FADE IN-EXT PENTAGON-DAY
CUT TO:
PENTAGON HALLWAY
We see General Mark Andrews, a 60ish man in an Air Force
General's dress uniform. He's white with dark hair, that has a good
amount of grey. We can tell that he may be in his 60s, but
he's not the stereotypical Grandpa figure. He's very lean and
very athletic. We follow him past several very modern-looking
displays of pictures and flags. He finally goes into an open
office door to the right. We follow him into the office
receptionist area. The secretary, an Air Force Second Lieutenant
looks up at him. The Lieutenant quickly rises, and salutes him.
LIEUTENANT
Good morning, sir!
ANDREWS
At ease, Lieutenant. Is John in?
LIEUTENANT
Yes, sir. One moment.
He leans over his desk and hits the 'talk' button on his intercom.
LIEUTENANT (CONT'D)
Sir, General Andrews is here to see you.
JOHN
(OVER INTERCOM)
Good, send him in Lieutenant.
LIEUTENANT
(hits the "talk" button again)
Yes, sir.
(turns back to ANDREWS)
He'll see you now, sir.
ANDREWS nods and goes over to a heavy oak door, and goes in.
CUT TO:
THE INNER OFFICE OF GENERAL JOHN MARTINSON
General John Martinson is a trim and proper Air Force
General. He's a short African-American, in his late 50's.
MARTINSON
(crossing the room to great Andrews)
Mark Andrews, you old dog! How've you been?
ANDREWS
(stops to shake hands with Martinson)
I've been doing good lately.
He looks around the large office.
ANDREWS (CONT'D)
And so have you, it looks like.
MARTINSON
(sits on the corner of the desk)
What can I say? Office work agrees with
me. They spoil me here. Gave me one of
the newer offices. Damn room has
everything. I even have a small bar in
the meeting room. Don't know why though,
we can't drink on duty so there's no
point to it. But I suppose after the
crash, they wanted to do all the improvements.
ANDREWS
(sits down in one of the visitor chairs)
I know, I saw the memorial in the lobby.
Damn shame. We lost a lot of good people.
My personal assistant was in the building at
the time. He'd just gone over to the other
wing, before it hit.
MARTINSON
(sighing)
It's always troubling when something like
that happens. But that sad affair is not
what I called you in for.
He pauses for a moment, unsure of how
to phrase his next words.
MARTINSON (CONT'D)
Mark, the Joint Chiefs have approved your
recommendation. And they want you to head it up.
ANDREWS
(so shocked he nearly tips his chair over, as he shoots up)
But John, they said it was the biggest
waste of money they could think of!
MARTINSON
Recent events have changed their minds.
ANDREWS
(confused)
What events? Last I heard they decided to
forget all about what's really out there,
after the massive failure of the Walsh facility.
MARTINSON
I'm sure you heard what happened last month?
ANDREWS
(still confused)
The foiled assassination attempt on President Bush?
What does that have to do with anything?
It was terrorists from Iraq.
MARTINSON
(shakes his head)
Nope, that's just the cover story. They
couldn't put out the truth. It did however give
them a reason to go after that terrorist
cell that was politically untouchable before.
ANDREWS
Who was really responsible, then?
MARTINSON
Demon bounty hunters.
ANDREWS
(a little surprised)
Since when do they care about the U.S. President?
MARTINSON
We think that we started hitting their
operations overseas with our little war
on terror. Mark, have you ever tried to get the
CIA to find a group of demons? There's
no one that we have currently set up to
handle this stuff. The little demon commando
groups are holding their own, here and there.
But we've got no large scale operation.
ANDREWS
(understanding)
So that's where I come in.
MARTINSON
(grabs a stack of tan folders off his desk. They all have the
Air Force seal, and the words 'TOP SECRET' on them)
You're to head up the main headquarters
for the units. They'll be operating
out in the field. Like the unit in Spain.
You start with your own unit. Then
later on, others will be assigned to your
base as the budget grows. And believe me,
it will grow. The President doesn't take
kindly to attacks on his life.
ANDREWS
(hopeful)
Does this mean that they also agreed to
my personnel requests?
MARTINSON
(nods his head)
Yeah. Took a damned lot of arm twisting, though.
Heck, it was hard enough to find the guy.
Turns out he left Sunnydale a year or so
ago. He spent some time in England, with
a group that we haven't had much luck in
trying to determine what they do. But then he
went on the run from them, with a young woman.
ANDREWS
Not one of the women from the Sunnydale group?
MARTINSON
Nope, she's from Vermont. She had just
graduated high school and ended up a missing person,
on her way to her college for the fall semester.
ANDREWS
(slightly worried)
You think this group kidnapped her?
MARTINSON
(nods his head)
That's most likely why your man took off
with her. All our records on him indicate
he's not one to participate in kidnapping.
ANDREWS
Assuming we get him. Where will my base
be? The Sunnydale site was destroyed.
MARTINSON
(hands one of the folders to Andrews)
Before we started in Sunnydale,
we were converting a old underground
ICBM silo. After we heard about all the
things attracted to that portal or
whatever it was in that town, we moved
there. But the base was completed before
we moved.
ANDREWS
(flips through the folder)
This is a pretty big underground project,
sir. This couldn't have been just a silo.
And so close to a major city?
MARTINSON
Actually, it wasn't that close to San Diego when it
was first built in the very late 50's.
Now it's a 40 minute drive. It's been
heavily updated and enlarged. You can do
wonders when Congress has huge defense
budgets for three years running.
He gets up, and spreads the remaining files out over a nearby table.
MARTINSON (CONT'D)
Now, let me tell you about the rest of
your team we put together.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT-ANAHEIM AIRPORT-DAY
CUT TO:
INT-AIRPORT GATE 7-DAY
We watch as a large line of people come spilling out of the ramp door.
After about 5 people walk through, we see someone we recognize.
Xander Harris walks out with a medium sized duffel bag over
his shoulder. He looks a bit older than we last saw him in the series.
He is also more 'built'. He walks right out past the gate, and looks around
to see if he is being followed. He starts walking over to a group of pay
phones and spots what he needs. A pay-for-use Internet computer.
He logs on to an Internet mail site, and sees he has one message.
He opens the message, but all we see is pages of garbled text.
He slides a disk into the computer, and types a few keys.
The text rearranges to form a few sentences. The screen reads:
Landed 15:30 hours. No sign of trackers.
Xander takes the disk out, and the screen returns to the mess of
text it was. He puts the disk in his jeans pocket, and deletes the message.
He then starts to walk to the exit. Suddenly, he stops dead in his tracks.
CUT TO:
XANDER'S POV
Three men are near the front entrance. They are all very
tough-looking. Their look almost screams 'Bad Guy'. They are
searching the crowds.
CUT TO:
XANDER
Xander backs up slowly and goes back into the crowd, but not
before the men spot him. They start to give chase, but not so
fast as to bring attention to themselves. Xander sees a crowd
of college kids near another exit, and hides in the middle of
their group. The men start looking through the group for
Xander. He is trying to hit on one of the college girls, and she
and her friends are talking with him. The men spot Xander,
and since he sees he's been made he smiles a sad smile to
the girls as he takes off. The girls wonder what's going on,
before the men shove their way through them to go after Xander.
CUT TO:
EXT-ANAHEIM FRONT WALKWAY-DAY
Xander runs out the sliding doors, a few seconds before the
men come out after him. He runs for about half a block, before
he is blocked in by a line of people waiting for the curbside
check-in and heavy traffic on the street. He's trapped.
The men catch up with him.
XANDER
(backing away from them slowly)
Look, guys. We all know I'm not going back there alive.
So let's just drop this whole thing, and we can get on with our lives?
BAD GUY #1
(with a heavy English accent)
It doesn't work like that, Harris. We're
taking you back – alive. You Sunnydale people,
thinking you're above everyone else. But this
is one time Giles isn't here to help you.
Xander looks around desperately for a way out. But Xander,
and the group of bad guys, stops when they notice a group of
four men coming at them from all sides. The new men are all
very tough-looking. They are dressed the same. Brown pants,
white shirts and a blue jacket.
BLUE JACKET MAN #1
(to the Englishmen)
Hold it! Don't move.
The Englishmen start to move anyway, but stop when the two Jacket
men next to them pull back their jackets to reveal pistols in holsters.
BLUE JACKET MAN #2
Don't try anything stupid now. We don't need the paperwork
that we would have to fill out if we had to take you guys out.
BAD GUY #1
(getting very angry)
How civil of you.
(turns to the first Jacket man)
What's the meaning of this?!
BLUE JACKET MAN #1
(ignores the Englishman, and turns to Xander)
Mr. Harris. We've been ordered bring you
to meet our commander.
XANDER
(surprised, not sure what to do)
Commander, huh? Well, it beats having to
chat with my old friends here. Lead the way.
Xander smiles to the Englishman, and walks away with the
first Jacket man. As they leave, the other members of the
Jacket group make sure that the Englishmen don't follow.
BLUE JACKET MAN #2
(leans in close to the first Englishman's face,
and acts very tough)
There's a plane leaving here every 40 minutes.
I strongly suggest you boys be on one of them.
Then the rest of the Jacket group follow their leader and
Xander. As they walk away, the Englishmen are fuming with anger.
BAD GUY #1
(looks coldly in the direction Xander has gone)
It's not gonna be that easy, Harris.
(turns to one of his men)
Contact headquarters. I want a team
here by the morning. I want this city
turned upside down to find him. It ends here!
CUT TO:
AN EMPTY SECTION OF THE AIRPORT PARKING LOT-DAY
One black van is sitting by it self. One man is standing
guard by the front. He is dressed the same as the men who are
escorting Xander. A black town car pulls up, and the men we
saw before get out. Xander gets out of the back seat. The men
open up the side of the van, and motion for Xander to get in.
XANDER
(smiles to himself)
Sure. I'm always in the mood for a good kidnapping.
MAN'S VOICE
(O.S. Coming from inside the van)
You're not being kidnapped, Mr. Harris.
Xander shrugs his shoulders, and climbs in. The men outside
close the door.
CUT TO:
INT-THE VAN-DAY
Xander looks towards the back, there is a small desk built
into the side of the van. He sees the mystery man who just
spoke sitting behind the desk. It's General Andrews.
XANDER
(as he sits down across from Andrews)
And who might you be?
ANDREWS
I'm Major General Mark Andrews of the U.S. Air
Force. I have some things I'd like to discuss with you.
XANDER
(a little surprised, but he tries to play it cool)
Now why would a General be interested in little old me?
ANDREWS
(leans back into his chair)
I have a job offer for you.
XANDER
(very surprised)
The government wants to hire me? Why am I
somehow not believing that?
ANDREWS
I'm sure you remember the Initiative.
XANDER
(suddenly not liking this)
I remember fighting a Terminator reject, and a host of fun
stuff in your little lab. I don't think I'll ever forget my
fun time in good old room 314.
ANDREWS
(sighs)
I was part of the original start up for
the Initiative. In fact, I recruited Agent Finn
for it. But after Maggie Walsh was
brought in with her "amazing ideas", I
left the program. A bit later I hear that
the Initiative suffered a massive
failure. It took me a while to find out
what really happened, and I can't say I was
surprised to discover Walsh's ideas went
sour. But, I was very surprised to
discover who saved the troops and
stopped the Adam prototype.
XANDER
(not sure if this is good news or not)
I thought there weren't any records
of us. And from what I remember, the
Initiative grunts didn't like us very much.
Neither did Walsh. Hell, she tried to kill Buffy.
ANDREWS
(looks a little sad)
I know. I've seen all the records. At
first we didn't understand why Maggie Walsh
did that to Miss Summers, and the rest of
your group. We didn't find out till later.
XANDER
What? Don't keep me in suspense here. I'd
like to know for future reference how not
to tick off crazy army commanders.
ANDREWS
(looks a bit uneasy)
Walsh had some records, all her own. We
found them, as we were destroying all
records of the Sunnydale project. She
seemed way too protective of her soldiers.
Including Agent Finn. She had cameras in
the dorm rooms of the men. There was, uh,
one in Agent Finn's room...
XANDER
(very shocked and pissed)
You mean to tell me that there are tapes
of Buffy and Riley doing that?!
ANDREWS
(holds up his hand)
There were tapes. I had them all
destroyed. Along with every other tape
from the other rooms. If they ever found
out that Walsh not only drugged them, but
videotaped them nonstop... let's just
say it's a good thing she's already dead.
XANDER
So, what then? You're starting a new
Initiative? Need a little more death and destruction?
ANDREWS
(very serious)
What I'm starting is nothing like Walsh's
demon weapon research. It took the
massive failure of that base to make
the brass understand that demons can't be
made into military weapons. Look, there
are hundreds of vampires and demons
in this state alone. We intend to fight them.
Not to do experiments on them, but to
save lives of U.S. citizens. And maybe the
world once in a while.
He pauses.
ANDREWS (CONT'D)
And I hear saving the world is something
you've been doing, since the 10th grade.
XANDER
(a little pride shows up on his face at Andrews'
last comment. But he quickly gets serious)
Fight them with what? More of those stun
blasters? I saw how well those things worked.
And why should I join this little group of
yours? I'm doing fine on my own.
ANDREWS
(looks serious)
We know the men chasing you will not give
up, until they find you. I don't know what
you did to tick off your former
employers, but if you worked for us... they
wouldn't be able to just take you back to England.
XANDER
How did you know about that?
ANDREWS
I've been looking for you for a few
months now. The CIA has a file on you. You
were working for some organization in
London for a about a year before you, and a young
woman from Vermont, left a few months ago.
Since then, your employers have carried
out several attempts to find you both.
XANDER
(very defensive)
Leave my friend out of this. She's safe now.
(then a little calmer)
I wouldn't mind not having to run from
the 'suit' squad for a while, but I really
don't like the sound of this.
ANDREWS
What you would be doing is considered
hazardous duty. It pays very well. You would
get a yearly salary of 75,000 a
year. You would also be my field
commander, and take orders only from
me. Look, you know about the demon world.
You know what to look for. A normal
military man would have no clue how to
fight this kind of stuff. I need an
outsider, someone familiar with this
type of combat. At least come and see our
operation. It's being set up as we speak.
If you don't like it, you'll be free to leave.
XANDER
(trying to make up his mind)
If I was your field commander... why
would any army guys even listen to me?
ANDREWS
It's only Air Force at this time. And
you'd be granted a field commission, to the
rank of Captain.
XANDER
(muses)
Captain Harris. I like the sound of that.
ANDREWS
(hopeful)
Then you'll come with, and see our operation?
XANDER
(sighs)
What the hell, I need a vacation.
And it'll keep the suits from finding me
for a few days, while they look around
this city. And if they keep looking for
me here, then she's safe.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT-LA STREET- LATE DAY
We see a 19-year-old blond haired girl, she looks a little
like the stereotypical American cheerleader. She is carrying
a identical duffel bag like the one Xander had. She looks
up from reading her map. She looks across the street.
GIRL
This must be the place.
As she looks and crosses the street, we see where she is
going. It's the Hyperion Hotel. As we follow her as she goes
into the main gate...
CUT TO:
EXT-PAVED COUNTY ROAD-NIGHT
We see the black van and town car from the airport. We
follow them for a while, as they come to a gate connected to a
large perimeter fence. A guard walks to the van as the driver
holds an ID badge up. The guard checks his list, and then
waves them through. Xander and Andrews get out and start
walking towards a large hangar. Andrews' watch starts to beep.
He looks down at it, and laughs.
XANDER
(confused)
What?
ANDREWS
(looks skyward and smiles, as he waves at nothing)
This place used to be an ICBM silo. Our
treaty with the Russians say we can use
some of them for bases, after we took out
the missiles. But of course the Russians
want to make sure we're being nice and
honest. They have their spy satellites
make a pass every few days to snap some
postcard shots.
Andrews stops waving, and he and Xander continue to the
large hangar. It's about the size of two airport hangars.
Andrews and Xander enter through a normal sized metal door,
after Andrews enters a code.
CUT TO:
INT-HANGAR-NIGHT
Inside the hangar are many cars, two vans, plus three small
helicopters and a private jet.
XANDER
Nice toys.
ANDREWS
We won't be working just in this area. We
might need to do some traveling. This way, please.
They walk to the side of the hangar and to a set of wide
elevator doors. Andrews puts his hand on a panel and a light
goes over it, and then the doors open. They walk in, and
start to go down.
CUT TO:
INT- LARGE ELEVATOR-LATE DAY
XANDER
What's next? Is Q going to show me the
cell phone that doubles as a flame-thrower?
CUT TO:
INT-SUB LEVEL 3-MAIN CONTROL ROOM-NIGHT
The room is large, it has a large meeting table off to the far
side. The wall leading into the corridor is glass. Its rear
wall is a large computer setup. It has one large screen
along with several small screens, and several small work
stations. Sitting at one station is Lt. Rebecca Gerald. She
is a 24-year-old small woman with red hair, and dressed in a
casual Air Force uniform. Between typing commands into the
console, she is talking to Gavin Booth, who is a 27-year-old
black man with shoulder length hair pulled back. He is
dressed in normal civilian clothes. We move in, so we can
hear their conversation.
GAVIN
(leaning over a little)
Come on, Rebecca. Aren't you the least bit curious?
REBECCA
(stops typing and sits back)
Look Gavin, this kid has no business here.
You have skills and knowledge we will
actually need. But this guy fought a few
vamps, and suddenly he's the 'expert' on
this stuff? I even heard a rumor that he
was somehow involved in the last command
set up for this. And that he helped attack,
and shut down the base! How am I ever
going to get my own command if I gotta
work on projects like this?
GAVIN
You just got out of the Academy a year
ago. You need to clock some field time,
girl. But, look at it this way. This
project is so classified that no one at the
Pentagon will ever even know you were here.
REBECCA
(rolls her eyes)
Demons and vampires. This is just so pointless.
So they really exist. They can't be that much of a threat,
or else we would be doing a whole lot more than
this little operation.
GAVIN
I hear that this operation might not be
little for very long. Once we get going,
and set up shop with the other units all
ready established? We should be having
our hands full.
Rebecca is about to reply, when Gavin cuts her off.
GAVIN (CONT'D)
(looks past her)
Heads up, girl. Here comes the new boss.
REBECCA
(knows she is going to hate this)
Come on, hotshot. Let's go make nice.
They get up, and start to head over to the main entrance.
CUT TO:
INT-MAIN CONTROL ROOM GLASS DOORS-NIGHT
Andrews, and Xander enter the control room. He looks around
the room in awe. He sees the huge main computer.
XANDER
(to himself)
This is far out. It sure puts the library
and Willow's old Apple computer to shame.
(louder)
I'll bet Willow would have fun taking that
computer apart.
REBECCA
(speaking from off screen)
Sorry. The mainframe is off-limits to non-DC personnel.
XANDER
(turns to the voice)
DC?
ANDREWS
Demon Command. It's what they call this
place in Washington, at least those who know about it.
(motions to Rebecca and Gavin)
Xander Harris, may I introduce the other members
of your team. This is Lt. Rebecca Gerald,
she's the tech ops person. She runs our
mainframe, and communications operations here.
Rebecca shakes Xander's hand, but it's obvious she is not happy.
ANDREWS (CONT'D)
(moves on to Gavin)
And this is Gavin Booth. He's our
weapons and explosives expert.
GAVIN
(shakes Xander's hand)
Nice to meet you, boss.
(steals a glance at Rebecca)
I've heard practically nothing about you.
We hear a mature sounding woman's voice coming from the
direction of the door.
WOMAN'S VOICE
You wouldn't be forgetting about me, now,
would you Mark?
Andrews and Xander turn to see a Hispanic woman, about 45
years old. She looks very New Age. She is the complete
opposite of Maggie Walsh.
ANDREWS
(smiling)
Of course not. Xander, this is Daisy
Jordan. She runs the research area here.
Any known demon text, or other info, she
has. Or can find out.
XANDER
(nods and shakes her hand. He likes her right away)
Like a female Giles. Nice to meet you.
Suddenly a shaft of light appears near them. In seconds. it
takes the form of a very attractive 20ish year old red-headed
woman. She is dressed causally. Xander jumps back.
HOLOGRAM WOMAN
(has a bit of a pout)
Hey, don't forget about me!
REBECCA
(very annoyed)
And why would we want to do that?
ANDREWS
Xander. This is April. She's the
personality matrix for the main computer.
XANDER
(waves his hand through the area where April is. Her
form shifts slightly as his hand pass through her)
Personality matrix? I... I had no idea
that we had any tech that could do this.
ANDREWS
(sighing)
Officially we don't. April was installed into
the computer before we arrived. All we've
been told is that she is a test of some
new technology that we've been developing.
But I've been stonewalled when I try to
get any more information on her.
APRIL
Hey, I'm right here. Please don't talk
about me like I'm not standing right in
front of you!
XANDER
Sorry, April. It's just a bit weird for me,
is all. But, I'm sure I'll get used to you just fine.
APRIL
I sure hope so, sugar.
She winks at Xander, and turns and starts to walk over to
the main computer. As she does Xander is shocked to see her
walking suggestively back as he watches her leave.
XANDER
(still shocked that a hologram just came onto him)
That was weird.
GAVIN
(smiles at Xander)
Don't worry. I've been here a few days,
and she loves to flirt with everybody.
You'll get used to it.
REBECCA
(shakes her head in disgust)
She had to have been programmed by a man.
Only a workaholic male tech could give
her that body, and personality.
ANDREWS
Well, Xander. Should we continue our tour?
CUT TO:
EXT-SAN DIEGO-NIGHT
We see a busy street, and move quickly to a large steaming grate
in the sidewalk. We fly through it, and go several through
pipes, and chambers, rapidly till we come to a huge dry
cavern. It's full of people. Only, they're not people. Candles
are everywhere, there is also a TV set along with a computer
set up in the rear of the chamber. A large African-American
male vampire comes into view. He's very large. He's dressed
almost right out a of GQ cover. He is Markus.
MARKUS
(speaks to a vamp sitting at the computer)
You're sure he's here?
COMPUTER VAMP
Yes, sir. Our spies placed him at the
airport, although we have nothing after that. But
it looks like the Council nearly got him after he landed.
MARKUS
(chuckling to himself)
It seems he got tired of hiding in Ireland.
The sound of the curtains moving on the other side of the
cavern makes Markus turn. He sees his Master come out. She is
a tall white female, with red hair. But most of her human
features are long gone, since she is very old even for a vampire.
MASTER VAMP
Did I hear right, Markus? My little playmate is near?
MARKUS
Yes, my Master. Alexander Harris has
returned to the New World.
MASTER VAMP
(smiles at Markus)
Ah, Markus. Remember he prefers 'Xander'.
MARKUS
(a little agitated)
Master, why do you toy with him? He and his
Slayer bitch have stopped us twice in the past.
Now not long after we come to these
shores, he soon comes after us. We should
find him and kill him immediately!
MASTER VAMP
(as if talking to a child)
Markus, after 750 years on this earth, I
have longed for a true opponent. This
boy seems to be him. Twice you have
led our people into battle, and twice he
has driven you off. Part of me wants to
keep him around. I can't tell you how
amusing it is to see a human with a bit of fight in
him, rather than the endless crying that they do.
MARKUS
He may be a skilled warrior, but he is
still just a human. And nothing beats killing
a Slayer. I will enjoy making him watch
me kill his little whore.
MASTER VAMP
(likes Markus' outburst)
Now, that sounds like the old Markus. It's
been a while since you've had that lust for the kill.
At that moment, the vampire at the computer turns to them both.
COMPUTER VAMP
Master, our friends want a meeting.
MASTER VAMP
(slightly annoyed)
Inform them that we will go to the usual place.
(puts her hand on Markus' shoulder)
Markus my solider, I fear I might have to
kill him after all. Be a good boy, and
leave him a calling card when you go
hunting tonight.
MARKUS
(smiles)
Yes, my master.
CUT TO:
INT-HYPERION HOTEL LOBBY-NIGHT
The blond-haired girl is leaning on the counter talking to
Angel, Wesley, Cordy, Gunn, and Fred.
WESLEY
And you say Xander sent you here? Miss...?
GIRL/KRISTEN
Yep, he sent me, and the name's Kristen. He
said you would be a little nervous when I
mentioned his name.
CORDELIA
Well, the last time someone was here
looking for him it turned out to be a
Watcher Council hit squad! So we have a
right to be a little nervous.
WESLEY
(his interest peaked)
My sources in the Council say that when
Xander left, he stole something very
valuable to them. I don't know what
the object is, but maybe you do?
KRISTEN
(a little offended)
I don't think I've ever been called an
object before, but it doesn't surprise me one bit.
ANGEL
(getting a clue)
You're the new Slayer?!
KRISTEN
Yep. That's me, Slayer girl.
CORDELIA
How did you ever meet Xander, then? We got
some word that the new Slayer... I guess
you, that you were sent to New York?
KRISTEN
Nope. Never officially sent to New York. That must
have been to throw you guys off the track.
FRED
(confused)
But, but why would they want to throw us off
from finding you? With the stuff that
happened with Faith aside. We are the
good guys here. Why shouldn't we team up?
WESLEY
(not as surprised)
The, er, Council has never been happy ever since
Buffy and Faith went against them. The
relations have been smoothed out since
then, but some hostile feelings still remain.
ANGEL
(agreeing with Wesley)
Plus, they weren't ever too keen on the others
in Sunnydale knowing the Slayer's secret.
Kristen moves over to the large red couch. It's obvious she
doesn't like talking about what she says next.
KRISTEN
(looking down at the floor)
Three weeks before my senior year ended,
something happened to me. I just woke up
one night and felt different. Over the
next few days, I found I was a heck of a
lot stronger than I was before. And I
started to get weird feelings while I was
out with my friends. I felt like someone
was watching us. Over the next few weeks,
I got used to my new abilities. I only
told two friends of mine. Julie and Tom.
I had lived on the same street with them
since I was five. We...
She stops, and can't finish.
CORDELIA
(kneeling down to be face-to-face)
It's OK. Take all the time you need.
We've all gone through some horrible
things. It's like a curse that comes with the job.
Kristen slowly looks up at Cordelia. She nods, and smiles weakly.
KRISTEN
I'm OK. It's just that my entire life
nothing has really happened to me. And
then this comes along. We had graduated a
few days before. And we had said our goodbyes to our
families, and were headed to the University of Ohio.
All three of us. It was one long road trip.
She pauses again.
KRISTEN (CONT'D)
Tom was a comic book freak. He thought
that I was some kind of superhero. As a
joke for some of the trip, we tried to
come up with what my hero name would be.
Even what my spandex superhero uniform
would look like. Then about halfway
there, it happened. We were the only
ones on the road. It was just us and the
open highway. Then we came across a
stalled car and three young guys on the
side of the road. We get out to see if we
can help, or at least let them use our
cell phone. However as soon as we got out
and asked them if we could help, things
changed. Men with guns came out from
behind a hill. The first three men also
pulled out guns. We didn't know what to
do. Tom tried to get us back in the car.
Then I hear a loud bang, and Tom falls to
the ground leaving a blood streak on the
window. We weren't going to leave him
behind. Julie got out to try to help him.
They hit her across the face with a rifle
butt. Then they advanced on me. I thought
I was going to die. One of them aimed,
and fired at me. But it wasn't a bullet.
It was a dart. I blacked out a second
later, and didn't wake up for days.
WESLEY
(in total shock, and feeling somehow responsible
since he used to be a Watcher)
The Black Angels. I, I had heard that they
were expelled from the Council years
ago. But I guess that was all a lie...
KRISTEN
I woke up a few days later to see a bunch
of James Bond rejects staring at me. I
was even more freaked out when they told
me I was the Chosen One. Vampires, and
demons. Not the best thing to spring on a
girl who just saw her friends hurt, maybe killed.
She pauses briefly.
KRISTEN (CONT'D)
They tried to change me. Tried to get me
to forget my family and friends. I was so
alone. The first day this guy named 'Mr.
Parks' shows up, and says I've been
assigned to him. That he would have a
tough time training me. That I couldn't go
anywhere, I had no choice but to train
with him. I could tell a small few didn't
like the way they were treating me. But
some guy named Travers kept giving them
some lecture about how the fate of the
world is more important than my feelings.
She smiles a bit.
KRISTEN (CONT'D)
Then one day I saw a cute guy in the
office next to my Watcher's. He thought I
was a 'Slayer in Waiting'. At first I
didn't want to trust him, but since he
was the only one who talked to me as a
person, I kind of warmed up to him.
Gunn and Fred exchange a look.
GUNN
Wait, this Xander guy knew about what was
happening to you, and didn't try to stop it?
(looks to Angel, Cordelia and Wesley)
I thought you said this guy was on the up and up!
KRISTEN
(answers for them)
Xander said he had been on an assignment
in Spain for a month. He came back early
and saw me. He told me about what I had
become, what a Slayer truly is. All
along they told me I was a late bloomer,
and with no training I would be dead
before my 21st birthday. It kind of got
to me, but Xander told me all these
stories about the Slayers he'd known. For
a few days, he stopped by to see me in
secret. He said the Council didn't want
me to know him, that he would fill my
head with ideas. Like doing what Buffy did,
and go against them. Xander found out
my friends had survived; before that, they
wouldn't even tell me what happened to them.
She notices Cordelia smiling a bit at the mention of
Xander helping Kristen out.
KRISTEN (CONT'D)
You must be Cordelia.
CORDELIA
How did you know?
KRISTEN
Xander talked about you. But I don't
think I should say anything...
CORDELIA
Oh no, I haven't seen that boy for a long
time. I want some dirt.
KRISTEN
(at first is hesitant, but is glad to talk about Xander)
OK, all I'll say is that he thinks how things
ended with you was the biggest mistake of
his life. You're the only person who I
could tell humbled him.
CORDELIA
(a little surprised)
Geez, why didn't he say anything
afterwards? Even when we became friends
again, he never tried to get back
together. Even when he was here fighting
that demon army before he went to England,
he never said anything about that.
KRISTEN
(deciding to tell Cordelia)
He said you were dating some guy named
Goo or something at the time. Look, you didn't hear
this from me, but he wanted to try to get back
together with you. But then he decided against it.
CORDELIA
(frowns)
What? He never acted like...
KRISTEN
(sighs)
He said that you were so changed since
he saw you last. That he thought you'd
outgrown him. And that if he tried, that
you would turn him down and it would be
all awkward between you two.
CORDELIA
Figures, that's Xander Harris for you.
Not letting anyone else have a say in things.
KRISTEN
(very interested)
What, you're saying that you would have
gotten back together with him?
CORDELIA
I really don't know. But he is one of the major
reasons I am who I am today. He kind of
grows on you.
KRISTEN
Well, if you do want to get back together
with him, it'll do him a lot of good.
After what he went though when the
Council found out that he was secretly
visiting me...
(shakes her head in disgust)
If I ever get ahold of some of those
guys, they'll learn just how strong I've become.
ANGEL
(leans in, very concerned)
What do you mean, "what he went though"?
KRISTEN
(looks at Angel sadly)
Lets just say I got away with his help,
but he didn't. He won't talk about it.
But they had him for a week, before he
escaped. With all the spells and
weapons the Council has... they were
very upset that they might lose control
of another Slayer.
The AI group is even more shocked at this news.
WESLEY
Good lord, if the Council tried to
interrogate Xander to learn your whereabouts...
CORDELIA
(panicked)
What is it, Wesley? What would they do to him?
WESLEY
(slowly)
I...I've heard stories. The thing is, they think they
have every right to do what they do. That nothing
comes between them and their war with the
demon world. The worst I've heard is that
they used a form of electric shock torture to get
a man to talk once. I didn't believe it then,
but now I'm not so sure.
Cordelia looks like she is about to cry, and leans her head
into Angel's shoulder. Angel looks furious, ready to tear
the Council apart.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT-MAIN CONTROL ROOM-NIGHT
A few officers work at some small workstations at the main
computer. But the rest – Xander, Gavin, Daisy, Rebecca, and
General Andrews – are seated at the conference table.
ANDREWS
Son, you've been a little quiet. Is something wrong?
XANDER
(nervous)
Well...yeah. No offence here, but you've got no big guns
around for what you're planning to do.
GAVIN
Guns? Hell, we've got lots of guns. I have
this one rocket launcher that could take out a…
XANDER
(stops him)
Not what I meant. We're all mortals here.
You got no Slayer, no Wiccas. Have any
of you guys ever faced these things?
REBECCA
(annoyed)
How hard can it be?! You're still around.
We're the Air Force, pal! If we can hold
our own against terrorists, rogue armies
and all, we can handle some zombies with
fangs. It can't be that much of a challenge,
Gavin here has all the firepower we need.
XANDER
(getting a bit ticked off)
Lady, this isn't 'Resident Evil'. If you shoot
a vamp with military-issue ordnance, he will
NOT be taken out. You'll just piss him off, and get
yourself killed. And what are you gonna do if you
come across a warlock who uses a protection spell?
REBECCA
(can't believe it)
A SPELL? You have got to be
kidding. What, do you still believe in
Santa Claus too?!
XANDER
(getting very annoyed)
Look. You have to be ready for anything out there
if you're serious about doing this. And if you're
gonna be on my team, you do not let your misconceptions
get another teammate killed! Believe what
you want, but don't underestimate these things.
REBECCA
(sarcastic)
What? No trying to convince me all that
magic garbage is for real?
XANDER
(shrugs)
No. The attitude you have, you'll be
dead before long – so why bother?
REBECCA
(gives up on Xander, and turns to Andrews)
Sir, how can this guy be of any help to us?
ANDREWS
(holds up his hands)
People, please! Rebecca, he is right – there
is more to this than just shooting at the hostiles.
REBECCA
(defensive to Xander)
Even if there is, how would you know?
What did you do? Fight one or two
vampires, and declare yourself an expert?
ANDREWS
(gives Rebecca a stern look)
That's enough, Lieutenant.
(turns his chair towards the main computer)
April?
April's hologram appears next to Andrews.
APRIL
Yes, sir?
ANDREWS
Load video Alpha Two. And put it on the main screen.
APRIL
One second, sir.
After a beat, the main screen comes to life showing
a black screen with large white text.
SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION MAY 21st 1999
XANDER
(very shocked)
What the hell?!
ANDREWS
Your school hired a local video place to
tape the graduation ceremony. They were going
to sell the tapes to the graduates, but after
what happened... eventually, we got the tape.
The video starts, and we see a view from behind the stage
looking out on to the rows of kids in caps and gowns. It's
daylight, and we can see the back of Mayor Wilkins as he is
speaking.
ANDREWS (CONT'D)
They had several cameras set up, so we
kind of edited the tape together.
The view then switches to the Mayor's face, when
he looks up as the sun goes away.
MAYOR ON SCREEN
It has begun my destiny. It's a little sooner than I
expected. I had this whole section on civic pride. But I guess
we'll just skip to the big finish.
As his transformation on screen happens, we see Gavin,
Daisy, and Rebecca's faces as they watch.
REBECCA
(to herself)
Oh my God!
We go back to the video screen.
BUFFY (ON VIDEO)
NOW!!
On the video the entire class throw off their gowns and grab
weapons. A younger Xander stands at the head of the crowd.
XANDER (ON VIDEO)
First wave. Fire!!
The video plays on, and we stay on Rebecca's
face when the video finishes.
REBECCA
(a bit shaken up)
What the hell was that thing?!
XANDER
(laconically)
The Mayor of my home town, actually. He was over a hundred
years old, when he ascended to pure demon form. And that, my
friends, is what's really in Hell. Thing is, demons what
walk the earth are tainted with a bit of humanity. But
that... I'd rather not face that again, if I can help it.
GAVIN
(still in awe)
I guess that makes 33 kinds, then.
XANDER
Thirty-three kinds of what?
GAVIN
Demons.
XANDER
(surprised)
You only know of 33 kinds of demons?
ANDREWS
You make it sound like there are a lot more...
XANDER
Oh, there are. Maybe I can update your records.
(gets up and walks over to the main computer terminal)
April?
April appears again next to Xander, as he sits down at the terminal.
APRIL
Yeah, cutie?
XANDER
How good are you at hacking into a system?
APRIL
Baby, I've got control of two NSA
satellites to go in and out without no
one noticing. What system are you looking into?
XANDER
(types in a long FTP URL)
It's got a lot of firewalls. I've never
seen anyone get into it from the outside.
APRIL
(gives Xander an evil smile)
Baby, just sit back and watch the master.
(Her eyes look slightly
upward at nothing, and the
main screen goes nuts with
flashes of code. After a few
seconds, she starts laughing
and talking to herself)
APRIL (CONT'D)
Oh, come on! That is so last month's
system. I thought this might actually be hard.
REBECCA
(slightly shocked, and turning to Andrews)
Sir, this is illegal. We can't just hack
into somebody's system like this.
ANDREWS
(motions for her to wait)
If it's who I think it is, I think the
brass might actually approve.
April suddenly smiles, and the main screen pops up with some
words. "Council main files accessed. Welcome Mr. Travers."
XANDER
(surprised)
You got Travers' files? Serves him right.
APRIL
What files would you like?
XANDER
All Slayer diaries, plus all the text from
the main library database. And any new
editions of the demon almanac.
APRIL
(smiles at Xander)
Baby, you like the good stuff don't you?
These are some big databases, it'll take
me a few seconds.
A transfer bar appears on the screen, and starts to move at
5% transferred.
ANDREWS
(to Xander)
What exactly are you downloading?
XANDER
General, the Council has been around since before
human civilization. They have a list of every known
demon, all their strengths and weaknesses. All known
spells and rituals. Everything you could want.
APRIL
(as the bar hits 100%)
I have it all copied, but it seems they
know someone's in their system.
XANDER
Can they trace you?
APRIL
Right now they think I'm someone in Japan. And...oops.
XANDER
What?
APRIL
Seems they have someone there who might
actually have a brain. But not to worry,
I just shorted out their terminal. There
is now no record of my little shenanigans.
XANDER
OK, now cross-check the new files against
your own data. How many known types of
demons are there now?
APRIL
(after a few seconds)
I have 523 separate demon species.
REBECCA
(shocked)
Five hundred and twenty three?!
APRIL
That's what I count, some have only been
encountered once or twice, but...
(stops and turns to Andrews)
Sir, there is a incoming video communication for you.
ANDREWS
Put it up on the main screen.
The screen changes to the face of General Martinson.
MARTINSON
Mark, how's the group coming together?
ANDREWS
(leans over and hits a toggle switch to the ‘on' position)
Just fine, sir. It's just taking a while
for them to warm up to each other.
MARTINSON
Good. So, is the Harris man is with you?
Xander walks over next to Andrews.
XANDER
(gives the screen a mock salute)
One Harris man reporting for duty, sir!
MARTINSON
Very amusing, Captain. But the thing is, I may
have your first case for you.
ANDREWS
Sir, it's a bit early yet.
MARTINSON
Sorry Mark, but this has got to be looked at.
And it's just a few miles from you. In San Diego.
CUT TO:
EXT-SAN DIEGO-A FEW HOURS BEFORE SUNRISE.
We can hear dull music from a nearby club as we see an alley
full of police cars with their lights flashing. We zoom in to
see the two detectives in the center of the mess of cops. One
a 40ish Hispanic male, and a black 30ish woman.
MALE DETECTIVE
(leaning down next to three teenage bodies laying on the street)
This is the third time in two months. We
have got to be dealing with a serial killer here.
FEMALE DETECTIVE
Not according to the brass.
MALE DETECTIVE
Yeah, well, the brass is just playing nice to the press.
No one wants a serial killer during re-election campaigns.
(looking over to the left)
At least this time, we have some clues.
We pan over to where they are looking. On the alley wall there
is a message written in the victim's blood.
'HARRIS, WE MISS YOU'.
CUT TO:
EXT-SAN DIEGO-SHORTLY BEFORE SUNRISE.
A black car is racing thought the empty streets. Xander and
Gavin sit in the front seats, dressed as they were earlier.
GAVIN
Shouldn't we have dressed up for this?
XANDER
(shakes his head)
No time. But I'm pretty sure this is just a
wild goose chase. They aren't stupid
enough to stick around. If those cops are
all still alive, then the vamps didn't wait for
me. Just did their damage and left.
GAVIN
(still unnerved)
How can you be so calm about this?
You heard the same stuff I did.
XANDER
It's gruesome, I know. But it's tame
compared to some things I've dealt with before.
The car stops at the SDPD 22nd precinct. Xander
and Gavin get out, and head into the building.
GAVIN
How did you want to do this?
XANDER
(shrugs)
We're the government now. A lot of 'no
comments', and we should be fine.
GAVIN
(smiling)
So are you Scully or Mulder?
CUT TO:
INT-PRECINCT CAPTAIN'S OFFICE
Xander, and Gavin walk in on the two detectives we saw
earlier. They are Detectives Rosen and Winters. They are talking with
an older man. Captain Ben Foss. The Captain is the first to notice them.
CAPTAIN FOSS
Son, we are in a meeting here. The main desk is back there...
XANDER
I know. I saw it. I even had a jelly
doughnut from the box on it.
(pulls out his ID)
Air Force, Special unit.
DETECTIVE WINTERS
(very surprised.)
These are the Feds?! Where's your suits?
XANDER
It's laundry day. Now I'd like to see
copies of any witness statements, and any
evidence you have so far.
DETECTIVE ROSEN
(puts his hand up)
Son, we are not going to just give out info
about a serial killer to two college kids.
(sneers)
Now, why don't you leave before you're
arrested for impersonating a federal official?
XANDER
(getting ticked)
I will say it slowly for you. Mr.
Harris and Mr. Booth from the Air Force, and
we are here to check out your evidence.
DETECTIVE WINTERS
Harris?
XANDER
Yeah.
CAPTAIN FOSS
We have a killer who writes a message for
a Harris, and then one suddenly shows up?
DETECTIVE ROSEN
(looks at Xander)
How about this? We'll trade what we know, for what you know.
XANDER
No. We're here to check your evidence, not to trade notes.
DETECTIVE WINTERS
(looks at Xander carefully)
You know who this guy is, don't you?
XANDER
(clams up)
Sorry, that's classified.
CAPTAIN FOSS
Kid, withholding information is a criminal offense here!
XANDER
(still annoyed)
If it's who I think it is, I promise you'll never be able
to catch him. Now give us access to your info. Or at the
very least, I'll see to it that your pension is history.
CAPTAIN FOSS
Fine.
(signals a uniformed cop outside his door)
Lewis, take these two men over to conference room two.
Xander, and Gavin follow Lewis out while Foss turns to his detectives.
CAPTAIN FOSS (CONT'D)
When they leave, follow them. I'm not
going to let some punk kid run around my
investigations like this!
CUT TO:
INT-CONFERENCE ROOM 2
Xander, and Gavin are examining the crime
reports spread around the table.
GAVIN
(flipping through a folder)
You seemed to get a little pissed back there.
XANDER
(not looking up)
I've been at this for too many years, for some idiots
who have no clue to push me around like that. I just
wish I could tell them who did it. Just to see
their faces. And I'm sure that as soon as
they realize that they'll not be able to find
this guy, that they'll try to blame us for it.
GAVIN
(confused)
Why would you think that?
XANDER
(shrugs)
Everyone needs a scapegoat. If we're
still here in town when another body
shows up, don't be surprised if they ask
us where we were on the night of...
Xander stops, as he pulls out a composite sketch of a man.
XANDER (CONT'D)
(looking at the sketch)
Well, hello Markus.
He goes over and places the report and sketch in the Xerox machine.
XANDER (CONT'D)
(after he copies what he needs)
Come on, we have what we need here. Let's
check out that alley.
CUT TO:
EXT-DEMON COMMAND
The guards are walking the inside of the fence.
CUT TO:
INT-GENERAL ANDREWS'S OFFICE.
Rebecca is talking to Andrews.
REBECCA
Sir, if we're a team, then I should be
out there with them.
ANDREWS
Lieutenant, you heard Harris's analysis. I have to agree
with him. If this is his former enemy, then we
shouldn't expect any trouble. It's highly
unlikely that the vampire will stay in the area.
REBECCA
I can't understand how he thinks that
this vampire would just leave him a
'here I am' message and not wait for him.
I think he left me here, just because he
doesn't agree with me.
ANDREWS
(sighs)
San Diego is forty minutes away. On the
off chance he needs you, or any other
backup, you will go in.
CUT TO:
EXT-SAN DIEGO STREET-A FEW MINUTES BEFORE SUNRISE
Xander, and Gavin are out of their car, and flashing their
IDs to the uniformed officer guarding the site that is
surrounded by yellow police tape.
GAVIN
(as they go under the tape)
You already seem to know what we'll
find here. Care to let me in on it?
XANDER
(looking around the alley)
This has trap written all over it.
GAVIN
(surprised)
And we're just walking into it?
(starts to look around the darkened alley)
Xander's head slowly looks up. He notices the
cop they just passed is gone.
XANDER
(pulling out a stake from his jacket)
Here they come. Get ready.
GAVIN
(still not seeing anything, but pulls out his stake)
Are you sure...
He doesn't get to finish the sentence. Two vampires come out
of nowhere. One goes after Xander, while the other goes after
Gavin. Xander is making short work of his vamp. He dodges a
high kick, and nails the vamp in the gut. While it falls
back, Xander grabs its shoulders, and pulls its head down. He
then nails its face with his knee. The vamp falls to the
ground face-first. Xander stakes it through the back. As it
turns to dust, he turns to Gavin.
Gavin is having less luck. The vamp has its
arms wrapped around Gavin's armpits, and
over the back of his head. Xander is about to rush in
when Gavin flips the vamp over his shoulders, and
before the vamp can get up, he stakes it.
XANDER
(walks over to Gavin)
Not bad.
GAVIN
(wipes blood from his lip)
Thanks. A year of judo class after
school. When you grow up with two older
brothers, you need to have some skills.
They start walking back to the car.
XANDER
(as they go back under the tape)
So, your first vamp kill. How did it feel?
GAVIN
Weird. Stabbing people with a piece of
wood will take some getting used to. I
didn't get a very good look, but was one
of those your Markus friend?
XANDER
(going around to the driver's side of the car)
No. They were just newbies. Why lure me here,
and then send guys a troop of Girl Scouts could kill?
GAVIN
(opening his side's door)
Maybe he's just toying with you. You did
say this guy was a bit off. Maybe he just...
Gavin spots her first. A dark-haired girl about their age
running at Xander. Xander turns to see what Gavin is looking
at, but not in time. The girl jumps on him, and knocks him
down to the ground.
GIRL
Get down!!
Hardly a second after Xander and her fall, the side window
which he stood in front of shatters. Bullets start raining
down on the car. Gavin hits the ground on his side. Xander,
and the girl scramble to Gavin's side of the car. Gavin pulls
out his pistol.
GAVIN
You see anybody?
XANDER
(tries to look up, but quickly ducks as more shots hit the car)
Nope. But it's not Markus, this is too quick of a death
for his enemies. He's an old-fashioned kind of guy.
GAVIN
(smiling at Xander)
Oh goody, you got more enemies. Any
ideas who likes the high-powered rifles?
XANDER
Yeah, but so far they've wanted me alive.
GAVIN
(tries to look up through the shattered window)
Well, looks like they've changed their minds.
And it looks like the cavalry's here.
Detectives Rosen and Winters' car pulls up quickly along with
a squad car. The officers get out their shotguns, and crouch
behind their car.
GAVIN (CONT'D)
What took them so long? They tailed us all the way here.
XANDER
My guess is that they waited for backup,
so that it'd look like we're causing this.
GAVIN
(laughing)
Are you always this paranoid?
XANDER
(smiles)
It's a good habit to have these days.
The shooting stops, and the uniformed cops go to the entrance
to a three-storey building. A few seconds later, we hear from
the police scanner in the car the cops left.
COP ON RADIO
It's over, sir. The perp's gone. There's a few bullet
casings, but nothing else here.
The two detectives get up, and walk over to Xander, and
Gavin's shot-up car. The car's engine is smoking.
DETECTIVE WINTERS
(very upset)
This is outrageous. Not only do you not
share information with us, and
take copies of police evidence, now
you're shooting up our streets!?!
XANDER
(turns to Gavin, with a slight smile)
Told you.
Xander and Gavin get up. Xander helps the dark-haired girl up too.
XANDER (CONT'D)
(grinning)
I'm always happy when an attractive woman
saves my life. Thank you, Miss...?
GIRL
(blushes a little)
You're welcome. But we do need to get out of here, Xander.
XANDER
(curious)
How do you know my name?
GIRL
I'll explain everything. It's just not
safe here. My car's just around the corner.
XANDER
(looks at his shot-up car)
Damn. It was brand new, too.
He reaches in and grabs the file, that now has a bullet hole in it.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Lead on, my friend.
DETECTIVE ROSEN
(steps in their way)
You are not leaving this crime scene!
XANDER
(gets right in his face)
We have work to do. So unless you can
show me a law that states you can override
a Federal investigation? GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!
They stare each other down for a few moments,
before Rosen steps aside.
DETECTIVE ROSEN
This isn't over!
XANDER
For now it is.
He walks for a bit, and turns back to Rosen.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Oh, and make yourself useful – have my car towed. Thanks.
CUT TO:
INT-CAFE
In a small booth at the back we see Xander, Gavin, and our
mystery girl. She is white, with shoulder-length black hair.
XANDER
(sipping a coffee)
OK. You know my name. Fair is fair.
MELISSA
My name's Melissa. I've been looking for
you for a while now. I almost went to Sunnydale.
XANDER
You seem to know a lot about me. I'm guessing it's story time.
MELISSA
(pulls the sketch of Markus out of the folder)
This bastard? We have a history. I don't
think he even remembers me, but I remember him.
She looks around to see no one is listening to them.
MELISSA (CONT'D)
(to Xander.)
I need your word on something.
XANDER
About what?
MELISSA
I'll talk. But I don't want my name going into
any report. There are some people who would
like to find me. And I would much rather they didn't.
GAVIN
(looks at Xander)
Am I the only one not hiding out here?
XANDER
(ignores Gavin's question, and looks Melissa over)
You have my word.
MELISSA
(pulls out a wallet, takes out a picture and gives it to Xander)
That's me and my best friend Kate, last
year. We knew each other since first
grade. Went to the same private schools,
went out all the time together. Our
families said we were like twins separated at
birth, because we hung out so much. We even
ended up at UCLA together. Dorm buddies. We'd
just finished our junior year in June, and we
were up here on vacation. To get away,
and go shopping. Maybe meet some guys.
One night two months ago, as we were
leaving a club, we got attacked by three
guys. We thought it was a mugging. But
when we saw this bastard's face, his real
face... they held me as he pulled Kate
towards him, and he bit her.
MELISSA (CONT'D)
(tears up a bit)
That's when Kate started to struggle with
him... God, it happened so quick. One moment
she was fighting him, the next he grabbed her head.
(gets very angry)
He snapped her neck like it was a twig. I lost it then.
And those sons of bitches laughed at me!
I don't know how, but I managed to get
free. I just ran. I knew I couldn't do
anything for Kate. They found her body
right where I said it was. But when the
autopsy report came out? There was no
mention of any bite marks. So they said the
robber must have panicked when he saw me
with her and killed Kate, and ran. I told
them what really happened, but no one
wanted to believe me. They said I was
making it up out of grief, 'cause I couldn't
have saved Kate. That I was making the
attacker out as a monster in my head,
because normal humans can't comprehend
this kind of brutality.
She pauses again.
MELISSA (CONT'D)
They finally looked me up in a mental
hospital for 'observation'. Once that
happened, I knew they would never believe
me. So that asshole would just kill Kate,
laugh and get away with it? I wasn't
going to let that happen. I escaped the
hospital. Bribed a guard. Being from a
very wealthy family helps sometimes. I
managed to transfer most of my money into
a few offshore banks that my family
didn't know that I had accounts at. Then
I went into hiding. After a while I found
some real web sites on vampires on the
Internet, and then came across a few
pages on you.
XANDER
(surprised)
There are web pages on me?
MELISSA
(nodding)
On you, and the others in Sunnydale. I
don't know if I believe half of the stuff
out there about you, and your friends. But
I started to email the webmasters of
the sites. I decided to contact you, or
one of your group. But then Markus
killed again, and left a note with your
name on it. Plus my police contact started
saying that you had shown up as a Federal
agent. I came around just in time to see a red
tracer light on your back.
XANDER
(making up his mind)
All right. Why don't you come back with us to the base?
GAVIN
(not sure about this)
To the base? Do you think the General will go for that?
XANDER
We need everyone we can to fight this little war here.
(turns back to Melissa)
That is, if you want to try for a chance at Markus?
MELISSA
(has a very cold look on her face)
Try and stop me.
GAVIN
(to himself, as they get up to leave)
Rebecca is just going to love this.
CUT TO:
INT-DEMON COMMAND LIBRARY
The library is about half the size of the upper level control
room we saw earlier. It has two levels of bookshelves on the
outer edges, with a metal spiral staircase attached to them. The
center of the room has several large wooden tables in it.
Daisy and General Andrews are at one; there are computer
printouts all over the table.
ANDREWS
So this information was worth it?
DAISY
(ecstatic)
Mark, this stuff is amazing! I'm not even
halfway through the first Watcher diaries;
and there is over 90 centuries worth of
material to go through! I'll need a full
staff to sort all this stuff out.
ANDREWS
Good, then the information helps this
command. We need to prove to the brass
that they shouldn't try for more of
Maggie Walsh's ideas.
DAISY
(concerned)
You don't think they'd try that again, do you?
ANDREWS
If they were stupid enough to try it once...
They sit in silence for a moment. Then Rebecca
enters, and heads right over to them.
REBECCA
Sir, we just got a report that Harris and
Gavin were in a shootout in San Diego,
and then left the scene.
ANDREWS
(concerned)
Are they all right?
REBECCA
The police report we intercepted said
that they were OK. And that they left
with a woman about 20 or so years of age.
ANDREWS
Let's see if we can raise them. They might
need some backup after all.
Before Rebecca can respond, the screen of a nearby laptop
computer lights up. April's image appears on it a split second later.
APRIL
General Andrews?
ANDREWS
Yes, April?
APRIL
Sir. I have lost contact with the surface installation.
ANDREWS
The phones are out?
APRIL
Yes sir, and the guards are not answering their radios.
ANDREWS
(gets up)
All right, I'm on my way. Try to get a
view from one of our cameras up there.
APRIL
Yes, sir.
CUT TO:
INT- GROUND LEVEL HANGAR
We see a tight shot of the Master's face, and can
make out Markus standing next to her.
MASTER
(concerned)
Markus, how do you recommend we get
into the lower levels? Ah, wait, I have an idea.
She pulls her hand from behind her back to revel the
dismembered arm of one of the guards. She puts the hand on
the scanner. It leaves a bloody smear, as the scanner goes
green. And the doors open.
MASTER (CONT'D)
Ah, there we go. And the elevator is almost big
enough for everyone. This just makes my day.
We pull back to reveal an army of at least 35, maybe 40 vamps.
MASTER (CONT'D)
(points to five of the vamps)
Now, you men stay up here. Just in case our friend's
contact somehow screws up his assignment in the city.
She smiles.
MASTER (CONT'D)
Come along, children. Time to have some fun.
The vampires pile into the elevator as we...
DISSOLVE TO:
A BLACK SCREEN
All we see are the text...
TO BE CONTINUED...