FADE IN:
EXT-LA DOCKS-NOON
We are on the bridge of a carnival cruise ship that is docked. The first mate is
looking out to the port side of the bridge with his binoculars. He doesn't like
what he sees, and his scowl shows it.
FIRST MATE
I tell you Captain, it's a damn shame.
CAPTAIN
You think the rumors are true?
FIRST MATE
They have to be. There are armed guards
everywhere. She's a real prize, and these Americans
just took it like it was their damn right!
CAPTAIN
Well, they did help build it.
FIRST MATE
(annoyed)
A stupid loophole. I don't see why they had that
program in the first place.
CAPTAIN
It gave people a lot of jobs.
FIRST MATE
But to have the government build cruise ships? Only
two came off the line, and they grab one. I bet the
next time we're here, that they'll have painted it grey
or something. Maybe even toss a few big guns on it.
CAPTAIN
It's not a battleship. And what the hell they could be
using it for, I have no idea.
FIRST MATE
It's still a damn shame.
CAPTAIN
That it is.
CUT TO:
EXT-LA DOCK SLIP 54-NOON
We see the new cruise ship base.
CUT TO:
INT-FIRST CLASS GYM
There are two levels. The top is a raised running track
with eight lanes. A group of troops in sweats are running in formation,
on the track. The middle of the track is open, and we pan down to see
the other level. It's covered in mats. There are many workout stations
in the large gym. Through glass doors, we can see a few small
basketball courts.
We focus on the left of the lower level. Xander, in sweats, is
hitting a large punching bag. Melissa, wearing an expensive-looking blue
two-piece workout outfit, is holding the bag while Xander is punching it.
Xander is very sweaty. He's been at this for a while. We join their
ongoing conversation. They talk as Xander hits the bag.
MELISSA
(upset)
She was on board?
XANDER
(conciliatory)
Yep. But it was only her.
MELISSA
(unchanged)
And you never told anyone, why?
XANDER
(sighs)
I know her. I trust her. Plus, she never left my cabin.
All she knew was that we were on a ship. She
teleported out after we talked.
MELISSA
(can't believe it)
You trust her? They set you up! And tried to
give me back to my parents!
XANDER
(sighs again)
I know. It's complicated. To a lot of them, I was this
weak guy who had to be protected and probably still am.
I've saved the world three times now on my own, but it's
still easy for them to think I need help.
MELISSA
You guys have a fight? You haven't heard from
them since, have you?
XANDER
A small fight, at first. But I have talked to Kristen by
e-mail a few times.
MELISSA
She ask about our location?
XANDER
Nope. She just goes on and on about her new boyfriend.
MELISSA
(curious)
She meet someone at UCLA?
XANDER
(with a very tiny bit of anger)
No. She's going out a bit with Dead Boy Jr.
(sarcastic)
The miracle child.
MELISSA
(gets it)
Sounds like you don't approve.
XANDER
(starts hitting harder)
Well, she did ask for my blessing. I think she's
casting me as kind of her big brother. I said I'm
fine with it.
(hits the bag really hard)
MELISSA
(feels it)
You don't like him?
XANDER
(hits at normal speed)
Don't know him that well. Only know who his proud papa is.
MELISSA
(curious again)
Is this just because the guy's a vampire?
XANDER
(sighs)
When I first met him, it was only that. Then I got to
know him. He has this entire tortured soul act going.
First Buffy liked him because he had all the looks,
power, and danger. I admit it — I was jealous of him at
first. He got the girl I wanted. But then, I started to
notice things.
MELISSA
(confused)
Things?
XANDER
(somewhat annoyed)
Everyone loved him. God, it was like a bad Star Trek
plot device. He shows up to give Buffy some cryptic
advice, and leaves. She thought it was sexy. There I
was risking my neck trying to stop the crap he had
us go fight, and he grabbed all the spotlight.
MELISSA
(incredulous)
You're saying you did this for the glory?
XANDER
(short laugh)
Not at first. At the start, it was revenge. But after a while...
I was fighting demons with two good-looking girls. I
was just a kid. I would have loved some attention, any
attention. But it was always...
(gets very sarcastic)
"Hi Xander, what are you doing to...oh my God, it's
Angel! Gotta go, see you later."
MELISSA
(solemn)
Was it really that bad?
XANDER
(punches harder)
No, but I'd get the brush-off so many times. One time,
Buffy and I were at the mall. I'm having fun hanging out
with my friend, who I haven't seen over the weekend.
Then we notice Angel buying a few of his black
shirts in a store. In two seconds flat Buffy kissed me
on the cheek, then took off after Angel. I complained
to Willow about it, and you know what she said?
Melissa shakes her head.
XANDER (CONT'D)
She says, "God, Xander, you have to stop being so
jealous." I swear every time I said anything bad about
Angel after that, they always thought I was jealous
of him. That all I wanted to do was get in Buffy's pants.
Soon what I had to say didn't matter, when it came to
him. And then he went all evil, and started to kill people.
MELISSA
(shocked)
Kill people? You, you said he didn't do that anymore.
XANDER
(tries to explain)
His curse has an escape clause. He gets a happy,
and his soul is gone. What's left is the old
soulless vampire; Angelus, the Scourge of Europe. He
went on a killing spree. Even joined up with his old
vamp buddies, to try and kill us. He got into Buffy and
Willow's homes, and drew pictures of them while
they slept. Left them on their beds, to freak them out
in the morning. Didn't draw me, though. Guess I
wasn't worth his time.
He stops hitting the bag, as Melissa hands him a towel.
Xander takes it, and they go sit on a bench along the wall.
He takes a few swigs of his drink.
MELISSA
(wonders)
If he went back to the killing? Uh, why isn't he dust now?
XANDER
(smiles)
Ah, this is the point where they say I was acting completely
jealous. Buffy couldn't kill Angelus, because he had
Angel's face. After a few months of his games, we find the
curse that will give him back his soul. Buffy was overjoyed.
Giles was kinda on the fence, but woulda done it because that
was what Jenny would have wanted.
MELISSA
(confused)
Jenny who?
XANDER
(sighs)
Jenny Calendar. She was kind of an on-again, off-
again member of the gang. Plus, she was Giles' girlfriend.
She recreated the curse. Angelus found out, and killed her.
(his voice gets hard)
Chased her down one night, and snapped her neck.
MELISSA
(horrified)
My God.
XANDER
(looks grim)
Worse yet, he takes her body over to Giles' house,
and puts her in his bed. Sets up a few flowers, some
wine. Makes Giles think that Jenny was waiting for
him to get lucky. He goes upstairs, finds her corpse.
MELISSA
(goes white, looks like she is going to be sick)
And you trust Kristen to live with this guy?
XANDER
(cynical)
Oh, he's all better now. Like losing the soul could never happen
again. Yeah, right. At the time, I argued against that we
should re-soul him. We were the only friends he'd had in 90
years; it's like, he would want to come back to find out
that he'd attacked and killed some of us? But Buffy wanted
her old boyfriend back. I was called insensitive. After
nearly ending the world, he got all soul man once more. And after
the summer, everyone loves him again. I learned that I had to be able
to stand being in the same room with him, because the truth is we
needed his help sometimes.
They get up, and head over to a lounge out a set of glass doors. Xander
holds the door open for Melissa. They are the only ones in the room.
MELISSA
(as they sit at a table)
Why would they still think you're jealous of him, if you
started dating that Cordelia woman?
XANDER
(sighs)
I wondered that myself. It got to a point where I would
pound my head against the wall, because of the
stupidity of it. Yeah, I had a crush on Buffy. Could it
have been love? I don't know. She rejected me. But
when I started to date Cordy...that was love, after
a while. But since I still would try to help Buffy, they all
thought I'd dump Cordy in a second if Slay-gal wanted
me. One night after we were patrolling, I went to Cordy's
house. Her parents were gone, so I was thinking
we could get a little make-out time. I go to her
window, and saw her crying. Really crying. I went to
the door, the maid lets me in and I run up to her room.
She tried to hide that she was crying, but she admitted finally
why she was upset; Cordy thought I would dump her soon, like
the others thought. But I told her that even if Buffy asked me
to marry her, I would send her home. That I loved
my Queen C. Took me a while to get her to almost believe
it. And when we were lying on her bed, she tried to do
more than make out with me.
MELISSA
(understands)
You guys...
XANDER
(hold up his hand)
No! We didn't. I knew she thought that I was lying
to her, and that sex was the only way she thought
that she could keep me. But the emotional state she
was in...I'd have been taking advantage of her. I couldn't
do it. I just held her all night. After that, she got really
pissed when people said I still wanted Buffy.
Xander stops, and looks down sadly. Melissa takes his hand.
MELISSA
What is it?
XANDER
(bitter)
Five months later, Willow and I were getting ready for
Homecoming. It just happened, I still don't get why.
We kissed. I tried to block it out. But, we kept on
kissing. We couldn't stop. Finally, we were kidnapped by a
vampire. He was going to kill us. We figured, what
does it matter? We gave each other a goodbye
kiss...then Cordy and Oz came into rescue us. They
saw us there. Her almost on top of me.
Melissa squeezes his hand.
XANDER (CONT'D)
(looks around to see no one else is
in the room, then starts crying)
Cordy just took off. She didn't get far. The floor caved
in, and she fell onto a piece of metal. It went clean
through her. I waited for six hours, while she was in
surgery. You have no idea what I felt, when I saw those
tubes in her. It was all my fault she was there. But the
worst was yet to come. When she woke up, the hatred she
looked at me with... Cordy told me to stay away from
her. I tried to talk to her, but she had the
hospital rent-a-cops kick me out. Then when she got
out, she really hated me with a vengeance. I thought
of leaving town for good. Still don't know why I didn't.
Took me a while to figure out that I wasn't ready for
a relationship. My shrink even thought I kissed Willow,
because I wanted to subconsciously break up with
Cordy. Said I thought I didn't deserve a girlfriend. No big
surprise; it was beat into me by my dad that I was a worthless
'little shit'. Kind of reflects on you when you least
expect it to. Not trying to excuse what I did, but....
Melissa gets up, and moves to the seat next to his,
and put her arms around him.
MELISSA
But you guys did become friends again, at some
point. Or else she wouldn't have cared to come find you here.
XANDER
(sighs)
We thought with the Mayor planning to kill us all at
Graduation, that we didn't want to die hating each
other. When we won the battle, we didn't know what
to do next. We'd thought we were both going to die. Cor said
she had to get out of town. She wanted to become a
movie star here. About a week before she left, she came
and visited me.
He stops, and looks at Melissa. He wipes his face and starts to pull away.
XANDER (CONT'D)
I'm sorry. I'm here yakking on about my problems,
that you don't want to hear. I should...
Melissa holds him down
MELISSA
(softly)
Look at me. I'm your friend, Xander. You've had this
bottled up inside you for way too long now. I've seen
what happens to people who keep it all in. Talk to
me...please.
Xander looks at her for a few moments.
XANDER
(takes a deep breath)
She came to see me. She said that she still loved
me...and I broke down. I thought she was trying to make
me feel worse. But Cordy said she forgave me.
(tears up)
I asked her how she could. That I didn't deserve it.
She went into her purse, and pulled out a few small
audio tapes.
MELISSA
What were the tapes of?
XANDER
Sunnydale is a small town, only 30,000 people or so.
There were only so many shrinks. Turns out a girl that
she knew worked as the receptionist for my guy.
She said she knew I was going to him, and after the
prom where we had a civil conversation Cordelia had her
friend let her into the office, so she could make
copies of my sessions.
MELISSA
(her eyebrows go up at this)
That wasn't a very smart thing to do. It's not even legal, is it?
XANDER
(crying)
I didn't know what she was going to say. She just
looked at me, and started to cry. My ex thought I
wanted nothing more to do with her. Then she heard
the tapes. She said she forgave me. You know the
saying that goes, "I can't forgive, but I can forget"?
Melissa nods.
XANDER (CONT'D)
She says that she could forgive and forget. It was
her turn, I guess. Cor held me for most of the night.
The days after that, we spent almost every moment
together. Finally a few days before she left, she said that
she couldn't handle a long distance relationship. But
before she left, she wanted me to do her one favor.
MELISSA
What was it?
XANDER
She remembered that night, when I turned her down
when she wanted us to have sex. She knew she would
have regretted it then. But she didn't know how long
it would be before she saw me again. So Cordy
wanted me to...be her first.
MELISSA
(gets what he means)
Do you think now that you're in the same city, that
you two could try another go at the relationship?
XANDER
(shakes his head)
No. A bit after she came here? She met up with
Angel again. From her letters, I knew she was
happy. She had a purpose. A place where she
belonged. I came up here after Thanksgiving that
year, to see how she was doing. She and Angel
were gone somewhere; the only one I saw was
her friend, Doyle. We went out for a drink. He
tried to pump me on info about Cordy; I could tell he
wanted her. Not for the body, but because he was in
love with her. Well, my habit of falling on my sword
for others kicked in. I helped him out; gave him
pointers on Queen C. On the condition he not tell them I
was ever in town. I thought he really loved her, and that
she could be happy with him.
MELISSA
(asks softly)
So did they get together?
XANDER
(shakes his head sadly)
No. He was killed a few months later.
The same night he admitted his feelings to her, he
died saving her and a bunch of refugees or something.
MELISSA
(sadly)
It must have crushed her.
XANDER
(grimaces)
Sure it did. About four am, I get a call from her. She was
crying so much, I couldn't understand her. When she
told me, I drove to LA. Stayed for three days, even
went with her to the funeral. Since then, we've been e-
mailing a lot; well, there was a time when we stopped for
a bit. I got a new girlfriend, and she was too busy
helping Angel. When we did talk, she started to
defend him big-time whenever I said anything bad
about him. I'm sure some would say I was just jealous
of him again. But...
MELISSA
Go on.
XANDER
Cordy and Angel vanished for a while. Angel got
tossed into the ocean in a metal tomb.
Melissa is about to ask, but Xander cuts her off.
XANDER (CONT'D)
(upset)
She was missing for a month and a half, before I
even knew about it! I sent her a dozen e-mails. No
answer. Plus when I called the office, they just grilled
me if I'd seen her and didn't say another word to me.
Wesley was the only one who told me what the hell was
going on. I went again once, to help him look for her. I
come to the hotel, but as soon as I said I'd talked to
Wesley about Cordy, they threw me out. They didn't
trust me. Later, Angel gets rescued by Wes. He
finds this magic lamp or something, and finds
Cordy. She was with the PTBs, the same guys who
gave us these powers. One day I call their office again, and
I was shocked to hear Angel answer. He says that
Cordy came back. I rushed to LA. I get there,
I find out Cordy has amnesia. She doesn't
remember anything. I grew up with her; I figure I
could help.
(very bitter)
But Angel said it would be bad, if I saw her. That
Cordy needed to be with her 'family' now. I couldn't
understand it. He was saying that I would only screw
up her recovery? I got so mad, I just jumped him. He
took me down like I was nothing. That Gunn guy just backed
up Angel. I had no choice but to go; they wouldn't tell me
where she was. I just told Angel to have her call me, when she
got her memory back.
MELISSA
(looks at him)
Did she?
XANDER
(shakes his head)
Nope. Turns out she recovered most of her
memories about a week later, after some spell. Another week
went by, until she checked her old e-mails. When she saw all
my letters, she called right away.
MELISSA
(softly)
Did you tell her that they pushed you away?
XANDER
(shrugs)
No. I just figured that saying her best friend in the
world thought I was just an impediment, wouldn't help anyone.
Angel was so into Cordy then, you could see it in his
eyes. And she looked back at him the same way. Maybe he
thought I would try to get back with her, or
something. I don't know, but I never told her.
MELISSA
(understanding)
And he was the one who tried to kidnap me.
XANDER
(grins)
Yep. I could become President, and Angel would still
see me as that little kid getting in his way. I'll always
be like 16 to him. When I was here for a week before I
went to England, I risked my life to save them.
I think that changed Angel's mind about me
somehow, when I didn't go for Cordy then. They weren't
with each other, but any idiot could see the truth in their eyes.
Xander takes his towel from around his neck, and wipes his face.
XANDER (CONT'D)
You know, I'm very surprised I told you all of that stuff.
MELISSA
(laughs)
Psychology was my major. I was going to be a shrink.
XANDER
(grins back)
For what it's worth? I think that you would've been a
great one. Of course, I wouldn't have been able to
afford your hourly rates.
MELISSA
(smiles)
Well, I would have made a exception for a cute and
burly construction worker like you.
XANDER
(faked shock)
Why, Miss Estrich.
They both release a small laugh.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Okay, you've done your psychology voodoo that
you do so well on me. Now it's your turn.
MELISSA
(slightly confused)
What do you mean?
XANDER
Tell me about Kate.
Melissa shows a little shock, but she smiles at him.
MELISSA
Where to start? I knew her for a helluva long time.
XANDER
Start at the beginning. That always works for me.
CUT TO:
INT- CONTROL ROOM
Rebecca is talking to April. April is dressed in a low-cut black
top with red leather pants, and black boots.
REBECCA
(annoyed)
Why do you do that?
APRIL
(looks confused)
Do what?
REBECCA
Dress like you're bar-hopping? You are not real.
You're a computer-generated program! It's not like
you're going to pick up any guys...
(trails off)
Then again, with some of the techs we have here...
APRIL
(shrugs)
I was born this way.
REBECCA
(very annoyed)
You were not born! Some programmer with a Playboy
channel subscription made you.
APRIL
You were born your way, and I was born my way. It
doesn't make much difference to me.
(winks at a young male tech that walks by)
Gavin comes into the room. He is like Xander was, dressed in sweats. He
looks like he's run a few miles. April goes right over to him.
APRIL (CONT'D)
(to Gavin)
Let me feel those biceps, honey.
Gavin flexes his arms. April grins as she moves
her hands up, and down his arms.
REBECCA
(put her hand over her face, annoyed)
Will you please stop encouraging her?
Gavin just smiles, as April goes back to the station she was at.
GAVIN
Man. Beth is getting to be a real slave driver.
REBECCA
(no sympathy)
I had to run the same course you did. You better take
a shower before the movie.
APRIL
(turns around)
What are you guys going to see?
GAVIN
(turns to her)
The new Harry Potter movie.
APRIL
(shrugs)
That one is okay. But I liked the second one better.
REBECCA
How would you know what the third one
is like? It just came out.
APRIL
(smiling)
I downloaded it off the Internet, the
day after it premiered.
CUT TO:
INT- CORDY'S APARTMENT-DAY
Cordelia is sitting with Fred on the couch. A pile of Blockbuster
Video boxes is on the coffee table. Fred picks one up.
FRED
(reading the box)
WrestleMania 7?
CORDELIA
(shrugs)
Gotta give Dennis something to watch, while I'm at
work. It's better than the B movies he normally watches.
FRED
(turns to Cordy)
Okay, now spill the dirt.
CORDELIA
What dirt?
FRED
You know what dirt! I told you about my first
boyfriend in college. Your turn.
CORDELIA
(annoyed)
You started this entire gossip session just to hear
me talk about HIM, didn't you?
FRED
(grins)
Kristen keeps talking about him. And I saw the way
you looked when you came back that night.
You were happy. The others noticed too. Did you
guys...you know?
CORDELIA
(gags on her pop that she is drinking)
God, no! Not that it wouldn't be fun to, but he doesn't
even see me that way anymore.
FRED
He told you that?
CORDELIA
No.
FRED
(confused)
Well then, how do you know?
CORDELIA
(grimaces)
Fred, a while back if he'd told me he wanted to make a go
of it? Then yeah, I would have. But I have this big
complicated thing now with Angel...
Fred rolls her eyes.
FRED
Please don't bring that up again. He's a big boy,
Cordy.
CORDELIA
(gets into it)
It's not that easy, Fred! How could I even date another
guy around Angel? He was in brooding mode for
weeks, after we decided not to go any further when the
no-memory thing was done with.
FRED
I know it's a big ripoff with that damn curse. But he
said it was also because of what he said to Buffy,
was true with you too. Plus, he has gone out with that
Immortal woman a few times now.
CORDELIA
I just don't like her! Staying the same age
forever, and chopping off other people's heads? Who
does that? Okay, I admit that my feelings for Angel have
cooled over the last year. It's just...different now. With
Angel all I could see was lust, and next I watched
his relationship with Buffy die because of that. I
couldn't live like that.
FRED
And what do you see when you look at Xander?
CORDELIA
(smiles, knows she's going to have to say it)
With Xander, I see the times in high school that I
dreamed of the kids we would have. How I would be
a model slash soccer mom, and he would come
home from his big corporate job, and he would look
so hot in a suit....
FRED
(confused again)
Corporate job?
CORDELIA
(annoyed)
I said I dreamed about it in high school! I was a bit
more into money back then.
FRED
(sighs)
He would look good in a suit. So would Charles. But
I know Xander still cares about you. When he was up
here, when you went missing....
CORDELIA
(still annoyed)
I know. Angel and I had such a big fight about that.
FRED
Yeah, we all heard it. Why do you think Gunn went with
me to a chick flick that night? And on a different topic,
why did Willow say you looked like you'd been in a
broom closet, when you came back?
CORDELIA
(blushes)
Xander and I would always sneak away
to the utility closet to make out in high school.
FRED
(leans in)
Did you two ever...
(sees Cordy nod)
Oh my. Was he any good?
CORDELIA
(smiles big)
What he lacked in skill, he more than made up for in stamina.
FRED
(grins)
Just how much stamina did he need?
CORDELIA
Oh, he needed a lot. We...
(suddenly stops)
This does not get back to Kristen!
Fred nods.
CORDELIA (CONT'D)
He likes strong women; he always had a big thing for
Slayers. I had this little leather outfit; one night I got a stake,
and we played a little 'the Slayer and the Vampire'.
Fred gets a big grin on her face.
FRED
(musing)
I should try that with Charles.
Both laugh.
CUT TO:
INT- LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM
The room is huge, with a large table in the center and a wall
of windows showing the roofs of smaller buildings around it.
Two men are sitting at the table. It is the man in the
white suit, and an older man in a gray suit. The older man is watching
the windows. A dirty blond-haired woman in a blue jumpsuit is just
finishing washing them. After she finishes, she hits a control,
and the platform rises out of view.
When she is gone, the white suit man looks at the other man, annoyed.
WHITE SUIT MAN
I don't think she was a lip reader.
GRAY SUIT MAN
(ignores that)
We are too close now, I will not take any more chances.
Several times, your Mr. Harris has gotten out of what we
put in front of him. I'm starting to think that you were
quite right about him. Just to be on the safe side, we are
moving up the timetable.
WHITE SUIT MAN
(concerned)
Sir, that is unnecessary. We shouldn't strike till
all our people are in place. Once we activate it, it will
take years for us to be able to use it again. We will have
to act, no matter what.
GRAY SUIT MAN
We just need to establish a foothold. So far, our
sources say that there has been no active military
build-up yet. They don't know. And if what you say about
this Harris is true, then we can not risk the wait.
WHITE SUIT MAN
He and his 'Horsemen' cannot stop us by themselves.
GRAY SUIT MAN
According to his file, he has stopped this world from becoming
ashes several times. I have made arrangements to keep him
busy for the time we need.
CUT TO:
EXT -SKYSCRAPER ROOF-SUNSET
On the edge of the building, the cleaning platform is empty.
We move over to a spot behind the large air conditioner. There we
find the blond cleaning lady. But now, we see a blond wig at her feet.
Her face becomes visible. It's the dark-haired mystery woman
we've seen before. She has a headphone in her right
ear. She gets very upset with what she hears.
CUT TO:
EXT-MOVIE THEATER-NIGHT
The large marquee on the building reads 'Harry Potter 3'. We see
the front doors open, and a huge crowd of people come out. After a
tiny amount of time, we come to the end of the crowd. There we see
Xander, Melissa, Gavin, and Rebecca. They walk through the quickly
emptying parking lot. Gavin is talking, while he takes a sip
from his large Coke.
GAVIN
That Emma Watson is going to be one hot chick.
REBECCA
(turns to gape at him)
She's hardly even a teenager yet!
GAVIN
(holds up his hand)
Hey, I just said going to be a hot chick. It's not like I'm
going to fly to England, and ask her out. Help me out
here, boss man.
XANDER
(shrugs)
Yeah, she is gonna be hot. But by that time, we'll
be a bit old. And I don't want to end up the old guy
trying to pick up high school girls at bars.
Gavin nods his head in agreement.
REBECCA
(still upset)
But she is way too young! How can you two
look at her that way?
XANDER
(shrugs again)
We're guys. Doesn't mean we would think of acting on it.
GAVIN
(tries to put his arm around Rebecca)
Besides, there are plenty of hot girls here already.
REBECCA
(annoyed but laughs, then pushes his arm away)
You wish, pal.
GAVIN
(suddenly serious)
You would be surprised what I wish for.
They are halfway to the Humvee, when Xander stops.
The others stop, when he does.
REBECCA
(very annoyed)
Don't tell me.
XANDER
(looking to the end of the lot)
Afraid so.
GAVIN
What is this now? Three of 'em?
XANDER
Do we count the one who followed us last week?
REBECCA
Yep. It makes three.
MELISSA
(down)
I'm sorry, you guys.
XANDER
It's not your fault. You did nothing wrong. It's just
your parents...are very persistent.
GAVIN
Yeah. It's just taking a bit longer then we thought to
get rid of that court order this judge friend of your
parents threw at us.
Rebecca stretches her arms, and throws a quick look around.
REBECCA
I count three. One by the jeep, one coming at us from
the left, and the one guy that seems to be walking to
the soon-to-be-closed theater.
Xander pulls out the keys, and tosses them to Gavin.
XANDER
(to Gavin)
When I say so, head for the Humvee. Go around the
block, and meet us a few blocks up.
Everyone nods his or her heads.
XANDER (CONT'D)
And...break.
At the same time that Gavin heads by himself to the
Humvee, the others start walking to the sidewalk. We follow Gavin.
He stands next to the Humvee. He steals a quick glance to
see where the others are.
OFF CAMERA VOICE
Freeze. Don't move.
Gavin turns slowly, to see one of the men
next to him with his gun pointed at him.
GAVIN
(annoyed)
Chill, dude.
The man with the gun just moves closer to Gavin.
GUNMAN
Shut up.
We move down to see Gavin move his left thumb, as
he pops the cover of his Coke loose. He then drops the keys to
the ground. The man glances down for a spilt second, at the sound
of them hitting the ground. That's all Gavin needs. He splashes the guy
with his half-filled Coke in his face. As he reacts to it, Gavin slams his
left arm in to the man's arm holding the gun, knocking it out of his hand.
Then he grabs hold of the top rail of the Humvee railing, and pulls
himself up enough to kick the man in the chest with both feet.
The man staggers, Gavin does a roundhouse kick to his head
to knock him out. As the man falls Gavin grabs the fallen gun,
and his keys. He climbs in, and looks around, as he pulls
out of the parking space.
GAVIN
(pissed)
That was a four-dollar Coke!
CUT TO:
EXT-SIDEWALK-NIGHT
A few blocks up Xander, Melissa, and Rebecca walk
fast down the sidewalk. Xander has a quick look back. The two other
men are running at them. He also sees the Humvee turn the corner at the
end of the street, coming towards them from the other direction.
Xander makes a choice.
XANDER
(to the girls)
Run for Gavin. I'll hold these guys off.
Melissa tries to grab Xander's arm, but Rebecca pulls her
along as Xander runs back. They get to the Humvee, and look back to
see the two men fighting with Xander. They are too far away
to hear anything.
Suddenly, a black minivan with no plates stops on the street
next to the three fighters. The side door opens, and Angel jumps out.
MELISSA
(can't believe it)
You have got to be kidding me. Move it, Gavin!
Angel sucker-punches Xander, knocking him out. He then throws
Xander into the van, while the two men start shooting at the
fast-approaching Humvee. Several bullets bounce off the Humvee,
and the windshield almost shatters in front of Melissa. Bulletproof glass
saves her life. Gavin does a hard turn, and stops.
GAVIN
(pushing Melissa down)
Get down!
Bullets continue to hit the side of the Humvee. Rebecca reaches
under the seat, and pulls out a handgun.
REBECCA
(sarcastic)
No, we don't need the roof on tonight!
She looks over the side to take a shot...
REBECCA (CONT'D)
(very angry)
Damn it!!!
The van is gone, leaving a bunch of scared people getting up
from the ground. Police sirens are in the distance.
CUT TO:
EXT- HYPERION HOTEL STREET- NIGHT
We are looking at the curb, when suddenly a Humvee
screeches to a stop. We pull up to see It's Melissa, Rebecca, Gavin,
and Beth. Three trucks full of troops in full gear pull up. The troops
start to pile out. Everyone gets out of the Humvee, and Melissa is furious.
REBECCA
(to troops)
Fall out like we planned. No one moves till we say!
A lot of troops move out to the other side of the
hotel. Some stay with the four.
GAVIN
(trying to talk to Melissa)
It coulda been that guy who faked the Skip
demon to them before, ya know.
Melissa just looks at him.
MELISSA
(furious)
I'm making sure.
(turns to the troop leader)
Remember, no harm to the blond girl.
The leader nods his head.
CUT TO:
INT -HYPERION LOBBY -NIGHT
Everyone is in the lobby area. Fred and Gunn are on
a far couch, Kristen and Conner are on the other. Wes, Lorne,
Angel and Cordelia are on either sides of the counter.
The troops pile in from both entrances. They have their weapons drawn.
TROOP LEADER
No one move!
Angel and Cordy go for the weapons cabinet. Three soldiers cut them off.
TROOP LEADER (CONT'D)
(to Angel)
No need for anyone to get hurt here.
MELISSA OFF SCREEN
(still ticked off)
If Xander's not a prisoner.
Angel, and the others turn to see them enter.
ANGEL
(sees it's Melissa)
What is this? Payback?
Melissa stares at him coldly. Then she turns to the troop leader.
MELISSA
Tear this place apart, if you have to. Check the
parking area as well, for the van. I want to know the truth!
TROOP LEADER
Yes ma'am!
He points to various soldiers, and they head off into
every doorway. We see them start going into the rooms on the
upper level. Beth goes with a team.
Cordelia steps forward.
CORDELIA
What are you doing? And where the hell is Xander?
Melissa just looks at her.
MELISSA
(coldly)
That's what we're trying to find out.
(she turns to Angel)
Where were you tonight?
ANGEL
(annoyed)
Why should I tell you?
MELISSA
(pissed)
Because less than an hour ago, I watched you or
someone with your face sucker-punch and kidnap my friend!
Off of Angel and Cordy's shocked looks, Kristen comes up.
KRISTEN
(scared)
Xander's been kidnapped!?
Melissa doesn't look at her, she keeps looking at Angel.
GAVIN
(trying to keep things frosty)
Look, we're willing to believe that it might be whoever
impersonated that Skip guy, but we are not taking
any chances here. If the boss isn't around, then you got
nothing to worry about. But if he is...
MELISSA
(very cold)
If he is here, then you have a whole world of trouble.
(looks at Cordy)
"I know her, I trust her." That's what Xander told me
about you, when you paid your little visit to our home. You
better pray his trust wasn't misplaced.
Angel and Cordy back off, as Melissa's hands start to glow blue.
ANGEL
(calmly)
We don't have him. It must be the people who faked
Skip. We can work together to find him...
MELISSA
(pissed)
Do you think I would trust YOU, even if you didn't have
him? You went behind your so-called friend's back,
and tried to kidnap me! Hell, right now the only
person out of all of you I would trust is her!
Melissa points to Kristen. Kristen moves next to her.
KRISTEN
(softly)
We wouldn't harm Xander. You have to believe me!
I'm sorry about the trying to give you back to your
parents thing, 'cause I do know what it's like to be on the run...
MELISSA
(snaps at her)
You do, do you? You had these old guys trying to
make you into a Terminator or something. I had my own
FAMILY calling me nuts, because I was hurting their
public image! Do you know what it's like to have so many
drugs put in your body, that you can't even think straight?
Knowing that your family would bribe a judge to keep you
locked up in an asylum!?
Off of everyone's shocked faces, Gavin comes up to Melissa.
He takes hold of her wrists. Rebecca also comes up, and
they both look Melissa in the eye. Melissa's rage eases up some.
Her hands stop glowing.
REBECCA
(softly)
Remember what Xander said. They're trying to
drive a wedge between us and them. As sad
as it seems, these...
(looks at Cordy, Angel, and Wesley)
...demon hunters are gonna be our backup, when
whatever it is goes down.
The Angel Investigations team looks on, surprised. Gavin's cell
phone rings, and as he listens to the person on the other end
his face shows shock.
CUT TO:
INT- WAREHOUSE
This is a relatively new warehouse, unlike the ones in
Sunnydale. It is very clean. There is a living room set up
with a couch, and a big screen TV that is near a single bed.
There is also a exercise area set up. We pull over to the far
side, and we see the black minivan in the loading area. It
looks much worse than before. The rear window is shot out,
and several bullet holes are on the back door.
We move over a bit onto a ledge, and we see a card table with two
chairs. Xander is tied to one of them. He is slowly waking up.
XANDER
(slowly)
Angel...what the...
Another person walks into view. It's the mystery woman. She sits
down across from him. Her emotionless face is back in place.
MYSTERY WOMAN
Time to wake up, Xander.
XANDER
(head jerks up. He looks at her coldly)
So you're the one trying kidnap and kill me. Please,
tell me why I'm so damn important!
The woman just nods her head towards the parked van.
Xander looks, and is shocked to see the state it's in.
MYSTERY WOMAN
I rescued you from them, actually. And I already left an
untraceable message with April, that you'll be back soon.
XANDER
(still not trusting her)
Why the hell should I believe you? And why wouldn't
they just kill me, as soon as they had me tonight?
MYSTERY WOMAN
(sighs)
They can't just kill you. The Powers would instantly know
if you were gonna die. They would send a vision to Cordy,
then Angel would somehow figure it all out. Not that
he could do anything about it.
Xander tries to hide a surprised look at her calling Cordelia 'Cordy'.
MYSTERY WOMAN (CONT'D)
Look, I know you have no reason to trust me. But
what I have to tell you can't wait. They've moved up
the schedule. We now have three days.
XANDER
(confused)
Three days till what?
MYSTERY WOMAN
(shortly)
Till the Assembly attacks.
XANDER
(still in the dark)
Who the hell is the Assembly? I've never heard of them.
MYSTERY WOMAN
(explains)
I know you've never seen them in Giles' books, the
Council files, even Angel's small library. And for the
record, my name is Alexis Heyer.
XANDER
(surprised)
Heyer? You're related to Kristen?
She nods her head slowly.
ALEXIS
(softly)
In a way you might not believe, right now.
XANDER
(suspicious)
Try me.
ALEXIS
(candidly)
She's my mother.
Xander looks at her in disbelief.
ALEXIS (CONT'D)
And the person you know as Conner is my father.
XANDER
(can't believe it)
I think I would have known if Kristen had a kid! What,
you grew up in a hell dimension as well?
ALEXIS
(sighs)
I knew you wouldn't believe me. You said that you
wouldn't. Oh, and just so you know? You can stop
trying to use your powers to get out of the ropes.
(holds up an amulet)
When this thing is near, your powers don't work.
And you haven't learned how to funnel them into
yourself yet, so you won't get loose.
Xander glances down to where his hands are tied
to the arms of the chair. He is trying, but nothing is
happening. He looks at her.
XANDER
(upset)
So you want me to believe you're Kristen and Conner's
kid. And a group of demons are going to attack. Is
that all?
ALEXIS
(stares at him)
The Assembly is more that a group of demons.
It's not like the demon biker gang that attacked
Sunnydale, when you guys brought Buffy back to life
and ripped her away from Heaven.
Xander's face goes white.
XANDER
(weakly)
I... I don't know what you're talking
about. Buffy never died...
ALEXIS
(scoffs)
Liar. Sure she did. Twice. She drowned after the Master bit
her the night of the Prom, in '97. You dragged Angel along
to find her. Gave her CPR, brought her back. Then you, her,
and Angel went the library to fight the vampires. Cordy,
Jenny Calendar, Willow, and Giles were already
there. Heck, Cordy drove her car into the school, to
get away from them.
Xander can't believe what he is hearing.
ALEXIS (CONT'D)
Then fast forward past Spike and Drusilla , Angelus,
Ted, the Mayor, ADAM, and you get Glory.
Remember her? She was the one the monks hid the
Key from. The Key, as in Dawn. Thought she'd been there
for everything, but turns out that she wasn't even a
year old at the time. Doc started the bloodletting on the tower,
while you guys fought Glory, and her alter ego Ben with who
she was sharing a body. Buffy killed Doc, then since
Dawn was made out of her, Buffy jumped and her
blood caused the portal to close. Then to fool
everyone you used the re-programmed Buffy-bot, the one that
poor old Spike had made, to make everyone think
that Buffy was alive. So the demons didn't try to
ransack Sunnydale. And to keep Hank Summers from
coming and taking Dawn away. You would have gone to
Angel for help, but he, Cordy, Wes, Gunn, and Lorne
were in Pylea meeting Fred. And Cordy was made
a princess because of her visions. And in your wallet,
you still have a copy of a full body photo that Cordy
sent you of her modeling the princess outfit. You even
got it laminated.
Xander is almost speechless.
XANDER
(trying to say anything)
How...you...
ALEXIS
(sighs)
Told you, I'm from the future. You guys told me all
this stuff, as bed time stories. Dad wanted his kid to
know how to fight, so I've known about this stuff
since I was a little kid.
XANDER
(not wanting to, but starting to believe her)
If you're from the future, and you know all this? Then
tell me something about myself, that you can't know
any other way.
ALEXIS
(thinks for a second)
How about what you wanted to tell Cordy before
Graduation? About how you thought you were going
to die, and you made a video saying goodbye to her.
But after you both lived, you never let her see it.
And you still have it. Labeled it Super Bowl IV, if I
remember right.
XANDER
(utterly shocked)
No...oh my God.
ALEXIS
(relaxes a little)
I know a lot about you. A girl's got to know her own
godfather. Where do you think I got my name from?
Xander is as speechless as we have ever seen him.
Alexis gets up. She pulls out a knife.
ALEXIS (CONT'D)
I'm going to cut you loose now. Do I have your word
that you won't do anything dumb, until you hear me out?
Xander nods. She moves over and cuts his hands free.
She then sits back down. Xander rubs his wrists
where the ropes were.
XANDER
(considers what to say)
Okay, so how do we stop this Assembly? They're like the
Scourge, then?
ALEXIS
(shakes her head)
No, they're much worse. Are you familiar with the
theory of alternate dimensions?
XANDER
(slowly)
Sort of. It's been a while since I gave that stuff much thought.
ALEXIS
(looks solemn)
Well, you remember the Next Generation episode
where Worf shifts between different versions of the
Enterprise?
XANDER
(nods)
Yeah. At the end, there was an Enterprise from a dimension
where the Borg assimilated Earth, after Wolf 359.
You mean, it's something like that?
ALEXIS
(nods as well)
You got it. The Assembly is kind of like the Borg.
Instead of attacking other planets, they attack alternate
earths. We're the third earth they're going after.
They strip-mine everything, take any survivors as
slave labor, and leave the planet a smoking pile of
rubble. In their dimension, they're a bit ahead of us
— it's like 2078 there. And they have some superior
tech compared to us. But the big thing is that there's
no Slayer there. Demons and humans didn't just
coexist like here, they evolved into races of
hybrids. Hardly anyone is pure human there anymore.
They're coming in three days, and they can not be
reasoned with. A few people with superpowers are
not going to cut it. We need to mobilize the entire U.S.
military on this.
XANDER
(sighs)
There is no way the brass will believe that an invasion
from another dimension is coming.
ALEXIS
(forceful)
Yes, they will. They've dealt with this sort of stuff before.
Tell them it's a 'Foothold' alert. And you know
General Martinson?
XANDER
(shrugs)
Andrews' boss? A little.
ALEXIS
After we're done, call him and ask how the snake-
heads are doing. Or the how the Russian team is
working out.
XANDER
(not understanding)
What...? I don't understand.
ALEXIS
(impatient)
Just tell him that. He'll understand, and believe
you. Oh, and make sure you tell him to order the
Prometheus to be ready to launch. That's vital. It was
destroyed in its bay, the first time around.
(off Xander's very confused face)
Earth is not alone here. We have some enemies
we're at war with, and they don't live in caves. We'll
be fighting three wars at once, and it will not be good.
XANDER
(gives up trying to get it)
Okay...ah, how bad was the attack the first time?
ALEXIS
(sighs)
I wasn't around for the first attack. I won't be
born for a few years yet.
(looks down for a second. Then softly)
If I get born at all, this time around.
(back to business)
But I saw the tapes. They opened a huge portal a
couple of miles wide, and three miles tall. The shock
troops came out by the thousands. They took over
the immediate area, with the help of several of their
jet fighters. Then the big boy came out.
XANDER
Big Boy?
ALEXIS
The way you always talked about it was to say it was
like the Cobra flying aircraft carrier, from GI Joe. It's
about half the size of the first Enterprise. If we can
destroy that ship...then we have a chance. The
Prometheus is the only thing around that can match it.
XANDER
(confused)
How can they open a portal that size? It would need
a huge amount of power.
ALEXIS
(nods)
There is a device they have. It acts like a magnifier.
It's round, and about two feet tall. It's clear, with a
large black square in the center. If you can stop that...
XANDER
...then they can't bring anything else in. Right. But what did
this thing magnify to get a portal that size....
(stops. He realizes he already knows)
Damn.
ALEXIS
(laconically)
Yep, they used the Hellmouth.
XANDER
(mouth tightens)
How far did these guys get?
ALEXIS
(shrugs)
You and your team led the fight for nine years. But they
used surprise, and that ship of theirs to keep everyone away
till they set up the towers.
XANDER
(confused)
Towers?
ALEXIS
(explains)
A network of five-storey-high towers that created a
energy shield around the area they took over. At the
peak of their conquest, they had most of the edge of
southern California, a lot of Nevada, and Arizona,
and a bunch of Mexico.
XANDER
(back into shock)
Wouldn't the UN help out? Being attacked by a...
ALEXIS
(holds up her hand)
They tried. Sure the good guys won a few battles,
but your group was the only one who was ever able
to do any real harm to them.
XANDER
(confused)
How could we have hurt them? There's only four of us.
ALEXIS
(confidently)
There'll be more. But I don't know the details of all
of the battles, I got all this after the fact. I just knew that
Uncle Xander was never around much, because he
was always fighting the bad men. I was told your base
became the command post for the war. Of course,
that won't happen now since they dropped it on
you. We only got a few phone calls from you
over the years.
(tears up a little, but tries not to show it)
I remember on my sixth birthday, I got a big bouquet
of red roses from you. For a while, we thought you
were dead. We hadn't heard from you in a LONG time.
Then I get roses with the card 'Sorry I couldn't call
pip-squeak, I've been busy making the bad men
leave'. Aunt Cordy just started crying. Every time you
called, you and her would talk for hours. When I was
little, I wanted to go fight the 'bad men' so you and
Aunt Cordy could be happy.
XANDER
(can hardly speak)
And were we ever happy?
ALEXIS
(smiles, remembers)
I was the flower girl at your wedding.
Xander looks down, trying to hold back tears.
Alexis reaches out, and takes his hands in hers.
ALEXIS (CONT'D)
I know what you're thinking.
Xander looks at her.
ALEXIS (CONT'D)
You're wondering how you'll screw it up this time.
(off his downcast face)
You think that since you cheated on Cordy the first time,
and left Anya...that you will always screw it up somehow.
So you closed that part of you off. I know you
don't want to hurt her again. And you won't. She
moved in with you, when you guys got a new base
after you finally won the war.
(she smirks)
Cordy loved living with you on that ship. That is, until...
XANDER
(head whips up)
Until what?
Alexis looks down. Trying to find the strength. Then...
ALEXIS
Can we move over to the couch?
Xander nods, and goes to sit with her. She remains silent.
XANDER
(urgently)
What is it?
ALEXIS
(tears up again)
You beat them. It was over. We all lived happily ever
after. For a while. You got sent to a mission in China.
I had just turned 17, and I was so proud that you let me
go with you. My first mission. I wanted to make
you and my parents proud of me.
(her voice breaks)
We were gone for a week. When we came back...
FADE TO:
FUTURE FLASHBACK
All through this part we just hear music (like the music
when Wishverse Buffy killed VampXander/Willow in "The Wish").
This in the future, so the people are all older-looking;
save for Angel and Spike.
CUT TO:
INT- HYPERION LOBBY -DAY
We slowly pan over the lobby. It is no longer the neat,
clean lobby we are used to seeing. Almost every inch of it has
damage. Blast marks are everywhere. As we pull to the
center we can see Angel, Cordy, Gunn, Wesley, and Conner
fighting with men covered head to toe in black body armor.
They look like they are from a bad sci-fi movie. All the Angel
Investigations people has is swords, and battleaxes. They are not faring
so well. In the background, we can see several more troops moving in
through the front door. We can also see Kristen laying face down on the floor.
She is not moving, and there is a pool of blood flowing from under her.
CUT TO:
LOBBY GARDEN DOOR
Fred Burkle-Gunn is rushing two 13-year-old, twin dark-haired
girls out the door. The girls are crying, and trying to hold onto her.
Fred is pushing them out, she is yelling at them to run. Then
suddenly, Fred seizes up. Her eyes close, as she falls to the feet of
the girls. The two girls scream at the sight of a huge burning
hole in her back, that is still smoking.
CUT TO:
LOBBY
Gunn screams in rage, and runs at a trooper with his weapon
pointed at where Fred was. Gunn doesn't get close as the trooper
turns, and shoots him almost point blank in the chest. Blood splatters
from his wound, as Gunn's body falls backwards to the ground. As he
hits the ground, we see Wesley's body next to him.
Angel runs at the trooper, and runs him though with his sword.
The trooper falls dead. Angel quickly pulls out the sword.
As he turns to the next trooper, he gets hit with a flame-thrower
blast. In the back we can see Cordelia silently screaming as Angel,
still on fire, snaps the neck of a trooper. He keeps battling, but soon
the flames are too much, and he falls to his knees, turning to ash.
Conner dives, and knocks Cordelia out of the way of a incoming blast.
The blast hits Conner in the shoulder, and the force causes him to spin
around as he falls. As he lays on the floor, he looks at Kristen's body, and
tries to crawl to it, but his body gives out before he makes it. Cordelia turns
with tears in her eyes, and yells at the two girls still hiding by the door.
One tries to run to Cordelia, but the other grabs her arm,
and pulls her sister forward as they run away.
Cordelia turns to face the troops. Her face is covered in sweat
and tears. She knows she is going to die. But she stands tall, and
her body starts to glow as she charges the troopers. She doesn't make it past
a few steps, as all the troopers open fire on her. Several hit her in
different places. In slow motion she drops the sword, and falls to
the ground. All we see are her lifeless eyes as we....
CUT TO:
INT-NEW MAGIC BOX
Many people are in the store. We see Buffy, Willow, Giles, and Spike
at the counter. Dawn, and her friends Kit and Carlos are at a table. Amanda
and Lee, along with a woman we don't recognize is at another end
of the store. Everything seems normal. We pan over to a door that
simply reads 'BASEMENT'.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT-BASEMENT
It is littered with items. We pass over most, till we reach a self on the
far end. One section is covered, by a pile of rags.
DISSOLVE TO:
UNDER THE RAGS
We see red LCD numbers on a timer.
03
02
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CUT TO:
EXT-NEW MAGIC BOX
The two-storey building explodes in a huge fireball.
CUT TO:
EXT -OCEAN -DAY
We can just see land as we pan to the right. The cruise ship base
of the Four Horsemen and Demon Command, is lying in
the water on its port side. We can see a huge hole in the bow
of the ship. It has only minutes before it goes under.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT- UNKNOWN AREA OF THE SHIP
Everything is on its side. The room is 80 % full of water.
There are bodies floating. We see a blue light, and we turn to see it.
We see Rebecca treading water as her hands glow blue, as she
repeatedly strikes the hull trying to get out. She is making little
headway, but she still tries.
CUT TO:
EXT-A SMALL HOUSE
The two girls are looking worse than we saw them last.
Their clothes are ripped, dirty, and their long black hair is sticking
to their sweat-covered bodies. They are pressing the doorbell
several times, while looking around in every direction. The
door opens, and the girls run to hug the man who opened
the door. We pan up to see a very confused, older Oz. He holds the
girls tight, as he takes them inside. As he closes the door, we...
END FLASHBACK
XANDER
(pissed)
Who did it?
ALEXIS
(emotionless)
Someone you thought you'd killed. He was a high-level
Assembly officer, who wanted revenge. He waited till
we had all let our guard down, and started to pick us
off. I don't know his name. You did, but you never told
me. We ended up tracking him to his base, right
before he was going back. Dumb luck, I guess.
XANDER
(starts to get it)
Back as in...
ALEXIS
(nods)
Yeah. He was going back in time. I don't know how.
He said since he was going back, that he didn't have
to do anything to Mom, Dad, Aunt Cordy, or the others.
(looks ready to kill)
So he just did it, for the fun of it. He even laughed about it.
(looks to Xander)
I'd never seen you so enraged before. You guys
fought like nothing I'd ever seen. You got distracted
for a split second, but that's all he needed. He hurt
you bad. He just laughed as he tossed me across the
room, when I tried to fight him. Then he just ran
into a bright light, and vanished.
(her voice gets almost childlike)
You were dying. I wanted to get you to a hospital,
but you wouldn't let me. You ordered me through the
time travel thing after him. You said that I had to stop him.
Then you...you died in my arms.
(bursts into complete sobs)
You were maybe the last real family I had...and you
died in my arms! You died!
As she cries, Xander wraps his arms around her and
pulls her to him. She puts her head in his chest, and holds
onto him for dear life.
XANDER
(remembers what the his future self called her)
It's okay, pip-squeak. I'm here now.
(trying to comfort her)
It's okay now.
ALEXIS
(still sobbing)
It was so hard! I thought I was ready to be a big bad
demon killer like my mom and dad. Like all my aunts
and uncles. Like you. But all that death... I couldn't do it.
You said you knew I could do it, that you believed in
me. I came out of the time portal over six years ago! I've
been watching you for so long. Never being able to
talk to any of you... I saw my mom in junior high.
(looks up at him)
I watched you too. Saw you making out with Aunt Cordy
in her car. You guys used to do that a lot.
(sobs again)
I was so close to you all, and I couldn't talk to you!
XANDER
(hold her tight)
You did it. If my future self was here, he would be so
proud of you. You came through. It's what Slayerettes do.
Her head shoots up.
ALEXIS
(still crying, but slightly shocked)
What did you call me?
XANDER
(confused)
A Slayerette.
She can't contain herself, and she cries hard.
ALEXIS
I've been wanting you to call me that, ever since I was
little. But you always just called me a junior member.
XANDER
(tender)
Well, now you're a full Slayerette. After all this is over?
I'll make you an official member. We don't have a
ceremony or anything, but I'll...
ALEXIS
(starts to cry again)
There won't be an 'after this is over'.
XANDER
(confused)
Why do you say that?
ALEXIS
(scared to say it)
There was something your older self knew. There's
only one way to stop the portal magnifier once it's
activated. And I don't know where they put it.
XANDER
How do we stop it?
She points to his watch.
XANDER (CONT'D)
My power watch? What about it?
ALEXIS
You know how it makes a shield?
Xander nods his head.
ALEXIS (CONT'D)
For now, yours is the only one that can do it. Beth will
figure it out in a year how to get the others to do it.
But for now, yours is it.
(looks him in the eyes)
When the magnifier is working, it sends out
energy...if you use the shield to cover the
magnifier, it will turn on itself.
XANDER
(confused)
Okay...
ALEXIS
(explains further)
The power you will need will be enormous. It will
take all the energy from the crystal inside it to work.
And it will take yours as well.
XANDER
(taken aback)
Mine?
ALEXIS
(slowly)
The power level you have now is still low, since you just
got it. Every time the crystals get new users, it takes
them awhile to adjust. Maybe the you from my time
could do it and survive. But with you it will...
XANDER
(somber)
It'll take all my energy, including my life energy.
ALEXIS
(cries)
I tried to find another way. Any way! But... after you
won the war the first time, you captured the
magnifier. Beth studied it, and that's how I know your
powers are gonna work. But we couldn't tell what it was
made out of. Some sort of alien material. You guys
tried everything on it. You even fired a rocket at it in
the desert. It didn't get a scratch.
XANDER
(leans his head back)
So, I'm the only one that can do it. And it'll kill me.
ALEXIS
(starts to cry again)
I failed you.
Xander turns to her.
XANDER
(shocked)
How can you say that?!
ALEXIS
(sobbing)
I had all this time to figure out another way! I
should have done more... I should have...
Xander takes her chin in his hand, and turns her head to look at him.
XANDER
(firm)
You know that's not true. We didn't get the damn
things till a few months ago. There is no way you
could have done anything. You did all that you could. I've
always known the risks, when I started doing this.
And hey, look; you said Buffy died twice, and she came
back both times.
ALEXIS
(sad)
But Jenny Calendar didn't come back. Neither did
Buffy's mom, or Tara.
XANDER
(shrugs)
We can never know what the future holds for us. I'll
take you back to the ship, or even better to the hotel...
ALEXIS
(forceful)
NO!
XANDER
(confused)
Don't you want to see your parents? We don't have to
tell them who you are right away...
ALEXIS
(still forceful)
I can't, not yet. You have to rally the troops. And I have
things I need to do before the attack. I can't tell you
what they are, but they have to be done. Maybe after
the battle is over... then I'll go see them, but not
yet. I need to be clearheaded, when all this hits the fan.
You taught me that.
XANDER
(hugs her)
It's okay, plenty of time. I won't be around to see it, but I
know they'll be happy to see you. Whenever you
decide to meet them. And, hey; I have no regrets about
having to do what it takes to stop this thing. Too many
women I've known blame themselves for things that
they couldn't change. Don't you do it too.
She smiles at him, then she reaches, and grabs a small
box on the floor by the couch.
XANDER (CONT'D)
What's that?
She opens it up to show Xander. It's a needle, and
a tube for blood.
ALEXIS
(off Xander's look)
It'll help convince the brass. Do a blood test on mine,
and that of my parents. It'll prove I'm who I say I am. But
there is one more thing. Something I have to tell
you. I know it won't matter much, with you going to
d...
(can't finish)
But you should know. I've already made arrangements
so Aunt Cordy will find out as well, but not till after
this is over.
Xander looks at her, confused.
XANDER
What is it?
ALEXIS
(takes a deep breath)
What we're now in would be called an alternate
timeline, because that thing in the white suit and me
came back and changed things.
XANDER
(nods)
Yeah, Star Trek nerd here understands that.
ALEXIS
(smiles, but goes on)
What you don't know, is this alternate timeline isn't the first one.
It's the second. History has been changed before.
XANDER
(shocked)
What?!
ALEXIS
(calmly)
Before I tell you the rest, I need to know something. I know
you will be very pissed off at this, as it caused a hell of
a lot of trouble when I was young. I need to know you'll
let Cordy deal with it. No matter how much you
want to take care of it, the Assembly has to be
stopped first.
Xander is very curious. He motions his agreement.
ALEXIS (CONT'D)
The first timeline was very different from the one we're
in now. At least, for our 'family'. In the original history
... Aunt Cordy did leave Sunnydale for LA. But
she came back two months later, and started living in
Sunnydale with you. You two got married, seven
months afterwards.
XANDER
(jumps up, can't believe it. His mind racing)
How? What?
She takes his arm, and pulls him down.
XANDER (CONT'D)
(confused)
I mean, why'd she come back? Because she wasn't
making it as an actress? She didn't like working for Angel?
ALEXIS
(looks straight into his eyes)
You guys had the big...sleepover before she left.
XANDER
(not getting it)
Yeah?
ALEXIS
She came back because she was pregnant.
With twin girls.
Xander just looks at her in complete shock. Compared to this,
fighting bad guys to the death is now the last thing on his mind.
XANDER
(whispers)
What?
ALEXIS
(nods)
Skip found out, and he told Aunt Cordy.
XANDER
(trying to deal)
But how did that timeline change? Did someone
come back, and have her remember to take a pill the
morning after? Give me a better batch of Trojans?!
ALEXIS
(shakes her head)
No. She got pregnant, like the first time. But someone
took the babies, before Aunt Cordy ever knew she was pregnant.
XANDER
(his face red with anger, he is almost shaking)
You know who did it, don't you?
ALEXIS
(sighs)
Yeah, it was the Powers That Be.
XANDER
(stunned)
What? The guys that boss around Angel, and give
Cordy the visions? The ones that gave me this
stupid watch? They took our daughters?!
ALEXIS
(not flinching at Xander's anger)
Yeah.
XANDER
(stunned)
For the love of God, why?
ALEXIS
(grimly)
For all the big lip service everyone gives the
Powers...they're just middle management. They
don't have it all planned out. Angel came to LA,
meets Doyle, and they started his 'we help the
helpless' thing. But after Doyle died, Angel lost his
connection to the visions, and the Powers. He
was out of their reach again. Plus the Assembly
attack in that timeline was a lot worse. They took
almost everything. The war was still going on, when
the Powers decided that they need to rewrite
history to help themselves out.
XANDER
(quietly)
So they killed my kids?
ALEXIS
(shakes her head)
As I said, the Powers are middle management. They
can't take life like that; the higher-ups would really take
notice if the unborn children of two of humanity's
champions vanished. The Powers have them. Took
them from Aunt Cordy, before she even knew. The
Powers have them in a gestation pod thing in their
realm. After they hit full term...they would be frozen in
time. For us, years have gone by. But for those two
sweet little girls...they're still stuck in one single second.
She pauses.
ALEXIS (CONT'D)
Cordy became Angel's new Vision Girl, and you
led the war with the Assembly. As for the girls...the
Powers are thinking of bringing them back to Earth, in
another hundred years. Have them be Slayers or
something.
She looks at Xander worried. Xander just stares off
into space. He is shaking with rage.
CUT TO:
EXT-LA STREET- DAWN
The sun has just come up. We see another black Humvee
driving along the road. In it are Gavin, Xander, and Beth. Xander is
just staring out the window, watching the building go by as they drive.
GAVIN
(shaking his head)
I swear, I just can't believe all this. Vampires and demons,
sure. But alien invaders from an alternate dimension? And
Martinson almost wet himself, when you mentioned
the Prometheus thing. Whatever that is.
(notices Xander is not paying attention)
Boss, I can't know how you feel about this, and... the
other thing. But...
(looks to Beth, who nods)
We all talked it over, and even if we have to go
against these Powers ourselves, we will. No stupid
watch is worth what they did to you.
Xander slowly turns to look at him, then to Beth. He
only nods his head at them in thanks.
CUT TO:
EXT- HYPERION FRONT
The Humvee pulls up, and everyone gets out. Beth carries a small
case with her. Xander has a small, flat, giftwrapped package.
Gavin stops Xander, just inside the gates.
GAVIN
You still sure you don't want her told? Hate to say it,
but this could be the last time you ever talk to her.
XANDER
(sighs)
She'll find out. After. If she knew now, it would only
make everything harder. And we don't have time.
CUT TO:
INT-HYPERION LOBBY
Everyone is still in the same clothes they were in when
Melissa came looking for Xander the night before. Books are
everywhere. The group, including Lorne, is spread all over researching.
Kristen is sitting cross-legged on the counter, reading.
She looks up, as the lobby door opens.
KRISTEN
(very relieved)
XANDER!!!
She jumps off the counter, and runs to him. She takes him
in a hug. He quietly returns it.
KRISTEN (CONT'D)
(talking fast)
What happened? They said you were kidnapped!
By now, everyone is around them.
XANDER
I was. I was kidnapped. But thanks to a...friend, I was
rescued. And finally informed about what's going to happen.
CORDELIA
You know who's been trying to kill you?
XANDER
Oh yeah, and why they've been doing it. Kinda seems
Zeppo is no longer on my list of nicknames.
Cordy flinches a bit, as she recalls what she called him
years ago. Xander takes Kristen by the hand, and sits her
down on the round couch.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Kristen. Do you trust me?
KRISTEN
(taken aback a bit)
Of course. With my life. What kind of question is that?
XANDER
(sighs)
It's maybe the most important question I will ever ask you.
KRISTEN
(not sure what to say)
You know I trust you, Xander.
Xander smiles warmly at her, then turns to Conner
who has taken a seat next to her.
XANDER
(to Conner)
And do you trust her?
CONNER
(shrugs)
I do. Why?
XANDER
If Kristen trusts me enough, then I need your help as well.
CONNER
Help with what?
Every one is looking at Xander in confusion. He motions Beth
to come up. She opens the case.
XANDER
I need a small bit of each of your blood. Just enough
to do a blood test with.
Most look at him in shock. Conner looks with suspicion.
ANGEL
(suspicious)
Their blood? Is this for some spell?
CORDELIA
(confused)
Xander, what is going on?
Everyone is talking at once. Kristen yells.
KRISTEN
(to everyone)
Shut up!
Everyone looks at her.
KRISTEN (CONT'D)
(firm)
If Xander needs it, then he can have it.
She rolls up her sleeve as Beth comes, and kneels in front of her.
She gets a needle ready.
CONNER
(worried)
Kristen? Do you think that's a good idea? We don't know if...
KRISTEN
(cuts him off)
I said. I trust him.
She looks away, as Beth puts the needle in her arm. A
test tube attached to it fills with blood in seconds. As Beth puts
a Band-Aid on Kristen, Kristen looks at Conner.
He shares her look for a few seconds, and nods his head.
CONNER
(hold out his arm)
All right, do it.
Beth goes to work, and in under a minute it's done. Xander turns to Beth.
XANDER
How long should it take?
BETH
Not long. A few hours at most.
She puts the tubes in a special compartment, then closes
the case. She and Gavin start to leave.
GAVIN
(turns to Xander)
Hate to rush ya boss, but the clock is ticking. We
don't have much time.
Xander nods as they head out. Everyone turns to Xander.
CORDELIA
(softly)
Xander, please. What is going on?
XANDER
(sighs again)
You'll know in a few days.
He turns to where Fred and Gunn are standing.
XANDER (CONT'D)
I didn't really take the time to get to know you two, that
well. For that, I'm sorry. But if Cordy and Angel
consider you friends? Then that's good enough for me.
He sticks out his hand. Gunn looks at it for a moment, before
shaking it, as does Fred. Xander turns to Lorne.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Same goes for you. You would have been a hell of a
lot of fun, back in my high school days. Just be glad
you missed the talent show we did sophomore year.
He and Lorne shake hands.
CORDELIA
(getting nervous at what Xander is saying)
Ah, Xander, what's going on?
He ignores her, and turns to Wesley.
XANDER
Wes, I remember when I first met you. I couldn't believe
that you were the person the Council thought could
replace Giles. Or that you were gonna be any good to
anyone at all. It's good to know how wrong I was.
They shake hands.
Xander turns to Angel next.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Dea...
(stops and smiles)
Angel. We hated each other for a helluva long time. After the
entire Angelus thing junior year, we haven't seen eye
to eye on much. Things are not great between us,
but what I said Buffy thought about you when we
went to fight the Master...? She was right. You are a
real person. And thanks for being there for Cordy
when she needed someone here, and in Sunnydale.
Angel just looks at Xander in shock, as does Cordy.
Then to add more shock, Xander leans in and hugs Angel.
ANGEL
(surprised)
Thank you, man.
Xander then turns, and sits next to Kristen who
is looking at him with worry.
XANDER
Kristen. I've known you for a while now. And I know that
you'll be one of the greatest Slayers of all time. But
you should be remembered most for your large heart. Look,
I don't want to see another Slayer called for at least
70 years. You got that?
Kristen nods with tears in her eyes.
XANDER (CONT'D)
I know the running all over the globe avoiding the
Council thing was hard for you. It was for me as well. But
I'm glad I had you to keep me company.
Kristen breaks down in tears. She leans over, and hugs Xander hard.
They hold the hug for awhile, then Xander looks at Conner.
XANDER (CONT'D)
(to Conner)
And you. You be good to her. Or else I'm going to
come back, and kick your ass myself.
Conner nods slowly as Xander gets up, and faces Cordelia. He puts
his hands on her shoulders. He's trying to keep it together.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Cordy, when we were kids we hated each other so much.
But I'll always look back fondly on that day in Buffy's
basement...then in the classroom later.
Cordelia blushes.
XANDER (CONT'D)
(tears up)
We had one very interesting relationship. Ready to kill
each other one moment, then making out in your car the next.
(takes a deep breath)
I loved you, Cordelia Chase. And I always will.
Cordelia is shocked. She starts to cry, and say something.
But Xander puts his finger to her lips, stopping her.
XANDER (CONT'D)
I know we've both moved on, and made our peace
with what happened way back when. It's in
the past, but I just wanted to say how sorry I
still am that I hurt you. You're one of the kindest, most
loving women I have ever known. And I couldn't
control my stupid hormones, and I hurt you. I'm so
sorry, Cor.
(looks to Angel for a moment, then back to Cordy)
I know you've moved on. And I just want you to be
happy. Sure I was a jealous idiot a few times, but I
still just want you to be happy.
CORDELIA
(between the tears)
Xander, I...
He stops her again.
XANDER
Just be happy, Cor. Be happy.
He leans down, and picks up his jacket from the couch.
Xander gets the wrapped gift, and hands it to her. She looks
at it, surprised. He stops her from opening it.
XANDER (CONT'D)
Wait a bit. I went and got it after we blew up the school.
He turns to leave, and is about out the door when Kristen yells for
him. He wipes his eyes, and looks back.
XANDER (CONT'D)
I have to go. There's no more time left.
He spots Lorne again. He starts to sing, mostly to Cordy.
XANDER (CONT'D)
I've been searching deep down in my soul
Words that I'm hearing are starting to get old
It feels like I'm starting all over again
The last three years were just pretend
And I said, goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew.
You were the one I loved.
The one thing that I tried to hold on to.
He stops, he notices Cordelia crying heavily. He runs out.
Kristen and Wesley run out to stop him, but they just see the Humvee
drive away. As they come back in, they see Angel holding
Cordelia as she sits on the couch. She is sobbing. Everyone watches as
she unwraps the gift. It's a gold frame, when she sees what's in it she starts
to cry so hard she can hardly breathe. It's an old red door sign. In large white
letters, it says..."Janitor Closet."
Angel sits down, and wraps his arms around her. Trying to comfort her.
But Gunn notices the look in Lorne's eyes.
GUNN
You read him, didn't you?
LORNE
Yeah, I did. And, uh, he knew I would.
Cordelia and Kristen look up with tears in their eyes.
CORDELIA
(can hardly get the words out)
What did you see? Where is he going?
LORNE
(sadly)
He's going to his very horrible death. And he knows
he can't avoid it.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT-CRUISE SHIP RAILING-DAY.
All we hear is the song Xander was singing.
Michelle Branch's 'Goodbye to you'.
Xander is leaning against the railing looking out at the water, and
the midday sky. Behind him, there are a lot more people in uniforms
around then we have seen before. We stay on him for a minute, while
he weeps softly. Then Melissa comes up, and takes his hand. He nods,
and follows her into the ship.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT-KRISTEN'S ROOM
She is alone in her room sitting on her bed. She is crying hard.
She has several photos spread around her. We look over them to see her
and Xander in all of them. In hotel rooms, at clubs, playing in
hotel pools. She picks one up, and looks at it. We go behind her to
see it. It's Xander in swimming trunks, he is holding a bikini-clad
Kristen, ready to throw her into the pool. A playful look is on
both their faces. Kristen just stares at it, as she starts to cry again.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT- CORDELIA'S BEDROOM
She is lying on her bed, and she is a mess. She has many
items on her bed. Photos, letters, and a large teddy bear with a
red heart on it. She also has her junior yearbook opened to a page
that reads "PROM 98". We see a large picture of Xander and her in
formal wear. We can see the large cast on Xander's arm in the photo.
Cordelia moves her hand over the photo, tracing the outline of her
and Xander. She has something in her hand. It's a large heart
-shaped (slightly melted) gold locket. She cries as we can see
her say "I love you", before she buries her face in the pillow. We
can see a large blanket being lifted onto her, by her ghost roommate.
She clutches the blanket to her chest.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT-A VERY LARGE CAVE
We see dozens of the black armored troopers that we
saw in the flashback of the future. They are all lined up in rows. We
move behind them, to see a device on a platform. It looks just as
Alexis described it. It wobbles for a few seconds, and then starts to
hum as it spins faster, and faster. It fills the cave with light as it spins.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END