Written and Directed by: Joss Whedon

Transcribed by: AleXander Thompson for Psyche's Transcripts

Copyright © 1998 Alexander Thompson

Disclaimer

I do not own the characters in this story, nor do I own any rights to the television show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". They were created by Joss Whedon and belong to him, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Television, Kuzui Enterprises, 20th Century Fox Television and the WB Television Network.

This is not a novelization or a script. It is a straightforward and dry transcript of the episode "Becoming," part 2. It also includes descriptions of the settings, action scenes and camera movements where I felt they were needed.

I made every effort to accurately transcribe the dialogue from this episode. If you notice anything that is transcribed incorrectly, please let me know and I will post an update. rev 98.10.10

This episode was originally broadcast on May 19, 1998.

Teaser

In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.

The library at Sunnydale High School. Buffy is crouched over Kendra after finding her dead. Behind her a police officer comes in and aims his gun at her.

Officer#1: Freeze! (Buffy faces him) Put your hands up. Back away from the girl slowly.

Another officer comes in behind the first, gun drawn and surveying the scene. Buffy slowly gets to her feet and raises her hands.

Buffy: Look, I didn't do anything.

Officer#1: Do it! Now!

The second officer holsters her gun and crouches down to feel for Kendra's pulse, but can't find one.

Officer#2: This one's dead.

Officer#1: What about up there? (nods toward the mezzanine)

Buffy and Officer#2 look up at the stacks and see Xander lying unconscious on the floor behind the railing.

Buffy: Xander...

She starts to go to him, but Officer#2 grabs her and pushes her back.

Officer#2: Get her out of here!

Buffy: Wait! Just see if he's okay! Please!

The second officer hands her off to the first, and then goes to check on Xander. Buffy offers no resistance, and lets herself be led out. Officer#2 crouches down by Xander to check him out. Cut to the hall outside the library. Officer#1 leads Buffy out.

Buffy: Please. You don't understand.

Officer#1: You'd do well to keep your mouth shut, missy.

They turn down the hall and see Snyder coming down followed by two more officers.

Buffy: But I didn't *do* anything.

Snyder: Why do I find that so very hard to believe?

Officer#1: (to the other officers) In there. (to Snyder) You know this girl?

Snyder: Buffy Summers. If there's trouble, she's behind it.

Buffy: (angrily) You stupid little troll. You have *no* idea!

Snyder: Attitude problem. Serious.

Buffy: (faces the officer) Look, I just wanna know if my friends are okay.

Officer#1: All right, that's enough.

He spins her back around and gets out his handcuffs.

Officer#1: You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and...

Buffy glances over her shoulder, and without warning backhand punches the officer in the face. He grunts in pain and stumbles backward into the lockers. She grabs him by the neck and pushes his head down, flipping him over onto his back. Snyder takes a shocked step back. He is too stunned by what he just saw her do to move, and just lets her run down the hall without even looking. Officer#2 comes out of the library and sees her partner on the floor and Buffy running away. She raises her gun and takes aim at Buffy.

Officer#2: Stop!

Now Snyder turns around to see Buffy running away, but he's still too shook up to have the sense to get out of the officer's way.

Officer#2: Get down!

Buffy looks back and turns down an adjacent hall, and the officer takes a shot. The bullet shatters the window of the hall door. The other two officers come out of the library, guns drawn and ready, and she waves them in Buffy's direction. They run in pursuit. She grabs the radio mic at her shoulder and puts out a bulletin on Buffy.

Officer#2: All units, we have a fugitive on foot at the high school. Homicide suspect. Female, blond, approximately sixteen years old. Suspect is *very* dangerous.

Opening credits roll. Buffy's theme plays.

Act One

The hall outside the Emergency Room at Sunnydale General Hospital. Buffy comes into the hall wearing a wool cap and a long, dark coat. She averts her eyes from the doctors and nurses. On the wall she finds a slot with a few patient histories and checks the names on them. There are none she's interested in. She continues slowly down the hall, avoiding the eyes of a passing doctor. She checks another series of slots for names on paperwork, but finds nothing. Further down the hall she turns down the left passageway. Behinds her Xander walks up and touches her on the back. She gasps and spins around, but is very relieved to see him standing there.

Buffy: Xander! (hugs him tightly) Ohhh...

He hugs her back, and they hold each other for a long moment, then Buffy lets go.

Buffy: I was so worried, I didn't know if you were okay. The cops were...

Xander: Yeah, I, I heard them chase you out. I was just coming out of it. (holds up his arm in a cast) Souvenir.

Buffy: Well, what about the others?

Xander sees two police officers come into the hall behind her.

Buffy: Are they okay?

He grabs her in another tight hug. Buffy goes along with it, but wonders what's up. When she glimpses the cops she hides her face in Xander's shoulder while they head down the hall in the direction that she came in. When the police have gone they separate again.

Buffy: Okay. That was about equal parts protecting me and copping a feel, right? (smiles)

Xander doesn't smile back. He turns his face down looking sad and very worried.

Buffy: What is it?

Cut to Willow lying unconscious in a hospital bed. She has a bandaged cut on her forehead and a black eye, but otherwise seems unhurt. The camera pans up from her face to Buffy and Xander standing next to the bed.

Xander: The doctor said it was head trauma. She can wake up at any time, but, um... the longer it lasts, the... less likely it is.

Buffy: I never should've let her try to do that curse. Angel must've known.

She reaches up to Willow's face and brushes back a few stray hairs.

Buffy: Where are her parents?

Xander: With relatives in Phoenix. I gave them a call. They're... they're getting on a plane back.

Buffy: Does Oz know?

Xander: (realizes his omission) Oh, man. Um... I didn't even think. Um... I'll call him.

Buffy hears some footsteps behind her and turns quickly to see who it is. Xander looks over his shoulder, too, and they see Cordelia come in. He goes over to her.

Xander: Hey.

Cordelia: (whispers) Hey.

They kiss and hold each other close.

Cordelia: (sighs) How is she? (they separate and look at Willow) The doctor told me that...

Xander: Yeah. We're, uh... still waiting.

Buffy: You okay?

Cordelia: I ran. I think I made it through three counties before I realized nobody was chasing me. Not too brave.

Buffy: It was the right thing to do.

Xander: Did Giles keep up with you?

Cordelia: I didn't see Giles.

Buffy: You mean he's not in the hospital?

Xander: No.

Buffy gives them a very concerned stare. Cut to Angelus' mansion. Giles is lying on the floor. Angelus lies on the floor facing him and waiting for him to regain consciousness.

Giles: Mm... (stirs a bit and exhales) Ohhh... (lifts his head)

Angelus: Hi, Rupert. I wasn't sure you were gonna wake up. You had me worried. (hops to his feet)

Giles: (standing up slowly) What do you want?

Angelus: I wanna torture you. I used to love it, and it's been a *long* time. I mean, the last time I tortured somebody, they didn't even *have* chainsaws.

He strolls past Giles over to Acathla. Giles turns to watch him and sees the stone demon with the sword protruding from its chest. Angelus notices Giles' stare.

Angelus: Oh, yeah. Acathla. He's an even harder guy to wake up than you are. I mean, I performed the rituals, said all the right phrases...blood on my hand. Got nothing. Big doughnut hole for my troubles. I figure you know the ritual. You're pretty up on these things. You could probably... tell me what I'm doing wrong. (approaches Giles) But honestly, I sorta hope you don't... (stops in front of him) 'Cause I *really* wanna torture you. (stares evilly)

Cut to the Summers house. A police officer comes down the stairs to where Detective Stein is questioning Joyce and goes to stand next to him.

Joyce: No. I-i-it's impossible. There... there's been some terrible mistake.

Det. Stein: And you have no idea where your daughter is.

Joyce: She said she was going to her friend Willow's house. (shakes her head) Maybe she slept over.

Det. Stein: Is that Willow Rosenberg?

Joyce: Yes.

Det. Stein: (to the officer) Second victim.

Joyce: (confused) What?

Det. Stein: Your daughter has a history of violence. Doesn't she, Ms. Summers?

He nods for the officer to leave the house, and he goes.

Joyce: Well...

Det. Stein: (smugly) You call us. (pulls out his wallet) Okay? (digs out a card) If she decides to stop by. (hands Joyce the card) Be best if she just comes in.

He exits the house leaving Joyce very worried and confused. Cut to Giles' apartment. The door is ajar, so Buffy just comes right in.

Buffy: Giles! Giles!

She looks around, but doesn't see him. Behind her Whistler comes down the stairs from the loft.

Whistler: I don't think he's here.

Buffy: (pivots around to face him) Who are you?

Whistler: Whistler.

Buffy: What are you doing here?

Whistler: (reaches the base of the stairs) I'm waiting for you.

Buffy: Why?

Whistler: 'Cause I-I-I need a date to the prom.

Buffy is *not* in the mood for jokes right now, so she takes the two steps over to him, grabs him by the throat and shoves him up against the wall.

Buffy: I have had a *really* bad day, okay? If you have information worth hearing, then I am grateful for it. If you're gonna crack jokes, then I'm gonna pull out your ribcage and wear it as a hat. (lets go)

Whistler: Hello to the imagery! Very nice. (seriously) It wasn't supposed to go down like this. (moves away from the wall) Nobody saw you coming. I figured this for Angel's big day. But I thought he was here to *stop* Acathla, not to bring him forth. Then you two made with the smoochies...now he's a creep again. Now, what are you gonna do? W-what are you prepared to do?

Buffy: Whatever I have to.

Whistler: Maybe I should ask, what are you prepared to give up?

Buffy: (exhales) You don't have anything useful to tell me, do you? What are you, just some immortal demon sent down to even the score between good and evil?

Whistler: (impressed) Wow. Good guess. (grins)

Buffy: (steps up to him) Well, why don't you try getting off your immortal ass and fighting evil once in a while? 'Cause I'm sick and tired of doing it myself.

Whistler: In the end, you're always by yourself. You're all you've got. That's the point.

Buffy: (disgusted) Spare me. (starts to leave)

Whistler: The sword isn't enough. You gotta be ready. (raises his voice) You gotta know how to use it!

She goes out the door and slams it behind her. Cut to the park. Buffy walks through it with her head down. A car drives by. She steps into the street and watches as the car goes. When she turns back she sees a police car coming, but doesn't run, instead hoping that the officer won't notice her. He does, though, and turns on his lightbar and lets the siren give a brief loud tone. He pulls the car aside, stops and gets out. Buffy ignores him and keeps walking right past the front of the vehicle. The officer draws his gun.

Officer#3: Hold right there! (slams his door)

Buffy spins around to face him.

Officer#3: Put your hands on your head! Do it!

She stares at his gun, frightened, and begins to raise her hands. Suddenly the gun gets kicked out of the officer's hands. He gets kicked in the face and in the shin, then grabbed and thrown onto the hood of his car, where he lies unconscious. His attacker faces a surprised Buffy.

Spike: Hello, cutie. (smiles)

Act Two

In the park. Spike takes a step toward Buffy, and she immediately decks him twice in the face. He grabs her by the shoulders to restrain her, but she brings her knee up into his gut.

Spike: Now, you hold on a second!

He gives her a good shove away from himself. She reaches into her coat and pulls out a stake. Spike jumps back and holds up his hands in surrender.

Spike: Hey! White flag here. I quit.

Buffy: Let me clear this up for you. We're mortal enemies. We don't get time-outs.

Spike: You want to go around, pet, I'll have a gay old time of it. You want to stop Angel... we're gonna have to play this a bit differently.

Buffy: (still holding the stake) What are you talking about?

Spike: I'm talking about your ex, pet. I'm talking about putting him in the bloody ground.

Buffy: (chuckles) This has gotta be the *lamest* trick (lowers her stake) you guys have ever thought up.

Spike: He's got your Watcher. Right now, he's probably torturing him.

Buffy: What do you want?

Spike: I told you. I want to stop Angel. (snickers) I want to save the world.

Buffy: Okay. You do remember that you're a vampire, right?

Spike: We like to talk big. (indicates himself) Vampires do. 'I'm going to destroy the world.' (looks at the officer) That's just tough guy talk. (steps over to the car) Strutting around with your friends over a pint of blood. (sits on the hood) The truth is, I like this world. (pulls the cigarette pack from the officer's shirt pocket) You've got...dog racing, Manchester United. (pulls one out and drops the pack on the officer) And you've got people. (exhales) Billions of people walking around like Happy Meals with legs. It's all right here. (lights the cigarette and takes a drag) But then someone comes along with a vision. With a real... (exhales) passion for destruction. (takes another drag and looks at Buffy) Angel could pull it off. Goodbye, Picadilly. Farewell, Leicester Bloody Square. You know what I'm saying?

Buffy: (nods) Okay, fine. You're not down with Angel. Why would you ever come to me?

Spike: (stands and takes another drag, but doesn't look at her) I want Dru back. I want it like it was before he came back. The way she acts around him...

Buffy: You're pathetic.

He punches her in the face. She punches him right back.

Buffy: I lost a friend tonight!

Spike: I wasn't in on that raiding party.

Buffy: And I may lose more! The whole earth may be sucked into Hell, and you want my help 'cause your girlfriend's a big ho? Well, let me take this opportunity to *not* care.

Spike: I can't fight them both alone, and neither can you!

Buffy punches him hard in the jaw, making him flinch. He straightens back up and feels his jaw, checking for blood.

Buffy: I hate you.

Spike: And I'm all you've got.

The police officer begins to stir on the hood of the car.

Buffy: (looks down briefly) All right. Talk.

Spike: (turns to the officer) I'm just gonna kill this guy.

Buffy clears her throat loudly. Spike faces her.

Spike: Oh, right.

Buffy: (raises her eyebrows at him) Let's get inside.

They leave as the police officer begins to wake up and feel his head. Cut to Willow's room at the hospital. She is still unconscious. Xander is sitting in a chair and watching her while Cordelia stands.

Cordelia: Do you want some coffee?

Xander: I don't wanna leave. She might, uh...

Cordelia: I'll get it.

Xander: (looks up at her) Thanks.

They clasp hands briefly, and Cordelia goes to get some coffee. Xander looks at Willow again, deep in thought. He leans over to the bed and gently takes her hand in his.

Xander: Come on, Will. Look, you don't have a choice here. You gotta wake up. I need you, Will. I mean, how am I gonna pass trig, you know? (chuckles) And who am I gonna call every night... and talk about everything we did all day? You're my best friend. You've always...

He looks at her for a long moment, looks away for an instant and then at her again, struggling with his emotions.

Xander: I love you.

Her face twitches and her hand gives his a squeeze. Xander's eyes widen in hope.

Xander: Willow?

She takes a few breaths before responding, with her eyes still closed.

Willow: (whispers) Oz? (speaks) Oz?

Xander leans away, taken aback. Oz hears her as he walks into the room.

Oz: I'm here.

Xander: (looks back at Oz) She's just starting to wake up.

He gets up to let Oz go to her. Oz takes her hand and leans over the bed. Willow still has her eyes closed.

Oz: Hey, baby.

Willow: (weakly) Hi.

Xander: I'm gonna go get a doctor. (leaves)

Oz: How you feelin'?

Willow: (weakly, eyes still closed) My head... feels big. Is it big?

Oz: No. It's head size.

He leans over her face and gently kisses her on the forehead. He leans back to look at her and strokes her hair with his other hand. She opens her eyes tentatively.

Willow: (whispers) Uh... is everybody else okay?

Cut to Angelus' mansion. The camera shows Giles in a chair with his hands bound behind his back and bleeding from rope burns. The camera pans up his arms and over his shoulder to Angelus, sitting in a chair and watching Giles as he cleans his glasses. He breathes on the lenses, polishes them clean and inspects his work.

Angelus: Rupert, buddy... I'm here to tell you, I'm impressed. (chuckles)

He drops the cleaning cloth, gets up and goes over to Giles.

Angelus: Hey. Uh... (slides on the glasses) How you holdin' up?

Giles: (looks up at him weakly) Never... better.

Angelus: Glad to hear it. (kneels next to him) Now... (Giles breathes painfully) Tell me when it hurts. (smirks)

Cut to Buffy's street. She and Spike eye each other as they head up the walk to her house. Just then Joyce pulls up in her Jeep and sees them from her open window.

Joyce: Buffy?!

Buffy gives her a glance, but goes right back to watching Spike.

Joyce: (stops the car) Where have you been? (gets out) Are you okay? (runs over) The police were here! I've been looking for you!

Buffy: Mom, let's, let's go inside, and I can explain.

Joyce: (hysterical) Who is this man? (to Spike) Who are you? (to Buffy) Are you okay?

Buffy: Mom! I'm-I'm okay.

Joyce: Buffy, terrible things have happened. What were you doing?

Spike: What, your mum doesn't know?

Buffy glares at Spike.

Joyce: (to Spike) Know what?

Buffy: (faces her mom) That I'm, uh... in a band. A-a rock band with Spike here. (shoots Spike a look)

Spike: Right. She plays the, the triangle.

Buffy: Drums.

Spike: Drums, yeah. She's, uh, hell on the old skins, you know.

Joyce: (unconvinced) Hmm. And, uh, what do you do?

Spike: Well, I sing.

Buffy: You know what? Why don't we go inside, and, and we can talk about this. (nods)

She starts toward the door, and Spike follows.

Joyce: I'm, I'm not sure how I feel about this.

Buffy turns around to face her. Suddenly a vampire rushes across the porch, pushes Buffy and Spike aside and jumps down the steps at Joyce, ready to fight. She screams and does some fast backpedaling. Buffy grabs him by the shoulders from behind and forces him around to face Spike. She pulls out a stake while Spike gives him a series of punches to the face. Spike's last blow sends the vampire spinning around and staggering away. Buffy thrusts the stake into his chest, and he instantly crumbles to ash. Joyce just stares in shock. Spike steps down from the porch and looks at the pile of ash.

Spike: One of Angel's boys.

Buffy: Yeah, probably watching me. Or you.

Spike: Yeah. He won't get a chance to tattle on us now.

Joyce: (utterly confused) Buffy... what... is going on?

Buffy looks at her mother for a moment, exchanges a look with Spike and realizes that it's time. She steps up to her mom and looks up at her, hoping against hope for understanding.

Buffy: Mom... I'm a Vampire Slayer.

Joyce just blinks her eyes, raises her brows and shakes her head in complete dismay.

Part Two