Act Three

Willow's room at the hospital. Oz brings her a bowl of Jell-O. She's sitting up and on the phone with Buffy. She takes the bowl from Oz with a smile, sets it down on her lap and begins to play with the spoon. Oz pulls up a chair and sits down.

Willow: I'm okay, Buffy, really. I mean, I don't feel good, but... I'm awake, and I know my name and who's President and how many fingers, so they don't think my brain got mushed at all.

Buffy: (cut to her in her kitchen) Thank God. So sorry I can't be there.

Willow: I know. (cut to her) I'm sorry I didn't get to cure Angel.

Buffy: Don't be. It just (cut to her) wasn't meant to be. I know I'm never gonna get him back the way he was. It just makes it easier.

Willow: (cut to her) I guess. Any luck finding Giles?

Buffy: (cut to her) Yep. I got a lucky break.

Willow: What?

Buffy: You wouldn't believe me if I told you.

Cut to their living room. Joyce sits nervously on the couch with the toes of her shoes turned in. Spike is sitting in an adjacent wicker chair. Uncomfortable silence reigns. Spike looks around the room. Joyce lifts her glass, takes a sip of her drink and winces at its strength. Spike looks down at his lap, lets out a long, bored breath and folds his hands. Cut to Buffy on the phone in the kitchen.

Buffy: Xander. Angel and the others are holed up outside town. You remember that funky-looking mansion you showed me that time?

Cut to him sitting on Willow's bed. Behind him she eats her Jell-O. Oz looks through a magazine.

Xander: (into the phone) On Crawford Street. Sure. That makes sense. What's the drill?

Buffy: (cut to her) I'm gonna hit it come daybreak.

Xander: (cut to him) You'll need backup.

Buffy: No. (cut to her) You stay there. I'm covered.

Xander: (cut to him) Do you, um... do you think Giles is still alive?

Buffy: (cut to her) I think he is. I just wish he was here to tell me what to do.

Cut to the living room. The silence is deafening. Spike looks around some more. Then Joyce has a spark of recognition on her face and looks over at Spike.

Joyce: Have we met?

Spike: (faces her) Um... you hit me with an ax one time. Remember? (makes an ax-holding gesture) Uh, 'get the hell away from my daughter.' (lowers his arms)

Joyce: Oh.

She lets out a little chuckle. Spike sighs with boredom.

Joyce: So, do you, uh, live here in town?

Buffy walks into the room with her arms crossed. They both get up.

Joyce: I-is Willow all right?

Buffy: Yeah. She's fine. (to Spike) All right, talk. What's the deal?

Spike: Simple. You let me and Dru skip town, I help you kill Angel.

Joyce: (confused) Angel? Your boyfriend?

Buffy: (to Spike) Forget about Drusilla. She doesn't walk.

Spike: There's no deal without Dru.

Buffy: She killed Kendra.

Spike: (surprised) Dru bagged a Slayer? (chuckles) She didn't tell me! (to Joyce, smiling) Hey, good for her! (gets a look from Buffy and loses the smile) Though not from your perspective, I suppose.

Buffy: (with contempt) I can't believe I invited you into my house.

Joyce: (relieved) So you didn't kill that girl.

Buffy: Of course not.

Joyce: Did she explode like that man out there?

Buffy: She was a Slayer, Mom.

Joyce: Like what you are.

Buffy gives her a thin smile and a nod.

Spike: Look. (pulls Buffy aside) This deal works for me one way. Full stop. Me and Dru for Angel.

Joyce: (still confused) Honey, a-are you sure you're a Vampire Slayer?

Spike: I'll take her out of the country. You'll never hear from us again, I *bloody* well hope.

Buffy: (ignores her mother) Fine. Get back to the mansion. Make sure Giles is all right.

Joyce: I-I mean, have you tried *not* being a Slayer?

They both look at her.

Buffy: Mom!

Spike sighs in exasperation of Joyce.

Buffy: (to Spike) Be ready to back me up when I make my move.

He walks around her toward the door.

Buffy: If Giles dies... (Spike stops and faces her) she dies.

He gives her a final stare and heads out the door.

Joyce: (trying to make sense of it) It's because you didn't have a strong father figure, isn't it?

Buffy: It's just fate, Mom. I'm the Slayer. Accept it.

Joyce: We should call the police. (heads for the kitchen)

Buffy: No. We're not calling the police.

Joyce: (stops and faces her daughter, smiling) Well, now that we know that you're innocent, it's...

Buffy: What? You thought I was guilty? Jeez, feelin' the love in *this* room!

Joyce: No, I didn't think that. It's just... now we have proof.

Buffy: (exasperated) We have my word, Mom. Not proof.

Joyce: (heads for the kitchen again) Look, I am sure that they will understand.

Buffy: (follows closely) Get them involved, you'll get them killed.

Joyce: Well, you're not gonna hurt them, are you?

Buffy: I'm a Slayer, not a postal worker.

Her mother picks up the phone, and Buffy slaps her hand onto the switch hook.

Buffy: Cops can't fight demons. (takes the phone from her mom) I have to do it. (puts the phone back in its cradle)

Joyce: (demanding) Do what? Buffy, what is happening?

Buffy: (doesn't want to deal) Just have another drink.

She turns away from her mother and starts to walk off. Joyce throws her glass aside in anger, and it breaks on the floor.

Joyce: Don't you talk to me that way! (Buffy stops in her tracks) You don't get to just dump something like this on me and pretend it's nothing!

Buffy: (looks at her) I'm sorry, Mom, but I don't have time for this. (starts for the door again, but stops)

Joyce: No! I am tired of 'I don't have time' or-or 'you wouldn't understand.' (Buffy faces her) I am your mother, and you will *make* time to explain yourself.

Buffy: I told you. I'm a Vampire Slayer.

Joyce: (haughtily) Well, I just don't accept that!

Buffy: (steps closer) Open your eyes, Mom. What do you think has been going on for the past two years? The fights, the weird occurrences. How many times have you washed blood out of my clothing, and you still haven't figured it out?

Joyce: (raises her voice angrily) Well, it stops now!

Buffy: (raises her voice also) No, it doesn't stop! It *never* stops! Do-do you think I chose to be like this? Do you have any idea how lonely it is, how dangerous? I would *love* to be upstairs watching TV or gossiping about boys or... God, even studying! But I have to save the world... again.

Joyce: No. This is insane. (takes Buffy by the shoulders) Buffy, you need help.

Buffy: (throws off her mom's arms) I'm *not* crazy! What I need is for you to chill. I *have* to go!

Joyce: (shakes her head) No. I am not letting you out of this house.

Buffy: You can't stop me.

Joyce: (grabs her) Oh yes I...

Buffy shoves her back into the island, making her knock over several things. She heads for the door, opens it and steps out.

Joyce: (angrily) You walk out of this house, don't even *think* about coming back!

Buffy just gives her a long stare and leaves. Joyce sighs, having failed once again at communicating with her daughter. She turns around and leans on the island with her head in her hands. Cut to Willow's hospital room. Willow is sitting up in her bed with Oz in the chair next to her. Xander is sitting on the far side of the room.

Cordelia: (paces) So Buffy's going for the big showdown, huh? Wish we could help. (to Xander) You know, without dying.

Xander: I don't see how.

Willow: I wanna try again.

Oz: Try what?

Willow: The curse. We never got to finish it. Maybe we *can* restore Angel's soul.

Xander: I don't like it. You're talking about messing with powerful magic, and you're weak.

Willow: I'm okay.

Xander: You don't look okay. (to Cordelia) Does she?

Cordelia: You should listen to him. The hair, it's so flat, and the lips...

Xander: (to Cordelia) Could we stay on topic here, honey?

Cordelia: What?

Xander: (to Willow) Look, it's not a good idea.

Willow: There's no use arguing with me. Do you see my resolve face? (gives them her resolve face) You've seen it before. You know what it means. This can help Buffy. If we turn Angel back soon enough, we can stop him from ever awakening Acathla.

Oz: (gets up) Okay, I pretty much missed out on some stuff, didn't I? Because this is all making a kind of sense that's... not.

Willow: (to Oz) Go with Cordy to the library and get my things. She'll fill you in.

Oz: Sure. (kisses her hand) I'll drive.

He walks out of the room with Cordelia close behind. Xander gets up.

Willow: Xander, go to Buffy. Tell her what we're doing. Maybe she can stall.

Xander: But I...

Willow: (points to herself) Resolve face.

Xander: (gives in) Be careful. (leaves)

Cut to Angelus' mansion. Giles is still tied to his chair, and hangs his head weakly.

Angelus: You know, I can stop the pain. You've been very brave... (puts his hand on Giles' shoulder) but it's over. (walks behind him) You've given enough. (leans down to Giles' ear) Now let me make it stop.

Giles: (panting and shaking with pain) Please!

Angelus: (kneels to face him) Just tell me what I need to know.

Giles: (weakly) In order... to be worthy...

Angelus: (whispers) Yeah?

Giles: (weakly) You must perform the ritual... in a tutu.

Angelus glares at him. Giles doesn't back down.

Giles: Pillock!

Angelus: (stands up) All right. Someone get the chainsaw.

Spike: (wheels himself in) Now, now, don't let's lose our temper.

Angelus: Keep out of it, sit 'n' spin.

Spike: Look, you cut him up, you'll never get your answers.

Angelus: Since when did *you* become so levelheaded?

Spike: Right about the time you became so pig-headed. You have your way with him, you'll never get to destroy the world. And I don't fancy spending the next month trying to get librarian out of the carpet. There are other ways.

Angelus: Enlighten me.

Spike: Hmm. (behind himself) Drusilla? Sweetheart?

She comes in behind him and walks up to them.

Spike: Do you want to play a game?

She puts her arm on his shoulder, and they both look over at Angelus. Cut to the library. The main area is cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape. Buffy walks in and just grabs and pulls down the tape. As she heads toward the table she looks down at the chalk outline of Kendra on the floor and passes it slowly, careful not to step on it. When she reaches the table she looks for a moment at the Orb, candles and other things that were used in the attempt at cursing Angelus. Then she reaches under the table, pulls out Kendra's large duffel bag and sets it on the table. As she goes through it Snyder comes into the library.

Snyder: You do know this is a crime scene, don't you? (Buffy looks up at him approaching) But then... you're a criminal, so that pretty much works out. (stops)

Buffy: You know I didn't do it. The police will figure it out.

Snyder: In case you haven't noticed, the police of Sunnydale are *deeply* stupid. (takes a few steps closer) It doesn't matter anyway. Whatever they find, you've proved too much of a liability for this school. (takes a breath) These are the moments you want to savor. You wish time would stop so that you could live them over and over again. (smiles smugly) You're expelled.

Buffy reaches into the bag and pulls out the sword blessed by the knight who first slew Acathla. She holds it up and turns it in her hand. Snyder looks at it, at her and gulps. Buffy gazes at the polished blade.

Buffy: You never ever got a single date in high school, (turns her eyes to him) did you?

Snyder: Your point being?

She starts out of the library and leans the blade into his face as she passes him. He bends back nervously and watches her go. This time she makes no attempt to avoid the chalk markings on the floor. Snyder pulls out his cell phone and dials. He checks to make sure she's gone and holds the phone up to his ear.

Snyder: It's Snyder. (smiles) Tell the Mayor I have good news.

Cut to Angelus' mansion. Drusilla kneels behind Giles, patting the sweat from his forehead.

Drusilla: Is that better? (pats more) Hmm? (pulls away the cloth) Poor thing. (runs her finger down his cheek) Let's see what's inside.

She runs her hand up the back of Giles' head and over the top. She closes her eyes and concentrates on reading his thoughts. It doesn't take long for her to discover something useful. She gasps and removes her hand.

Drusilla: (into Giles' ear) Of course.

She stands up and goes around to his other side and holds up two fingers to hypnotize him.

Drusilla: Look at me.

Giles turns his head weakly to look away, trying to resist. She comes around the rest of the way in front of him, waving her fingers.

Drusilla: Mm-mm-mm-mm.

Finally Giles can no longer resist and looks at her. She waves her fingers around some more and draws them in toward her own eyes.

Drusilla: Be... in me.

In his weakened state Giles quickly falls under her spell. She looks into his eyes and smiles.

Drusilla: Hmm. See with your heart.

She covers his eyes with her hand, and when she takes it away he sees Jenny kneeling before him. At first he can't believe it, but then accepts it.

Giles: (smiles) Jenny! I thought I'd lost you.

Dru/Jenny: (quietly) Shh. I'll never leave you.

Giles: (tries to get up) We have to get out of here.

Dru/Jenny: (calms him) No-no-no-no-no. Slowly.

She brushes her hand over his temple, down his cheek and over his lips.

Giles: It can't be you. (stares into her eyes)

Dru/Jenny: Did you tell Angel? About the ritual?

Giles: (breathing erratically) No. (desperately) We have to get... him away from Acathla.

Dru/Jenny: Why? Is he close to figuring it out?

Giles: (nods, anxious to go) Later.

Dru/Jenny: (imploringly) Tell me what to do.

Giles looks at her, helpless and confused.

Dru/Jenny: It's all right. We'll be together... finally. We'll have everything we never got to have... Never got to feel... Just tell me what to do.

Giles: (desperately) We have to get Angel away from Acathla.

Dru/Jenny: Angel himself? He's the key?

Giles: (weakly) H-h-his, his blood... H-he mustn't...

Dru/Jenny: Shh. (kisses him) Mm.

They kiss passionately. The camera pulls over to Giles' face. When it pans back he's kissing Drusilla. The camera continues to pan over to Angelus and Spike as they watch, pleased with the result.

Angelus: Blood. Of course. The blood on my hands must be my own. I am the key that will open up the door. My blood. My life. (considers) Okay. Kill him. (turns to go)

Spike: Uh, but what if he's lying?

Angelus: Yeah. Good point. Alright, don't kill him. (leans down to Spike) You know, I kinda like having you watch my back. It's kinda like old times. (chuckles)

They both look over at Drusilla, still kissing Giles.

Spike: Uh, Drusilla...

She keeps kissing him.

Angelus: Honey...

Spike: We are finished here, ducks.

She stops and looks back at them sheepishly.

Drusilla: Sorry. (smiles evilly) I was in the moment.

Giles opens his eyes and realizes that he's been tricked. Cut to Giles' apartment. Whistler walks into the kitchen and looks around. He spots a bottle of sherry and takes a sniff, but then sees that it's empty. He puts it back down and keeps looking around. Buffy comes in and sees him there. He goes over to check out the refrigerator.

Buffy: Whistler. What did you mean, the sword isn't enough?

Whistler: (finds a bottle of beer) You know, raiding an Englishman's fridge is like dating a nun. You're never gonna get the good stuff.

Buffy: Tell me how to use it.

Whistler: (takes a swig and looks back at Buffy) Angel's the key. (closes the fridge) His blood will open the door to Hell. Acathla opens his big mouth, creates a vortex. Then only Angel's blood will close it. One blow will send 'em both back to Hell. But I strongly suggest that you get there before that happens, 'cause the faster you kill Angel, the easier it's gonna be on you.

Buffy: Don't worry about me.

Whistler: It's all on the line here, kid.

Buffy: I can deal. (sadly) I got nothing left to lose. (leaves)

Whistler: Wrong, kid. You got one more thing.

Act Four

Outside Angelus' mansion. The camera pans along its dark facade. Cut to the street. Buffy walks toward the mansion at a determined pace with the sword wrapped in a cloth. Suddenly Xander comes running out of the bushes on the hillside and jumps into the street in front of her. She startles and takes a reflexive step back.

Buffy: Xander!

Xander: Cavalry's here. Cavalry's a frightened guy with a rock, (holds up a large rock) but it's here.

Buffy holds up a stake. He tosses the rock aside and takes it from her.

Xander: That's better.

Buffy: You're not here to fight. (starts walking) You get Giles out, and you run like hell, understood? I can't protect you. (pulls off and discards the cloth) I'm gonna be too busy killing.

Xander: (looks at the sword) Now, that's a new look for you.

Buffy: It's a present for Angel.

Xander: Willow. (stops) Uh, she told me to tell you...

Buffy: Tell me what?

Xander: (pauses to think) Kick his ass.

Without a word she continues walking. Xander hesitates a moment and then follows. Cut inside the main hall of the mansion. Spike in his wheelchair, Angelus and Drusilla stand at one end near the large fireplace. The camera pans along the other side behind Acathla and the two other vampires standing on either side. Angelus begins the ritual.

Angelus: Acathla... Mundatus sum... pro te necavi. Sanguinem meum...pro te effundam... (steps slowly toward Acathla) quo me dignum... esse demonstrem.

Translation: Acathla... I am cleansed... here before you. My blood...flowing before you... (steps slowly toward Acathla) makes me worthy...as I demonstrate.

Cut to Willow's hospital room. Cordelia and Oz are back with the Orb and the candles, and they have everything set up on the tray table over the bed: the Orb surrounded by the candles within a sacred circle. Cordelia stands on one side and waves burning herbs and incense over the Orb. Oz stands on the other side with an open Latin book. Willow sits up in her bed holding the printout of the Rumanian curse. The camera looks down from above and closes in on them.

Willow: Are we ready?

Cordelia: Stinky herbs are a go.

Oz: Did I mention I didn't take Latin?

Willow: Y-you don't have to understand it. You just have to say it. I hope.

Oz: Right.

Cut to Angelus' mansion. The camera pans past Acathla's face and the vampire standing next to him.

Angelus: Now, Acathla...

Cut to Angelus. Drusilla hands him a knife.

Angelus: You will be free.

He draws the blade across the palm of his hand and winces in pain, but doesn't take his stare off of the demon. He drops the knife.

Angelus: And so will we all.

Cut to the other vampire. The camera pans around him to show Buffy coming in quietly behind him. She raises her sword and decapitates him with a single swing. He crumbles to ash as his head falls to the floor. Drusilla and Angelus turn their heads to look. Buffy meets their gazes.

Buffy: Hello, lover.

Angelus: (bored) I don't have time for you.

Buffy: You don't have a lot of time *left*.

Angelus: Coming on kind of strong, don't you think? You're playing some deep odds here. Do you really think you can take us all on?

Buffy: No. I don't.

Spike gets up out of his wheelchair behind Angelus with a determined look on his face and whips him hard across the back with an andiron. Angelus cries out in pain and collapses to the floor. Drusilla twists her head to look at Spike. He continues to whale on Angelus as hard as he can. Buffy starts for Drusilla, but the first vampire attacks her. She spins around to face him, but he punches her and she falls to the floor. She trips him when he comes at her again and maneuvers to her feet, ready to fight. He comes at her again with a series of punches, all of which she easily blocks. Spike keeps pounding on Angelus.

Spike: Painful, isn't it?

He keeps swinging the andiron. Drusilla begins to freak, and jumps on Spike, taking him down to the floor with her. Buffy's assailant backhand punches her in the face, and she goes staggering into a chair by the wall. She quickly recovers to block another swing, brings her knee up into his gut and kicks him in the face, knocking him to the floor. She spies a pile of broken wood fragments and goes to it. The vampire gets to his feet just as Xander comes into the room and surprises him with a punch. Buffy picks up a suitable piece of scrap wood and gets back into the fight. Xander backs off to go look for Giles. The vampire ducks a roundhouse kick and blocks another kick. Spike and Drusilla get up from the floor and face each other off.

Spike: I don't want to hurt you, baby.

She grabs him by the throat and shoves him into the wall. He slaps her arm aside and punches her in the face.

Spike: Doesn't mean I won't.

Cut to the hospital room. Willow casts her stones and gives Oz his cue. Cordelia keeps waving the burning herbs and incense.

Oz: Quod perditum est, invenietur.

Translation: What is lost, return.

Willow: Not dead... nor not of the living. Spirits of the interregnum, I call.

Cut to the mansion. Xander pushes aside a curtain to another room and finds Giles still tied to a chair.

Xander: Giles!

Giles' head is tilted back, and he is very weak.

Xander: Giles!

Giles lifts his head slowly. Xander crouches behind the chair and begins to untie the ropes.

Giles: Xander?

Xander: Can you walk?

Giles: You're not real.

Xander: Sure, I'm real.

Giles: It's a trick. They get inside my head, make me see things I want.

Xander has untied the ropes and goes around to look into Giles' face.

Xander: Then why would they make you see me?

Giles: (considers) You're right. Let's go.

He groans as Xander gets under his arm and helps him out of the chair.

Xander: Come on.

They make their way though the main hall as fast as they can and out the door. Buffy and the vampire continue to fight. Drusilla swipes at Spike with her hand and leaves four parallel scratches across his cheek. She follows up with a punch that knocks him to the floor. Angelus wakes up and groans in pain. He rubs his eyes and looks up at Acathla. He gets to his feet and goes over to the demon. Buffy is still fighting the vampire. She blocks a kick from him, punches him, spins around and punches again, and he falls onto his back. Buffy quickly follows him down with her stake and jams it into his chest. He bursts into ashes. Behind her Angelus takes the last few steps to Acathla and grabs the sword stuck in his chest by the hilt with his bloody hand. A blindingly bright light emanates from it, and Buffy looks up from her kill in time to witness Angelus pulling the sword from the demon's heart. With a few telltale sparks the light is suddenly gone. Angelus whips the sword around in his hand and holds it up to look at it. Buffy scrambles to get her own sword. Drusilla looks up from her fight and gazes at Acathla with a smile.

Drusilla: Oh... Here he comes.

Spike comes up behind her and grabs her around the throat with his arm, choking her. Cut to the hospital. Willow continues her chant, but starts to feel weak.

Willow: Gods, bind him. Cast his heart from the... evil... realm.

Cut to the mansion. Buffy holds up her sword and faces off with Angelus. He holds his own ready to fight her also.

Angelus: You almost made it, Buff.

Buffy: It's not over yet.

Angelus: My boy Acathla here is about to wake up. You're going to Hell.

Buffy: Save me a seat.

She thrusts at him with her sword, but he parries and swings around with a thrust of his own, which she also parries. They clash blades several times, and Buffy ducks a wide arcing swing from him. They face off again and trade one thrust and parry after another. Angelus tries another arcing swing from above, but she easily ducks and sidesteps out of the way. They face off again in front of Acathla and trade a few more blows. Angelus tries a swing from above a third time, and again Buffy ducks it and escapes to the side. She jumps up on a low table and swings at him again. He parries, and swings at her legs. She jumps up and over his blade and lands on the floor. He tries for her legs again, but she blocks his attempt with her blade. Again they trade several swings, and Angelus tries a wide swing again, and this time cuts her superficially on the arm. He tries to take advantage of her distraction and comes at her with his sword held high, intending to swing from above, but she drops to the floor and rolls out of the way, so he only manages to smash a bowl on a table behind her. Buffy kicks his legs out from under him and scrambles back up. He turns to face her still on his knees and swings three times in rapid succession, all of which she parries. He swings a fourth time, and this time Buffy knocks his sword into the table with her parry and pins it there. He backhand punches her in the face, and she spins away. He pulls the sword from the table and swings it hard at her. She blocks it with hers, and kicks him in the gut, making him double over. She jumps over him into the clear, and raises her sword to continue the fight. He thrusts, and she parries. Then he kicks her in her sword arm, and she stumbles back a step. Cut to the hospital. Willow gets weaker as she chants and breathes heavily.

Willow: Return. (pants) I call on... (pants)

Oz: (worried) Willow?

Cordelia: (worried) Are you okay?

Without warning Willow's head snaps back and she looks up with her eyes wide open. Her head snaps back down and her eyes stare into the Orb. She begins to chant steadily in Rumanian as though possessed.

Willow: Te implor, Doamne, nu ignora aceasta rugaminte.

Translation: I implore you, Lord, do not ignore this request.

Oz: (to Cordelia) Is this a good thing?

Willow: Nici mort, nici al fiintei...

Translation: Neither dead, nor of the living...

Cordelia: (freaked out) Hey, speak English!

Willow: Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transporta, sufletul la el.

Translation: Let this Orb be the vessel that will carry his soul to him.

Cut to Angelus' mansion. The fight has moved out into the atrium. Buffy hits the ground and scrambles back to her feet as Angelus slowly advances. She thrusts, and he parries. She spins around and swings at him, and he blocks her. Her sword bounces off of his and falls with the tip onto the low wall of a planting bed. Angelus stomps on the blade before she can raise it again and knocks it from her grip. He spins around and elbows her in the face, knocking her back into a stone table, which collapses and falls with her. Cut to Acathla. Deep thundering growls and noises come from him as he begins to wake. Cut to Spike choking Drusilla. She begins to lose consciousness and slumps over in his arms.

Spike: Sorry, baby. Wish there was another way.

When she begins to fall he catches her, lifts her into his arms and starts to carry her out. On the way he passes the doorway to the atrium and glances outside. When he sees them he stops to take a better look. Buffy is backing up against the wall without her sword while Angelus slowly and deliberately advances on her holding his.

Spike: God, he's gonna kill her.

He watches for another moment, then shrugs and heads for the garage with Drusilla. Cut to the atrium. Angelus plays with his sword, idly pointing it at Buffy. She looks up at him, frightened.

Angelus: Now that's everything, huh? No weapons... No friends... No hope.

Buffy closes her eyes and steels herself for whatever's coming.

Angelus: Take all that away... and what's left?

He draws the sword back and thrusts it directly at her face. With lightning-fast reflexes she swings up with both arms and catches the blade between the palms of her hands. She opens her eyes and meets his.

Buffy: Me.

She shoves the blade away from her, and the hilt of the sword hits Angelus in the face. He staggers back, and she hops to her feet and kicks him in the chest. He stumbles back even more, and she reaches down and picks up her sword. She swings it around and thrusts at him, but he manages to parry. They exchange several blows, blocking each other. Buffy spins around and swings her sword down at him from above. He holds up his own to block, but she hits it hard and he falls to one knee. She swings again, and he blocks. She spins around with a roundhouse kick to his side, and he collapses to the ground. Cut outside the garage. Spike smashes through the door with his car. The windows are all painted black. He screeches into the street and guns it. Cut into the car. Drusilla is lying unconscious in the passenger's seat. Spike concentrates on the road and whips around a corner. When heading straight again he looks over at her. He reaches around her neck and pulls her over to him, and holds her close as he keeps driving with only one hand on the wheel. Cut to the mansion. Buffy kicks Angelus, and he comes flying in through the door, hits the floor and rolls to a stop. Before he can get all the way back to his feet Buffy leaps in and swings her sword at him. He almost misses parrying her blow, and he steps back to get his footing. They exchange a few more swings. Angelus misses a block and gets sliced on his hand. Cut to the hospital. The table lurches hard. The camera pans around Willow and closes in on her face.

Willow: Asa sa fie! Asa sa fie! Acum!

Translation: So it shall be! So it shall be! Now!

Cut to the mansion. Angelus has dropped his sword and holds his cut. Buffy does a high kick to his face, and he falls backward into Acathla and lands on his knees before her. Cut to the hospital.

Willow: Acum!

Translation: Now!

The Orb glows brightly for a brief moment and goes dark. Willow suddenly relaxes, and looks around blankly. Cut to the mansion. Buffy raises her sword to dispatch Angelus, but stays herself when he suddenly gasps loudly and groans in pain. She sees his eyes glow bright red for an instant and go back dark. He looks up at her, but quickly collapses to the floor, crying. Buffy stares down at him, but still holds her sword raised behind her. Angel raises himself back up, his eyes heavy with tears, and looks into her eyes.

Angel: (softly) Buffy? (sobs) What's going on?

She just looks at him, confused but not yet ready to lower the sword. He looks around a bit and gets to his feet.

Angel: Where are we? I-I don't remember.

Finally Buffy realizes that the curse has worked, and she slowly lowers her sword.

Buffy: (softly) Angel?

Angel: (sees her wound) You're hurt.

She looks down at her wound and feels his gentle touch on her arm. She ignores her cut, looks back up at him and steps closer. He embraces her tightly.

Angel: Oh, Buffy... God.

She still isn't completely sure that it's true, but accepts the hug.

Angel: I... I feel like I haven't seen you in months.

Finally she accepts it, closes her eyes and breathes out a deep sigh.

Angel: Oh, my God, everything's so muddled. I...

He holds her even more closely.

Angel: Oh...

He sighs deeply and kisses her on the shoulder.

Angel: Oh, Buffy...

She cries into his shoulder and hugs him back. Behind him Acathla lets out a low rumble. Buffy opens her eyes and stares in shock as Acathla's face contorts. His brows angle down, his eyes glow red, his mouth opens grotesquely and the swirling vortex to Hell opens, small at first, but growing steadily in size and emanating a deep, red glow. Buffy lets go of Angel and looks up into his face.

Angel: (confused) What's happening?

Buffy: (whispers reassuringly) Shh. Don't worry about it.

She brushes her fingers over his lips and across his cheek. She lays her hand on his cheek and kisses him softly. He returns the kiss, and it becomes more passionate. Behind them the vortex has grown to about five feet (1.5 m) across and continues to get larger. Buffy breaks off the kiss and looks deeply into Angel's eyes.

Buffy: (whispers) I love you.

Angel: (whispers) I love you.

She touches his lips with her fingers again.

Buffy: Close your eyes.

She nods reassuringly, and he closes his eyes. She tries hard not to start crying, and kisses him again gently. She steps back, draws back her sword and thrusts it into his chest. His eyes whip open in surprise and pain, and a bright light emanates from the sword. She steps away from him. He reaches out to her and looks down at the sword thrust completely through him. He looks at her imploringly, completely bewildered by this turn of events. She can only stare at the sword protruding from his chest, and slowly steps further back.

Angel: Buffy...

Behind him the power of the sword begins to swirl into the vortex. Buffy steps further back, still looking only at the sword in his chest and not into his face. The vortex has enlarged to about twelve feet (3.5 m) across, and the two energies begin to interact. Angel still holds out his hand to Buffy. When the vortex finally meets him it suddenly closes into Acathla's mouth without so much as a spark, taking him with it. Buffy stares at the stone demon for a long moment, a light of awareness dawning in her eyes as she truly realizes what she has done, what she has lost. She begins to sob, her heart breaking. In the background "Full of Grace", by Sarah McLachlan, begins to play over the scene.

Lyrics: The winter here is cold...

Dissolve to Buffy's street. She walks across it toward her house.

Lyrics: ...and bitter / It's chilled us to the bone / We haven't seen the sun for weeks / Too long, too far from home

She looks at the neighboring houses, then back at hers. Cut into the house. Joyce climbs the steps and looks down the hall at Buffy's door.

Lyrics: I feel just like I'm sinking

Joyce: Buffy?

Lyrics: And I claw for solid ground

She walks to Buffy's room and looks in. The windows are open, and some of her daughter's things are strewn on the bed. She steps in and looks around.

Lyrics: I'm pulled down by the undertow

She sees a note on the bed among a bunch of clothes.

Lyrics: I never thought I could feel so low

She picks up the note and reads.

Lyrics: And, oh, darkness / I feel like letting go

She begins to cry as she reads and sits down on the bed.

Lyrics: If all of the strength and all of the courage / Come and lift me from this place

Cut to Sunnydale High School. Xander and Giles walk up to Oz pushing Willow in a wheelchair with Cordelia at their side. Giles' walk is a bit unsteady.

Lyrics: I know I can love you much better than this / Full of grace

Giles: Willow, are you sure you should be out of bed?

Willow: Look who's talking.

Giles: (smiles) Yes.

Cordelia: Any word?

Xander: You guys haven't seen her either?

Willow: No.

Oz: But we know the world didn't end, 'cause... (looks around) check it out.

Giles: (takes off his glasses and squints) Well, we, uh... we went back to the mansion. I-it was empty, um... and Acathla was, was... dormant.

Willow: I think the spell worked. I felt something go through me.

Cordelia: Plus the Orb did that cool glow thing.

Xander: Well, maybe it wasn't in time. Maybe she had to kill him before the cure could work.

Oz: Well, then, she'd wanna be alone, I guess.

Willow: Or maybe Angel *was* saved, and they want to be alone together.

Giles: Perhaps.

Cordelia: Well, she's gotta show up sooner or later. We still have school.

Willow: Yeah. (looks around for her) She'll be here in a while.

Lyrics: Where everything we said and did / Hurts us all the more

They all turn and head into the school.

Lyrics: It's just that we stayed too long / In the same old sickly skin

Cut to Buffy looking at the school from behind a tree. She watches them as they go in.

Lyrics: I'm pulled down by the undertow / I never thought I could feel so low

The camera pans around her to her face, looking sadly at the school. A light breeze sweeps her hair back.

Lyrics: And, oh, darkness / I feel like letting go

She turns around and walks away down the street without looking back.

Lyrics: If all of the strength and all of the courage / Come and lift me from this place

Dissolve to the inside of a bus. Buffy's reflection is visible in the window as it drives by her house.

Lyrics: I know I can love you much better than this / Full of grace

Buffy looks out the window calmly as the bus drives on. Cut to a two-lane road leading out of town. The bus passes under the camera on its way.

Lyrics: I know I can love you much better than this

The camera pans down to a sign that reads:

"NOW LEAVING SUNNYDALE...

come back soon!"

Lyrics: It's better this way

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