.:: Transcript 7x04 - Help ::.

Written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner
Original Air Date: October 15, 2002

Transcribed by: CariCranberry
For: http://www.buffyworld.com

NB: The content of this transcript, including the characters and the story, belongs to Mutant Enemy. This transcript was created based on the broadcast episode.

BUFFYWORLD.COM prefers that you direct link to this transcript rather than post it on your site, but you can post it on your site if you really want, as long as you keep everything intact, this includes the link to buffyworld.com, the transcribers name and this writing. Please also keep the disclaimers intact. Do not post the transcript on your site without the transcribers name on it!

TEASER (RECAP SEGMENT):
GILES (V.O.)
Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

1 EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET IN FRONT OF MAGIC BOX - DAY
Willow is walking down the street toward the old Magic Box storefront. It's burned and boarded up. Anya comes out the front door with a box full of salvaged items. Willow runs up to her, excited to see her.

WILLOW
Anya!

ANYA
I thought you were with Giles studying how to not kill people.

WILLOW
I just got back.

Cut to:

2 INT. HALLWAY AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Buffy and Principal Wood are talking.

BUFFY
Are you asking me to be a counselor?

Cut to:

3 INT. BASEMENT AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Spike is acting crazy in the basement, holding his hands to his ears and screaming.

Cut to:

4 EXT. SUNNYDALE STREET IN FRONT OF MAGIC BOX - DAY
Anya and Willow are still talking.

ANYA
Spike's insane in the school basement, Xander's there doing construction on the new gym—

Cut to:

5 INT. BUFFY'S OFFICE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Principal Wood is showing her around on her first day at work. Buffy has a cubicle near a hallway window.

BUFFY
I was, uh, wondering why I—

PRINCIPAL
—have this job?

BUFFY
I still haven't finished college.

PRINCIPAL
These students need someone around here who understands them; I need someone who understands these students.

Fade to black.

End Recap.

The Start Of Episode

Prologue:
6 INT. MORTUARY SOMEWHERE IN SUNNYDALE - NIGHT
A woman in her fifties is laid out in a coffin.

MORTUARY MAN 1 (O.S.)
You did good work on her. She looks good.

MORTUARY MAN 2 (O.S.)
Thanks. She's all set for the service tomorrow.

Two men in black suits walk past the coffin.

MORTUARY MAN 1 (O.S.)
Good. All right then. I'll see you in the morning.

MORTUARY MAN 2 (O.S.)
G'night.

They turn the light off on their way out and shut the door. Pan out. There are several other closed coffins in the room. A few seconds later, one of the other coffins opens, and Buffy climbs out with a flashlight. Then Xander climbs out of another coffin.

XANDER
Hey.

BUFFY
(jumps) Sorry.

XANDER
33 minutes. Since when do we go through all this trouble for one lousy vampire. Excuse me, one lousy potential vampire.

BUFFY
Vampire by vampire. It's the only way I know how.

There's a knocking sound from one of the smaller coffins. Buffy and Xander go to open it, and Dawn, who was fairly cramped, gets out, gasping for air.

DAWN
I think this thing has a freakin' child lock on it.

BUFFY
Shh!

DAWN
You know, I'm not the shortest one here. I don't know why I had to be in the kid coffin.

BUFFY
Look, I know it's my job—

XANDER
No, no. I'm sorry. I wanna help. I guess I've been a bit stressed out lately. I'm sorry I took it out on you.

BUFFY
No big. Been kinda stressed myself.

DAWN
Well, the whole Willow sitch is not unstressifying.I mean she's here, but not "part of the gang" here and hopefully not "under my feet here in another time dimension" here.

BUFFY
There's Willow. There's the looming humongo bad. And it's a school night. I should be home in bed, cuddled up to my insomnia, and worrying about how I'm gonna mess up tomorrow.

DAWN
You'll be fine. You'll be a great counselor.

BUFFY
It's my first week actually talking to the kids. What if their problems are all weird and tricky?

XANDER
I think you underestimate your familiarity with the world of weird and tricky. This job's perfect for you.

BUFFY
Check out perfect me.

Buffy walks toward the casket containing the dead woman. Dawn and Xander follow her. Buffy shines the flashlight in the dead woman's face, inspecting her.

BUFFY
Taking my sister on an educational outing to the—

DAWN
Dead body.

XANDER
I don't know. Amateur opinion here, but she looks dead. I mean like natural causes dead.

BUFFY
The paper said she had unusual cuts and contusions on her neck.

Buffy shines the flashlight on the dead woman's neck, and right below her pearl necklace there are two puncture wounds that have been stitched up.

XANDER
Maybe she cut herself shaving and then died naturally of embarrassment.

Buffy hands the flashlight to Xander.

DAWN
She looks...

BUFFY
Peaceful.

The woman in the casket opens her eyes, and they're yellow, like a vampire's.

DEAD WOMAN
I am not peaceful.

BUFFY
That, I can help with.

Buffy takes out a stake and plunges it into the lady's heart, turning her into dust.

BUFFY
I always thought closed caskets were more tasteful anyway.

Buffy closes the lid to the woman's casket.

End Prologue.

End Teaser.

Cut to:

Opening credits and title sequence.

ACT I.
7 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
School is in session. There are students wandering the halls. Buffy is arranging and rearranging her desk. Then she decides to sharpen all her pencils. A student walks up to her mid-sharpening. The girl, skinny with long brown hair, looks kind of timid and introverted.

INTROVERTED GIRL
Hello?

BUFFY
(startled) Come in! (hides the pencils) Hi.

INTROVERTED GIRL
Mr. Miller sent me here.

BUFFY
Do you know why?

INTROVERTED GIRL
I'm not sure. Maybe 'cause this guy was picking on me.

Cut to:

8 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
A young, tough-looking boy is standing in Buffy's cubicle wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up over his head.

TOUGH BOY
I don't wanna talk to you.

BUFFY
OK. That's fine.

TOUGH BOY
I'm serious. I don't wanna talk.

BUFFY
OK.

Cut to:

9 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
A tall, good-looking, confident boy is talking to Buffy. He's wearing a stylish knit sport shirt and looks kind of preppy.

CONFIDENT BOY
You know, I hate to miss Bio, but I thought it was best I come speak with you.

BUFFY
So, what's on your mind?

CONFIDENT BOY
On my mind?

BUFFY
Are you worried about school? Uh, friends, girls, your parents?

CONFIDENT BOY
Yeah, yeah, that's it. My parents.

BUFFY
What about them?

CONFIDENT BOY
Oh, issues... of divorce.

Cut to:

10 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Resume Buffy's conversation with the introverted girl.

BUFFY
You know, it's awful... being teased. But the thing is, you know, with bullies like this, they're really just—

INTROVERTED GIRL
Insecure? Yeah, everyone says that. You know, I'm really tired of everyone being so insecure.

Cut to:

11 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Resume Buffy's conversation with the tough boy. He is staring at her with his best tough face. He sits down at Buffy's desk.

Cut to:

12 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Resume Buffy's conversation with confident boy.

BUFFY
Divorce is terrible. My parents got divorced when I was a kid.

CONFIDENT BOY
Yeah, my parents are happily married. (Buffy glares) It's hard. Uh, I feel... left out. B-but I'm also concerned about girls. (laughs nervously) OK, I'm just bored. Maybe I should get back to Bio?

Buffy nods, and the boy walks away.

Cut to:

13 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Resume Buffy's conversation with the introverted girl.

BUFFY
You have to stick up for yourself, Amanda. You need to show this bully that you're not gonna take any more of his sh—guff. Uh, any guff.

AMANDA/INTROVERTED GIRL
'Cause that's what I did. I stuck up for myself. The other day after class, I jumped him in the parking lot, and I slammed his stupid-ass insecure face right into the pavement.

BUFFY
You what?

AMANDA
I guess that's another reason Mr. Miller wanted me to see you. (Buffy sighs) Do you think I should pound on him some more?

Cut to:

14 EXT. PARK IN SUNNYDALE - DAY
Willow and Xander are walking through a park, talking. Willow's wearing black.

XANDER
I bet she's giving them great advice.

WILLOW
Absolutely! Those kids are lucky to have Buffy looking out for them. I just wish she believed it. She's still stressing over the whole "dropped out of college, not actually qualified" thing. Plus the salivating hellmouth underneath her feet and the whole—

XANDER
From beneath you, it devours. It's not the friendliest jingle, is it? It's no "I like Ike" or "Milk: it does a body good."

WILLOW
I know. It's gonna be bad. It's gonna be real bad. And I wonder, will I— Well, if it comes— When it comes, will I be able to help?

XANDER
I think so.

WILLOW
I don't know. I don't know what I can do. I mean, frankly, I'm—I'm scared of what I might do.

XANDER
Yeah, I get that. Figuring out how to control your magic seems a lot like hammering a nail. (Willow looks confused) Well, uh, hear me out. So you're hammering, right? OK, well at the end of the hammer, you have the power, but no control. It takes, like, two strokes to hit the nail in, or you could hit your thumb.

WILLOW
Ouch.

XANDER
So you choke up. Control, but no power. It could take like ten strokes to knock the nail in. Power, control. It's a tradeoff.

WILLOW
That's actually not a bad analogy.

XANDER
Thanks.

WILLOW
Except... I'm less worried about hitting my thumb, and more worried about going all black-eyed baddy and bewitching that hammer into cracking my friends' skulls open like coconuts.

XANDER
Right. Ouch.

WILLOW
Sorry. (beat) Xander, being back here... I don't know...

XANDER
It'll take time. (sighs, they stop walking) Are you sure you're ready for this?

Willow nods and walks forward without Xander. Pan out to show they are at a graveyard now. Willow walks by herself past many graves before coming up to a tombstone. She puts a handful of rocks on the headstone, and kneels in front of it. The following text is carved on the stone:

Tara Maclay
Oct 16, 1980 - May 7, 2002

WILLOW
Hey.

Willow touches Tara's name on the headstone.

WILLOW
It's me.

Cut to:

15 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Resume Buffy's conversation with the tough boy. He is sitting down at Buffy's desk.

TOUGH BOY
I'm scared. I don't want to be left all alone. My brother's joining up with the Marines. Whew. You know, if he knew I was making a fool of myself, he'd smack me in my head. I guess I'm just being stupid.

BUFFY
Sounds like your brother's pretty tough.

TOUGH BOY
Yeah, he's a man. I'm just all messed up right now.

BUFFY
You are not messed up. It is not messed up to worry about your brother.

TOUGH BOY
What if he doesn't come back? What if he gets blown up?

BUFFY
Have you talked to him? Have you told him how you feel?

TOUGH BOY
No. No, I don't wanna talk to him. I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna talk to him.

BUFFY
OK.

TOUGH BOY
You understand?

Cut to:

16 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Buffy's counseling a nerd boy now. He's wearing a crystal pendant necklace and horn-rimmed glasses.

BUFFY
So, Josh, what's on your mind?

JOSH
Well, I'm worried that I'm... gay.

BUFFY
OK, first of all, I... I think it's great that you would come and talk to me about this. And second of all, you should know that there is nothing shameful about being gay. Nothing.

JOSH
I-I know. It's just—I'm not positive, so, uh, I was thinking that... why don't you go on, uh, a date with me so I can be sure.

Josh flashes his crooked-toothed smile at Buffy while she shakes her head in disbelief and sighs.

Cut to:

17 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Buffy is counseling yet another student. She seems flustered with this student, holding her head in her hand before finally speaking.

BUFFY
It sounds like it's difficult for you. Like maybe your sister makes it hard for you to establish your own identity. You said she's controlling, she doesn't let you make your own decisions—

The student she's counseling turns out to be Dawn, who's sporting an attitude.

DAWN
Yeah, and she borrows my clothes without asking.

BUFFY
I understand. That must be hard.

Cut to:

18 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Buffy's now counseling a girl who doesn't quite fit any stereotype. She's wearing a black t-shirt and purple streaks in her blonde hair.

BUFFY
So, you're not doing your homework.

GIRL
I guess not. It all just... seems kind of ... whatever.

BUFFY
I know high school can seem kind of frustrating. But if you just get through it, then you can go to college, you know, or you can join the French Foreign Legion, or anything you want.

GIRL
(smiles) Yeah, well, I'm not gonna do all that stuff.

BUFFY
OK, no Foreign Legion. I get that. I mean all the changing your name, and being indentured for all those years, and occupying Algeria...

GIRL
(laughs) It's just that I'm not graduating from high school.

BUFFY
Why not?

GIRL
I really like that shirt. Where'd you get it?

BUFFY
Cassie, don't change the subject. Why won't you graduate?

CASSIE/GIRL
(seriously) Because next Friday I'm gonna die.

Fade to black.

ACT II.
19 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Resume conversation between Buffy and Cassie.

BUFFY
What?

CASSIE
Can we talk about something else?

BUFFY
No, we have to talk about this.

CASSIE
Just... never mind.

BUFFY
Cassie, what makes you feel like this?

CASSIE
Feel like what?

BUFFY
Like you wanna hurt yourself.

CASSIE
Oh, I'm— (laughs) I'm not gonna commit suicide if—if that's what you're saying. No way.

BUFFY
(confused) OK then. Then what are you saying?

CASSIE
Look, I don't mean to be a pain. You seem really nice, and I know you're just trying to help. But I'm wasting your time.

BUFFY
No you're not. This is why I'm here. Cassie, please tell me, why do you think you're gonna die?

CASSIE
I don't think it, I know it. I just know.

BUFFY
What do you mean, you know? A-are you saying that someone's going to hurt you? Has someone threatened you?

CASSIE
No. (beat) No, I just know that next Friday I'm gonna die. Some things I just know. I don't know how, I just do. (beat) Like I know there will be coins—

BUFFY
Coins?

CASSIE
Mm-hmm. Lots of coins. Weird ones. And I know that you'll go someplace dark underground. I-I don't know.

BUFFY
What do you mean underground?

CASSIE
And I know you'll try to help—

BUFFY
Cassie, I-I don't understand what you're saying.

CASSIE
But you can't, OK? I gotta go. (stands up, gathers her things) Trig. I don't want Mr. Corrigan sending me Principal Wood again.

BUFFY
Cassie, please—

CASSIE
Thanks for being so nice. I really do like that shirt. (touches her own shoulder) You should put a sweater on so it doesn't get stained. I gotta go. (walks away)

BUFFY
(stands) Cassie, wait, please—

CASSIE
Gotta go.

Cut to:

20 INT. PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Buffy's standing, panicked, talking to Principal Wood, who's calm, sitting behind his desk.

BUFFY
What am I supposed to do?

PRINCIPAL
Well, you did what you were supposed to do. You reported the situation to me.

BUFFY
And...

PRINCIPAL
Listen, Buffy, it's hard. Kids this age... they're hurting, they're pissed off, and they say things. Sometimes they say awful things. (stands up, walks to coffee maker, pours coffee) When I was in high school, I had a thing with this guy, right? Real bully. I kept telling everyone that he'd better sleep with one eye open 'cause I was gonna bust his ass. Well, I got suspended. Talk like that is taken pretty seriously where I come from.

BUFFY
The hood?

Principal Wood stops pouring his coffee and looks at Buffy.

PRINCIPAL
Beverly Hills... which is a hood.

Buffy looks embarrassed. Principal Wood finishes preparing coffee, and walks toward Buffy with a cup of coffee for each of them. He hands one mug to Buffy.

PRINCIPAL
Listen, the point is, I was talking big because I was scared. I couldn't bust a move back in high school, let alone someone's ass. Most of the time, that's what it is when these students act out. Fear, pain—

BUFFY
But sometimes, it's not just talk, right?

PRINCIPAL
(walking back to sit at desk) Every time there's a threat like this, we do the same dance. Inform teachers, search lockers, but we can't—we can't know what's gonna happen, and we can't search their brains. We just—we just do what we can.

BUFFY
It's not enough. I need to fix this. I don't usually get a heads up before somebody dies.

PRINCIPAL
What do you mean usually?

BUFFY
(animated, talking with hands) No. No, not since—I mean, I'm sure it's not usual to get a chance to stop something like—I just I need to do something, OK? (walks toward Principal's desk) I have to make this better— (trips over something, and spills coffee on her shirt) Oh! Oh, shoot.

Buffy looks down at the coffee stain on her shirt, and remembers what Cassie said earlier.

Cut to:

21 INT. HALLWAY AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Dawn's opens her locker, and Buffy's standing there when she closes it again.

BUFFY
I have a job for you.

Cut to:

22 INT. LIBRARY AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Dawn's standing near one of the library stacks, listening in on a conversation between Cassie and guy friend.

GUY
What're you drawing?

CASSIE
Don't you have a history test to study for?

GUY
When are you gonna design me a tattoo?

CASSIE
A tattoo? Oh, right. I could imagine that.

GUY
Come on. Design something. I mean, maybe we could get matching tattoos. How 'bout like a snake with fire coming out of its mouth.

CASSIE
Hmm. Or a sexy hula girl who wiggles when you flex?

GUY
Yeah, now you're talking. Sexy hula girl. But a sexy snake hula girl.

Dawn is pretending to read a book while casually making her way toward their conversation.

CASSIE
(chuckles) You are so ridiculous.

GUY
So, I was thinking... maybe we should go to that dance after all.

CASSIE
What do you mean "after all." I told you I don't wanna go.

GUY
Well, I assumed you were kidding.

CASSIE
It would probably be lame anyways.

Dawn's standing behind them now.

GUY
Well, yeah, but lame is funny… and, you know, maybe fun if, you know, we're hanging out together.

CASSIE
We hang out together all the time.

GUY
Right. And therefore we should hang out together at the winter formal.

Dawn walks up to them and interrupts.

DAWN
(to Cassie) Hey. Um, I'm in ceramics class with you. I'm Dawn Summers. I forgot if we had an assignment last week. I spaced.

CASSIE
Right. Um. Hey, Dawn. Uh, yeah, you know we did have an assignment, but I didn't write it down. I think something to do with glazes...

GUY
As scintillating as the pottery talk is, I'd better actually go study. (gathers his things and stands)(to Dawn) I'm Mike, by the way.

DAWN
Hi, Mike. I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—

MIKE/GUY
Oh, don't worry about it. I better go hit the books if I'm gonna ace this test. Nice meeting you, though. Cass, I'll see you later?

CASSIE
Yep. (Mike walks away) Hey, Mike, you're gonna get a "B".

MIKE
Oh, "A+" baby, "A+".

Dawn notices that Cassie is reading Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five. Dawn sits down beside Cassie in the chair Mike vacated.

DAWN
So, um, is that any good?

CASSIE
Yeah. Actually, yeah.

DAWN
What do you have to read it for?

CASSIE
Oh, just for me, I guess. I kinda stopped reading my homework assignments. I just... read what I want.

DAWN
That's so cool. I'd do that, but my sister'd be down my neck in a second.

CASSIE
Summers... hey— are you the counselor's little sister?

DAWN
No. She's my sister. Lucky me, huh?

CASSIE
No, no, she's-she's really nice. I actually just saw her this morning.

DAWN
Oh, really? What about? (beat) Uh, I'm sorry, that's none of my business.

CASSIE
No, I don't care.

DAWN
So, Mike's a cutie. Are you guys going to that dance?

CASSIE
No, I don't think so.

DAWN
Oh. I mean, didn't he ask you?

CASSIE
Uh, like 105 times.

DAWN
And you said no?

CASSIE
106 times. No, I-I can't go. I'm not gonna be around that night.

Cut to:

23 INT. DINING ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Buffy and Xander are gathered around Willow, who's at her laptop on the table.

BUFFY
Cassie's records all show the same thing. Good grades, good kid, then all of a sudden not so good grades, absenteeism, comments about apathy and depression—

XANDER
So, the question is, what changed?

BUFFY
Right. If she did have some sort of psychic vision, that would explain it.

WILLOW
Do you really think this girl is some kind of precog?

BUFFY
Oh, I don't know. I told you about the shirt, right?

XANDER
Buff, you spilled a cup of coffee. I'm not saying you don't have slayer grace, but it's not the first time.

WILLOW
I mean maybe, just maybe, you're trying so hard to help that you're seeing paranormal when there's just normal.

BUFFY
Maybe. But maybe not.

WILLOW
Want me to check her medical records?

BUFFY
Her doctor already sent them.

Buffy hands the file to Xander, who flips through it.

XANDER
(softly) Let me see that. (normal) Strep throat. Ear infections. Yeast infections. None of my business... no real info here.

WILLOW
Have you googled her yet?

XANDER
Willow, she's 17.

WILLOW
It's a search engine. Look. (types on laptop) OK, let's see what "Cassie Newton" pulls up. (computer beeps) Hey, look. Check this. She's got her own site.

NB: Google is a real web site: www.google.com. Cassie Newton has a web site too, where you can read her poems, etc.: www.cassienewton.com.

XANDER
A day and a half of researching, and we finally try looking up her.

Cassie's website is artsy and eccentric. The graphics resemble a collage of words cut from magazines pasted together.

BUFFY
Wow, that's a lot of poems.

XANDER
Poems. Always a sign of pretentious inner turmoil.

WILLOW
(reading from the website)
The sheets above me
cool my skin
like dirt
on a mad woman's grave
I rise into
the moonlight white
and watch
the mirror stare
Pale fish looks
back at me
Pale fish that will
never swim
My skin is milk
for no man to drink
My thighs unused
unclenched
This body is
not ready yet
But dirt waits for no
woman
and coins will
buy no time
I hear the chatter
of the bugs. It's they alone
will feast.

Meanwhile, Dawn has come home.

XANDER
OK, death is really on her brain.

DAWN
We all deal with death.

XANDER
This girl isn't just dealing, she's giving death a long, sloppy word-kiss. She has a yen for the big dirt-nap.

WILLOW
I don't know. I mean, a lot of teens post some pretty angsty poetry on the web. I mean, I even posted a melodramatic love poem or two back in the day.

XANDER
Love poems?

WILLOW
I'm over you now, sweetie.

XANDER
Love poems!

WILLOW
Look, all I'm saying is that this is normal teen stuff. You join chat rooms, you write poetry, you post Doogie Howser fan-fic. It's all normal, right? Let's see what other sites there are. (types, computer beeps)

DAWN
You guys are way off track. I got a hunch on this one.

No one acknowledges Dawn. They're just looking at the laptop.

WILLOW
(computer beeps) Oh, wait, no, here's something. No, that's Philip Newton.

BUFFY
No, that's her dad. Open it.

DAWN
Guys, I'm telling you. I got this case cracked wide-open. I got the perp fingered. I told you 'bout Mike Helgenberg, right?

BUFFY
Uh, that's the guy that asked her to the dance?

DAWN
Right. The one that keeps asking her to the dance. I'm thinking, who likes to be rejected? Nobody. I'm thinking, some people can't handle the rejection. I'm thinking that—

WILLOW
Hey, I got something. Whoa, drunk and disorderly, disturbing the peace—there's a lot of charges here.

BUFFY
Her dad's a drunk?

XANDER
A violent drunk?

BUFFY
We'd better find out. I have his address right... here. Got your keys?

XANDER
Yeah.

Buffy and Xander are leaving without even acknowledging Dawn.

DAWN
Guys, I'm telling you, I'm liking Mike Helgenberg for the perp. Let's collar him before he— (Buffy and Xander walk out the front door and close it) lawyers up.

Cut to:

24 EXT. PHILIP NEWTON'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Buffy and Xander are standing on Cassie's dad's front porch, ringing the doorbell.

BUFFY
Buffy, the vampire slayer, would break down this door.

XANDER
And Buffy, the counselor?

BUFFY
Waits.

Mr. Newton answers the door, but doesn't open the screen door.

BUFFY
Mr. Newton?

MR. NEWTON
That's right.

BUFFY
I work at your daughter's school. I need to talk to you.

Cut to:

25 INT. PHILIP NEWTON'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Now inside the house, Buffy and Xander continue their conversation with Mr. Newton.

MR. NEWTON
So, is she screwing up her grades again? Because she's not the sharpest apple in the barrel.

BUFFY
She's got some problems. But it's, um, it's kind of you we wanted to talk about.

MR. NEWTON
What about?

BUFFY
We know you've been picked up by the police a couple of times. We wanted to know if you still— (looks over at the counter top, cluttered with bottles of alcohol) drink a lot.

MR. NEWTON
What's that got to do with Cassie?

BUFFY
Frankly, we were worried that you might—drink too much and hurt Cassie. That's all.

MR. NEWTON
Oh. Oh, I see. That's-that's all. You just come in here in the middle of the night, into my home, and start accusing me of beating on my daughter? That's all?

BUFFY
We just want to make sure that Cassie's—

MR. NEWTON
(slurring) Well, that's a lie! Who told you this? Did Cassie's mother put you up to this, 'cause I pay my support, OK? To the dime! She just wants to take away the one weekend a month I get to be with my girl.

BUFFY
Which is when?

MR. NEWTON
What?

BUFFY
Which weekend is it?

MR. NEWTON
I-I just had her last weekend. (beat) Look, I may not be the greatest dad in the world, but I don't beat up my daughter.

BUFFY
So, you won't be seeing her this Friday, then?

MR. NEWTON
Not unless my ex-wife gets a personality transplant.

BUFFY
OK.

MR. NEWTON
OK, what? OK now you'll get out of my house?

BUFFY
Yeah, we will.

Buffy and Xander go back out the front door.

Cut to:

26 EXT. PHILIP NEWTON'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Buffy and Xander are walking back out to the car when they see Cassie has just pulled into the driveway. Cassie uses remote keyless entry system to lock her car, which beeps.

CASSIE
It's not him. He's not the one who does it. Thank you for trying, but I probably shouldn't have told you anything. You're making such a big deal out of it, and I want it to all to just go away.

XANDER
Are you talking about killing yourself?

CASSIE
No, of course not.

BUFFY
Then fight. Try.

CASSIE
There's no point. I told you—

BUFFY
This doesn't sound like someone who really wants to live.

CASSIE
You think I want this? You think I don't care? (starts to cry) Believe me, I want to...be here, do things. I want to graduate from high school, and I want to go to the stupid winter formal... (sniffles) I have this friend, and it would be fun to go with him. Just to dance and hear lame music to wear a silly dress and laugh and stuff.(sniffles) I'd like to go. There's a lot of stuff I'd like to do. I'd love to ice skate at Rockefeller Center. And I'd love to see my cousins grow up and see how they turn out 'cause they're really mean and I think they're gonna be fat. I'd love to backpack across the country or, I don't know, fall in love, but I won't. I just never will.

BUFFY
You will. Cassie, you will. You just have to tell us what you know. You have to tell us everything. Please, help us.

CASSIE
I can't. I just know it's gonna happen. I don't know why and I don't know how, but something out there is gonna kill me.

Cut to:

27 INT. LIBRARY AT SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL - NIGHT
Seven people clothed in floor-length, hooded red robes are chanting softly in Latin in a circle, each holding a lit white candle. There's a circle of coins on the floor inside their circle, and papers in a bowl in the center. One of them uses his candle to light the papers. Zoom in to show a picture of Cassie is among papers.

Fade to black.

ACT III.
28 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Buffy is sitting at her computer, reading more from Cassie's web site. Principal Wood walks up to her.

PRINCIPAL
Hey, how're we doing? (Buffy sighs) Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.

BUFFY
Oh, no, that's OK. I just didn't get much sleep last night.

PRINCIPAL
It's been a long week, huh. Well, thank God it's Friday. I can't believe I just said that. See you later.

Principal Wood walks away, and Buffy turns back to the computer. She's reading "Poem #5" from Cassie's web site. It looks like scanned handwriting on ruled school paper. It scrolls on the screen while her pastel drawings are displayed in the background.

BUFFY
(reading)
I sit alone at my
window sill
Trees crackle,
sunshine blares...

Cut to:

29 EXT. COURTYARD AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Cassie continues reading the poem where Buffy left off. On screen is a scene of students sitting outside, eating lunch together.

CASSIE (V.O.)
...and
children laugh like death
their sharp happiness is a
knife to me—
One jealous snake on a
window sill—

Cut to:

30 INT. DINING ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Cassie continues the voice over while displaying a scene of Buffy, Xander, Willow, and Dawn gathered around the dining room table, frantically researching. There's lots of papers on the table, yearbook, plus the laptop, and Willow's looking at a picture of Cassie that Xander handed her.

CASSIE (V.O.)
They will be here, trees and sun
and children with canes
and pruney skin
when I am but a memory
a laugh in the trees
of time. I sit alone
and try to love them
I sit alone, a snake

Cut to:

31 INT. CASSIE'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Cassie continues the voice over while displaying a scene of her sitting on her bed, writing more poetry. Her walls are covered with sketches and pastel drawings.

CASSIE (V.O.)
I sit alone and try to
love them
I sit alone
and laugh.

Cut to:

32 INT. BASEMENT AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Buffy walks around, looking for Spike. When she finds him, he's crouched on the floor. He's got the "bad hair of redemption", unkempt and not slicked back. She walks up to him, and waves her hand in front of his eyes. He doesn't respond. She snaps in front of his face, and he still doesn't respond. She's frustrated, and sighs. She impatient with his moods and games.

BUFFY
(crosses her arms over her chest) Spike, what are you doing?

SPIKE
Nothing. If I don't move, if I don't think, if I don't listen to the voices, then I won't hurt...much.

BUFFY
I need to ask you something.

SPIKE
Don't.

BUFFY
There's a girl, she's in danger, and she needs your help. Now. Time is running out. It's Friday, the day Cassie said she's going to die.

SPIKE
I can't. I can't hear you.

BUFFY
Is there something evil in the school? Down here, maybe. Spike, please, do you know anything?

SPIKE
(defeated sigh) Yes. (beat) There's evil. Down here. Right here. I'm a bad man. William is a baaad man. I hurt the girl. (cries)

Spike starts punching himself violently in the face.

BUFFY
(grabs his wrist) Spike, stop it! What did you do?

SPIKE
I hurt you, Buffy, and I will pay. I am paying because I hurt the girl.

BUFFY
(tenderly) Spike. No. (lets go of his wrist) It's not me. It's a different girl, OK? Her name is Cassie Newton. Please, do you know anything specific?

Spike shakes his head "no", and Buffy sighs. She turns to leave, when Spike calls out softly after her.

SPIKE
Don't—don't leave me. Stay here, and help me be quiet.

BUFFY
(turns to face him) I think it's worse when I'm here. (walks away)

SPIKE
Don't let him hurt the girl.

Cut to:

33 INT. HALLWAY AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
A locker inspection is being conducted by a security guard and Principal Wood.

PRINCIPAL
Well, there's nothing in this one. What've you got?

Mike walks by, and Buffy stops him.

BUFFY
Where's your hall pass?

MIKE
No hall pass. I got a free period.

He starts to go on by, but Buffy steps in his way again.

BUFFY
You seem kind of upset. Something on your mind?

MIKE
No, not really. (holds up a graded paper) Well, I got a lousy "B" in Egyptian history. Knew this stuff cold, so that, you know, that pisses me off.

BUFFY
You get... pissed off a lot?

MIKE
No, I—

BUFFY
Let me cut to the chase. I hear you can't get a date for the winter formal.

MIKE
Oh, whoa, look, I know it's your job to talk to kids with problems, but honestly I don't have any. I'm fine. (Buffy seems suspicious) All right, look, it's really no big deal. I have a friend that I really wanted to take—I don't know, I guess she doesn't see me that way. (laughs) She makes me crazy.

BUFFY
Crazy?

MIKE
Yeah, sometimes I jus— That's funny. You're Dawn's sister, right?

BUFFY
Uh, that's right. Dawn is my sister.

MIKE
Oh, that's so weird. I was just thinking about her. Yeah, I was thinking if, you know, Cassie won't budge, maybe I'll ask Dawn.

BUFFY
You aren't mad at Cassie, with her rejecting you like that?

MIKE
Nah, she's a girl right? Making boys crazy is like your job description.

BUFFY
(suddenly offended) You're asking my sister to the dance, and she's your second choice?

Behind Mike, Principal Wood and the security guard open a locker and lots of coins fall out onto the hall floor. Buffy notices the commotion.

BUFFY
(to Mike) I'll be keeping an eye on you.

Buffy goes to the locker to check out the coins with the Principal and the security guard.

PRINCIPAL
Seems like someone's got quite a coin collection, huh?

Buffy picks one up, and it's unusual. She stands and looks at the label on the locker door, which reads "281".

Cut to:

34 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
A boy sits in the chair in front of Buffy's desk, and Buffy is sitting on her desk in front of him.

BOY
You wanted to see me?

BUFFY
(sternly) You have locker number 281?

BOY
Yeah, why?

BUFFY
(holds the coin in front of him) I want you to tell me what this is, and what this has to do with a girl named Cassie Newton.

BOY
(fidgets in his chair) I don't know. I-i-it's late. I'm going to miss my bus.

BUFFY
I know it's late. That's why I don't have time to mess around, so you need to talk to me. Now.

BOY
Believe me, i-i-if I knew anything, I'd tell you. I just... don't.

BUFFY
Do you know why I came back to Sunnydale High?

BOY
To creep me out?

BUFFY
To help. I'm a counselor here because I wanna help. I know what it's like to walk these halls and feel lost, alone. I just want to make things better, connect. (stands and intimidates) And I'm going to connect with your face if you don't stop wasting my time and help me do my job.

BOY
I... please, I—

BUFFY
A girl could die.

BOY
I guess I know who you're talking about. She's some weirdo suicidal poet girl. These guys I know wanna mess with her. They've got this plan—

Cut to:

35 EXT. FRONT STEPS AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Students are leaving for the day. Dawn and Cassie are walking out together.

CASSIE
Well, I guess this is goodbye.

DAWN
No. (beat) I mean, let me walk you home.

CASSIE
Oh, don't worry about it, I'm going to my Mom's. It's kinda far.

DAWN
Far is good.

CASSIE
Dawn, I know what's going on here.

DAWN
What?

CASSIE
Buffy told you about me, right? She told you to pretend to be my friend?

DAWN
No. (beat) Maybe. Cassie, she was scared. She wanted to help you.

CASSIE
Well, she can't.

DAWN
Maybe she can. She's not like you think. She's got powers... of helping. And look, she was worried and now I'm worried and I wasn't pretending at all. I really wanted to be your friend.

CASSIE
(chuckles) You are my friend.

DAWN
I am?

CASSIE
Yeah. Just remember, I'm not as dumb as I look.

DAWN
(laughs) I'm glad.

A guy, the confident boy who went to Buffy's office earlier, calls out to Dawn.

CONFIDENT BOY
Hey, Summers!

CASSIE
(touches her on the shoulder) Listen, Dawn, whatever happens now, it's not your fault, OK?

DAWN
(to Cassie) Uh... (to boy) Uh, what's up, Peter?

PETER/CONFIDENT BOY
I was just wondering if anyone had asked you to winter formal.

DAWN
What? (smiles, blushes, flutters eyelashes) Oh, uh, no. not exactly.

PETER
Well, uh, I was just doing a poll. (laughs at her) I'll see you.

DAWN
(to Cassie) That guy is such an ass.

Dawn turned to talk to Cassie, but she was already gone.

DAWN
(looking around) Cassie? Cassie? Cassie!

Cut to:

36 INT. LIBRARY AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
More chanting in Latin. The red robed people are gathered again, with candles lit and hoods over their heads.

PETER
All present?

ALL
All present.

Peter goes to light a nearby torch with his candle. He pushes his hood back.

PETER
Then we begin. (someone giggles) Mandel, shut up.

MANDEL
Sorry, dude, it's— It's just so cool, I mean— We're gonna be rich!

PETER
Keep your shorts, all right. We have to do the ritual if we wanna score. Oh, Keith, did you take care of the fire exits?

KEITH
Yeah. Anybody tries to bust in here's gonna get a nasty surprise. (chuckling) I set up this booby trap my cousin Ben always used to do—

PETER
Then nobody is getting in... (pulls a blindfolded, bound and gagged Cassie from behind a bookshelf and into the circle) and nobody is getting out.

MANDEL
Dude.

Cassie's whimpering through the duct tape on her mouth.

PETER
(pulls off Cassie's blindfold) This is our sacrifice. (picks up a large cleaver) It's nothing personal. It's just that you have this death-kick suicidal vibe going. I figure if you disappear, everybody'll just assume you threw yourself in a river somewhere. Extinguish.

All the robed people holding candles lick their fingers and press them to the candlewick to extinguish the flames.

PETER
All mighty Avilas... please accept our sacrifice. Please appear before us, oh mighty soldier of the dark. Please appear before us, and grant us with infinite riches, and we will pay you with our sacrifice. We kneel before you with the gift of flesh.

One of the robed people stands and unfastens the robe, revealing her identity as Buffy.

BUFFY
OK, that—is going on your permanent record.

PETER
(stands) Wait, this is—the counselor! What the hell is she doing here?

MANDEL
(pointing at another member) I-it was his idea!

Buffy and Peter start to circle each other. Peter is still holding the cleaver.

PETER
Back off. Get back! Get back, you stupid bitch!

Buffy kicks him in the face, and he falls back. He gets back up and yells, coming at her with a cleaver.

PETER
Aw, you're gonna die!

Buffy kicks him again, in the crotch this time, and he falls down in agony, dropping the cleaver.

BUFFY
Do you know how lame this is? Bored teenage boys trying to raise up a demon. Sorry it didn't show. I bet it's 'cause you forgot the boom box playing some heavy metal thing, like Blue Clam Cult. I think that's the key to the raising of lame demons.

PETER
(still on the floor, he looks over Buffy's shoulder and points) That lame demon?

Buffy looks behind her and sees the demon Avilas standing there. He's six feet tall with a curved horn coming out of either side of his head. He's got scaly brown demon skin, very muscular, with fins jutting out from his shoulders. He's also got a circular cavity where his abdomen should be.

Fade to black.

ACT IV.
37 INT. LIBRARY AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Buffy grabs the cleaver from the floor in front of Peter and hurls it at the demon. It lands in his chest, but doesn't phase the demon at all. Buffy lunges at it to attack it, but it throws her across the room.

KEVIN
(to Peter) Dude, help!

The demon takes the cleaver out of its chest and throws it back on the floor near Peter. The demon goes after Buffy, who tries to kick him away. Peter grabs the cleaver and goes after Cassie.

BUFFY
No!

Peter holds the cleaver to Cassie, bending her head back to bare her neck. Buffy kicks one of the cult members out of the way, and the demon attacks her again, throwing her into a bookcase. While Buffy's down on the floor, the demon steps on her chest.

BUFFY
No! Ow!

The demon is going to hurt Buffy when it turns around instead to measure a new threat. Spike (with normal, slicked back hair) is standing behind him with the torch to the demon's back. It roars.

BUFFY
Spike?

SPIKE
Here to help. No hurting the girl.

BUFFY
Untie her. I'll take care of this.

Buffy takes the torch from Spike and points it at the demon. Spike walks to Cassie. Buffy sweeps the torch in front of the demon's face. Spike punches Peter, knocking him to the ground. Buffy jabs the torch into the demon's abdomen cavity. Spike's on top of Peter, pummeling him ferociously. After each punch, Spike pauses to hold his aching head, then he punches Peter again.

PETER
Who are you?

SPIKE
I'm a bad man.

After knocking Peter out, Spike grabs the cleaver and holds it menacingly over Peter while he stands. The demon has caught on fire from Buffy's torching it. Spike uses the cleaver gently to cut the ties on Cassie's hands, then he takes off the duct tape on her mouth. The demon has burned to a crisp. Cassie's crying, but calms down enough to tell Spike something.

CASSIE
She'll tell you. Someday she'll tell you.

Spike stares at Cassie, taken aback. Buffy comes over to them, and attends to Cassie.

BUFFY
Are you OK?

Spike gets up and walks off, while Buffy inspects Cassie's arm. Cassie winces.

CASSIE
Uh-huh. Ow.

PETER
(crawling on the floor toward the crispy demon) You can't be dead. Where are my infinite riches? (the crispy demon jumps up and bites his shoulder) Ahh! Ahh! It bit me!

The demon explodes. Buffy shields Cassie, who gasps with fright.

BUFFY
(to Cassie) C'mon.

PETER
Help! Help me, please! I'm bleeding.

BUFFY
(walking away) Sorry. My office hours are 10 to 4.

Cut to:

38 INT. LIBRARY AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - NIGHT
Buffy walks out into the library's front room with Cassie.

BUFFY
It's all OK now. I hope you're not too disappointed.

They walk to the main door, and when Buffy opens it, the booby trap triggers a crossbow to shoot an arrow at their heads. Buffy reaches up in time to stop it from hitting Cassie between the eyes.

BUFFY
See? (breaks the arrow in half) You can make a difference.

Cassie reaches up admiringly to push a strand of hair out of Buffy's face.

CASSIE
And you will.

Cassie breathes in sharply and collapses onto the floor. Buffy kneels down to help her. She puts her ear to Cassie's chest, then checks her pulse, and strokes her hair.

BUFFY
Cassie? Cassie. Cassie. No, come on. Cassie. Cassie.

Buffy cries, unable to help her.

Cut to:

39 INT. LIVING ROOM AT BUFFY'S HOUSE - DAY
Xander's sitting in the comfy chair, and the girls (Buffy, Willow and Dawn) are sitting on the couch in front of the window. No one is talking, just sitting quietly reflecting on the loss of Cassie until Willow breaks the silence.

WILLOW
How is her mom?

BUFFY
OK. (beat) As OK as... she told me that her family had a history of heart irregularities, but she never told Cassie.

WILLOW
Cassie didn't know? Then it was fate?

XANDER
I think she was gonna die, no matter what, wasn't she. Didn't matter what you did.

BUFFY
She just knew. She was special. I failed her.

DAWN
(crying) Uh-uh. No. You didn't, 'cause you tried. You listened, and you tried. She died 'cause of her heart, not 'cause of you. She was my friend because of you. I guess sometimes you can't help.

BUFFY
So what then? What do you do when you know that? When you know that maybe you can't help?

Cut to:

40 INT. BUFFY'S CUBICLE AT SUNNYDALE HIGH - DAY
Buffy is back at work. She hangs her coat on the coat tree, and sits down at her desk, and starts going through files.

Cut to:
Closing credits.