Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Episode 1 - Chosen Pt. 1

[Fade in From Black]

INT. LUKE’S DINNER – DAY

Lorelai and Rory are sitting at their usual table, having breakfast. Rory is writing something on a notepad in between bites of food.

Rory: (crossing something off of a list) So if we skip the facials-

Lorelai: (pouting) No!

Rory: It’s either the facials or the psychic.

Lorelai: Fine. (grudgingly) We’ll skip the facials.

Rory: Okay… now, which do we keep: Sookie’s barbeque or New York?

Lorelai: Both.

Rory: We don’t have time. It’s going to take a whole day of shopping to get everything I’ll need for Yale. I need towels, sheets, a new fall coat, notepads, pens… (Lorelai whines) I’m not the one who insisted we spend those extra two days in Ireland trying to track down Bono!

Lorelai: Well, we can’t miss the barbeque. Sookie would be devastated.

Rory: Then New York will just have to wait.

Lorelai: (sighing) Lady Liberty will not be happy about that.

Rory: Well, Lady Liberty will just have to suck it up.

Luke walks over to refill their coffee cups and catches the tail end of their conversation.

Luke: Suck what up?

Lorelai: Rory wrote the date of her Yale orientation down wrong. We thought it was next week, but it’s this week. So now we have to try to cram all of next week’s activities into the next few days.

Rory: Some of next week’s activities. There’s no way we can do them all.

Lorelai: Which means, sadly, New York will not be getting a visit from the Gilmore girls.

Luke: I’m sure they’ll survive. (off Lorelai’s look) They’ll be inconsolable.

Lorelai: Better.

Luke: But they’ll survive. Somehow.

The bell above the diner door rings as Dawn and Andrew step inside. Luke, Lorelai and Rory watch them as they walk over to a table and sit down.

Luke: (muttering) Tourists.

Lorelai: You don't know that.

Rory: Yeah, they might be new in town.

Lorelai: Or maybe they aren’t touring the town so much as passing through it.

Dawn pulls a map out of her backpack, and she and Andrew study it closely.

Luke: Tourists.

Luke approaches Dawn and Andrew’s table and takes out his order pad.

Luke: What can I get you?

Andrew: Burn one, take it through the garden, and pin a rose on it.

Dawn: (faking a small laugh) We’ll just have pancakes, thanks.

Andrew: (as Luke walks away) And some frog sticks!

Dawn smacks Andrew on the back of the head and he winces and sulks.

Andrew: That hurt! Besides, Buffy said you all had to stop hitting me, since I helped save the world and everything.

Dawn: Buffy isn’t here. And if she was, I’m sure she would have already hit you multiple times. And what with her being a slayer, it would have hurt a whole lot more.

Andrew: I was just having some fun. I never get to use diner lingo. It’s a lost langua

Dawn: We’re not here to have fun or to use weird diner slang that, based on the look that guy gave you, most diner owners don’t even understand. You know why we’re here.

Andrew: (nodding) To find the slayer Willow’s spell located.

Dawn: And in order to do that we need to keep a low profile.

Andrew: Why?

Dawn: (sighing) Because Buffy said so.

Andrew: (slyly) Buffy isn’t here.

Dawn glares at Andrew, and he slumps in seat with his arms crossed.

Cut to:

EXT. STARS HOLLOW TOWN SQUARE – DAY

Dawn and Andrew are sitting on a bench when Dawn’s cell phone rings.

Dawn: Hello? (happily) Hey Willow. Really? That’s great! We’ve been bored out of our minds. I am not suited for small towns. (to Andrew) She has a location on our slayer. (into the phone) What’s the address? Okay, got it, we’re on our way.

Andrew: We know where she is? Like an actual address and not just a zipcode?

Dawn: (getting up) Hopefully. Come on, I don’t want to miss her.

They pick up their backpacks and Dawn gets the map out again so they can find the address Willow gave them.

Cut to:

INT. RORY’S ROOM AT THE GILMORE HOUSE – DAY

Rory is neatly folding and placing clothes into boxes when the doorbell rings.

Rory: (shouting) Just a second!

Cut to:

INT. LIVING ROOM AT THE GILMORE HOUSE – DAY

Rory hurries through the kitchen and over to the front door. She opens it and looks surprised to see Dawn and Andrew.

Rory: Hi.

Dawn: Hey!

Rory: Uh… can I help you?

Dawn: Are you alone in the house? (peering past Rory) You’re the only girl in the building?

Rory: Excuse me?

Andrew: (seriously) Answer the question please, Miss.

Rory: (bewildered) Yes, I’m the only one here. What’s this about?

Dawn: Ugh. This part never gets easier.

Andrew: Allow me. (to Rory) Into each generation a slayer is born. One girl, in all the world, a Chosen One-

Dawn quickly puts her hand over Andrew’s mouth to shut him up. Rory looks completely confused and Dawn forces a smile.

Dawn: He gets hit in the head a lot.

Rory: Look, I’m not really very religious, or… cultish. And I’m fully stocked up on beauty supplies, and pretty happy with my long distance provider, so-

Dawn: Oh, no, we’re not selling anything.

Andrew: And we’re not trying to get you to join our cult. Not that we have a cult.

Dawn: Although, at times, it may sound like that’s what we’re trying to do.

Rory: (starting to close the door) Sorry, I’m not interested.

Andrew pushes the door open again, and Rory takes a few steps back in surprise.

Andrew: (quickly) One girl in all the world, a Chosen One, one born with the strength and skill to hunt… (after a brief pause) the vampyrs .

Rory: If you don’t leave I’ll call the police!

Dawn: Please don’t. We’re not here to hurt you, or to scare you. Not on purpose anyway. We just need to talk to you.

Rory: (starting to close the door) I said I’m not interested, so please… just leave.

Andrew: (desperately) We know something about you that you don’t!

Rory: (pausing, skeptically) How is that possible? I don’t even know who you are.

Dawn: I’m Dawn and this is Andrew.

Andrew: (waving) Hi.

Dawn: (gently) Can we come in? I think this would go better if there was sitting.

Rory looks between Dawn and Andrew suspiciously for a moment, and then steps out onto the front porch with them, closing the front door behind her.

Cut to:

EXT. FRONT PORCH OF THE GILMORE HOUSE – DAY

Rory crosses her arms defensively over her chest, and gestures to a nearby porch swing.

Rory: If you wanna sit, you can sit there. 

Dawn: The sitting was actually more for your benefit than-

Rory: (impatiently) I’m okay standing. Thanks for the concern.

Dawn opens her mouth to speak, but before she can say anything she’s interrupted by someone calling out from the next house over.

Babette: Rory, sugar, is everything okay over there?

Rory: (forcing a smile) We’re fine, Babette.

Babette: You sure? They’re not Jehovah’s Witnesses are they? (to Dawn and Andrew) You can skip us, we’re not interested!

Rory: It’s okay, they’re just asking for directions.

Babette: Okay. Well you let me know if they give you any trouble, I’ll send Maury right over. (yelling into her own house) I says I’ll send you right over!

Maury: (from inside the house) Okay!

Rory: Thanks, Babette!

Rory waves and watches until Babette has gone back indoors, then she turns back to Dawn and Andrew expectantly.

Rory: Well?

Dawn: (sighing) Okay. Now… don’t freak out or anything-

Rory: Don’t give me a reason to freak out and I won’t.

Dawn: That’s where it gets tricky. Because there’s no guarantee that you won’t freak out when we tell you… what we have to tell you.

Rory: Just tell me then. Say what you have to say, and then go.

Dawn takes a deep breath and looks at Andrew. He nods and clears his throat as Rory watches him warily.

Andrew: In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampyrs, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is... the slayer.

Rory: (unimpressed) And?

Dawn: And… that’s you.

Rory: What?

Andrew: You’re a slayer.

Rory: (amused) I alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and all the other non-existent boogey men?

Dawn: No, see, that’s the cool part. As of a few months ago, it’s no longer “she alone”. Because this really powerful witch-

Andrew: Willow.

Dawn: Cast a spell that turned all the potential slayers-

Andrew: Like you.

Dawn: Into actual slayers. Before that, a potential only had the chance to become a slayer when the current slayer died.

Andrew: Kinda like a really depressing lottery.

Dawn: But now all those would-be-slayers are full blown slayers, and our job is to track them down and tell them what they are.

Andrew: They’ll be gathering in L.A. soon, to train and learn from those who have gone before them. (wistfully) Just like Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Or Hogwarts!

Dawn: (to Andrew, through gritted teeth) It is not like Hogwarts.

Rory: Is this some kind of joke?

Andrew: (dramatically) Damn it, woman, we don’t have time for jokes!

Dawn: (to Andrew) Don’t make me hurt you. (to Rory) It’s not a joke. And it’s not optional, or reversible, or… fixable. You are a slayer, whether you want to be one or not. You have the power. And you can either learn how to use it, or you can pretend it’s not there, not real, and you’ll be wasting a gift that few people have.

Rory: I think I’ve heard enough.

Dawn: But-

Rory: I’d like you to leave now.

Dawn: (sadly) Fine. We’ll go.

Dawn and Andrew start to walk over to the steps. Just as they’re about to leave, Dawn turns and faces Rory, holding out a small piece of paper.

Dawn: My number, in case you have any questions or… anything.

Rory stares at the piece of paper uncertainly. Her eyes drift up to meet Dawn’s and then she returns her attention to the note. She appears conflicted for a moment before snatching it out of Dawn’s hand.

Dawn: There’s a bus to L.A. tomorrow night. It leaves from the station in Hartford just after seven. If you change your mind-

Rory: I won’t.

Dawn: (sighing) Can’t say we didn’t try.

Dawn and Andrew leave, and Rory watches them walk across the front yard. Once they’re out of sight she walks over to the swing seat and slowly sits down, taking a deep breath as she looks at the note Dawn gave her.

Cut to:

EXT. CITY STREET – DAY

Lorelai and Rory are walking past shops and restaurants together.

Lorelai: Vampires?

Rory: (nodding) And demons.

Lorelai: And they expected you to believe this?

Rory: Who knows. They sure seemed to believe it, though.

Lorelai: (shaking her head) People are weird.

Rory: I know.

Lorelai: And they call us crazy!

They come to a stop outside a building with a large neon sign in the window that reads ‘Psychic’. There are smaller signs beneath it that say ‘tarot readings’ and ‘palm readings’.

Lorelai: (obviously excited) Looks just as sketchy as I remember. 

Rory: Promise you’re not going to take it as seriously as you did the last time we tried this? You wasted so much money on lottery tickets.

Lorelai: She said I was going to come into a lot of money! It seemed like a reasonable reaction. And she was right; I did come into a lot of money.

Rory: But not via the lottery.

Rory walks up the steps towards the door, and Lorelai follows.

Lorelai: No, but it more than covered my lottery losses, so you do the math, Ivy League.

Cut to:

INT. PSYCHIC’S OFFICE – DAY

The room is decorated with candles, crystals, and several small statues, and there is pagan art on the walls. Lorelai and Rory are sitting across the table from a woman who has long blonde hair and is wearing a lot of jewelry. Everytime she moves, the dozens of metal bracelets on her arms clink together.

Lorelai: (to Rory) I wanna hear yours first. I already know I’m going to fall in love with a tall, dark, handsome man, I can wait five minutes for confirmation.

Rory rolls her eyes and places her hand, palm up, in the center of the table. The psychic takes her hand and studies it intently for a moment. Rory and Lorelai exchange amused glances, not taking it seriously. The psychic suddenly gasps, and her grip on Rory’s hand tightens.

Psychic: Incredible… 

Rory: What?

Psychic: I’ve never seen anything like this.

Lorelai: (stage whispering) It’s called a hand. 

Rory: (fighting back laughter) Shh!

Psychic: You are about to embark on a life-altering journey.

Rory: I’m starting college in a couple of days, maybe that’s it?

Psychic: No… that is not the path for you. 

Rory: But-

Psychic: You have so much potential.

Lorelai: (obviously not amused anymore) Yes, she does. Which is exactly why she will be going to college.

Psychic: (looking Rory in the eyes) So much power.

Rory: (frowning, nervously) What?

Psychic: You have no idea how powerful you are, but you’ll learn. 

Lorelai: Yes, again, at Yale.

Psychic: (ignoring Lorelai) When the time comes, you will know in your heart which path to take. Only one will lead you to your destiny. Don’t be afraid; you were chosen for a reason.

At the word “chosen” Rory pulls her hand out of the psychic’s grasp. She’s visibly unnerved as she gets out of her seat and leaves the room.

Lorelai: ( shaking her head, standing from her seat) Why would you do that? She’s just a kid! She came here to be told that her future is bright, and that she’s going to have an amazing time at college, become a world renowned journalist, win a Pulitzer and marry a wonderful guy with great hair! That’s it, that’s all you had to say! 

Lorelai grabs her jacket from the back of the chair and hurries out of the room after Rory.

Psychic: (quietly, still in awe) She is Chosen.

Cut to:

EXT. CITY STREET – DAY

Rory is standing on the sidewalk outside of the psychic’s office. Her arms are wrapped protectively around her upper body. Lorelai comes out of the building and hurries over to her.

Lorelai: (sympathetically) You okay, sweets?

Rory: (forcing a small smile) Yeah, I’m fine. I don’t even know why I left like that, it was stupid. I mean, I’m the one who was telling you not to take it seriously, and then I go and completely freak out over a few vague, hokey statements?

Lorelai: You got spooked. You’re all set to head off to college, something you’ve been working towards and planning for since preschool, and then some weirdo wearing more bracelets than Madonna circa 1983 tells you that you shouldn’t go because it’s not your “destiny”. Of course it upset you. 

Rory: Yeah…

Lorelai: Come on. (putting her arm around Rory) Thanks to Madame Bo bangles in there, we have just enough time in our schedule to fit in those facials. 

Rory’s smile becomes more genuine, and she rests her head on Lorelai’s shoulder as they walk down the street.

Cut to:

INT. RORY’S ROOM AT THE GILMORE HOUSE – NIGHT

Rory is asleep in bed. Her brow furrows and she whimpers in her sleep, seemingly having a bad dream. She slowly wakes up and sits up in bed, looking around the room in confusion.

Rory: (quietly) Weird.

She gets out of bed and takes her bathrobe off of a hook on the back of her bedroom door. After pulling it on, she steps out into the kitchen and walks over to the sink to get a glass of water. There’s a banging noise on the porch outside.

Rory: Hello?

Rory walks over to the back door and opens it slowly, looking outside before stepping out onto the porch.

Rory: (nervously) Luke? Are you fixing the porch rail at a completely inappropriate hour again?

She walks to the front of the house and down the steps into the front yard, seemingly in some kind of trance.

Cut to:

EXT. MAIN STREET IN STARS HOLLOW – NIGHT

Rory walks slowly down the street. It’s so late that no one is out and everything is quiet. A strong gust of wind hits her, blowing her hair back from her face. She continues walking as if she can’t feel it. The wind is followed by an incomprehensible, low, whisper.

Cut to:

EXT. CEMETERY IN STARS HOLLOW – NIGHT

Buffy is sitting on top of a headstone in the cemetery. As Rory approaches, a vampire starts to claw its way out of the grave.

Buffy: (to Rory) Hey! You made it.

Rory: Who-

Buffy: Am I?

Buffy grabs the vampire’s arm and pulls it the rest of the way out of its grave.

Buffy: I’m Buffy.

Rory: What is that thing?

Buffy: Oh, you know, (staking the vampire) just your run of the mill vamp.

Rory: Vampires don’t exist.

Buffy: That one sure doesn’t. (smirking) Not anymore anyway.

Rory: You’re… a slayer?

Buffy: Yup. Was the slayer not too long ago. I mean, there was Faith. But she was incarcerated, so it kinda was just me, even though it technically wasn’t just me.

There’s movement behind Buffy, and Rory watches it with interest. Buffy frowns and turns to see what Rory is looking at.

Buffy: Oh, don’t mind her.

Rory: Who is she?

Buffy: The first slayer. She has a tendency to show up at times like this.

Rory: (confused) Times like this?

Buffy: Yeah. She’s not so much with the girl talk though. Or any kind of talk, really.

Rory: (mesmerized by the first slayer) Old...

Buffy: Hey, new girl, heads up.

Rory frowns, and Buffy nods across the cemetery to a vampire headed straight for Rory.

Rory: (panicking) What do I do?!

Buffy: (throwing her a stake) Catch.

Rory catches the stake just before the vampire knocks her to the ground, and the stake falls out of her hand. She screams as she tries to push the vampire off of her,  but it sinks its teeth into her neck. Buffy crouches beside her.

Buffy: You don’t know what you’re doing, do you?

Rory: (weakly) Help me…

Buffy: (standing up, shrugging) Help yourself.

Cut to:

INT. RORY’S ROOM AT THE GILMORE HOUSE – NIGHT

Rory wakes up from her dream and sits upright in bed, touching her throat where the vampire had bitten her. There’s nothing there.

Rory: (breathless, shaken) Okay... that was worse than weird.

Cut to:

EXT. MAIN STREET IN STARS HOLLOW – DAY

Rory and Lane are walking down the street together, talking.

Lane: Well, I don’t know about you, but I totally believe in that stuff.

Rory: (surprised) Vampires, and witches, and slayers?

Lane: (shrugging) Ghosts and the supernatural.

Rory: This thing in my dream wasn’t a ghost. Not unless ghosts are corporeal and like to bite people’s necks.

Lane: Maybe it was a zombie?

Rory: You think those exist?

Lane: Hey, I’m not ruling anything out at this point.

They come to a bookshop and Lane opens the door, letting them both inside.

Cut to:

INT. STARS HOLLOW BOOKS – DAY

As Lane and Rory enter, Kirk looks up from the cash register and smiles politely.

Kirk: Hello, Rory. Lane. Anything I can help you with today?

Rory: (forcing a smile) No, thanks, Kirk. Just... looking around.

Rory and Lane start browsing the shelves.

Lane: So how come I’m on this little research mission and Lorelai isn’t?

Rory: I didn’t want to tell her about the dream. After the crazy cult people who came to the house, and the psycho psychic… She would have just told me that I had all that stuff on my mind and that’s why I dreamt about it.

Lane: She could have a point.

Rory: Definitely. (sighing) And if it hadn’t felt so real, I wouldn’t even be here.

Lane comes across a book called ‘Vampires and Vampirism: Legends from Around the World’.

Lane: This might help! (flipping through it) It looks like it covers a lot of stuff on vampires and... things that go bump in the night.

Rory: (taking the book) You know, that’s not so funny since, in my dream, something actually did go bump. Or… bang. (sighing) It made loud noises in the night, and that’s bad enough for me. (reading) Okay, it says here that a vampire’s strength is several times greater than that of the average man. The blood they drink contributes heavily to their strength and, therefore, unfed vampires are weaker than fed vampires. Older vampires are also superior in strength to younger vampires. They get stronger as time goes on.

Lane: (nodding) Stake ‘em while they’re young and hungry. Noted.

Rory: They are able to move at great speed, they have heightened senses, and… some believe that a vampire can actually feel the throbbing of a heartbeat on the walls surrounding its prey.

Lane: (cringing, sarcastically) Great.

Rory: This is ridiculous! (closing the book) If this book is right, vampires are immortal killing machines. Better, stronger, faster. If I seriously have the power to stand against them, then I’d have to be…

Lane: Better-er, stronger-er, faster-er?

Rory: This isn’t funny, Lane.

Rory stands up and takes the book over to the register to buy it. Lane follows.

Lane: Nobody said it was. Besides, you said you didn’t believe in all this stuff, so why does it bother you anyway?

Rory: (paying Kirk) Because that dream was real. I felt it. I know it sounds weird, but it’s true. Something happened to me last night.  Maybe it was just a really vivid dream, but part of me really seems to want to believe that it was more. I keep telling myself that it’s not, but... look at me! (gesturing to her surroundings) I’m in a bookstore, researching vampires. How’s that for not believing?

Kirk looks at Lane and Rory strangely, and Lane smiles sweetly at him.

Lane: We’re… um… working on a play. A musical, actually. It’s all about vampires and witches and... stuff. 

Kirk: Are there any parts I can audition for? I think you'll find I have an impressive range.

Lane: We'll have our people call your people!

He looks skeptical as he hands Rory her purchase. She leaves the shop and Lane hurries after her.

Cut to:

EXT. MAIN STREET IN STARS HOLLOW – DAY

Lane catches up to Rory and tries to match her faster than normal pace.

Lane: You know… it’s okay if you do believe.

Rory: No, it’s not. My Yale orientation is in less than forty-eight hours . I can’t have this hanging over my head, it’s too much!

Lane: So forget about it. (waving her hand) Poof! Gone.

Rory: You can’t just poof this. It won’t poof. It’s… poof-proof!

Lane: Then maybe you have to poof something more poofable. (gently) Like Yale.

Rory: I’m not sure if I can poof that either.

Lane: Something’s gotta poof, Rory. And you’re the only one who can make that choice.

Rory: Yeah. (rolling her eyes) Bring on the pressure, it’s not like I’m feeling the burn here.

Cut to:

INT. LIVING ROOM AT THE GILMORE HOUSE – DAY

Rory is lying on the couch and Lane is sitting in an armchair nearby with a pad of paper and a pen. They almost resemble a therapist and a patient.

Rory: Well, the obvious con is missing out on going to Yale.

Lane: For now, at least.

Rory: It’s all I’ve ever wanted.

Lane: Actually, Harvard was all you ever wanted.

Rory: Harvard, Yale… higher education in general. (sadly) I worked so hard for this.

Lane: (sympathetically) I know.

Rory: My mom would be so mad if I didn’t go.

Lane: I’m sure she’d get over it, though. This is Lorelai Gilmore we’re talking about. Official sponsor of ‘Rory’s Happiness’.

Rory: Even if she did get over it… I think it’d kill my grandpa. Lately all he can talk about is how excited he is about me going to Yale.

Lane: Again, your family loves you. They’ll understand.

Rory: My family loves me, yes. But my family also finds it hard to cope with unforeseen change.

Lane: But they do cope eventually, right?

Rory: (shrugging) Depending on how big the change is.

Lane: Exactly. Finding out that your only grandchild isn’t going to Yale because she just discovered that she’s a vampire slayer… no biggie.

Rory: (rolling her eyes) No biggie at all.

Lane: Okay, now we need something for the pro column…

Rory: Well… finding out what this ‘chosen one’ stuff is all about might keep my brain from imploding.

Lane: Yes. Definite pro. (writing on her pad) Okay, next con…

Rory: Hurting my family.

Lane: We already concluded that they’ll get over it.

Rory: But initially, they’ll be really upset.

Lane: But later they won’t be. I’m not adding it to the list. This is about what’s best for you right now.

Rory: Okay… (sighing) Um…

Lane starts tapping her pen on the pad, and eventually it flies out of her hand and rolls under the couch. She gets up to try and retrieve it.

Rory: There isn’t really another big con. Yale was the big one. There isn’t anything else I’d be giving up on to do this.

Lane: (reaching under the couch) And Yale isn’t even something you have to give up on permanently.

Rory: I guess...

Lane: I can’t reach it. Can you get up so I can move the couch or something?

Rory gets off of the couch, and Lane struggles to lift it up just enough to reach under it but can barely get it off of the ground.

Lane: (grunting) A little help here?

Rory kneels beside the couch with Lane and helps lift it. Lane reaches under the couch and grabs the pen and then notices that Rory is holding the couch up effortlessly, with only one hand, without any help.

Lane: Uh… remember that whole better-er, stronger-er, faster-er thing we were talking about earlier?

Rory: Huh?

Lane: When did you turn into Super Girl?

Rory frowns and then follows Lane’s awed gaze to the couch. Her eyes grow wide and she lets it fall back to the ground, scooting across the floor away from it. Lane crawls over to her.

Lane: (gently) Hey… it’s okay.

Rory: No, it’s really not! I’m a girl . I even throw like a girl! I have never worked out, not once in my life. I’m a puny little weakling!

Lane: Not anymore.

Rory: But I like being a weakling. I'm good at it, I have a lifetime of practice.

Lane: (smiling softly) I think you could get used to being Little Miss Muscles instead.

Rory: (shaking her head) This is all wrong. I mean… when my mom and I were in Europe I had no problem carrying my backpack around, and my mom wouldn’t stop complaining about hers being heavy. I just assumed she was complaining for the sake of complaining, ‘cause that’s something she likes to do, but...

Lane: But maybe she was complaining because her backpack really was bothering her, and your newly acquired super strength was making your load a little lighter?

Rory: (staring at the couch) What do I do, Lane? I don’t… I don’t understand any of this.

Lane: (sympathetically) So… maybe you need to talk to some people who do?

Rory looks at Lane for a moment, and then she looks over at the couch again.

Cut to:

INT. RORY’S ROOM AT THE GILMORE HOUSE – DAY

Rory is lying on her bed, holding Colonel Clucker and staring at the ceiling. She’s surrounded by moving boxes full of clothes and books. She sighs deeply and sets Colonel Clucker down on the bed before getting up and going over to her closet. She takes out two large backpacks and puts them on the bed.

Rory: (to Colonel Clucker) Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t choose this, it chose me. God knows why, but it did. 

She starts taking clothes out of one of the moving boxes and puts them into the backpacks .

Rory: I can’t just pretend everything is fine. It’s easy for you, you’re just a stupid stuffed animal. No one is ever going to come to your house and tell you that you’re destined to be a demon fighting freak of nature! (after a pause) I’m sorry I called you stupid.

Cut to:

INT. LIVING ROOM AT THE GILMORE HOUSE – EVENING

Lorelai is talking to Rory, who is in another room. She holds onto the banister of the stairs as she slips her feet into her shoes, then she turns around and checks her reflection in the mirror. 

Lorelai: So if you see Michel trying to sneak a veggie burger onto the barbeque, tackle him like a linebacker, ‘cause if Sookie catches him we’re all gonna be eating ‘Michel Kabobs’, and just you know those are gonna be ninety percent gristle.  

Rory slowly comes out of her bedroom. She checks her watch and sees that it’s almost six o’clock, and then she takes a deep, anxious breath. Lorelai frowns at her.

Lorelai: Is that what you’re wearing? I was just joking about the linebacker thing. We’re going to an ‘end of summer barbeque’, you probably don’t wanna dress like you’re going to a tailgate party. I mean, you don’t have to go crazy or anything, but maybe some ballet flats, or-

Rory: (quietly) Mom… I need to tell you something.

Lorelai: What’s up? (worried) You’ve been acting weird all day. Is it because of that whole… slayer thing? Or the crazy psychic?

Rory: (looking up at Lorelai) Maybe she’s not so crazy.

Lorelai: (frowning) What do you mean?

Rory: I don’t know. (after a pause) I had this dream last night. It was… really vivid. It felt real.

Lorelai: Everyone has dreams like that, hun.

Rory: I never have.

Lorelai: Well, congrats, it was your first.

Rory: Mom-

Lorelai: I don’t understand what you’re trying to say. (shaking her head) You think you’re some kind of vampire killer because of a dream you had?

Rory: It’s more than that. I’ve been thinking about it all day, and I realized that… for a while now, I’ve felt… different.

Lorelai: Different how?

Rory: I don’t know. I can’t explain it… lots of things just feel different.

Lorelai: Sweetie, it’s called growing up. Everyone feels different at your age. And you experienced so many new things this summer, you saw more of the world in the last few months than you saw for the first eighteen years of your life! You’re bound to feel different.

Rory: That’s what I thought at first, too. But this is on top of that.

Lorelai: How can you tell?

Rory: I just... can. Please trust me on this.

Lorelai: (sighing) Fine. I trust you. I’m still not entirely sure what you’re saying, but I trust you.

Rory: Good. (hesitantly) What would you say if I told you that... I’m not going to Yale?

Lorelai: I don’t know. (pointedly) Let’s not find out.

Lorelai starts to walk over to the front door, trying to end the conversation before Rory can say anything else.

Rory: I’m not going to Yale. 

Lorelai: (turning around) Rory, stop.

Rory: The psychic said it was the wrong path for me, and I think she was right. If I don’t do this, if I don’t find out… what I am-

Lorelai: (upset) You’re a bright, beautiful young girl, about to throw away everything you’ve ever worked for!

Rory: I can go to Yale next year. But if I don’t go to L.A. right now-

Lorelai: (stunned) L.A.? You are not going to L.A.!

Rory: Yes, I am. And short of pulling an Annie Wilkes, you can’t stop me.

Lorelai: Don’t do this. Let’s just talk about it, okay? We’ll figure it out together, like we always do. 

Rory: I don’t need to figure it out, I know what I need to do. (tearing up) I don’t expect you to understand, or like it, but I really want to know that you support me.

Lorelai: How the hell am I supposed to do that, Rory?

Rory: I don’t know. You’ve always been pretty good at it, though.

Lorelai: That’s because you’re usually the sane one! You usually make decisions I can support. Sure, there was the bad hair cut in second grade, neither of us was too happy about that in the end. And then there was Jess… (rolling her eyes) But that was something you had to get out of your system-

Rory: And maybe this is just something else I need to go through and get out of my system.

Lorelai: No. This is nothing like that. This is crazy! That was crazy too, but this is crazy crazy!

Rory: Mom, I need to go. (looking at her watch) Now, actually.

Lorelai: (angrily) If you do this-

Rory: (stopping her) Please, don’t say something we’ll both regret later.

They stand in silence for a moment, waiting to see what happens next. Rory walks back over to her bedroom as Lorelai stares after her in shock. When Rory returns a moment later, she’s carrying a jacket and her backpacks. She sets them on the ground, steps forward and hugs Lorelai. After a brief hesitation, Lorelai hugs her back tightly, tears running down her cheeks.

Rory: (letting Lorelai go) I’ll call you, I promise.

Lorelai: (pleading) Rory-

Rory: Be good, okay? (fighting back tears) I love you, mom.

Rory picks up her jacket and bags and leaves. Lorelai closes her eyes tightly until she hears the front door closing.

Lorelai: (crying) I love you, too.

Cut to:

EXT. DRIVEWAY AT THE GILMORE HOUSE – EVENING

Rory walks down the porch steps, brushing tears off of her cheeks as she hurries towards the street. When she reaches the mailbox she stops and turns to look at the house one last time. Her eyes fill with more tears, and she forces herself to turn and leave before she changes her mind.

Cut to:

EXT. HARTFORD BUS STATION – EVENING

Dawn and Andrew are standing beside a bus. The engine starts and Dawn sighs as she checks her watch.

Andrew: (sadly) She’s not coming. She reacted just like that girl in Sweden. We never saw her again, either.

Dawn: Just… ask the driver to wait another five minutes?

Andrew: Okay.

He starts to get on the bus. When he reaches the top step, he turns back to her.

Andrew: (gently) Hey… it’s not our fault, you know? Not all of the girls believe they’re slayers or want to know more. All we can do is try to convince them.

Dawn: (frustrated) We should be able to do more.

Andrew: Yeah, we should. But we can’t.

She turns to look at him and nods. They share a sad half smile and he continues onto the bus. She takes one last look around the bus station and then starts to follow him.

Rory: (calling out) Wait!

Dawn stops and turns around. When she sees Rory, she smiles and gets back off the bus.

Dawn: You came!

Rory: Apparently. (sighing) Look… I don’t know if I believe you about all this… ‘Chosen One’ stuff. But I don’t know that I completely disbelieve you, either.

Dawn: (nodding) I get it. It’s totally fine. Whatever you decide.

Rory: I’ve decided… to go to L.A.

Dawn: (grinning) Really?

Rory: (nervously) Quick. Before I come to my senses.

Dawn: You’re doing the right thing… (pausing) Uh…

Rory: Rory. My name is Rory.

Dawn: Nice to meet you, Rory.

The driver approaches them and offers to take Rory’s bags. She hands the largest one to him and he stows it with the rest of the luggage. Dawn gestures for Rory to get on the bus, and Rory takes a deep breath and does so. Dawn does a little happy dance and mouths a heavenward ‘thank you’ before following.

Cut to:

INT. BUS – NIGHT

Andrew is asleep across two seats with his cheek pressed against the window. Dawn is sitting in the seat behind him, and Rory is sitting in the seat across the aisle from him, focused on a book. Dawn gets up and walks over to her.

Dawn: Good book?

Rory: Well… (looking at the cover) It’s informative. That’s good, I guess.

Dawn: (sitting next to her) 'Vampires and Vampirism: Legends from Around the World'. So… not light reading then?

Rory: Nope. (uncertainly) Is it true that some vampires have the ability to control people?

Dawn: (thinking for a moment) I only really know of one, for sure. Dracula.

Rory: As in… Count Dracula? The Count Dracula?

Dawn: Yup. Buffy faced him a few years ago.

Rory: Buffy?

Dawn: My sister.

Rory: Pretty, blonde…unhelpful?

Dawn: (chuckling) What?

Rory: I had a dream last night, and there was this girl in it. She said her name was Buffy and that she was the Slayer. And then this vampire attacked me, and when I asked for her help she just stood there and said, “help yourself”.

Dawn: And here you are. Helping yourself by opening your mind to the possibility that all this slayer stuff is real.

Rory: So… you’re telling me that your sister came to me in a dream to convince me to come to L.A.?

Dawn: I’m not saying it was intentional or anything, but it wouldn’t be the first time a dream influenced a slayer. Buffy has dreams like that, too. Sometimes she even sees the first slayer.

Rory: (nodding) Right… weird looking, old…

Dawn: You saw the first slayer, too?

Rory: I think so. Buffy said that’s what she was.

Dawn: I’ve never seen her. I’ve just heard Buffy describe her as a ‘rasta-mama slayer’.

Rory: (smiling) That kinda covers it, I guess.

Dawn: (after a pause) So… are you nervous?

Rory: I don’t know. I think I might be in shock or denial or something. I’m sure the nerves will kick in soon, though. And then the fear. And then the nausea…

Dawn: For what it’s worth, I think you made the right choice. I know what it’s like to find out that you’re... different. To find out that there’s something about you that you can’t change or control. And I know that it takes a while to accept it and deal with it.

Rory: Are you a slayer, too?

Dawn: No. I thought I was a potential slayer for about five minutes one time. But, as it turns out… (shaking her head) not so much. I was… something else. But if I told what that something else was, I think it’d just confuse you even more right now.

Rory: (after a long pause) So, what happens in L.A.?

Dawn: Well, you’ll meet Buffy and Faith, for a start. They were slayers before Willow cast the spell to turn all the potentials into slayers, too.

Rory: If there were two of them, then what’s the whole ‘Chosen One ’ thing about?

Dawn: Well, Buffy was the slayer, but then she kinda drowned. She was revived, but in the minute that she was dead, another slayer was called.

Rory: Faith?

Dawn: (shaking her head) Kendra. But then a vampire killed Kendra, and that’s when Faith was called.

Rory: Complicated.

Dawn: (smiling softly) Such is the life of a slayer.

Rory: Speaking of… the other day you said that I have powers? What did you mean by that?

Dawn: They’re not powers like… flying or x-ray vision. It’s not like you’re some comic book superhero or anything. But you do have special skills. They’re part of the whole slayer package.

Rory: What kind of skills?

Dawn: Strength, speed, agility-

Rory: (raising an eyebrow) I’m agile? That’s news to me.

Dawn: It’s there, trust me. And part of this whole L.A. gathering is so that the new slayers can train and learn how to use those skills. Buffy has been training since she was in high school, and she and Faith are gonna help you guys learn how to fight and stuff.

Rory: They’re going to teach us to fight?

Dawn: You’ll be kicking vampire butt in no time.

Rory: And I'm guessing that’s not optional?

Dawn: (smiling, sympathetically) Sorry. It’s another part of the slayer package.

Rory sighs deeply, turning and looking at the darkness outside the bus window.

Cut to:

INT. HYPERION HOTEL LOBBY – NIGHT

Buffy and Angel stand in the lobby as several slayers make their way back and forth, in and out of the hotel, carrying boxes and weapons. Buffy swipes her fingers across the front desk before lifting them up to see how dirty they are.

Buffy: You couldn’t use a little Mr. Clean before we got here, could you? No. You just had to leave the housework for us womenfolk.

Angel: I was busy.

Buffy: Ah, yes. I hear that running an evil law firm is a thankless and tiring job.

Angel: It’s not an evil law firm. (off Buffy’s look) I’m working on it, okay? (teasing) And might I suggest that you show a little gratitude when talking to the guy who is not only bankrolling this endeavor, but has also provided you with a rent-free residence for several dozen of your finest ex-potentials?

Buffy: (looking around) I admit, it is pretty perfect. It doesn’t scream ‘home’, but…

Angel: At least it doesn’t scream anything else, either. Not anymore.

Buffy: Non-screaming building: definite plus.

Angel: So how many slayers have you guys actually rounded up so far?

Buffy: Here, right now, we have about twenty, I think. And there are more on the way. And some of the slayers we trained in Sunnydale are still out there, trying to track down more. The rest are in Cleveland.

Angel: (frowning) Catching some rays?

Buffy: No. There’s another Hellmouth there. (sighing) Because one Hellmouth on Earth just wasn’t enough.

Angel: And… (gesturing to the hotel) this is going to be some kind of ‘Slayer Bootcamp’?

Buffy: I prefer to think of it as ‘Camp Buffy’. Where the fun never stops, lemonade flows endlessly, and s'mores are a suitable substitute for all meals.

Angel: I know you too well to believe that. You’re not gonna make this a vacation for anyone, especially yourself.

Buffy: (pouting) Not true! I am fully aware that all work and no play makes Buffy a dull, cranky girl.

Faith: (approaching from behind) Finally , she gets it. (hugging Angel) Hey, Big Guy. Good to see ya’.

Angel: You too. How’s life as a fugitive treating you?

Faith: Ah, you know me. I live on the edge.

Buffy: (sweetly) Any chance you might fall over it soon?

Faith: Come on, B. You know you love me really.

Buffy: There’s a big difference between loving someone and tolerating them for the sake of the greater good.

Faith: (feigning hurt) Ouch.

Giles: (walking over) Next time we need to relocate all of our supplies, we’ll do it ourselves instead of paying primates in baseball caps to do a god awful job of it on our behalf.

Buffy: What are you talking about?

Giles: (sadly, holding up a dented gourd) The movers squashed my magic gourd.

Angel: (frowning) It’ll still work though, right?

Giles: That’s not the point. It’s about respecting other people’s property. It’s about doing your job properly. (walking away, muttering to himself) It’s about not being the pillock with a misshapen gourd.

Buffy: (chuckling) I should go and help Giles through the grieving process. (to Angel) I’ll see you later?

Angel: Sure. (watching Buffy walk away) Later…

Faith: (watching Angel watch Buffy) What is it with you soulful fangy types and that girl?

Angel: What?

Faith: You and Spike. She's like the puppet master, and you two jump up and dance whenever she tugs on your little puppet strings. Although, I guess only one of you is doing the little puppet dance these days.

Angel: I’m no one's puppet. And I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from associating me with that asinine... ass.

Faith: (teasing) Now, Angel, it’s not nice to speak ill of the dead undead.

Angel: (muttering) If only he was.

Faith: If only who was what?

Angel: (evasively) Uh… nothing.

Faith: But you just… (off Angel’s look, shocked) Oh my God! Is Spike-

Angel: Shh! And... yes. Unfortunately.

Faith: (barely above a whisper) But… how?! Last sighting, he was gettin’ wicked flamey down in the Hellmouth. One big earth-sucking extravaganza later, and we all thought he was gone for good.

Angel: (shaking his head) Long story. Just… make sure Buffy doesn’t find out. Not yet, anyway. I’ll tell her once you guys are all settled in and everything is a little less chaotic.

Faith: Yeah, sure. But you’re gonna have to fill me in later.

Angel: I will. (looking around) Not here, though.

Xander: (calling from the stairs) Faith, where’s Buffy?

Faith: She’s with Giles. What’s up?

Xander: Uh… we have a slight situation up here. Two slayers, one top bunk. It’s about to get ugly .

Faith: (to Angel) I guess that makes me the responsible authority figure in this situation. How messed up is that?

Angel: You can do it. All it takes is a little Faith.

Faith: (chuckling) Hey, name puns! (walking away) Those never get old.

Angel smiles as he watches her walk away, and then he heads for the exit.

Cut to:

EXT. TRUCK STOP – DAY

Rory, Dawn and Andrew get off of the bus along with some other passengers.

Andrew: (to Dawn) Next time, you have to sit next to the sweaty, hairy guy and I get to sit next to the old lady with the Mentos.

Dawn: And here I was thinking that sweaty, hairy guys were your type.

Andrew: Hey, I am so not like that! When I was an evil genius, I was all about the ladies. (unconvincingly) Warren and Jonathan wanted the money and the power, but I was just looking to get me some action.

Dawn: Yeah, action figures.

Andrew: You are one step away, girlfriend.

Dawn: (walking away) I'm shaking in my boots, Bilbo.

Rory smiles slightly and watches them go into a truck stop. She takes a few steps away from the entrance before pulling a cell phone out of her pocket. She stares at it for a moment before pressing a couple of buttons and holding it up to her ear.

Lorelai: (phone) Hello?

Rory: (hesitantly) Hey… it’s me.

Lorelai: (phone) Rory? Thank God ! Where are you?

Rory: Um… somewhere in Nebraska, I think.

Lorelai: (phone) Babe, please come home. This is ridiculous, I’ve been worried sick!

Rory: I can’t come home, mom. I’m sorry.

Lorelai: (phone) It’ll be okay, I promise. We’ll get some help-

Rory: (frowning) Help? What kind of help?

Lorelai: (phone) For you. To figure out what’s making you feel this way.

Rory: I don’t need help, I’m not crazy.

Lorelai: (phone) Right. Because everyone thinks they’re a vampire slayer at some point in their lives. It’s completely normal.

Rory doesn’t say anything.

Lorelai: (phone) I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be judgmental… I know this means something to you-

Rory: It does. And that’s why I have to do this.

Lorelai: (phone) Why can’t you do it here ? Why do you have to go to L.A.?

Rory: Because there are people there who understand.

Lorelai: (phone) I can understand, too! I’ll try harder, I promise.

Rory: It’s not that simple.

Lorelai: (phone) This doesn’t make any sense, Rory.

Rory: I know. That’s what I’m trying to fix.

Andrew comes out of the gas station and looks over at Rory.

Andrew: Hey, would you say you’re more of a HoHo or a Ding Dong?

Rory: (covering the phone) Am I what?

Andrew: Do you prefer HoHo’s or Ding Dongs?

Rory: Twinkies.

Andrew: Where do you stand on Pink Snowballs?

Rory: Love ‘em.

Andrew: Really? (wrinkling his nose) The pink coconut always freaked me out. It’s not natural.

Rory: Right. Freaky. Hate ‘em. Forget the Pink Snowballs.

Andrew goes back into the truck stop, and Rory takes her hand away from the phone.

Rory: Sorry.

Lorelai: (phone) Who was that?

Rory: Just… one of the people I’m traveling to L.A. with.

Lorelai: (phone) You're traveling with a guy?

Rory: He’s harmless, trust me. I don’t think I’ve ever felt less intimidated by a guy.

Lorelai: (phone) So not feeling better about this.

Rory: I know, and I’m sorry… (sighing) I have to go, the bus is leaving soon.

Lorelai: Rory-

Rory: I’ll call you when we get to L.A., I promise.

Lorelai: (phone) Don’t hang up!

Rory: I love you, mom.

Rory ends the call just as Dawn and Andrew come out of the truck stop with their arms full of snack foods.

Dawn: (rolling her eyes) Ding Dongs don’t kill people.

Andrew: But they help.

Dawn: (to Rory) Ready to hit the road again?

Rory looks over at the bus and groans.

Dawn: I hear ya’.

Andrew: I call the seat next to the minty fresh grandma!

Dawn: You can’t just-

Andrew: (cutting her off) Under the Shotgun Constitution, if a person is enroute to a vehicle and calls shotgun, then it applies.

Dawn: And under the Forcible Dethronement policy of the Shotgun Constitution, if some insufferable nerd constantly calls shotgun before anyone else, then another passenger can pull, push or otherwise remove said nerd from the seat.

Andrew: Wow. You really know your Shotgun Constitution. I’m impressed.

Dawn: (sweetly) I’m not just a pretty face.

Rory smiles and follows them as they make their way back over to the bus.

Cut to:

INT. BUFFY’S ROOM AT THE HYPERION HOTEL – NIGHT

Buffy is sitting on her bed, talking on the phone.

Buffy: Drive safely. (rolling her eyes) Okay, so then tell the driver to drive safely. Don’t talk to anyone stranger than Andrew! See you soon. Bye.

As Buffy hangs up the phone, there’s a knock at the door.

Buffy: Come in.

Faith walks into the room and sits on the end of Buffy’s bed. They look at each other for a moment. Both seem exhausted.

Faith: So, remember when you had that whacky idea to save the world by turning a bunch of teeny boppers into slayers?

Buffy: My bad.

Faith: I thought the last batch was hyper. But these girls… (shaking her head) Those who aren’t down in the kitchen bingeing on cookies and Coke have taken over the halls, and are dancing, badly , and singing along to whatever boyband is ‘in’ this month using their hairbrushes as microphones.

Buffy: Bright side? If a hotel full of slayers and pointy wooden objects doesn’t keep the vampires at bay, that sure will.

Faith smiles and nods before reclining on the bed and sighing deeply.

Buffy: You do know that you have a bed of your own, right?

Faith: It’s all the way across the hall. This one is right here.

Buffy: This one is mine .

Faith: (chuckling) You always were the caring, sharing type, B.

Buffy: (raising an eyebrow) You really wanna go down that road?

Faith: Maybe tomorrow. Right now I just wanna sleep.

Buffy: Me too. (using her foot to push Faith towards the edge of the bed) On my bed.

Faith: Okay. (sitting up) I can take a hint.

Buffy: Since when?

Faith: (getting off of the bed) Can’t a girl try something new?

Buffy: (smiling tiredly) By all means.

There’s a loud bang out in the hallway, and Faith glances over at the door. When she turns around, Buffy is faking sleep.

Faith: I’ll take this one, but you’re getting the next ten .

Buffy makes a snoring noise, and Faith rolls her eyes before opening the door and stepping out into the hall.

Cut to:

INT. ANGEL’S OLD OFFICE AT THE HYPERION HOTEL – NIGHT

Willow is sitting on the floor with her legs crossed and her eyes closed. Giles steps into the office and watches her for a moment.

Giles: Anything?

Willow: (with her eyes still closed) Death. Pain. Fear. (opening her eyes) Mayhem of the general variety.

Giles: (looking around the room) So it’ll take more than a feather duster to get this place clean?

Willow: (shrugging) It’ll be tough, but not impossible. I’ll need to know everything Angel knows about this place. Everything important that happened here. Everyone and every thing that died here…

Giles: (nodding) I’ll talk to Buffy and have her stop by Wolfram & Hart tomorrow.

Willow: (blowing out some candles) I don’t sense any immediate danger, though. So, unless random objects start gettin' all floaty, I think we should be safe for now.

Giles: That’s a relief. (after a pause) Have you heard from Kennedy at all?

Willow: We talked last week. She seems to be doing okay.

Giles: You could still go to Cleveland. I won’t deny that having you here is a big help, but this shouldn’t interfere with your personal life. You’re not obligated to be here.

Willow: (standing up) I know, but I wanna help. I put on the little light show that created all of these slayers. It’s only fair that I stick around to help with the clean up.

Giles: (smiling) Willow, what you did helped to save the world.

Willow: Let's just say it was penance for the time I tried to destroy it. (seriously) I want to be here. I care about Kennedy. Very much. But my friends are here, my family… I feel needed here.

Giles: You are.

Willow: So I’m staying.

Giles and Willow smile at each other and then leave the office together.

Cut to:

EXT. GREYHOUND BUS STATION – DAY

Dawn, Andrew and Rory step off of the bus and collect their bags.

Andrew: Now what?

Dawn: We wait for Xander to pick us up. At least… I think that’s what Buffy said. Or maybe she said that Xander couldn’t pick us up…

Andrew: Why didn’t you pay more attention?

Dawn: Because someone wouldn’t quit asking me who ate the last HoHo!

Andrew: I put my name on it! Anyone who wasn’t me shouldn’t have eaten it.

A car pulls up nearby and the window rolls down. Xander leans out of the window.

Xander: Hey, ladies.

Andrew: And me.

Xander: I believe I covered that with ‘hey, ladies’. (smiling, to Dawn) Hop in.

Dawn smiles and gestures for Rory to follow her as she walks over to the car. As soon as she gets in, Dawn wraps her arms around Xander and hugs him.

Xander: (pretending he can't breathe) Dawn... you’re killin' me here.

Dawn: (letting go) Sorry. I just missed you!

Xander: And we all missed you, too. (turning in his seat, looking at Rory) Hey! You must be slayer number thirty-four.

Andrew: This is Rory. She’s from Connecticut, and her hobbies include reading and eating. And she has actually read Lord of the Rings, so kudos to her.

Xander: You didn’t make her take one of those dumb surveys, did you?

Andrew pulls a piece of paper out of his backpack and thrusts it at Xander.

Andrew: It’s not dumb. These girls are not just slayers, they are people . With feelings and dreams, just like the rest of us.

Xander: I do know all of this, but thanks for the recap. (to Rory) Nice to meet you.

Rory: (shyly) Oh… yeah. You too.

Andrew: It’s like how no one really considers Superman’s feelings. All they see is a superhero, but deep down he’s just a man. A man with a secret. A man in love…

Xander: (to Dawn) How did you survive three days on a bus with him?

Dawn: I tried to avoid sitting near him.

Xander: (smiling) Good plan.

Dawn: (nodding) And if that didn’t work there was always faking sleep.

Andrew: (slumping in his seat) No one respects me.

Xander puts the car in drive and pulls away from the bus station.

Cut to:

INT. WOLFRAM & HART LOBBY – DAY

The elevator doors open and Buffy steps out, looking around warily. She frowns when she sees a pale demon dressed in dark robes, leading a smaller, scrawny demon around by a collar and chain.

Buffy: Twisted does not even begin to cover-

A non-human hand taps her on the shoulder and she spins around. When she sees a menacing looking demon behind her she instinctively punches it and it staggers backwards.

Cut to:

INT. WOLFRAM & HART HALLWAY – DAY

Spike and Fred walk out of the lab and head towards the lobby.

Spike: I’m tellin' you, it’s no demon I’ve ever come across.

Fred: (thoughtfully) I’ve seen horns like that somewhere before…

Spike: Yeah, on a Prio Motu demon. But they aren’t slimy.

Fred: And they don’t have a sulfuric smell, either. (getting an idea) But Howlers do!

Spike: So… (sarcastically) fascinating new crossbreed?

Fred: (grinning) Isn’t that exciting? I can’t wait to analyze it and find out more.

Spike: (frowning at her) You really are an odd duck, aren’t you?

Fred smiles proudly. As they reach the top of the stairs leading down to the lobby, she notices fighting and stops.

Fred: Isn’t that the head of the Sahrvin clan?

Spike: (shrugging, disinterested) Buggered if I know.

Fred: They’re supposed to be here to negotiate a truce with the Vinji clan. Is that a Vinji?

Spike: No… (staring) That’s a slayer.

Fred: (panicking) Well do something! She can’t slay the head of the Sahrvin clan, it’ll derail the peace talks!

Spike: But...

He looks at Fred and she gestures frantically for him to go and help. He rolls his eyes and makes his way down the stairs, standing behind Buffy for a while and waiting for her to stop kicking and punching. When he finally sees a break in her attack, he touches her on the shoulder. She spins around and punches him in the face. He falls backwards onto the floor, holding his nose.

Spike: Ow! 

Buffy: (stunned) Spike ?

Before Spike can respond, the head of the Sahrvin clan hits Buffy across the back of the head with a club and she falls to the floor beside him.