does a little triumphant hop. CORDELIA Maybe that'll freshen your breath. Suddenly, he glares up at her, not so bad off. CORDELIA Or maybe not. Cordelia runs and he gives chase. EXT. END OF ALLEY/CITY STREET - CONTINUOUS Still in the alley, the Vampire reaches forward to grab Cordelia. ANGLE: A HAND shoots out from around the corner right after Cordelia passes. The Vampire runs through it not noticing. Cordelia trips on the curb and falls down onto the street. The Vamp draws to a stop at her feet. He leers down at her but then realizes something is amiss. He looks at his chest. Oops, wood -- vamp -- bad combo, for him that is. VAMPIRE Damn! He EXPLODES into dust. Cordelia coughs as the cloud showers down onto her. Buffy steps up to look down at her. BUFFY Gee, Cordelia, in the bad part of town with a bloodsucking fiend. Why doesn't that surprise? Buffy helps her up. CORDELIA My car broke down. Besides, I thought he was normal. I mean he was cute. BUFFY Uh-huh. Buffy walks away. Cordy rushes to catch up. CORDELIA Maybe you should teach me. How to not get, you know... like dead. BUFFY Yippee, can I? CORDELIA If you're not saving the important people like me you'll have more time to save other losers. BUFFY Hmm, that jives in one of those warped twisted ways. CORDELIA Good. (beat, looks around) Now, you're going to help me get home right? Buffy sighs. BUFFY I'm sensing a long night. Buffy heads across the street and Cordelia happily follows. BLACK OUT. END OF TEASER ACT ONE INT. SUNNYDALE HIGH - HALL - MORNING XANDER catches up to where WILLOW and OZ are walking together. Willow hangs off Oz's arm. XANDER Hey, wolf boy and MENSA girl. How was our evening? WILLOW (snuggling close to Oz) It was just fine. OZ Actually it was more than fine. XANDER Feel free not to get too descriptive. Where we headed? WILLOW That would be the library. XANDER Sorry. I thought we might actually be going someplace cool. OZ Question. What would be cool in this school? XANDER (thinks a beat; then:) Good point. They turn the corner and go through the double doors into: INT. LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS Xander and Willow stop dead in their tracks. Serious jaw dropping. Oz doesn't notice anything special. OZ Hey Cordy. ANGLE: A CRASHMAT situated in the center of the library. Cordelia and Buffy, both in gym clothes, are squared off looking to be ready for some serious kung fu fighting. The two break off and turn to look at the three who just entered. CORDELIA Hey, Oz. (beat) Xander. Xander snaps out of it. XANDER Um... hi. (stepping forward) I thought you guys would stick to insults. When did the... (makes clawing motions) ...reer! Hiss hiss start? CORDELIA We're not fighting. Buffy's teaching me. Xander glares toward Buff who is walking over to her bag. XANDER (to Cordy) To do what? CORDELIA To be a Slayer. Xander is speechless. OZ Sweet! That is way cool. I mean like super death to all undead cool. WILLOW I'm feeling dizzy. Buffy tries to rush out the library doors but Xander catches her arm. XANDER Please say someone just had a brain fart here. You aren't serious? CORDELIA What? You don't think I can do it? XANDER No. It's just... well... No actually I don't. BUFFY Hey Xand. This wasn't my idea. So how 'bout letting go. XANDER (letting go) Sorry. Buffy slips out. Cordy gathers her stuff as Xander walks up to her. XANDER What... I mean why? CORDELIA Because I want to, okay? Excuse me for having a little ambition. I forgot how little sense that makes to the lame. She snaps her bag up and storms out. Oz's eyes follow her. He is seriously impressed for once. OZ She has the attitude down. Not that she didn't before. WILLOW But she's learning how to hit people. That can't be good. XANDER (matter-of-factly) I'm frightened. Willow walks over to comfort him. WILLOW Hey, maybe it's not so bad. She might do okay fighting vamps. I mean except for the last Slayer ending up dead and actually being a slayer and Cordelia always running from danger and... XANDER Thanks Will. WILLOW Sorry. OZ This is too nifty. We are now officially friends with two fiend- mauling slay chics. WILLOW (sort of whimpers) OZ Well, I mean you kick ass, too. In that smart, sexy way. WILLOW (smiles, pleased again) INT. LOCKER ROOM - DAY Cordelia sets her gym bag on the bench, sits down, and puts her head in her hands. At the end of the row of lockers HARMONY and a GIRL appear. They stop as they are about to walk past. GIRL Hey, Cordelia. You don't have gym first period. CORDELIA (quickly standing up) Just went for a run. Have to keep in shape. HARMONY We all know how selective the loser population is. CORDELIA Do I detect a wannabe ranting? HARMONY As if. But next time I need advice on being lame you'll be the first person I call. See you. Or actually, I hope not. Harmony walks off but the Girl doesn't follow just yet. HARMONY (O.S.) Are you coming?- GIRL Yeah. (to Cordy) Anyway, nice seeing you. CORDELIA (not believing her) Sure. The Girl leaves. Cordelia turns and punches a locker -- HARD. Strangely, it slightly dents. But she is too frustrated to notice. INT. HALL - DAY GILES reads a book as he proceeds down the hallway. Suddenly, Xander cuts him off. XANDER So I go into the library and the strangest thing is happening. Buffy is teaching Cordy how to fight. GILES Excuse me? XANDER Exactly my thought. I know this can't be Cordelia or Buffy's idea so who does that leave me with? GILES (chuckling at the insinuation) Xander, I don't believe you have actually thought this through. The last thing I would want is to see more of your insufferable girlfriend... No offense. XANDER Then what's the sitch? Cordelia -- fighting, breaking nails, I'm not picturing it. GILES Have you spoken with her? XANDER I tried but she got well... all Cordy on me. GILES I assume that's part of the attraction. XANDER Huh? GILES Never mind. Buffy is really teaching Cordelia how to defend herself? XANDER That would be what it looked like. Hey, maybe you could use some of your Watcher influence with Buff. Explain the severe bad-ideaness of this. GILES I gather then you actually believe Buffy would listen to me. XANDER Hmm. I guess I need another plan. GILES Well... duh. EXT. SUNNYDALE BUS DEPOT - DAY A bus has just pulled into the lot. A SMALL MAN of Asian decent exits down the stairs. He is middle aged and dressed in a tan trench coat, very conspicuously inconspicuous. He walks toward the depot building. INT. SUNNYDALE BUS DEPOT - MOMENTS LATER The Small Man stands by the pay phone and leafs through the phone book. ANGLE: PHONE BOOK He flips through the government pages, then stops and trails his finger down until it come to Sunnydale High School. SMALL MAN There it is. He RIPS the page out. SMALL MAN I'll have her in no time. INT. CAFETERIA - DAY Buffy stands in line, holding a tray, and waits to get food. Xander slips in behind her. XANDER Hey Buff. BUFFY Hello. You here to interrogate or just hang out? XANDER I'm not sure yet. BUFFY Cordelia wants to learn how to not be the maiden needing rescue. No biggie. XANDER Since when did she develop an aspiration beyond shoes? BUFFY Since I saved her butt from imminent death a few nights ago. Dangers considered, I should probably teach all of you a trick or two. XANDER But Cordy a Slayer type? BUFFY (laughing out loud) Oh please Xander. You seriously need a reality adjustment. Cordelia could never be a Slayer. XANDER So that was her just babbling? BUFFY Well... duh. The cafeteria lady SLOPS something squishy onto Buffy's tray. BUFFY Oh boy, dysentery. INT. GYM - AFTER SCHOOL, DAY Buffy and Cordy are dressed in their gym clothes, squared off on the mats across from each other. Buffy wears boxing gloves. BUFFY I'm going to come in and do a double tap. You just block okay? CORDELIA (defiant, ready) You got it. Buffy steps in and one-two. Cordy blocks with ease. They distance again. Buffy puts her gloved hands on her hips and regards Cordelia. BUFFY (very surprised) Cordelia, that was actually... good. CORDELIA (hopping back and forth like a boxer) So I'm getting pretty spiffy right? BUFFY I wouldn't go that far, but at least you didn't get clobbered. Now try a counter after you block. Buffy readies herself and then attacks again. PRINCIPAL SNYDER enters the gym. SNYDER What do we have here? The two stop and turn to look. SNYDER I didn't let you back into school so you could recruit your own gang. Buffy smirks and retakes her stance. BUFFY Right, you did it not to get sued. Buffy throws another punch which Cordelia blocks. SNYDER Tread very lightly Ms. Summers. Buffy stops and turns toward him. BUFFY I'm quaking. Witness me fearing you. Buffy falls as a punch SMACKS into her face. Synder smiles and turns to leave. CORDELIA (rushing to help Buffy up) Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Please don't hurt me back. Buffy sits up and feels her cheek. BUFFY Wow, that was pretty hard. INT. SNYDER'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER Snyder rushes into his office and closes the door behind himself. He goes straight to the phone and dials. SNYDER It's Snyder. There's trouble. Waits a moment, listening. SNYDER You know? (pause) What?! You're not going after Buffy? But the other girl, what's her name, is a prize student. (pause) Weaker?! What are you talking about? Snyder holds the phone back from his ear as someone YELLS incomprehensibly. SNYDER Okay, okay, I understand. The council knows best. He hangs the phone up. SNYDER Idiots. EXT. STREETS OF SUNNYDALE - NIGHT Cordelia walks along. She hears FOOTSTEPS approaching her. She pivots to face the Small Man, her look fierce. CORDELIA Hey, back off okay or you might get seriously damaged. SMALL MAN You would harm me? CORDELIA Definitely. SMALL MAN Well, I would not want that. Allow me to introduce myself... (sticks his hand out) ...I'm Yoshi. CORDELIA (steps back) I should care because? YOSHI Hmm. I see this is going to be difficult. CORDELIA Way difficult if you come any closer. YOSHI (counting up with his fingers) Belligerent. Nasty. Ill-tempered. Fierce. She must be it. CORDELIA Must be what? YOSHI The new Slayer. BLACK OUT. END OF ACT ONE ACT TWO EXT. STREETS OF SUNNYDALE - NIGHT Cordelia is no longer in a fighting stance. CORDELIA I hate to break it to you. But I'm just a cheerleader. YOSHI Many Slayers have been much less. CORDELIA Listen, I'm not the undead killer chic. YOSHI You are. I am sure of it. CORDELIA Oh right. That's your wardrobe and you're sure of something? YOSHI You are the Slayer and I am here as your Watcher. CORDELIA Am not. She walks quickly past him. Yoshi looks confused for a moment and then follows. YOSHI I understand that you wish to protect your identity. CORDELIA I'm not protecting any identity you dufe. I don't have to. YOSHI It is my job to train you, to prepare. CORDELIA I've heard this riff and I'm telling you it's not me. You want to be a Watcher this bad, go duke it out with Giles for privileges. YOSHI Giles? Rupert Giles? CORDELIA At least you did a little homework. YOSHI We must go see him. CORDELIA You feel free. YOSHI You have to come with me. She stops, turns, and prods a finger at him. CORDELIA Look, I don't have to do anything. You however have to get your facts straight and stop bothering me. She storms off. YOSHI Giles... He's that girl's Watcher... impressive. He goes in the other direction. EXT. DARK ALLEY - NIGHT A DARK STRANGER, dressed in a grey longcoat, walks through the shadows. He wears a large brimmed hat and his face is always obscured in shadow. Stopping at a large steel door, he RAPS on it three times. A small window slit SNAPS open to show part of the face of a BOUNCER. BOUNCER What! DARK STRANGER I have been asked in on a matter of business. BOUNCER By who? DARK STRANGER Who do you think? Rituals are performed. Demons get summoned. That's how it works. BOUNCER And you believe I'll just open this door on your word. Unseen by the Bouncer the Dark Stranger turns his right hand palm up. A small blue glowing orb of electricity appears in it. DARK STRANGER No, I really don't. He SLAMS his hand against the metal door. Arcs of electrical fire hop around the surface of the door. The part of the Bouncer's face seen through the slit shakes as electricity tears through his tissue. The Bouncer's eyes disappear from the slit. A THUMP of a body falling, then a CLICK and the door CREAKS open. DARK STRANGER Now, that is more to my liking. INT. CORDELIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Cordelia is in her pajamas. Even just before she goes to sleep she looks perfectly pressed and prim. She clicks off the light, then walks toward her bed. She passes her tall mirror on the way and stops just beyond it. She thinks for a moment and then goes back to it. She gazes at herself. She takes her fighting stance and tries to look mean. CORDELIA Come on vamp. I'm going to so totally dust you. She steps forward and stabs down with her hand as if she were heart staking a vampire. She backs away from the mirror and looks at herself again. CORDELIA Hmph... Pathetic. She shrugs, then walks over and plops down on her bed. On her dresser sits her jewelry box. She reaches inside and from it retrieves the gold heart Xander gave her (in BB&B). She looks at the heart. Then she unclasps the chain and reclasps it around her neck. She smiles to herself holding the heart. Then she rolls over to go to sleep. INT. WILLOW'S BEDROOM - NIGHT She lies in bed, talking on the phone and playing with a stuffed bunny in her hands. WILLOW What is with you and this Cordelia thing? I was shocked. You're fixated. With: INT. XANDER'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS Xander paces around his room as he speaks. He looks more than just a tad worried. XANDER You said it yourself. Cordy and violence is a bad combination. She gets mad, what would have been a biting insult becomes a black eye and... INTERCUT FOR PHONE CONVERSATION WILLOW (interrupting) That's not it. XANDER What do you mean? WILLOW This is Willow here. You tried to lie to me about the playhouse fire in second grade. I caught on then didn't I? Xander thinks for a moment. He stops pacing and sits down on his bed. It's time for the truth. XANDER I'm scared for her Will. Or hell I'm scared for me. Ms. Calendar. Angel. And now Cordy wants to put herself on the front lines. Willow puts down the bunny and sits up. WILLOW (pause, then) So what you're saying is you're in love? XANDER I did not say that. Listen to me saying I didn't say that. WILLOW But you meant it. XANDER No! Well... um... WILLOW Yes. XANDER Is that horrifically evil and wrong? WILLOW Probably, but I don't judge. XANDER (letting it sink in) Wow... this is... strange. What should I do? Willow picks up her bunny and looks into its eyes. WILLOW Talk to her. Say everything you just said. Well, except practice it a few times first. XANDER Tell me Will, why are you always right? WILLOW It's part of my charm. XANDER Goodnight. WILLOW Night. Xander hangs up the phone. He sits in bed for a moment. Then looks up at the clock. XANDER Rejected and forlorn here I come. He grabs his jacket to head out. INT. LIBRARY - NIGHT Giles looks up from his book. A man is at the entrance of the library cast in shadow. Giles stands up and looks towards his office. His bag of weapons is out on the table. GILES May I help you? Out of the shadows steps Yoshi. YOSHI Rupert? Rupert Giles? GILES Yes, uh that's me. Giles squints at the man for a moment. GILES Yoshi? Yoshi Shinkagé? YOSHI Good memory. Yoshi holds out his hand and walks toward Giles who takes it and shakes vigorously. GILES It has been so very long. YOSHI Since the Pharaoh project if I remember correctly. Or more precisely, investigation into possible supernatural resuscitative techniques indicated in the myths. GILES You did have a mind for detail. What brings you to Sunnydale? YOSHI Same as you I suspect. I was told of the coming of the Slayer. GILES Yes, uh we do have the one here. I'm her Watcher. Yoshi looks concerned. GILES Is something wrong? YOSHI Misinformation I suppose. I thought I was needed as a Watcher. I confronted the Slayer and she told me of you. GILES She has been fighting evil here for some time now. Extraordinary young woman. YOSHI I feel like a fool. Everything is taken care of. GILES As best it can be I suppose. YOSHI I have another bus to catch then. It was good seeing you Giles. GILES You too. Yoshi pauses a moment, then nods his farewell and exits. INT. CORDELIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Cordelia starts awake to the SNAP of her window being opened. She looks over to see WHISTLER climbing inside. WHISTLER You really should lock this. There all kind of nasties around here. CORDELIA And we're thinking window instead of door because...? WHISTLER I've got information. I'm a friend of the Buff's. (beat) And a friend of yours. CORDELIA I think I've had my fill of unwanted friendships for the night. Go express your love to someone else. WHISTLER Hey, this isn't about you, you selfish bitch. CORDELIA (bolting up in bed) What the hell did you call me! WHISTLER You heard me plenty fine. Cordelia throws her covers off and storms over to him. CORDELIA Did I? She pushes him. He stumbles back and out the window. She waits a moment, then starts, realizing what she's just done. She rushes forward to stick her head out. EXT. SIDE OF CORDELIA'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS CORDELIA Are you al... Whistler is lying on the grass below LAUGHING. WHISTLER You can't get rid of a demon spawn that easy. He continues to laugh. CORDELIA Hey, shut up! You're going to wake my parents. (looks back and forth) Look loserdom, what do you want? WHISTLER Love, happiness, a million dollars. The usual. CORDELIA Could you be more boring? WHISTLER (levels his gaze at her) Move back a sec. Then I'll tell you. Cordy crosses her arms. INT. CORDELIA'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS She steps back into her room. Almost instantly Whistler is at her window, climbing through again. WHISTLER Didn't want to whop you in the nose coming up. CORDELIA You're soooo considerate. WHISTLER Thank you. (beat) Anyway, that dude you scoffed off. Council doesn't like people rocking the boat. They were pissed enough about letting the Buffster back in school. Now they got a wannabe Watcher running around claiming Slayers equal numero dos in their brainwashed little hamlet. CORDELIA But I'm not a Slayer. WHISTLER Doesn't matter chickadee, he thinks, hence council thinks, council worries, council works the death and violence angle. CORDELIA He's in danger? WHISTLER Good sum up. CORDELIA And you're telling me instead of Buffy for what reason? WHISTLER I don't know. Maybe Sunnydale needs another hero, and maybe, just maybe, I don't think Yoshi's so far mistaken. CORDELIA You're delusional. WHISTLER Probably, when you're a demon on earth for a couple thousands years it does stuff to you. Kinda like high school. Anyway, I'll see ya. Whistler tips his hat to her. Cordelia watches as he climbs back out the window. She waits a moment, thinking. CORDELIA I'm going to regret this. She rushes to her closet and pulls out some clothes to change into. INT. THE BRONZE - NIGHT Buffy stands near the entrance and gazes around the club. The place is cleared out for the most part. BUFFY Here, vampy vampy. She looks toward one of the back rooms and sees something move in the shadows. BUFFY Bingo. INT. THE BRONZE, BACK ROOM - CONTINUOUS Buffy enters and looks around. No sign of the baddie. She walks in farther. The Dark Stranger appears out of the shadows behind her as if from thin air. DARK STRANGER Buffy Summers. She spins around, stake ready. DARK STRANGER I'm afraid that won't do you much good. BUFFY Really? She stabs the stake down and he catches her arm before it can connect. DARK STRANGER Really. He knocks the stake away with his other hand. Then throws her back onto the ground. DARK STRANGER We can make this easy. BUFFY No thanks. Buffy attacks with a sweep. The stranger STOMPS down on her leg before it connects. Buffy winces in pain and struggles to pull away. The stranger leans in closer grinding her leg in the process. ANGLE: POV AS BUFFY She looks up at the Dark Stranger's face. All she sees is void with dark mist swirling about. A RUMBLE like thunder comes from him. DARK STRANGER I won't do the council any freebees, but I can't let you interfere with my mission. His hand reaches forward, SIZZLING with electricity. BLACK OUT. END OF ACT TWO ACT THREE INT. CORDELIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT ANGLE: ON WINDOW From outside we hear GRUMBLING. A hand appears, holding tight onto the bottom of the window ledge. A HUFF and Xander pulls himself halfway in. XANDER Hey Cordy. He falls the rest of the way in with a THUMP. XANDER Dammit! He waits for a moment but doesn't hear anything. He quickly scrambles up. Cordelia isn't in her bed. XANDER What the hell? (thinks a beat) Oh no! He rushes to get back out the window as fast as possible. EXT. SUNNYDALE BUS DEPOT - NIGHT It is dark and deserted. Yoshi sits on a bench outside reading a leather bound book. From around the corner appears the Dark Stranger. DARK STRANGER Leaving so soon? YOSHI Excuse me, do I know you? DARK STRANGER How disappointing. I was hoping we could talk. YOSHI (eyeing him, wary) About what? The Dark Stranger shrugs and comes closer to Yoshi. ANGLE: FROM OVER STRANGER'S SHOULDER Yoshi sees his face and reacts, getting up off the bench and stepping back. The Dark Stranger moves forward, following him. DARK STRANGER Well, you see I've already done my time on this little dirt ball. I want back to Hell and you're half my ticket there. YOSHI The Slayer will stop you. DARK STRANGER I don't think so. She wasn't all she was made out to be. YOSHI You... harmed her? DARK STRANGER The Crusades trained me long before she was even born. Now, you will die. The Dark Stranger reaches his hand forward and touches Yoshi's chest. With a SIZZLE Yoshi flies back as if hit by a taser. He collapses on the ground unconscious. DARK STRANGER And they all fall down. He steps in to finish the Watcher. INT. THE BRONZE, BACK ROOM - NIGHT Xander is crouched down over an unconscious Buffy. He SLAPS her face. XANDER Come on. You're the hero here. Wake up. He SLAPS her again and she starts to come around. XANDER Hey, Buffy. Please say everything's in working order. Her eyes flicker open. BUFFY Xander? XANDER The one and only. BUFFY What's going on? XANDER That would be my question. Xander helps Buffy up. BUFFY Some... thing attacked me. He looked like a normal evil dude, except for that uh, no face bit. XANDER Did he bad guy soliloquy before dropping you? BUFFY Unfortunately no. XANDER Well this is negs. I thought Cordy might be here but I bet she's off playing heroine. BUFFY If she runs in to that creature... XANDER ...I'm guessing I'm single again. BUFFY We better get to Giles. Buffy begins to head out. XANDER You go, I'll find Cordelia. She stops and turns back toward him. BUFFY Xander! You won't stand a chance. You have to come with me. XANDER But... BUFFY It's nonnegotiable boyfriend. Xander shrugs a reluctant 'alright' and they are off. EXT. BAD PART OF TOWN - CITY STREET - NIGHT Cordelia prowls along the street. She wears overalls, cute and dressed for utility. She passes by an alley from which the Mugger from earlier appears. He takes a step but she has already turned around to confront him. CORDELIA Well, if it isn't I have no marketable skills. He SWITCHES open his blade. MUGGER Give me your money or I'll take something else. CORDELIA Didn't we wax this riff last week? He steps forward, knife menacing. MUGGER I mea-- WHAM! Cordelia smashes him in the face with an elbow knocking him back on his ass. His knife SKITTERS across the ground away from him. He covers his face where she hit him. She steps forward and grabs him by the collar, lifting him up. She is NOT happy. CORDELIA (pulls back her fist) Time for hit and tell. MUGGER Please... don't! CORDELIA There's been a little Chinese guy prowling around here. Seen him? MUGGER I don't know. CORDELIA Wrong answer! MUGGER (covers his face, cowering) I swear I haven't. She pulls him close and glares at him -- he's telling the truth. She throws him back to the ground. He scrambles to his feet and runs off. She just watches him leave. CORDELIA Hmph. That wasn't so hard. INT. LIBRARY - NIGHT The doors to the library SLAM open. Buffy and Xander enter. BUFFY Giles! He starts awake from where he is sitting at the main table. GILES Good gosh. How late is it? BUFFY No time, we got serious problems. GILES Already? XANDER When have we not had problems? BUFFY Some big dark, I'm guessing demon, attacked me. GILES Demon? What did it look like? BUFFY Scary, electricity hands, no face. XANDER Please say you have a quick answer for us. GILES I'll have to look in the stacks. Xander grimaces. Giles hurries into his office. XANDER (to Buffy) I'm going to wake Willow to come help. BUFFY Good idea. Xander starts to leave. Buffy calls after him. BUFFY Xander! XANDER Yeah. BUFFY Cordelia might not be as weak as you think. We'll find her before she gets into real trouble. Xander nods. He's not so sure. Giles returns as Xander exits. GILES I wonder if this has anything to do with Yoshi? BUFFY Yoshi? GILES An old associate of mine. You met him. BUFFY You must mean the other me. GILES He came here to be the Watcher for an emerging Slayer. Japanese, about... (uses his hand to try to show height) Never mind, he claimed he spoke with you. BUFFY Nope, but he said he met the Slayer...? They look at each other, a confused moment. Then: BUFFY & GILES Kendra! BUFFY When I sort of died another one was called. GILES So Yoshi was here to search for a new second Slayer. But who? Whomever he spoke with knew about my being your Watcher. BUFFY You don't think he saw me fighting with Cordelia and thought...? GILES Oh my, that would be a rather ironic wouldn't it? INT. WILLOW'S BEDROOM - NIGHT Xander shakes Willow to wake her up. WILLOW (talking in her sleep) Watch out for the bullfrog! XANDER Willow! She wakes up. WILLOW Xander? (looks around) You're in my bedroom? XANDER I got a problem. WILLOW What's wrong? You didn't talk to Cordelia already did you? XANDER No, she's AWOL. A big demon's tromping around and Giles needs research help. Willow flips off her covers. WILLOW Me and the Internet to the rescue. She goes over to her computer and flips it on. Xander stands over her shoulder. XANDER (trepidatious) And I need Oz's van. INT. LIBRARY - NIGHT Giles, holding an open book, heads down the steps to where Buffy waits at the main table. GILES Is this what you saw? ANGLE: ON BOOK A black and white drawing of a hooded phantom (face obscured) with tattered clothes. In the background of the picture can be seen a twister over its right shoulder and a forest fire over its left. BUFFY Freaky, no face, that about sums it up. GILES Oh dear. BUFFY I just get the warm fuzzies every time you say that. GILES The creature you saw, it is what's known as an Aspect Demon. A monster summoned in a black ritual from the depths of the abyss, cast in a material body if you could call it that and given a mission. BUFFY Monster, abyss, mission, got it. GILES Whomever summoned him, they must be quite deadly themselves. These creatures are hard to bring forth and even more difficult to bind. BUFFY What about the little spark show? GILES When the being is created on this plane it is imbued with a destructive force of nature. This one must be able to harness the power of lightening. BUFFY Okay, how we make go poof? Giles flips a few pages and then looks at something. GILES (reading) The demon's mission done it will be released. BUFFY So it is probably here to do in your friend. GILES Him, and I would say whomever Yoshi believed to be the new Slayer. BUFFY In other words Cordelia isn't just in the line of fire. She's the target of the fire. GILES Most likely, yes. BUFFY I better find them both. GILES Yoshi said he had a bus to catch. That would be a good place to start. PHONE RINGS Giles looks toward his office. INT. GILES' OFFICE - CONTINUOUS He picks up the phone. Buffy right behind him. INT. WILLOW'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS Willow is typing with one hand and has the portable phone in the other. WILLOW Hey Giles, what do you need me to look for? INTERCUT FOR PHONE CONVERSATION GILES Hello Willow. Just a moment, I need to get my books. He hands the phone to Buffy. BUFFY Hey, how's Xander doing? WILLOW He left for Oz's. They're doing search and rescue in the van. BUFFY He did what?! WILLOW Concern is not good. What level nightmare is this monster? BUFFY It knocked me out cold. Giles reenters his office. Buffy quickly hands him the phone. BUFFY I'm going to the bus depot for this Yoshi guy. Then after Xander. GILES Where's Xander gone? BUFFY Off to be Lancelot. You guys get a cure. If we're not back here by then come find us. She turns to leave. GILES Buffy. BUFFY (stops, looks back) Yeah. GILES Please do be careful. BUFFY Hey, this is the real Slayer you're talking to. She leaves. GILES I'm well aware of that. He turns back to the phone. EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT ANGLE: FROM ABOVE Cordelia walks hurriedly through dodging the trash strewn about. PULL BACK to REVEAL the Dark Stranger on the rooftop watching her. He walks off the edge. A CRASH behind Cordelia and she spins, fists up and ready. She sees the Dark Stranger get up, dust himself off, and then approach. DARK STRANGER Hello, my sweet. I've been waiting for you. CORDELIA Let me guess, you're the bad guy out for Yoshi. Where is he? DARK STRANGER I'm afraid he's a little on the flambé side. But he sends his regards. Cordelia grits her teeth and launches onto the attack. A lunge punch and then a front kick catch nothing but air. He spins around with a backhand only to meet Cordy's perfect block. A low snap of her heel catches his knee and he topples back onto the ground. She distances. DARK STRANGER (getting back up) My, my. And I thought Ms. Summers was the tough one. What do you say we up the stakes a little? Lightning SIZZLES from his hands setting some of the trash on fire. CORDELIA Okay, that's scary. DARK STRANGER That is the point after all. CORDELIA It worked. She turns and runs. BLACK OUT. END OF ACT THREE ACT FOUR EXT. SUNNYDALE BUS DEPOT - NIGHT Buffy walks around, searching the dimly lit exterior of the bus depot. She sees someone lying against the wall, face obscured by a hat, and walks over to him. She nudges him with her foot. BUFFY Hey? Guy? Tipping over, the hat falls off revealing the charred and burnt face of Yoshi. Buffy leans down to inspect. BUFFY I've heard of bad facials but I'm pretty sure this means dead. Guess I found Yoshi. She picks up the hat and drapes it back over the corpse's disfigured face. She stands up over the body. She feels like she should say something. BUFFY Um... Rest in peace. I wish I could say more but I have to help my friends. Hope you understand. Buffy races off. INT./EXT. OZ'S VAN/CITY STREET - NIGHT Xander's hands jump to the dash as he freaks out. XANDER Hit the brakes! The van SKIDS to a stop. Standing there, illuminated in the headlights is Cordelia. Xander races out of the van as fast as possible. ANGLE: POV AS OZ He watches as they embrace tightly and then quickly fall into hurried smootchies. He smiles and then arranges himself to drive again. They continue to smooch. He seems a little perplexed. They continue to smooch. He gazes at his watch's second hand. They continue to smooch. He SIGHS and looks over toward the alley. Standing there is the Dark Stranger. OZ (sticking his head out the window) Umm... guys. The van's headlights start to flicker in and out randomly. Cordelia and Xander break off. XANDER What the... CORDELIA (realizing) Get in the van! Cordelia drags Xander toward the open passenger door like a marionette, his limbs flailing. She pulls him inside and SLAMS the door. CORDELIA Drive! Oz looks back toward the alley. The Dark Stranger is gone. The tires PEEL OUT as Oz floors it and the van is off. INT. WILLOW'S BEDROOM - NIGHT INTERCUT FOR PHONE CONVERSATION WITH GILES WILLOW Found it! GILES Good, what is it? WILLOW (reading from the screen) Even with the most powerful majicks the cabal's hold on the creature is questionable. The experienced spell caster may obtain the objective and use that to unbind the demon. For proper counter spell please see Milrov's Marvelous Macabre Magic Manual Appendix 3-G. GILES My... WILLOW Let me guess. That's not in your collection. GILES Oh, no. I mean yes. I have it, I just don't remember reading that in the appendix. WILLOW (pauses a moment, then:) You're sick Giles. I'm nerdy. You... you're a paradigm. GILES We can debate this later. I'll grab the book and come by to pick you up? WILLOW Sure. Sleep is overrated anyway. INT. OZ'S VAN - NIGHT Cordelia and Xander are sitting down in the back of the van as Oz drives. Xander holds Cordelia's hands in his. XANDER Cordy, you should leave the slay play to Buffy. CORDELIA Not this again... XANDER (interrupting before she can get really mad) I was... worried. CORDELIA (totally taken aback) Worried...? About me? XANDER (self deprecating smile) Completely megafreaked. She smiles and blushes feeling suddenly self-conscious. She bows her head down and some hair falls obscuring her face. He reaches forward to brush it back. She looks up at him with soft eyes. He moves in. They are about to kiss when: SCREEEEECH They are thrown around in back as Oz pulls a hard right. There is a THUMP and then a SHUDDER. Xander grabs the back of the passenger seat and pulls himself up front. XANDER Please tell me that was just a speed bump. OZ Creepy dude came out of nowhere. I think I ran him over. XANDER Totally good. Sound of something POPPING then a WHISTLE like a teakettle. ANGLE: INT./EXT. ON HOOD Smoke starts pouring out. XANDER Totally not. OZ Man, I just got this thing fixed. EXT. CITY STREET - CONTINUOUS From up the street Oz's van moves toward the camera. It slows down the farther it travels until it comes to a complete stop right in front almost filling the frame. Oz shrugs. ANGLE: PASSENGER SIDE Cordelia and Xander get out, clutching one another tightly. They step out past the front corner of the van. ANGLE: THE LOVING COUPLE'S POV looking towards the driver's side. Suddenly there is a FLASH and Oz is hurled into view and out onto the street in front of the van. CORDELIA (almost screaming) Oz! Oz begins to get up, back to them. OZ I'm fine. He turns to look at them. All of a sudden he appears as though he hasn't shaved in years. OZ (deep, feral) But if I may say, I'm a little pissed. XANDER Okay... Who votes for run and scream? He starts dragging Cordelia. She's resisting. CORDELIA But Oz... OZ I'll be okay. Go. And they're off. ANGLE: OZ'S POV looking away from them, then toward the back of the van. The Dark Stranger stands there, menacing. DARK STRANGER My my. A wolven. I haven't encountered one of you in quite some time. OZ We're full of surprises. DARK STRANGER I bet. There is the SIZZLING SOUND of electricity as the Stranger steps forward on the attack. EXT. CITY STREET, FARTHER DOWN - CONTINUOUS Xander and Cordy slow their running briefly as they hear a THUNDERCLAP and then a HOWL OF PAIN. Cordelia looks distraught. Xander glances off to his right, adrenaline pumping. XANDER Come on. The cemetery is just over the hill. We'll hide there. CORDELIA (dripping sarcasm) That's a wonderful idea! XANDER You got a better one? Cordey shrugs. Xander pulls her along and she follows. EXT. ROOFTOPS - CONTINUOUS From somewhere in the distance the ECHO of the thunderclap reaches Buffy in her search. BUFFY Yippie, psycho pounding time. She charges toward the noise. EXT. WILLOW'S HOUSE - NIGHT Giles car pulls up to a stop in front. He grabs a book off his dash and gets out. Willow appears from the darkness of the bushes. She is decked out in some kind of peculiar cat burgleresque getup. GILES My, that's quite a, um... outfit. WILLOW You don't know what it's like sneaking out of the Rosenberg household. He hands her the book. GILES I hope you're a quick study. She circles around the car looking at the book. WILLOW Never tried cramming before. They both get in the car and are off. EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT Oz lies on the ground next to his van, apparently unconscious. He is in human form. His body slightly smokes like he was left on the deep fryer. Buffy runs up to help him. She crouches down and shakes him. She recoils her hands like she put them in scalding water. OZ (groggy) Hey Buff, come for the bad guy fun? BUFFY Where's Xander? And are you okay? OZ I'm cool. Him and Cordy split. Buffy gazes up the road. Oz struggles to point in the way she is looking. OZ Thataway. BUFFY (turning back to him) You sure you're okay? OZ No silver, no permanent damage. Get yourself out of here. Buffy smiles at him, then runs off. EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT - LONG SHOT Xander is in the lead holding Cordelia's hand as they tip-toe through the tombstones. They disappear behind a large mausoleum. A moment later Xander sticks his head back out. ANGLE: ON THEM BEHIND MAUSOLEUM XANDER No sign of thunder dude. He turns back to Cordelia. He is standing right in front of the mausoleum door. XANDER I think we're safe for awhile. The door SPLINTERS and something yanks him back into the darkness. CORDELIA Way to go, jinx boy. Cordelia jumps through the door into: INT. MAUSOLEUM - CONTINUOUS A few steps down Xander lies on the stone ground. A BOYISH VAMP stands over him ready to have an easy meal. Behind them are various dusty and some of them crumbling crypts. CORDELIA Hey fashion victim. That would be my boyfriend you're putting the vampage on there. BOYISH VAMP You will be next. Xander tries to scramble away but the vamp grabs him. Cordy picks up one of the splinters from the door. She drops down to the area with Xander and the Boyish Vamp. CORDELIA Let him go and I'll kill you fast. XANDER (still struggling) Cordy, get out of here! CORDELIA Shut up Xander. (to vamp) What will it be? BOYISH VAMP Suppertime. He throws Xander to the side and pounces on Cordy. VROOSH. He should have looked more carefully where he was charging. He got the sharp end of the stake. CORDELIA (dusting off the ash) This is simpler than I thought. INT. GILES' CAR - NIGHT Giles squints to see something up ahead. Willow busily looks through the book. GILES Is that...? WILLOW (looking up) Oz's van! EXT. CITY STREET - CONTINUOUS The hood of Oz's van is propped up. He is looking at the engine and shaking his head. Giles brings his car to a stop next to the van and he and Willow get out. WILLOW (rushing to his arms) Oz! You're okay. Oz is thrown back a bit by the bear hug Willow envelops him in. OZ I couldn't be better now. GILES Where's...? OZ (pointing) Everybody booked that way. Bad guy included. Giles follows the trail of his finger. GILES Towards the cemetery? EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT The Dark Stranger moves fast amongst the tombstones searching for his prey. He comes around the corner of a crypt and: WHABAM! Buffy lands a solid jumping high kick. She crouches down absorbing the impact as she lands. Then she slowly stands up into a fighting stance. The Stranger shakes off the attack and gets his bead on his assailant. DARK STRANGER I thought I dealt with you. BUFFY I'm like that little pink bunny who keeps going. But instead of a drum I beat on bad guys. DARK STRANGER Sounds dreadful for me. BUFFY Oh it will be. They engage. INT. MAUSOLEUM - NIGHT Xander sticks his head out the main door. Cordelia sits on the steps behind him kind of bored. CORDELIA See anything? XANDER Tombstones, epitaphs... (pauses) Buffy fighting some guy who shoots electricity. Cordelia leaps to her feet. Xander turns as she runs out of the crypt past him. XANDER And she was complaining about my bad ideas. He runs after her. EXT. CEMETERY - CONTINUOUS Cordelia comes to a halt and Xander skids to a stop just behind her. XANDER Um, Cordy? CORDELIA (calling out) Hey! The Dark Stranger turns to see her. He steps toward Cordelia. Buffy flies by behind him as he just stepped out of the way of her attack. He approaches them at a steady ominous pace. Xander steps in front of Cordy. DARK STRANGER Are you going to play hero tonight also? Cordelia is about to pull Xander out of the way when. WILLOW (appearing with Giles and Oz) We all are. Giles throws a packet of something at the Dark Stranger's feet. The Stranger recoils from it. XANDER Cool, what is that stuff? GILES Salt. XANDER With what? GILES Um, more salt. From behind, Buffy kicks the Stranger, in his disoriented state, to the ground. Willow grabs tight onto Cordelia's wrist. Willow starts reading from the book. WILLOW In deep earth whence spirits swell to conjure from thy gates of hell. The Stranger starts to get up. Buffy is about to kick him again but he sweeps her feet from under her. WILLOW A demon set upon a quest from which thy beast shall have no rest. The Stranger approaches and this time Giles puts himself in harms way. A SIZZLE and Giles flies back, falling to the ground unconscious. WILLOW But now with hand on object mine I free thee from thy soul's repine. Xander steps up to plate. The Stranger grabs him and lifts him off his feet. Xander reaches forward and pulls down the Stranger's hat, blinding him. WILLOW To let loose upon this earth of vast till one full breadth of day hath past. The Stranger drops Xander to rearrange his hat. But then the Dark Stranger stops dead in his tracks. He straightens up feeling somewhat different. Xander scrambles away. Buffy is back up and in a fighting stance. They all wait. DARK STRANGER I do feel rather strange. Ah, must be those pesky mystical chains falling off. (he looks around) Now, what to do. I guess I could still kill all of you. Buffy steps forward ready to attack. The rest back away. DARK STRANGER Nah, I think I'll go destroy those who summoned me. I was having plenty of fun torturing sinful souls and they had to drag me up here to this drab environ. Oh well, I'm sure I'll see you all again. He waves goodbye and then is off at lightning speed. ANGLE: ON GROUP They're a little perplexed by what just happened. XANDER He wasn't such a bad guy after all. They all glare at him. XANDER (shrugs) For a demon. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. CORDELIA'S HOUSE - DAWN Xander and Cordelia hold hands, walking toward her front door. They stop on the porch and turn to each other. They hold one another's gaze for a few moments. XANDER Gee, and you thought hanging with us could never be fun. CORDELIA I guess you could call that the old me. XANDER So what's the new you? CORDELIA I'm not sure she's figured that out yet. XANDER Well, whenever the new you does make sense of herself tell her that um... I think I like her... I think I like her a lot. CORDELIA (smiles) I think she might like you just as much. She leans in and they kiss briefly, then pull apart, but still remain close, their eyes and lips hovering near to each others'. XANDER Sorry for being such a wigmeister about the Slayer bit. CORDELIA It's okay. I guess I'll have to get used to that concern thing. He smiles. They kiss again, softly at first, then more passionately. Her eyes open in surprise and she makes a muffled cry, then breaks off. CORDELIA Hey, watch what you're pinching there buddy. XANDER (smiling mischievously) Sorry, heat of the moment. She smiles. They move close and kiss again. This time Xander makes a muffled cry in the kiss as she pinches him back. They break off; their foreheads remain touching. XANDER Now who's the devil? CORDELIA You did start it. XANDER Hmm... I'm wondering what else I could start. CORDELIA (tilts her head, winks) We could see... but later. Xander smiles at her again. A quick last kiss and he steps away. ANGLE: POV AS CORDELIA She watches him go down the steps. Then watches as he heads down her walk. She turns. ANGLE: POV AS XANDER He stops and turns but now her back is to him. He sees her disappear inside. He walks out to the sidewalk. He gazes up at the house for a moment and smiles to himself. Then he starts skipping his way down the street like a fool in love. BLACK OUT. THE END