Wa r Cri es

By: Mariana

INT. WILLOW’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – NIGHT

SPOTLIGHT on WILLOW lying under the covers in her bed. She appears to be sound
asleep and there’s no reaction at all – not even the tinniest twitch, as the door into the
room suddenly opens and SPIKE/ILLYRIA silently enters.

A WIDE SHOT as the entity walks towards the bed in a stiff, jerky kind of way – a
mockery of the almost predatory grace that Spike possessed. It’s creepy to say the least.

ANGLE on the bed as the entity comes to a halt. It studies the sleeping witch for a
moment and then it kneels besides her.

FOCUS on the two of them as Spike/Illyria reaches out a leather-clad hand to trace the
exposed collarbone of the sleeping woman. Willow doesn’t seem to react to the slight
touch.

FOLLOWING the hands movement as it glides over the witch’s face, momentarily
lingering over her mouth before continuing towards her disheveled hair. Its fingers grasp
onto a lock and caress it between the thumb and the index finger.

ZOOMING OUT as Willow moves under the covers and lets out a silent murmur.
Suddenly her eyes pops open and she stares in shock at the silent intruder.

WILLOW
(stuttering)
“What… What… What are you doing here?”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(drawing back)
“You lust after this shell.”
(beat)
“I came to explore it further.”

WILLOW
(alarmed)
“What?! No!!”
Willow kicks away the covers and quickly gets to her feet, making a wide circle around
the entity that follows her every move with calculating eyes. (A/N: Willow is dressed in
green pajama top and green hipsters.)

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“I am not familiar with the mating rituals of your species. Yet I’m willing to explore it.”

WILLOW
(shaking her head)
“There will be no mating!”
(waving her finger)
“Not now, not ever!!”

ANGLE on Spike/Illyria as it gracefully comes to an upright position, its eyes never

wavering from the distressed witch. The entity approaches her with a twisted grin on its
face. Another mockery of Spike’s playful smirk.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(tilting its head)
“Your temperature is rising, witch.”
(coming to a halt in front of her)
“Your body betrays you.”

FOCUS on Willow as she backs up against the wall, shaking her head in deny. With her
back against the wall, she holds out a hand towards the approaching entity.

WILLOW
(whispering)
“No…”

ZOOMING IN as Spike/Illyria moves incredible fast and pins her against the wall, locking
her in place with its body. Its mouth is only a breath away from hers as its eyes roam over
her trembling body.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(seductively)
“This shell is built for pleasure.”
(pressing its pelvis against her)
“Can you feel it?”

WILLOW
(closing her eyes)
“Oh my goddess…”
The entity lifts her up with no effort and wraps her legs around itself – and Willow lets it.
She seems to be deep under its seductive influence; her eyes half-closed, her lips slightly
parted and her head thrown back in surrender.

A CLOSE UP as their lips meets and their tongues entwines. The kiss is passionate and full
of exploration. Moans are heard and occasionally a whimpering sound from the witch.
A leather clad hand raises to her cheek as their body begins to tock against each other.

PANNING OUT as Spike/Illyria breaks the kiss and draws back so it can gaze into the
dazed witch’s eyes.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“Willow…”

That’s all that the god king says before yet again attacking her mouth in a consuming kiss.
There’s a movement that suggest that it’s altering with her clothes and it’s followed by a
thrusting motion with the hips.
Willow gasps and for a moment all movement comes to a stop.
Their gazes meet and lock once again and the moment stretches on.

ANGLE on Willow as she shivers and presses herself even closer to the entity. She seems
so lost in pleasure…

WILLOW
(bathed breath)
“Don’t stop…”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(calmly)
“This is just the beginning.”
(beat)
“Don’t you wanna se how deep I can go?”

WILLOW
(twitching)
“What?!”

A TIGHT SHOT of Spike/Illyria as it twist its face into an unnatural grin. Creepy…

WILLOW
(horrified)
“No…!”
FLASH.

ZOOMING IN on WILLOW as she wakes up with a gasp. (It was all a dream!! Puh…)

ZOOMING OUT as it’s a sudden knock on the door and Willow’s head whips in that
direction. She looks really startled.

XANDER
(muffled voice)
“Willow, are you coming?”

WILLOW
(whispering)
“Yeah…”

BLACK OUT-

CR ED IT S

DAVID BOREANAZ as ANGEL

SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR as BUFFY SUMMERS
JAMES MARSTERS as SPIKE
AMY ACKER as ILLYRIA
ALYSON HANNIGAN as WILLOW ROSENBERG
MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG as DAWN SUMMERS
NICHOLAS BRENDAN as XANDER HARRIS

SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCES BY:

ANTHONY STEWART HEAD as RUPERT GILES

ELIZA DOZKHU as FAITH LEHANE
TOM LENK as ANDREW WELLS
VINCENT KARTHEISER as CONNOR

AND

SETH GREEN as OZ

BLACK OUT-
 ACT I

INT. THE TRAINING ROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – TIME UNKNOWN

A WIDE SHOT of SPIKE/ILLYRIA pummelling on the (poor) sandbag. Punch after punch
is thrown and with such force that the bag squeaks in its hinges.

FOCUS on the door as it swings open and BUFFY enters. (The blond slayer is very cute in
jeans and a white top.)

BUFFY
(under her breath)
“I see that we need a new bag…”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(continuing throwing punches)
“If you rather prefer it I can use you for exercise.”

PAUSE.
BUFFY
“I think I’ll pass.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(sneer)
“I guessed you would.”

BUFFY
(stepping closer)
“How are you adapting?”
(beat)
“Anything that disturbs you?”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(abandoning the bag)
“This shell…”
(tilting its head)
“It wants me gone.”

BUFFY
(frowning)
“Huh?”
 SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“In every aspect this shell is more suitable to withhold my essence than the Burkle one.
Yet…”
(pensive look)
“There’s something with it that wants me gone.”

BUFFY
(hopeful expression)
“Spike?”

SILENCE.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(flexing his hand)
“A part the man still resides…”
(meeting her glare)
"Fragments. Echoes. Memories and knowledge that are not my own.”

ALL LIGHT on the god as he closes his eyes, throws back his head and wriggles his body.
The change starts with his hair; the blue FADING first, returning to its original color.
Honey brown with those bleached ends.
The next ALTERATION is his CLOTHING. The bodysuit SHIFTS and CRACKS as it
MORPHS into the clothes that SPIKE had worn when he got turned - blue jeans and a
white turtleneck.
The LAST THING to change is the face, as the blue skin fades away leaving it plane and
pale. And it’s Spike’s blue eyes that snaps open to look into the CAMERA.
The TRANSFORMATION is COMPLETE. The god now looks like the OLD SPIKE.
(Pretty unnerving it is.)

BUFFY
(shaking her head)
“What is this?”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“It’s a simple modulation of my form. I appear as I chose.”
(tilting its head)
“Do you wish me to stop?”

BUFFY
(nodding)
“Yes.”
(whispering)
“God, yes…”
FOCUS on Spike/Illyria as it steps closer to Buffy – almost so close that their breaths mix
with each other’s. (Kudos to Buffy for not backing down.)

BUFFY
(averting her haze)
“Stop it.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“Isn’t this what you desire?”
(its voice mimicking Spike’s)
“I mean, you love me and I love you. What’s the big deal, luv?”

BUFFY
“I loved him.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“You desired his body. This body.”
(flexing its fingers)
“Some part of you still does. I can feel it in you.”

BUFFY
“Never!”
(she stepped away from the entity)
“You aren’t him. And it sickens me. You could never be him.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(it inched closer again)
“I could be him if you wanted me to.”

BUFFY
(begging)
“Stop it.”
(shaking her head)
“Change back. Be blue - be anything… Don’t be him.”
(beat)
“You could never be him.”

FOCUS on Spike/Illyria as it watches her with cold eyes. Then it shifts back to its own
form. That as blue.
SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“As you wish.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. THE LOBBY – THE HYPERION – L.A – TIME UNKNOWN

A WIDE SHOT of the HYPERION LOBBY to reveal that it’s practically crowded with
people – and beings. There’s BUFFY, DAWN, WILLOW, XANDER, FAITH, GILES,
JOHN, CANDY, FIONA, DANA, PHOEBE, JADE, ANGEL, ANDREW, ILLYRIA and
SPIKE/ILLYRIA.
(A/N: Buffy’s wearing the same outfit from before. Dawn, Faith, Angel and Dana are all
wearing black clothes, while Giles, John and Andrew are clothed in tweed. Candy wears
jeans and a red top, while Fiona and Phoebe are dressed in grey track suits. Both Jade and
Willow wears jeans and a green top.)

GILES
(looking around the room)
“It’s time to set this whole thing into motion.”

JOHN
(grimly)
“We have received words that a large army has gathered just outside the town.”
(beat)
“It’s safe to assume that they’re there to protect the portal as soon as it have been opened.”

GILES
“And once it has been, there’s no turning back.”

JOHN
“Hell will be unleashed upon Earth and mankind will suffer in its fire.”

SILENCE.

FAITH
(lamely)
”So, what are our options?”

BUFFY
”Well, let me see - we've got slow death, quick death, painful death, cold, lonely death.”

FAITH
(grimacing)
”Not practically fond of either of them.”

GILES
“We have to open up our portal before they have any chance to open theirs.”
 JOHN
(turning to Dawn)
“There’s where you and it ,”
(gesturing towards Spike/Illyria)
“…comes in.”
(beat)
“With the assistance of Willow.”

ANGLE on the witch, as she presses out an embarrassed smile when all eyes FOCUS on
her.
We can see her cast a furtive glance in Spike/Illyria’s direction.

WILLOW
“Er…hm… that’s me.”

ANDREW
(chirping in)
”This is going to be so cool…”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(cold glare)
“You think the matter of your very existence is ‘cool’?”
(sneer)
“Vermin.”

ANDREW
(horrified look)
“I’m sorry if I’ve displeased you, oh great one.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“This whole world displeases me.”
(beat)
“But I can fix it.”

ANGEL
(focusing on the entity)
“Are you going to help us or not?”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(looking in Willow’s direction)
“I will.”

ANGEL
“Then how will be know for sure that this whole things has worked?”
 SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(focusing on the vampire)
"You are asking advice of me?"

ANGEL
(shrugging)
"Guess I am, yeah."

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
"Intriguing."

FOCUS on the entity as it holds out a hand, studying it as it clenched and unclenched it
into a fist.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(slowly)
”Failure will be known by the thousands of roaring hell beasts that feast on your flesh.”
(sneer)
”Victory will be known by our triumphant demise of our enemies as they’re pulled from
this retched existence while they scream in agony.”

XANDER
(grimacing)
”Charming.”

DAWN
(blinking)
”That’s not how I would have put it, Xander.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
”I care little of the notions from humans,”
(eying the crowd)
”if all of you should die I would celebrate it with ripping out your intestines and weave
them into a ceremonial cloak.”

SHOCKED SILENCE.

BUFFY
(tight grin)
"Right, see, this is why folks don't really like you."

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. ANGEL’S OFFICE – THE HYPERION – L.A – TIME UNKNOWN

ALL LIGHT on ANGEL sitting behind his desk, twisting a pen between his fingers and
with a very grim expression in his face.

ANGEL
”So this is it…”

CONNOR
(o.c)
”The final battle…”

PANNING OUT as CONNOR enters the office. The young man is clothed in leather pants
and a black shirt. He walks over to the desk and sits down on the chair opposite his father.

CONNOR
“Do you really think that we’re gonna pull it off?”

ANGEL
(heaving a deep sigh)
“Honestly… I don’t have a clue.”
(meeting his stare)
“There’s no guaranties that that thing will help us.”

CONNOR
“You know…”
(pause)
“We really should think up a name for it.”

ANGEL
(growling)
“Why?”
(beat)
“’s not like it’s a person.”

CONNOR
(sighing)
“Yeah, but… We can’t really call it Illyria…’cause we already have an ‘Illyria’…”
(beat)
“And calling it ‘it’ is just so… wrong.”
 ANGEL
(tensing)
“We’re not calling it Spike.”
(snarling)
“There’s nothing of him in that creature !”

CONNOR
(silently)
“Of course we won’t call it Spike.”

PAUSE.

CONNOR
“Maybe we can call it ‘Ria’?”

ANGEL
(snorting)
“Whatever.”

The CAMERA ZOOMS IN on the two of them as they sit there in silence following
Angel’s last sentence.

FAITH
(o.c)
“Guys…”
(appearing into view)
“We have a visitor.”
(smiling)
“You should come and greet him.”

ANGEL
(looking up)
“A visitor)”
(beat)
“Who is it?”

FAITH
(nodding towards the lobby)
“It’s Oz!”

A CLOSE UP on the stunned expression in Angel’s face.

FADE OUT-
 ACT I I

INT. SPIKE’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – DAY

SPOTLIGHT on BUFFY lying on SPIKE’S bed. The blond slayer is buried beneath the blue
covers and her face seems tearstained – as if she’s been crying for several hours. Her petite
frame is racking from silent sobs that we can barely hears as they’re muffled by her head
being face down to the pillow.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(o.c)
“Your grief cannot return what is lost.”

ZOOMING OUT as SPIKE/ILLYRIA enters the room.

BUFFY
(crying)
“Get out.”

ANGLE on Spike/Illyria as it ignores her and starts examining the room in a stiff and jerky
way.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(looking around)
“This place was part of this shell.”

BUFFY
“Don’t call him that!”
(hateful glare)
“He had a name.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(monotony)
“He had many names. The first was William. You were a part of him. You were part of
this shell.”

BUFFY
“Stop calling him that!”
(screaming now)
“Stop it! Stop it!”

Again, Spike/Illyria ignored her. It walks over to the bed and gazes down at Buffy.
 SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“You reek of him.”
(grabbing a strand of her hair)
“His smell is everywhere on your entire being.”

FOCUS on Buffy as she throws off the covers and quickly gets to her feet – revealing that
she’s clothed in jeans and a grey shirt.

BUFFY
(angrily)
“I told you to stop it!!”

The blond slayer appears to cast all reason aside as she strikes out at the powerful entity.
Her fist catches the god king squarely on the jaw.

FOCUS on Spike/Illyria as it doesn’t even flinch at the attack. It simply sighs and strikes
back at Buffy with incredible force – making her stumble back.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“That was a foolish move, slayer.”
(smiling)
“I will line my path with your bones.”

BUFFY
(raised eyebrow)
“I would like to see you try.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“Impudent, vile human.”

Spike/Illyria strikes out again. This time his heel catches Buffy squarely in the centre of
the chest, and the blow knocks her through the door and out in the hall. She slid across
the floor for several feet, before coming to a halt in a huddled mass against the wall.
Spike/Illyria’s foot comes down on her head, pinning her in place before she could get up.
His hands clenched into fists.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“I should crush you where you lay, Slayer.”
(releasing her)
“It’s fortunate that I’m such a forgiving entity.”

The CAMERA STAYS with Spike/Illyria as it walks away.

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. THE LOBBY – THE HYPERION – L.A – DAY

A WIDE SHOT of the lobby as we count to 8 people present. There’s ANGEL, CONNOR,
FAITH, XANDER, DAWN, WILLOW and ILLYRIA. Oh…and OZ!!
(A/N: Oz is back!! And he’s looking damn cute in trashed jeans and a tight fitting green T-
shirt.)

XANDER
(big grin)
“Whoa, this is so unreal!”
(shaking Oz’s hand)
“Never for one second thought we would be seeing you again.”

ILLYRIA
(scrunching up her nose)
“Why does it smell of dog in here?”

OZ
(holding up a hand)
“That would be me.”

ILLYRIA
(tilting her head)
“You are a werewolf.”
(beat)
“Yet another low species.”

Oz turns his head towards Willow and raises an eyebrow.

WILLOW
(apologizing)
“She’s a little bit…”

XANDER
“Uptight.”

ILLYRIA
(cold stare)
“Do not speak another word in my presence, Cyclops.”

XANDER
“I speak as much as I like!”
 WILLOW
(focus on Oz)
“Ignore them.”

OZ
(nodding)
“Yeah…”

The SCENE starts to FADE OUT as Illyria and Xander continue to bicker; their voices
getting more muffled by the second.

FADE OUT-

CUT TO-

INT. SPIKE’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – NIGHT

ALL LIGHT on BUFFY lying under the covers, hugging the pillow as if her very life
depends on it.
There’s a SOUND from the door and as the CAMERA PANS OUT into a WIDE SHOT, we
see DAWN silently enter the dark room.

DAWN
(hesitantly)
“Buffy?”

BUFFY
(raspy voice)
“Yeah…?”

FOCUS is on Dawn as she walks over to the bed and takes a seat at the bedside. She
reaches out a trembling hand and places it on her sister’s exposed shoulder.

DAWN
(silently)
“It’s nearly time now.”
(beat)
“You should… get prepared.”

PAUSE.

BUFFY
“For what? Another apocalypse? For losing yet another one that I care about?”
 DAWN
(shaking her head)
“Buffy…”

ANGLE on the bed as Buffy pushed the younger woman aside as she gingerly gets up on
her feet and stumble towards the window. She stops there and gaze out into the night.

BUFFY
(thin smile)
“Come dawn and we shall see war.”

DAWN
(eagerly)
“But we can stop it, Buffy!”

BUFFY
(raised eyebrow)
“We?”

DAWN
(grinning)
“Well mostly me, Willow and Ria.”

SILENCE.

BUFFY
(grimly)
“Who’s ‘Ria’?”

DAWN
(averting her gaze)
“That’s what we call it .”

ZOOMING IN on the expression in Buffy’s face. The blond slayer seems at a loss for
words, and her mouth is twisted into a thin line as she stares at her sister.

BUFFY
(shaking her head)
“God help us.”
(beat)
“All.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. WILLOW’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – NIGHT

A WIDE SHOT of the room to reveal WILLOW and OZ standing in the middle of the
room, both looking mighty uncomfortable with the whole scenario.

WILLOW
(eyes darting all over)
“So…”

OZ
(looking down at his feet)
“So…”

WILLOW
(focusing on him)
“So…”

PAUSE.

WILLOW
(sighing)
“How’s life treating you?”

OZ
(meeting her gaze)
“Okay.”

PAUSE.

WILLOW
“Are you… I mean…”

OZ
“No.”
(beat)
“You?”

WILLOW
(shaking her head)
“No.
(beat)
“I mean… there was one… but we… she…”
 OZ
(nodding)
“Okay.”

PAUSE.

WILLOW
(frowning)
“Why did you come here?”

OZ
(shrugging)
“Apocalypse.”

WILLOW
“Oh…”

OZ
(deadpanned)
“You were finally single.”

WILLOW
“Oh…”
(beat)
“Oh…”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(o.c)
“Your body heats.”
(entering the room)
“You’re lusting after each other.”

OZ
(staring at the entity)
“Huh?”

WILLOW
(blushing)
“Goddess help me…”

FOCUS on the peeved expression in Willow’s beat red face as she stares from the entity to
the confused Oz.

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. THE TRAINING ROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – NIGHT

A DOOR POV as BUFFY pummels rather fiercely on the sandbag. (A/N: She’s wearing a
grey training suit and has her hair tied back into a tight knot.)

The CAMERA PANS FORWARD and into a WIDE SHOT as FAITH, XANDER and
DAWN enters the room.

FAITH
“Yo, B.”

BUFFY
(turning around)
“Hi.”

XANDER
(rubbing his nose)
“We need to talk.”

BUFFY
(frowning)
“About what?”

FAITH
‘s Willow.”
(beat)
“She’s been acting a little strange.”

BUFFY
(shrugging)
“Oz’s back. What did you expect?”

DAWN
(shaking her head)
“This started before that.”
(beat)
“And I’m not completely okay with the thought of a distracted Willow as she’s about to do
some major Wicca mojo on me.”

XANDER
(nodding)
“Me neither.”
 BUFFY
(wrinkled forehead)
“You’re just nervous before the big fight.”

FAITH
“C’mon, B.”
(shaking her head)
“You know better than that.”

FOCUS on Buffy as she studies the faces of her family and friends.

BUFFY
(face softening)
“I know.”

PAUSE.

BUFFY
(sighing)
“I’ll see if I can get something out of her.”
(beat)
“’s not like I have anything better to do.”

The CAMERA FOLLOWS the blond slayer as she walks past the others and out the door.
She starts walking down the hallway and as the scene begins to fade;

BUFFY
(muttering)
“Like preventing an apocalypse.”

FADE OUT-
 ACT I II

EXT. UNKNOWN LOCATION – OUTSIDE L.A – NIGHT

A LONG SHOT of 6 people… beings (whatever) standing on a hill overlooking a wide

plain. The night is clear and billions of twinkling stars add to a almost magical scenery.

The CAMERA PANS FORWARD and stops at a COMPLETE SHOT of: ANGEL, ILLYRIA,
JOHN, DANA, ANDREW and GILES.

GILES
“This is it.”
(deep breath)
“This is where the fate of mankind will be decided.”

SILENCE.

ILLYRIA
“I can sense the air of battle.”
(tilting her head)
“The enemy’s armies will know distinction.”

ANGEL
(grimly)
“Only if the guys pull it off.”

GILES
(rubbing his nose)
“For once I have to say I have complete faith in Willow.”
(meeting their gazes)
“She will pull through.”

JOHN
“Yes.”
(beat)
“But will the other two?”

GILES
“Dawn is ready.”

ANGEL
“And if there’s even the tiniest glint of Spike left in that creature…”
 ILLYRIA
(imperiously)
“Then our foes don’t stand a chance.”

PAUSE.

DANA
(blinking)
“He’s a monster.”

They all turn in unison to stare at the dark haired (and quite unstable) woman. She met
their gazes head on.

DANA
“But his glory will be remembered in the days to come.”

ANDREW
(nodding)
“Yes, quite, my little misread protégé.”
(beat)
“His heroism will not go untold.”
(hand to chest)
“As I, the great watcher of all time, will tell his story to those who wish to listen. I’ll
spread his legend to the masses. I will…”

GILES
(disgruntled)
“Oh for the love of…!”

ANGEL
(raised eyebrow)
“Would it be soulless of me to tear his throat open?”

GILES
“Yes!”

JOHN
“Yes!”

ILLYRIA
(studying the younger watcher)
“I can squash him under my foot like a bug.”

SILENCE.
 ANGEL
(thoughtful)
“Actually, that…”

GILES
(weary)
“Angel…”

ANDREW
(excellent interpretation of a Duracell Bunny)
“…I’ll shed light over his journey from evil to that one of a Champion. His path of
righteousness…”

GILES
(sigh)
“Second thought, have at it.”

DANA
(clapping her hands)
“Cut off his head!!”

UNCOMFORTABLE SILENCE. (Well, for the most part. Illyria seems rather to enjoy it.)

ANGEL
(shaking his head)
“Let’s go back to the Hyperion.”

A WIDE SHOT of the scene as our band of heroes (?) turn their backs against the plain
and walks down the hill towards a couple of black SUV’s.

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. THE LOBBY – THE HYPERION – L.A – NIGHT

A WIDE SHOT of the lobby. There’s XANDER, WILLOW, OZ, FAITH, DAWN and
CONNOR. (A/N: all the above – except Connor, is wearing their previous outfit. The
young man is clothed in jeans and a white turtleneck. Looking very stylish.)

OZ
“So…”

CONNOR
“Yeah.”
 OZ
(deadpanned)
“Angel and Darla, huh?”

CONNOR
(nodding)
“Yeah.”

OZ
(not a twitch)
“Cool.”

WILLOW
(frowning)
“Where’s Ria?”
(looking around)
“Wasn’t he…”
(noticing their stares)
“…it here a minute ago?”

XANDER
(gleefully)
“Maybe it has left the building.”

The rest turn to stare at him in unison.

XANDER
(innocent look)
“What?”

DAWN
(focusing on Willow)
“So… How’s the magic going for ya?”

WILLOW
(blushing)
“Good.”
(emphasising)
“Good.”

The rest turn to stare at her instead.

WILLOW
“What?!”
 XANDER
(slowly)
“You don’t seem too sure about it.”

DAWN
(frowning)
“Look… If I’m going to act like your guinea pig – you better be absolutely sure that it will
work!”
(beat)
“I am not interested in being burnt into a crisp!”

CONNOR
(flabbergasted)
“Certainly not!”
(blushing)
“I like you the way you are.”

SILENCE.

FAITH
“Ah, puppy love.”

UNCOMFORTABLE SILENCE.

OZ
“Look.”

The group turns around to look in the direction of the stairs. The CAMERA FOCUS on –
what must be SPIKE/ILLYRIA, looking like SPIKE. It gracefully descends the stairs with
its eyes focused on them.

DAWN
(breathlessly)
“Oh my God…”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(benevolently)
“Yes.”

XANDER
(hatefully)
“You got no right.”
(clenching his fists)
“No right to look like him.”
 SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(coming to a halt)
“I appear as I choose.”
(tilting its head)
“I find this appropriate as we are near the final battle.”

FAITH
(shaking her head)
“S’cuse me?”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(flexing its fingers)
“The First feared him did it not?”
(calculatingly)
“Then this il lusion would prove its worth.”

DAWN
(whispering)
“Spike…”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(focusing on her)
“He is gone.”
(inching closer)
“Nothing will change that fact.”

XANDER
(grimly)
“Then cease reminding us of that!”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“As you wish.”

A WIDE SHOT of the lobby as the entity morphs back into that of the god king. We can
see the shocked expression in the other’s faces as they watch the display.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(dismissively)
“I care not.”

Spike/Illyria turns its back against the group and melts into the shadows of the stairs,
slowly disappearing out of view – leaving a gang of uncomfortable people.

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

EXT. OUTSIDE THE HYPERION – L.A – NIGHT

ROOFTOP SHOT as two SUV’s park outside the HYPERION HOTEL and 6 figures step
out into the break of the dawn. We recognize them as ANGEL, ILLYRIA, GILES, JOHN,
ANDREW and DANA.

GILES
(cleaning his glasses)
“We need to gather everyone within the hour.”
(looking up)
“It’s time to get this ‘show’ on the road.”

JOHN
(nodding)
“The slayers are ready.”

ANDREW
(silently)
“So is the rest of us.”
(swallowing)
“I think…”

ANGEL
“We’re ready.”
(looking at Illyria)
“Both of us.”

ILLYRIA
(calmly)
“I will crush our enemy’s bones under my feet.”

GILES
(thin smile)
“Good.”

ZOOMING IN as the group begins to walk up the front stairs and into the lobby of the
hotel. Illyria lingers beh9ind for just a second. The entity turns a blue gaze up towards the
sky.

ILLYRIA
“For you, Spike.”
FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – LA. - DAWN

SPOTLIGHT on BUFFY standing by the window, gazing out with a hard read expression
in her face. (A/N: the slayer has changed into another outfit. Now she’s wearing jeans, a
midnight blue shirt and a suede jacket. Her hair is loose and she has a necklace in the
form of a single teardrop resting in her cleavage.)

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(o.c)
“Your army awaits you.”

ZOOMING OUT as SPIKE/ILLYRIA enters the room in a stiff and jerky way – letting its
eyes dart over the room to finally set on the petite woman.

BUFFY
(weary)
“Their not my army.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(scrutinizing her)
“They think otherwise.”
(tilting its head)
“To be a great general you must be prepared to shoulder the responsibility of that their
lives is yours to command over. You decide who’ll live and who’ll die.”

BUFFY
(focusing on the entity)
“Why did you come here?”

ANGLE on Spike/Illyria as the entity lets its eyes roam over the room again. For just a
second its gaze hesitate at the duster that is thrown over the back of a chair (and yes, that
would be one of Spike’s dusters) before it returns to the grim slayer.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(displeased tone)
“I do not know.”

BUFFY
(frowning)
“I thought you knew everything.”
(snorting)
“Don’t tell me that the all powerful Illyria has no clue what it wants?”
 SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(sneering)
“There was a time when I would have ripped out your spine and wear it like a necklace
for your insults.”
(beat)
“It’s misfortunate that such action would spark a rebellion by so many beings.”

BUFFY
(shaking her head)
“You’re twisted.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(speculatively)
“I thought you liked that.”
(inching closer, using Spike’s voice)
“Always needed a little monster in your man, eh?”

BUFFY
(gasping)
“Stop it!”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(voice softening)
“Buffy…”

BUFFY
(shaking her head)
“Please don’t…”

ZOOMING IN as Illyria/Spike puts his hands on either side of Buffy’s face and lean over
to kiss her. And she kisses what remains of her former lover. It’s a mournful kiss; an
empty apology to someone who no longer exist.
The entity makes no further move, and we can see a lone tear trickle out of Buffy’s eyes
and run down her cheek.

BUFFY
(against its lips)
“I’m sorry.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(drawing back)
“For what?”
 BUFFY
(brimming eyes)
“I’m so sorry.”
(sobbing)
“It’s all my fault you know; that you had to die in the first place. You sacrificed yourself
for me… for the world – wearing the amulet that I gave you.”

(A/N: Let’s assume that this is Buffy’s way of taking farewell of Spike. She is saying all the
things she wanted to tell the love of her life that she never got the chance to say.)

BUFFY
(sorrowful smile)
“When I thought you were dead… It was like a part of me was missing. I couldn’t feel
whole when I didn’t have you by my side. You understand right?”
(desperately)
“Tell me that you understand!”

Spike/Illyria simply stares down at her; no expression which is readable.

BUFFY
“And when I finally heard that you were alive… I couldn’t have been happier. I…”
(blinking away some tears)
“I wanted to get to you as soon as possible. Only I couldn’t…”
(quietly)
“And when I did… You were with her.”

FOCUS on Buffy as she lifts a hand to wipe away some of the tears.

BUFFY
(deep breath)
“I love you… So much…”
(looking up at the entity)
“I will always love you.”

ANGLE on the entity as it suddenly turns it back against Buffy and quietly leaves the
room. As the door softly closes behind it, the CAMERA PANS AROUND to Buffy again.

ZOOMING IN on Buffy’s tearstained face.

FADE OUT-
 ACT IV

EXT. THE PLAIN – SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE L.A – DAYBREAK

AIR SHOT of the wide plain – and the hill from previous act. We can see the ‘Slayer
army’ stand up at the hill, overlooking the plain and then we can also see how a huge (and
I mean huge) army approaches from the opposite direction. Their war cries can without a
doubt be heard several miles away. It’s a mighty impressive sight.

PANNING DOWN at the group of slayers; they’re divided in different segments all over
the long stretched hill. The CAMERA ZOOMS IN on BUFFY, GILES, KATIE and a group
(for us nameless) slayers. Buffy’s holding the scythe in her hands.

BUFFY
(watching the demon army approach)
“Tell me that we’re going to pull this off, Giles.”

GILES
(clearing his throat)
“We’re going to pull this off.”

BUFFY
(furtive glance)
“Like you mean it.”

GILES
(sorrowfully)
“I’m afraid I cannot do that, Buffy.”

BUFFY
(sighing)
“I guess that it’ll have to do.”
(looking to her left)
“Do you think the others are okay?”

GILES
(pensive)
“I’m sure that they will do their best.”

BUFFY
(focusing on the army)
“God help us.”
FLASH.

A CLOSE SHOT of XANDER, OZ, FIONA and a group of young slayers. They’re all
prepared for battle; Xander with a sword and a crossbow, Oz with an axe and Fiona and
the rest of the girls with their stakes.

XANDER
(eying Oz)
“That’s all you got?”

OZ
(exposing his fangs)
“And these.”

XANDER
(blinking)
“Wow… Really?”

OZ
(nodding)
“The beast is under my control.”
(content grin)
“And he’s hungry.”

XANDER
(focusing on the approaching army)
“There’s so many of them…”

FIONA
(bravely)
“We will fight ‘til there’s no one left to fight anymore.”

XANDER
(looking at her)
“You’re a true slayer.”
(eying the entire group)
“You all are.”

FIONA
“We’re ready for the signal.”

XANDER
“Me too…”
FLASH.

ZOOMING IN on ANDREW, DANA, PHOEBE and a group of slayers. Andrew is wearing

jeans and a black turtleneck, looking fit for the right with a sword in his hands.

ANDREW
(swallowing)
“There must be thousands…”

PHOEBE
(fingering her stake)
“They’re all dust.”

ANDREW
(crossing his fingers)
“Let’s hope for that.”

DANA
(eyes gleaming)
“Heart and head. Cut off the head. Only way to make sure. Keep cutting ‘til there’s dust.”

ANDREW
(turning to the group)
“Alright, my young padawans…”
(beat)
“This is the single most important battle in your entire life…”
(thin smile)
“Let’s make sure that it won’t be our last.”

FLASH.

A SHOT of FAITH, JOHN, ANGEL, CONNOR and ILLYRIA. Faith is wearing all black –
as does Angel and Connor. John is wearing jeans and a grey turtleneck. And Illyria… well,
need I say more?

ANGEL
(grimly)
“This has Wolfram and Hart written all over it.”

ILLYRIA
(nodding)
“It appears as if they want in on this particular apocalypse.”
 FAITH
(frowning)
“You mean that they’ve been laying low, just so they could hit us when we’re most
vulnerable?”
(beat)
“Gotta give them some credit on that one.”

CONNOR
(sneering)
“They’ve played with our lives to many times.”

ANGEL
(leer)
“And now it’s time for their judgment day.”

JOHN
(eying the approaching army)
“We must make sure that they don’t get the chance to open up their portal.”

ILLYRIA
(pointing)
“Their shamans are protected by a mass of assassins.”

ANGEL
(squinting)
“Can you see them?”

ILLYRIA
(imperiously)
“Of course, half breed.”
(nodding to the left)
“They’re on the left flank.”
(beat)
“They’re the ones wearing robes.”

FAITH
(snorting)
“Was that an attempt of a joke?!”

ILLYRIA
(deadpanned)
“Yes.”
 FAITH
“It was funny.”

CONNOR
(agreeing)
“It kind’a was.”

JOHN
(interrupting)
“We need to split into two groups. One will join in the fight and the second will have to
make sure that the shamans can’t perform the ritual to open the portal.”

ANGEL
(nodding)
“Right.”
(eying the group)
“Illyria, you and me will go for the shamans.”

FAITH
(raising her stake)
“And the rest of us will show that hellish demon army how bad things really can get
when the mess with us.”

ANGEL
(quietly)
“Good luck.”
(focus on Connor)
“All of you…”

FLASH.

A WIDE SHOT of the scene – which is at the far end of the hill and a good portion away
from the rest of the ‘Slayer army’, to reveal WILLOW, DAWN and SPIKE/ILLYRIA.
The redhead is busy placing different items in a circle; we can distinguish a bunch of black
candles, a jar of sand and a ceremonial dagger. Among other things.

WILLOW
(all business)
“First priority is to get the shield up so that the demon army can’t reach through to our
army.”
(beat)
“Then we have to begin preparing the opening of our portal.”
 DAWN
(gulping)
“Yay.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(unfazed)
“You do understand, witch, that the power that you will tap into is something you’ve
never encountered before?”
(scrutinizing her)
“Its sheer force will be enough to drive you mad.”

WILLOW
(grinning)
“Didn’t you know?”
(beat)
“’m already mad.”

DAWN
(silently)
“That’s for sure.”
(focus on the entity)
“You weren’t around when she tried to destroy the world.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(looking at the witch with newfound respect)
“I might have underestimated you.”

WILLOW
(thin smile)
“I get that a lot.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(focusing on the approaching army)
“It’s time to get that shield up.”

WILLOW
(following its gaze)
“By the Goddess…”

DAWN
(quietly)
“Indeed…”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

EXT. THE PLAIN – SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE L.A – DAY

A SHOT of BUFFY, GILES, KATIE and their group of slayers. Then the CAMERA SPINS
AROUND to reveal the huge demon army that is held back by an invisible force field. The
bloodthirsty demons bags and hits at the shield with their weapons.

BUFFY
(screaming)
“Is the shield holding?!”

And just then the demon army breaks through the protective shield. Roaring and
swinging their vicious looking weapons, they charge against the ‘Slayer army’.

GILES
(breathlessly)
“God help us now…”

FLASH.

PANNING DOWN on XANDER, OZ, FIONA and their group of young slayer as they’re
heavily involved in the battle that now rages on.

XANDER
(yelling)
“Kill the motherfuckers!”

UNKNOWN DEMON
(vicious grin)
“I actually love my mother.”

FOCUS on Xander as he skillfully decapitates the demon’s head.

XANDER
(sneer)
“That’s just plain nasty!”

OZ
(running his sword through a demon)
“Way to go, Xandman!”
 XANDER
(full of himself)
“I know!”
(getting tackled)
“Of!”

OZ
(diving after them)
“Xander!”

FLASH.

A SHOT of ANDREW, DANA, PHOEBE and the rest of their gang. They’re also deep in
the battle against the demon army.

ANDREW
(ducking a incoming blow)
“How are we holding up?”

PHOEBE
(dusting a vampire)
“As well as we can!”

ANDREW
“Good!”

DANA
(grinning)
“We’re all going to die!”

PHOEBE
(rolling her eyes)
“That’s not…”

FOCUS on Phoebe as she’s sliced in half by an axe wielded by a Giant.

ANDREW
(distressed)
“Oh my God…”

Suddenly there’s a unearthly scream coming from the direction of WILLOW’S location
and they turn to look over there.
FLASH.

A CLOSE UP on WILLOW as she sits on the ground in lotus position and chanting
something we can’t quite hear. Suddenly, her eyes pop open and we can see the blue glow
in them as the CAMERA PANS OUT into a WIDE SHOT of the scene to reveal DAWN
and SPIKE/ILLYRIA standing in a position that makes a triangle, Willow included.

DAWN
(shuddering breath)
“Willow…?”

Willow raised her hands and a surge of magic is thrust against the other two. Almost
immediately Dawn starts to glow in a magical green way, but the color is quickly fading.
And as on cue, Spike/Illyria’s being is releasing a stream of ice blue power that travels the
distance and slams into Dawn with incredible force.

FOCUS on Dawn as she closes her eyes and scream as if in deep agony.
Then the scene freezes on the screen and a text appears…

To be cont inue d…

BLACK OUT-

END OF EPISODE