PART SIX:
Title: 2003
FADE TO:
Same morning scene as before.
GILES awakes with a start, looks around, realizes where he is. He gets up and walks to the kitchen. We hear two females talking before we see them. Giles enters the kitchen and sees DAWN and JENNY sitting at the kitchen island. Sunlight is streaming through the window, especially illuminating Jenny. She is dressed more caually than in previous episodes, and she has a different hairstyle- loose curls. Giles freezes in the doorway when he sees her, shocked and just a little bit scared.
DAWN
Giles! Look who’s here!
GILES
(to Jenny)
Where’s Anastasia?
JENNY
She’s asleep upstairs. She’s a little tuckered out from the car ride.
DAWN
Aren’t you glad to see her?
GILES
Dawn, Jenny and I have to talk. Alone.
DAWN
(cold, voice shaking, as it does when she’s angry)
You’re going to send them away again, aren’t you?
JENNY
Dawn, Rupert never “sent us away”…
DAWN
They just got here and you’re going to send them away again.
GILES
Dawn, please-
DAWN
What kind of father are you?
(leaves in a huff)
Silence
GILES
She likes you.
JENNY
She’s a good kid. She’s got some abandonment issues-
GILES
Why did you come here? You-you’re putting your-your-yourself and- and- and Anistasia in danger just by being in this house. And-and-and now, of all times… what were you thinking?
A beat
JENNY
(she starts off upset, as if she’s on the verge of tears.)
I know… I know that we agreed that it-it would be better to raise Ani away from… all of this. I know. I know that not having a normal family life is a small price to pay for Ani surviving to adulthood. It’s enough just to see you at Christmas and on her birthday and whenever Buffy or Willow or the Council doesn’t need you.
(a beat. She looks down, collecting her thoughts. When she looks up again, she seems more composed, but when she starts talking there’s an angry tone in her voice)
…I heard about the Council being destroyed. I didn’t know whether you were alive. or dead, or God knows where!
(Giles is upset, but he doesn’t defend himself for not getting in touch with her)
Ani asked me why you weren’t coming for Christmas this year, and I didn’t know what to tell her! Sorry honey, Daddy’s dead?
(she takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. Her voice softens)
And I just kept thinking of those few months last year when we were together, like a normal family. And I kept hearing from all over how bad this thing that’s coming is. The “from beneath you it devours” thing. I can feel it too. And I can’t help thinking that it’s unstoppable. Not “no weapon forged” or “too big” or “too strong” to kill unstoppable. You can’t use explosives or magic on this. There’s nothing to kill. And if this is it… if this is the end, it’s the end for everyone. Not just Sunnydale. If this is the Last Battle… I want us to be together.
Silence. Giles looks away, thoughtful. He looks back at Jenny with a faint, sad smile.
GILES
(softly)
Me too.
They embrace. There are sounds of yelling from upstairs, and footsteps on the staircase. They both turn to see a little girl appear in the doorway. She is about 3 and-a-half years old, with lots of black curly hair and huge dark eyes. She’s crying. She runs up to Giles who picks her up and hugs her.
ANI
Dawnie says you’re gonna make us go home. I told her she’s wrong but she won’t listen!
GILES
Don’t listen to what she says. I want you here, with me.
Dawn comes down the stairs, with her knapsack and jacket.
DAWN
(to Jenny, without looking at her)
I’m going to school. Sorry I won’t be here to see you off.
ANI
(triumphantly)
Daddy says we’re staying!
DAWN
(turning to face them)
He did?
(smiles)
That’s great! Hey, I can’t wait to tell Buffy about this!
DAWN heads out the door, we see that WILLOW has finally woken up and is groggily headed towards the kitchen.
WILLOW
Hey, what’s all the hub-bub?
(sees Jenny and Ani, breaks into a huge smile)
Jenny?
She runs up to her and they hug.
JENNY
(smiling)
Willow!
ANI
(copying her mother)
Willow!
WILLOW
Hi Ani! (to Jenny) I haven’t seen you in forever! How are you?
JENNY
I think the more important question is how are you?
WILLOW
Long, long story.
GILES
We’ll leave the two of you to catch up then?
WILLOW
Oh, I don’t want to-
JENNY
It’s okay. We’ll be sticking around for awhile.
GILES leaves with ANI, who is babbling away about something or other.
WILLOW
Okay then! I’ll make some coffee.
JENNY
That would be great.
WILLOW
(while making coffee)
So, you are staying?
JENNY
That’s the plan. You know, fight the good fight.
WILLOW
(grins)
Yay! (more serious) We can really use your help.
JENNY
I hope so
A beat
WILLOW
I’m glad you’re back.
JENNY
(sincerely) Thanks. (deapan) I really wasn’t sure that you were, what with the hugging and squealing and everything.
WILLOW just grins, knowing her sense of humour. JENNY smiles back.
JENNY
So, how did you like England?
Willow starts talking and the camera pulls back. Fade.
CUT TO:
Later that day.
BUFFY comes in the front door, in less than a good mood. DAWN follows behind her. DAWN goes into the living room, where ANI is playing with dolls on the floor.
DAWN
Hiya Ani! Whatcha playing?
BUFFY
Dawn. Research mode. Now.
DAWN glares back at BUFFY, who glares back. DAWN turns back to Ani, cheery once again.
DAWN
Ani, do you want to help me look through some scary monster books?
ANI
(jumping up, excited)
Yeah!
(she is, after all, Giles’ kid)
BUFFY watches them as they go into the dining room, a disturbed expression on her face.
ANDREW (O.S.)
Hey, who’s the kid?
Buffy goes to the basement, which is fit with workout equipment. Giles is watching Kennedy and Molly train. Willow and Jenny are seated cross-legged on the floor, facing each other, each with her respective laptop, doing research. Buffy stands over them, arms crossed. Her manner is not necessarily stern, but she’s not all warm and welcoming either.
JENNY
(looking up)
Buffy! Hi!
WILLOW
(looks up briefly, then back to the screen)
Oh, hey Buff.
BUFFY
So, Dawn says you’re gonna be sticking around for awhile.
JENNY
(testing Buffy’s attitude)
Yeah, that was the idea.
WILLOW
(smiling)
It’s gonna be like old times.
BUFFY
(looks at Willow “not at all really”, but Will doesn’t notice)
(looks back too Jenny)
Where are you staying?
Giles walks over to them.
JENNY
At the hotel.
GILES
The three of us will be staying there. Give you a little more breathing space at least.
BUFFY
(all business)
It’ll be dark in a couple of hours. Go, pack your stuff and check out. You’re staying here
(off their looks)
I want everyone in the same place. You can camp out down here if you want privacy. I just think it’ll be safer if we’re all together.
GILES
(grudgingly)
I suppose you’re right.
JENNY
(getting up)
Better get going then. (to Giles) You coming? (he nods)
Is it okay if we leave Ani here ‘till we get back?
BUFFY
Of course. Dawn’s upstairs with her now. (re: the potentials) I’ll watch these two.
JENNY
Alright then. See you later.
Giles and Jenny leave. Buffy sinks to the floor next to Willow.
WILLOW
What’s wrong, Buffy?
BUFFY
Is Giles okay with them being here? Now?
WILLOW
Of course he is. They’re his family.
BUFFY
Yeah.
A beat
BUFFY (V.O.)
(communicating telepathically so the potentials won’t hear)
So why would he let them be in danger? Isn’t that why they moved away in the first place?
WILLOW (V.O.)
(defensively)
You can’t blame them for wanting to be together at a time like this.
BUFFY (V.O.)
No, not for wanting to.
WILLOW (V.O.)
Look, Jenny has access to all sorts of info we’d never be able to get our hands on. She’s gonna be a huge help.
BUFFY (V.O.)
It’s not her I’m worried about. It’s Ani. She’s completely helpless.
WILLOW(V.O.)
I think we can manage to look after one kid. (corners of her mouth curling slightly) besides, have you seen the way Giles looks with her? I haven’t seen him so happy in years.
BUFFY(V.O.)
Well that’s great, but so what? The last thing I need is a watcher distracted by his three-year-old kid.
WILLOW (V.O.)
Come on, what’s the worst that can happen?
BUFFY (V.O.)
Do I even have to go into that?
WILLOW (V.O.)
Look, Jenny can handle herself. And she and Giles can handle Ani. She knows how not to be much trouble. (beat) I think you’re jealous.
BUFFY
(out loud)
Oh come on!
Molly and Kennedy turn their heads to Buffy.
BUFFY
(covering up)
You can hit that punching bag harder than that! You’re not standing right. Here, I’ll show you…
BUFFY gets up to help Kennedy and Molly. WILLOW goes back to typing. Both the girls are peeved.
BUFFY (V.O.)
You’re problem is you’re being selfish.
WILLOW stops typing, but doesn’t look up.
BUFFY (V.O.)
You just like having them around because it makes you feel safer. It makes you feel like part of a normal family.
WILLOW (V.O.)
(starts typing again)
So what if it does? There’s nothing wrong with that.
BUFFY (V.O.)
There’s something wrong when you sacrifice their safety so you can feel normal!
WILLOW (V.O.)
It’s not a major risk-
BUFFY (V.O.)
Tell me you don’t think that!
WILLOW (V.O.)
I obviously do because I just did!
BUFFY (V.O.)
God, you’re deluded!
WILLOW (V.O.)
You’re the one with problems! You think that everyone has to suffer because you do! Hey guys, Buffy’s sad! You’d better be sad too! What do you think you’re doing, being in love when Buffy lost her boyfriend? That’s not allowed! Buffy’s life is just one huge struggle, so it has to be that way for all of us.
BUFFY (V.O.)
In case you haven’t noticed, that’s how things work anyways. That’s what happens when you decide to spend your life fighting evil.
WILLOW (V.O.)
Well I don’t agree with that! What’s the point of living if you can’t have a little happiness?
(out loud)
I’m going to work upstairs.
Willow clomps up the stairs.
KENNEDY
What’s wrong with her?
CUT TO
Hotel suite.
Jenny is packing up her things. Giles is trying to help, but he ends up just watching because Jenny keep s re-packing the stuff he packs. Jenny is visibly agitated.
GILES
Is something bothering you?
JENNY
Besides the impending end of the world as me know it?
GILES
What is it that is particularly worrying you at this moment?
JENNY looks at him a moment, deciding whether or not to tell him. She continues packing.
JENNY
Maybe Ani and I should go back to Seattle.
GILES just looks at her, hurt and bewildered.
JENNY
You saw how Buffy was acting.
GILES
So she wasn’t as welcoming as Willow. That’s no reason to-
JENNY
She thinks Ani’s going to get in the way. And she’s not wrong. Ani’s and easy target, and Buffy’s got enough to worry about already.
GILES
Ani isn’t her responsibility.
JENNY
Buffy doesn’t feel that way. She’s the slayer. She feels responsible for everything. You of all people should know that.
GILES
Well, I-I’ll talk to her about it.
JENNY
(looks at him pityingly)
You don’t seriously think that’ll do any good.
GILES
Then we- we’ll- we’ll just make sure that she won’t have anything to- to feel responsible for. And we need your help now, with the first.
JENNY
I can help from Seattle. Remember: internet? Technopagan? Well, not so much pagan anymore, but…
GILES
(grasping at straws)
uh… but… you… you-you’re here now…
JENNY
I know. (sighs) It was a mistake coming back. I was freaking out. But now I know that you’re alive. Everything will be fine.
GILES
But what if it’s not?
JENNY
Don’t think that way! God Almighty, I’m sorry I came.
GILES is panicky. Too much has been given back to him to be taken away.
GILES
I-I… Jenny, I need you. And Ani. The two of you… nothing makes sense but you. And-and I have to be with Ani. I don’t want to realize that she’s grown up and I don’t even know her.
A beat.
JENNY
She told you about Christmas, didn’t she? What my aunt asked her?
GILES
(he sits on the bed)
Do you mean “How would you like a new father for Christmas?” Oh yes, she told me about that.
JENNY
Rupert, my family has been trying to set me up with “nice Romany boys” ever since they found out I was dating you. When we’re grand parents, they’ll still be doing it. Hell, they were even trying to set me up with some guy when you were visiting them with me. You know that, and it’s never bothered you before.
GILES
They never brought Ani into it before.
JENNY
(sitting next to him)
Did she tell you how she replied?
GILES
(smiles fondly)
She said, “no, I like the one I have.”
JENNY
(crosses her arms and raises and eyebrow, looking sceptical)
Well, I guess she might have said that at one point. But it was really hard to make out what she was saying because she was screaming bloody murder. That’s one question no one will dare ask her again.
GILES chuckles a bit.
JENNY
She’s crazy about you.
GILES
Which is why I should see her more often!
JENNY
Ru, you don’t have to feel guilty. You do have other responsibilities.
GILES
But… you’re my family.
JENNY
As if Buffy isn’t your family too. She’s just as much a daughter to you as Ani is. I know that.
GILES
Then I owe Ani at least as much as I owe Buffy!
JENNY looks at him for a beat, then giggles nervously.
GILES
What’s so funny?
JENNY
We’re just not getting anywhere with this.
GILES
Look, Jenny… I need you. I didn’t realize how much I missed you until you came back. Couldn’t… couldn’t you stay, just for a couple of weeks? See what happens?
JENNY
(gives it some thought)
Okay. We’ll stay for a bit. But the second it gets too dangerous-
GILES
-No argument. You go back.
JENNY
Good. We agree then.
Giles looks relieved. Jenny hugs him.
GILES
I’ll look after her.
Jenny looks up at him so that their foreheads are touching. She smiles in a melancholy way.
JENNY
I know.
(read: I love you)
They kiss, softly at first. They haven’t seen each other for over six months. Giles kisses her face and her neck, while her hands slide up the back of his shirt. They tip over onto the bed. One thing abut prolonged separation, it certainly keeps the spark in their sex life.
CUT TO
Late that night.
Summers’ living room. Similar to scene one. WILLOW, MOLLY, KENNEDY, and DAWN are sitting around the coffee table, WILLOW is on her computer, KENNEDY is looking through a book, and DAWN and MOLLY are brainstorming ways to fight the first. Most of the ideas they come up with are pretty ridiculous. XANDER is seated slightly apart from them, reading a fairytale to ANI who is sitting on his lap. We can overhear bits and pieces of it, and recognize it as the story that the Gentlemen from “Hush” came from. JENNY can hear it too as she comes in with a stack of computer printouts.
JENNY
Xander, I think that story’s too scary for her.
XANDER
Aw, c’mon, Jen. She’s a tough kid. (to Ani) Am I right?
ANI
Right!
JENNY
It’ll give her nightmares
ANI
But I want to know what happens to the princess.
XANDER
Yeah! Me too!
JENNY
(mulls it over, then smiles)
Well, alright. (to Ani) But after this you’re going straight to bed. Got it?
ANI
Got it!
JENNY sits down and starts reading her printouts with a high-liter.
XANDER
Yes! Alright, where were we?
ANI
The Scarymen were cutting out people’s hearts.
XANDER
Right you are. (he continues reading the story)
WILLOW
(to Jenny)
Whatcha got there?
JENNY
Some of my family’s old records. I just ran them through my translation program. I thought it might turn up something new.
Willow and Jenny continue to chat and research as the camera pans to the other side of the room. GILES and BUFFY are sitting where they were in scene one, once again talking in hushed voices.
GILES
See? She’s useful to have around.
BUFFY
I never said that she wasn’t. Look, it’s not that I’m not glad they’re here, just that… I’d rather they weren’t.
GILES gives her a look that’s half annoyance and half pleading. BUFFY stands up.
BUFFY
Maybe we should talk outside.
GILES gets up too and with a backwards glance at the rest of the group, who are all busy working away, he follows BUFFY out the back door.
CUT TO
The back porch.
BUFFY
(directly)
I’m looking after enough people already.
GILES
No one’s asking you to look after them. Jenny’s quite capable of taking care of herself and-
BUFFY
-I know. I’m okay with her here. But not Ani.
GILES stiffens
BUFFY (CONT.)
She’s going to get in the way. I already have to look out for a bunch of inexperienced teenage girls, but at least they have some chance of defending themselves. She’s just a baby!
GILES
(hurt, defensive, edging on angry)
Then don’t bother. She’s my daughter, I’ll look after her.
BUFFY
And I have no doubt that you could if we were facing the regular demon hell-bent of destruction, or a pack of vamps looking to rule Sunnydale. But this isn’t the regular.
GILES
All the more reason for- for… I- I should be with them. I-I-I want to be with them. In case…
BUFFY
In case this is the end? (beat) Are going defeatist on me, Giles?
GILES
Buffy-
BUFFY
You can’t give in to it!
GILES
I’m not! We’ll fight it. We’ll find some way to fight it, I promise. I just…
BUFFY
Why do you want them here, where they’re in the most danger?
GILES
(softly, looks down)
…I need them… I can look after-
BUFFY
(demanding, almost yelling)
What if something happens to them?
GILES
(yells back)
Well, what if something doesn’t?
BUFFY
Giles! This is serious.
GILES
I don’t know! I-I… I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. If I come to it.
BUFFY
(angry, parental)
This if your choice, if you’re going to risk having them here, you’re going to have to prepare for the worst. What if the Bringers show up again and none of us can get to Ani? Or what if the First shows up as some- some random dead person and convinces her to come with it? What if-
GILES
(panicky)
I won’t let that happen! I- I just won’t let that happen. I won’t…
(he sits down on the steps, fidgeting in an anxious and panicky way).
BUFFY
(She sits down next to him, calmer, not angry, but not soothing either)
Don’t fall apart now Giles.
(He acts like she’s not there at all. He’s talking to himself a bit. She’s actually close to tears, not liking what she’s done. She’s scared too.)
Giles!
(He’s not reacting to her. His eyes are closed and he’s shaking a bit. He’s actually at his breaking point- the stress and fear and anxiety that he’s been feeling not just for himself but for Buffy too, not to mention Willow, and his responsibility for them and the potentials; then the sudden happiness of being reunited with his wife and daughter, whom he has tried to keep separate from his life as a Watcher since Ani was born, and whom he has come to associate with safety and normality (a relative normality), bringing a sense of relief; plus the feeling of guilt that he has for all intents and purposes abandoned them for the past 3 ½ years; followed by the realization that he is simply putting them in danger and making things that much more difficult for everyone, but not having the strength left to be parted from them again- all this has brought him to his inevitable breaking point)
(Buffy is scared to see him like this, she hasn’t seen him in such a state since “The Dark Age”)
Giles… I’m sorry. (Looking at him, trying to get him to calm down and act normal, or at least acknowledge she’s there. Trying to sound cheery) They can stay, okay? It’s fine, it won’t be a problem. (waits for him to react) Giles?...
GILES
(he smiles a bit, in a twitchy way. He still doesn’t look at Buffy, but he’s come back to earth at least.)
(whispering, breathing ragged)
Oh God, Buffy… I’m so sorry. I… I don’t know if I can do this anymore.
BUFFY
(tears are running down her face. She can’t believe what she’s hearing)
Don’t say that! I can’t do this without you.
GILES
(softly)
I’m sorry-
BUFFY
(really crying now)
Don’t say that! I need you! Giles, I need you.
(his head is bowed, his eyes are closed, he’s biting his lip. He’s incredibly tired)
Look, I don’t care if you don’t know what to do. I don’t care! I just need you with me.
(He still doesn’t say anything)
Giles, you promised! You promised we’d find a way to fight it.
GILES
(he looks at her, a bit detatched, a bit wistful)
That’s right, I did.
BUFFY
Could you try at least? Dammit, could you just try?!
GILES
(he blinks. Becomes a bit more like his regular self. He hadn’t noticed how upset she was getting, and now he’s dismayed that he’s considered letting her down)
Buffy, I’m sorry-
BUFFY
(sick of hearing him say that)
Giles!
GILES
I-I mean I will. I’ll try. I’m- I will.
BUFFY
(sniffling)
Because you promised?
GILES
(odd question)
Yes-
(At this Buffy starts crying again, gets up, and clomps off to the other end of the porch, where she stands with her arms folded, looking out at the lawn. Giles follows her)
Buffy, what is it?
(he reaches out to put a hand on her shoulder but she shrugs away from him. He lowers his arm)
BUFFY
(coldly)
It’s- it’s just that all this time I thought you loved me like a daughter or something.
GILES
(at a loss)
Buffy, you know I do.
BUFFY
But not enough to want to help me.
GILES
I-I said I would-
BUFFY
You’re just a man of your word.
(Giles is speechless)
So tell me, how much do you love me?
We never hear his answer, because the camera pans around the corner of the house, where THE FIRST AS BUFFY has been listening to the whole conversation.
THE FIRST AS BUFFY
(smiling to itself)
Just enough.
BLACK OUT.
THE END