THE WILLOW AND SARA SERIES #1
SHATTERED ILLUSIONS
ACT ONE
By DragonWriter17
 

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: All of the materials borrowed from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel belong to Joss Whedon and to the entities and companies associated with their creation.  I have borrowed them for creative and entertainment purposes only.  No compensation has been or ever shall be received for the writing below.  No copyright infringement is intended.

My Website: /www.geocities.com/dragonwriter17/ 

Feedback: Yes, but only if it’s of the non-flamey variety: DragonWriter17@aol.com

Distribution: Mystic Muse and my personal site above.  (If you are interested in posting this on your site, please contact me first for permission.)

Spoilers: All seven seasons of BtVS, but especially Seasons 6 and 7.

Pairings: Willow/Kennedy, Willow/Other (Sara)

Author’s Notes: (1) This story is in screenplay format, not in fiction format.  It is the first of a series of screenplays intended to reunite Alyson Hannigan and Amber Benson in several spin-off TV movies that focus on the character of Willow.  However, they feature a new character for Amber Benson: Sara.  (2) Since the Willow and Sara Series is designed to be a true spin-off, it does employ only canon background material.

Number of Chapters: 7 acts

Complete: Yes

Summary: Two years ago, Willow lost the love of her life to a stray bullet that was meant for someone else.  She's recovered from her loss and even moved on to a new relationship.  Then a chance encounter brings her face-to-face with a stranger who looks exactly like her dead girlfriend.  What does she do?  This is the situation in which Willow Rosenberg, best friend of Buffy, finds herself.  It’s been a year since Sunnydale bit the dust, taking the Hellmouth with it.  But the danger is far from over--as Willow discovers in her new life with a new job in a new city, all without her best friends Buffy and Xander conveniently nearby.  A computer geek by day and a warrior witch by night, Willow leads the crusade against the local forces of darkness.  Aiding Willow in her fight are Kennedy, her current girlfriend and now a bonafide Slayer; Andrew, a former member of the Evil Trio, now reformed; and Ruby, a psychic advisor whose gift of Sight is very real.  The battle against evil isn’t the most difficult aspect of Willow’s life, however.  The hardest part is deciding what to do about her budding friendship with (and growing attraction to) Sara, her beloved Tara’s look-alike.  By the end of the movie, Willow will be forced to choose in a way she never expected.

ACT ONE       ACT TWO       ACT THREE       ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE       ACT SIX       ACT SEVEN

It’s Sunnydale, late spring 2003.  The First has been defeated, and the Hellmouth closed.  Buffy and Willow and the rest of the Scoobies are fleeing the now-sinking Sunnydale.  The school bus containing the Gang races along the street as the edges of the sink hole widen more and more, threatening to take the bus down with Sunnydale.  The bus escapes.

EXT. SUNNYDALE SINKHOLE - DAY

It’s about a month after Sunnydale bit the dust.  The Slayers are in the process of going their separate ways to defend the world from evil.

WILLOW and KENNEDY drive up to the Sunnydale sinkhole in a heavily loaded car.  It’s clear that they are in the process of moving. 

They get out and stand at the edge of the sinkhole, staring at it in silence for a while.

                           WILLOW
              You know, it’s weird.  I went through
              hell there.  Fighting evil, losing friends,
              almost losing myself.  But...I’m going to
              miss Sunnydale.

                          KENNEDY
              Well, I certainly won’t.  But I know what
              you mean.  It’s your hometown.  You grew
              up there.

                          WILLOW
              Boy, did I ever!  Living on a Hellmouth
              can accelerate anyone’s maturation process.
                    (looks at sinkhole with longing)
              I just hoped that we would somehow stay
              together, you know, the original Scooby
              Gang: Buffy, Xander, and me.  Silly, huh?

                          KENNEDY
              No.  Not silly.  Not silly at all.  You’re
              family.  But it’s not like they’re that far
              away.  Couple of hours max.

                          WILLOW
              I know.  Still.

                          KENNEDY
              I know this is hard for you, Willow...
                    (turns Willow towards her)
              ...but I’m really glad you’re coming
              with me.

Willow’s frown becomes a smile, and Willow touches Kennedy’s cheek.

EXT. WILLOW’S HOUSE - NIGHT

It’s a year later.  Willow and Kennedy have moved to a fairly large city about two hours away from where Buffy, Dawn, and Xander are living. 

They are in an older residential neighborhood near a vibrant and thriving business area.  They have a small, two-story townhouse.

INT. WILLOW’S HOUSE - THE BEDROOM - NIGHT

Willow and Kennedy are in bed sleeping.  Kennedy is on the side of the bed farthest away from the bathroom and nearest the window.  She has her back to Willow and is sleeping soundly.  Willow is on the other side of the bed, clearly not sleeping soundly.  Her body jerks as she dreams.

FLASHBACK - TARA’S DEATH (WILLOW’S NIGHTMARE)

-- Tara with her back to the window, then the shot
-- Willow with Tara’s blood spraying her shirt
-- Tara falling
-- Willow at Tara’s side, crying
-- Willow screaming “No”

INT. WILLOW’S HOUSE - THE BEDROOM - NIGHT

Willow gasps then sits up in terror.

                          WILLOW
              Tara!

                          KENNEDY
                    (groans)
              Not again.

                          WILLOW
                    (starts to cry)
              Oh, god...

Kennedy goes to Willow and takes her in her arms.

                          KENNEDY
              Shhh, it’s okay.  I’ve got you, baby.

Willow cries for a moment then regains her composure.  She wipes her eyes.

                          WILLOW
              Sorry.

                          KENNEDY
              Same dream?

                          WILLOW
              Yep.

                          KENNEDY
              That’s every night this week.  What’s up
              with that?

                          WILLOW
              I don’t know.  It had gotten better, you
              know, after we --  A little better anyway,
              but now...

                          KENNEDY
              It’s okay.

Kennedy pulls Willow closer.  They snuggle together.  Kennedy gets an unhappy, worried look on her face as Willow goes back to sleep.

EXT. WILLOW’S OFFICE - DAY

A small office is tucked away in a line of other small businesses.  The sign outside says “Computer Magic.” 

INT. WILLOW’S OFFICE - DAY

Willow is sitting at an L-shaped desk, which has at least three different computers on it.  Willow is pecking away at one of them.  Then the phone rings, and Willow answers it.

                          WILLOW
              Computer Magic. This is Willow.
                    (rolls eyes, sticks out tongue)
              Mr. Maloney.  How’s it going?
                    (shakes her head)
              Ohhhh, Mr. Maloney.  What did you do
              this time?
                    (puts her hand to her head)
              How many times have I told you not
              to use Delete, hmmm?
                    (listens, then cuts him off)
              Okay, don’t worry.  I’ll be right over.
              See you in a bit.  Bye.

Willow hangs up, then begins to bang her head on her desk, punctuating her next line with appropriately-placed bangs.

                          WILLOW
              Why, oh why, do I do this?

                          ANDREW (O.S.)
              Ummm, ‘cause it pays the bills?

Willow looks up from her head-banging and turns and looks back at the office area behind her.  ANDREW is at a large work table with multiple computers in various stages of hardware repair.  Willow makes a face that says “Why, oh why, did I hire Andrew?” 

                          ANDREW
              Speaking of bills, is it pay day yet?
              ‘Cause Xanadu has gotten in copies of
              The Uncanny X-Men #141 and 142, and they
              are in excellent condition.  I mean,
              I would’ve liked mint condition obviously,
              but I’ll take what I can get.  You know,
              these are the two issues that are set in
              2013, when the Sentinels have taken over the
              United States, and all the mutants have
              either been killed or incarcerated...

As Andrew starts to babble, Willow returns to her head-banging.

EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT

Kennedy is fighting four vampires at once.  She dusts one, fights back another, but the other two get Kennedy pinned. 

                          WILLOW (O.S.)
              Kennedy!

Willow is fighting two vampires of her own.  She is holding the two vampires off with magic on one side.  She motions to her other side and floats a large stick, then sends it flying through both of the vampires, dusting them.  Willow runs to aid Kennedy.

One of the vampires has a pipe around Kennedy’s neck and is choking her while the other is raining blows on her.  Kennedy struggles then finally manages to kick her feet up and strike the vampire who is beating her, driving the vampire away from her.  Then she grabs the arms of the vampire behind her and flips the vampire over her head.  Kennedy stakes the vampire she flipped and looks up just in time to stake the vampire she kicked away as he rushes back for her.  The final vampire flees, but Kennedy throws a stake and dusts him from afar.

                          WILLOW
              Whoa, that was close.

                          KENNEDY
              Yeah, too close.  You said there
              were going to be three.

                          WILLOW
                    (chuckles nervously)
              Three...six...what are numbers to a
              bonafide Slayer anyway?

                          KENNEDY
              It matters, Will.  Those vamps
              almost took my head off!  Get it
              straight, okay?  I’ve got to know
              that I can count on you.

                          WILLOW
              You can count on me.  Anyway, I did
              the best I could.  You know these things
              aren’t perfect.  You, I mean, we have to
              be ready for anything.  Just because we
              defeated the First and the Hellmouth
              went down with Sunnydale, doesn’t
              mean evil isn’t still out there. 
              It is...in all shapes and sizes...and
              numbers.

There is an uneasy silence for a moment.  Then Willow goes to Kennedy and touches her on the arm.

                          WILLOW
              Hey, let’s not fight, okay?  We beat
              the bad guys, and we came out on top. 
              I say we celebrate.

                          KENNEDY
              I’m not in the mood.  Near-death
              experiences have that effect on me.

                          WILLOW
              Oh, come on.  The night is still young.
              And this is our last night before you
              leave to go see your parents.

Kennedy pulls away from Willow and starts to walk away.

                          KENNEDY
              I said I’m not in the mood.  Let’s
              just go home.

                          WILLOW
              Fine.  We’ll go home.

EXT. WILLOW’S HOUSE - DAY

There is a taxi out front.  The driver is loading luggage items. 

INT. WILLOW’S HOUSE - THE FOYER - DAY

Willow and Kennedy are standing, making their good-byes.  Kennedy has a small back pack across one shoulder.

                          WILLOW
              Are you sure you got everything? 
              Did you pack your toothbrush?

                          KENNEDY
              Yes, I’m sure.  Yes, I packed my
              toothbrush.

                          WILLOW
              What about your pillow?  You know
              you like to have your own pillow and --

                          KENNEDY
              Will!   I’ve got everything.
                    (taxi honks outside)
              I’ve got to go.  I don’t want
              to miss my flight.
                    (starts to walk away)
              I’ll call you when I get there.

                          WILLOW
              Wait!  Aren’t you forgetting something?

                          KENNEDY
              Oh, no, not again!

                          WILLOW
              No, I mean a hug and a kiss.

                          KENNEDY
              Oh.  Sure.

Kennedy gives Willow a quick hug and kiss, but it’s clear that Willow wanted a more lingering and heart-felt embrace.

EXT. WILLOW’S HOUSE – DAY

Kennedy opens the door and heads outside and gets in the taxi.  Willow stands in the doorway and smiles and waves as the taxi takes off, but Kennedy isn’t looking back.  Willow is sad as she drops her hand and watches the taxi drive away.

INT. WILLOW’S HOUSE - DAY

Willow goes back in the house, looks around the now empty and lonely rooms.  She frowns then trudges upstairs to the bedroom.  She goes to her chest of drawers and opens the top drawer. 

She pulls out the doll’s eye crystal that Tara gave her long ago.  She touches the jagged, fist-sized purple crystal fondly and places it on top of the dresser. 

Willow looks back in the drawer and pulls out a framed picture.  It shows a happily smiling Tara.  She stares at the picture.  She smiles faintly, then makes a pained expression, frowning as she remembers Tara’s death.  She shakes her head to clear the bad memory. She places the picture on top of the chest behind the crystal.

INT. WILLOW’S OFFICE – DAY

Willow is alone; Andrew is on call.  Willow is at her desk, but she isn’t working.  She’s staring off into space, thinking hard.  The phone rings, scaring Willow into nearly jumping out of her chair.  Willow flails about then manages to grab the receiver on the phone.

                          WILLOW
              Hello!
                    (pushes her hair back)
              Oh, yes, sorry.  This is Computer Magic. 
              Can I help you?
                    (listens)
              Is everything plugged in?  Is the power
              strip on?
                    (furrows her brow)
              Hmmm.  Well, I think I need to see this
              unit in person.  Do you want me to come
              on-site?

Willow picks up a notepad and pen off her desk and starts jotting down some notes.

                          WILLOW
              Okay.  Okay.  I’ll be there as soon as
              my tech gets back to the office.  See you
              then.

EXT. SISTER RUBY’S – DAY

Willow walks down a street looking at businesses and checking her notepad for the address.  She has a computer bag over her shoulder.  Then she sees the sign for the place she’s been called to.  It says “Sister Ruby, Psychic Advisor.”

Willow smiles and shakes her head and goes to the door and goes inside.

INT. SISTER RUBY’S – THE WAITING ROOM - DAY

Willow enters the room.  She hears a bell as she breaks the beam of the security device.  The room is empty except for chairs and a few tables with magazines. 

                          WILLOW
              Ummm, Sister Ruby?

Willow turns around in the room, unsure of what to do next.  Then she sees a door with a “Do Not Enter Until Called” sign on it.  Willow knocks on it tentatively.  She listens for a response, but doesn’t get one.  Then she sees a wall speaker and goes to it, but realizes it doesn’t have a call button.

                          RUBY (V.O. via speaker)
                    (in an exotic accent)
              You may enter the sacred space within.

                          WILLOW
                    (to herself)
              Ohhh-kkkay.  Over-dramatic much?

Willow goes to the door.  It buzzes.  Willow opens the door and enters. 

INT. SISTER RUBY’S – THE SACRED SPACE - DAY

It’s dark inside, lighted only by low lamps and candles and glowing incense.  Exotic but creepy music plays softly.  Willow looks around but doesn’t see anyone.

                          WILLOW
              Sister Ruby?

                          RUBY (O.S.)
                    (still in an exotic accent)
              Do not speak.

Willow turns toward the voice.  She sees RUBY in a doorway, holding the heavy curtains to the sides.  Ruby’s figure is backlit, so Willow cannot make out her features.

                          RUBY
                    (still in an exotic accent)
              I know why you have come.

                          WILLOW
              Well, I hope so since you called me, or
              at least I think it was you.  I’m from
              Computer Magic?

                          RUBY
                   (now in her normal voice)
              Lord, have mercy!  Wasted a perfectly good
              entrance on a...computer person!

Ruby turns on the lights.  Willow blinks her eyes in the bright light.  When her eyes adjust, she sees an elderly black woman, dressed in a long, robe-like silken dress with dark swirling mystical colors and designs on it.  She is wearing a scarf, almost turban like, on her head, and many bracelets and rings.

                          RUBY
              This way, child, this way.  The office is
              back here.

Willow follows Ruby into the office in the back of the building.

INT. SISTER RUBY’S – THE BACK OFFICE – DAY

It’s a small but tidy office with a kitchenette and a restroom off to the side.

                          RUBY
                    (motions toward the desk)
              Here it is.

Willow goes to the desk, puts down her bag, opens it, and pulls out a small flashlight.  The monitor is on top of the desk, but the tower is below the desk.

                          WILLOW
              Let me take a look.

Willow gets down on her hands and knees, crawls under the desk, and begins her examination.

                          RUBY
              My daughter bought me that contraption.
              As if a woman my age can learn such a
              thing as that.

                          WILLOW
                    (still under the desk)
              Well, you know what they say, you’re
              never too old to learn.
                    (makes a click)
              Aha!  Just as I suspected.

The computer starts to boot up, and the monitor flickers to life. 

                          RUBY
                    (puts her hand to her chest)
              Thank you, Jesus!

Willow crawls out from under the desk and gets to her feet.  She puts her flashlight back up and closes her bag.

                          WILLOW
              The main reset switch in the back of the
              tower got accidentally turned off.  You
              could have punched that button in front all
              day and it still wouldn’t have worked, not
              with the main cut.

                          RUBY
              Well, no wonder I couldn’t get it to work.
              So, how much do I owe you?

                          WILLOW
              Not a thing.
                    (shrugs)
              I can’t charge for two minutes’ worth
              of work.

                          RUBY
              No, I insist.

                          WILLOW
              Tell you what.  We’ll consider this first
              visit a freebie.  Then, when you develop a
              real computer problem -- and believe me, you
              will, we are talking about computers here --
              when that happens, you can call me.  Deal?

Willow hands her business card to Ruby.

                          RUBY
              Deal.

Ruby takes the business card from Willow.  Then she offers her hand for a shake.  Willow smiles and shakes her hand.

A power surge goes between them.  They jump and abruptly pull back, both shocked at what has occurred.  They look at each other warily.  Then Ruby scrutinizes Willow.

                          RUBY
                    (in awe)
              Such power.

Ruby closes the space between them and stares Willow in the eyes while Willow looks on, concerned but not moving.  Ruby reaches out and touches Willow’s cheek softly.

                          RUBY
                    (with true pity)
              And such sadness.

Willow backs away from Ruby, now alarmed.

                          WILLOW
              What the --  How did --
                    (realizes)
              You’re for real, aren’t you?

                          RUBY
                    (nods)
              Yes, child.  What you saw in there...
                    (in her exotic voice)
              ...that is part of the show.
                    (back in her own voice)
              But my gift...
                    (taps her temple)
              ...the Seeing, it is real.

                          WILLOW
              What do you see?

                          RUBY
              I See what others cannot: what is, what was,
              and what will be.

                          WILLOW
              That must come in handy when you’re
              in Vegas.

                          RUBY
              If only it worked that way.  I should have
              said, I See what may be.  The past, the
              present, these I See clearly.  But the
              future...this, I See through a glass,
              darkly.

                          WILLOW
              If your gift is real, why the charade?

                          RUBY
              My reasons are my own.

An awkward silence follows Ruby’s statement. 

                          WILLOW
              Well, I need to check in at the office. 

                          RUBY
              I’ll buzz you out.

Willow heads out of the office and into the sacred space and over to the door.  Ruby buzzes the door, and Willow opens it.  Holding the door open, Willow turns back to Ruby.

                          WILLOW
              Be seeing you.

Willow waves and leaves the room.  Ruby waves and watches her go.

                          RUBY
              Yes, you will, child.  You certainly will.

EXT. ELLIE’S RESTAURANT – DAY

Willow walks down the street on which Sister Ruby’s is located.  She walks a ways down, where there are several businesses and a restaurant.  She looks back once at Sister Ruby’s, shakes her head, and goes back to walking.  She pulls out her cell phone and punches some numbers.

                          WILLOW
              Andrew?  Hey, it’s me.  I just finished
              up that on-site call.  You will never guess
              where it was at.
                    (rolls her eyes)
              You don’t really have to guess, Andrew.
              I’ll tell you about it when I get there.
              Right now I’m going to lunch.  Want me to
              get you something?
                    (listens)
              I don’t know. 

Willow looks at her options, and her eyes settle on a sign which reads “Ellie’s Kitchen.”

                          WILLOW
              I think I’ll go to “Ellie’s Kitchen.” 
              It looks like a diner-type place.

Willow listens, then listens some more, then rolls her eyes impatiently.

                          WILLOW
              Okay.  Okay already!  I’ll do the best
              I can!  See you in about an hour.  Bye.

INT. ELLIE’S RESTAURANT - DAY

Willow enters the restaurant, which is a greasy-spoon type of diner.  She seats herself in a booth and pulls out the menu.  She pulls some napkins out of the dispenser and wipes down the menu and table, then starts perusing the menu. 

SARA, the waitress, comes over to take her order, but Willow doesn’t look up.  Sara isn’t shown fully.  There is only a close side-view of Willow examining the menu with Sara behind her, revealing only Sara’s torso, like her arms and her hands holding her pad and pen.

                          SARA
              So, what can I get you?

                          WILLOW
                    (not looking up from her menu)
              I’m not sure.  What’s the --

Willow stops short in the middle of her question when she glances up from her menu and sees Sara.  Sara looks exactly like Willow’s dead lover, Tara.  Willow just stares, frozen, speechless.

GO TO ACT TWO