Act Three

The library. Giles picks up the printout of the Newsletter's front page.

Giles: Callie Megan Anderson. Missing for over a week. No one's seen her, no one knows what happened to her.

Willow: This being Sunnydale and all I guess we can rule out something good.

Giles: I'm calling Buffy.

Willow: No!

Giles: Why not?

Willow: (nervous) Because Buffy... a-a-and her mother...

Giles: Are sick. No, you're quite right. No, there's no point in disturbing them until we know more.

Willow turns her attention back to the PC. Some more information comes up.

Willow: You mean, like, if there're others? Brittany Oswald, junior at St. Michael's, disappeared a year ago. So did Kelly Percell, sophomore at Grant.

Giles: A year.

Willow: Almost to the day.

Giles: An anniversary or perhaps some other event significant to the killer.

Willow: Killer? Now there's a killer? We don't know that there's a...

Giles: No, but this being Sunnydale and all.

Willow: Gulp.

Giles: (exhales) We need to know where Buffy found that bracelet, and then we can begin our search there. (reaches for the phone)

Willow: Good idea. Call Angel. (gets a confused look from Giles) Uh, he was there when Buffy found it. We're gonna need all the help we can get.

Giles agrees with her logic. Cut to the fraternity house front door. The party is over. Tackle shoves Xander out of the house. Linebacker throws him his clothes.

Linebacker: Party's over, jerkwater.

Xander: Wait, a friend of mine was here.

Tackle: Y'know, in that light, with that wig on and all... you're still butt-ugly!

They laugh and close the door in Xander's face. He drops his clothes, pulls off the wig, and throws it down. He undoes the bra, takes it off and throws it down, too. Cut to the basement. Richard takes a sword and walks behind a kneeling Tom. Tom has a series of symbols carved onto his chest. Richard begins to carve another one on Tom's back. The camera pans over to the three girls shackled to the wall.

Cordelia: Buffy? Where are we?

Buffy: In the basement, far as I can tell.

Cordelia: What's happening? What did they do to us?

Buffy: They drugged us.

Cordelia: Why? What are they gonna do to us?

Buffy: I don't know.

Cordelia: (whines) I wanna go home.

Callie: No one's going home. Ever. Look, one of them's different than the others. (looks at Tom) Nicer.

Buffy: (whispers) Tom.

Richard is finished carving Tom's new symbol. He gets up and turns to the girls. Two brothers help him on with his robe.

Callie: He's the one to watch out for.

Buffy shakes her chain a bit and looks up where it's anchored. Tom looks at her.

Tom: She's last.

Cordelia: Last? For what?

Tom walks over to the well and picks up a bag.

Cordelia: Who's first?! Answer me! Who's first?!

Tom lets three stones drop out of the bag and into his hand.

Buffy: Three stones. (looks at Cordelia and Callie) Three of us.

Cordelia: (beginning to panic) Buffy...

Buffy: Stay calm. We'll get outta this.

Tom pours water over the stones.

Cordelia: Why'd I ever let you talk me into coming here?

Buffy can't believe her ears. Tom is done with his stone-cleansing ritual and faces the girls. He stares at Buffy. Cut to the library.

Angel: She found the bracelet in the cemetery. Near the south wall.

Giles: South wall.

Willow stares at the window in fascination. Angel casts no reflection in it.

Giles: (to Willow) What are you doing?

Willow: Oh! Sorry. The reflection thing that you don't have. Angel, how do you shave? (the men exchange a look) South wall. That's near the college and... the fraternity house!

Giles: A fraternity?

Willow nods nervously.

Angel: Could they be taking these girls? (Willow nods again) Let's get out there!

Giles and Angel start to go. Willow holds back.

Willow: Buffy!

Giles: Wwwe don't know that it's concrete. Uh, let's not disturb her until...

Willow: Is there! With Cordelia. They went to a party at the Zeta Kappa house.

Giles: She lied to me?

Willow: (nervous) Well...

Angel: Did... she have a date?

Willow: Well... (Angel huffs) Well, why do you think she went to that party? Because you gave her the brush-off! (to Giles) And you never let her do anything except work and patrol! And I know she's the Chosen One, but you're killing her with the pressure! I mean, she's sixteen going on forty! (to Angel) And you! I mean, you're gonna live forever! You don't have time for a cup of coffee?!

Angel and Giles are speechless.

Willow: Okay, I don't feel better now, and we've gotta help Buffy.

She hurries out of the library. Giles and Angel follow shortly behind. Cut to the street in front of the fraternity house. Xander walks past a few cars. He's still wearing the skirt and carries his clothes in a bundle.

Xander: One day I'll have money. Prestige. Power. And on that day they'll still have more.

He walks past Cordelia's car, and it looks familiar to him. He checks the license plate and it reads 'QUEEN C'. It's Cordelia's car, alright. He looks back up at the house a moment, and then makes his way back to it. Cut to the basement. The ritual is continuing. Tom is standing on the basement stairs holding the sword.

Tom: Machida. (starts down)

Brothers: In his name.

Tom: We who serve you, we who receive all that you bestow, call upon you in this holy hour.

Brothers: In this holy hour.

He turns to walk toward Richard, holding the sword horizontally in both hands.

Tom: We have no wealth, no possession... except that which you give us.

Brothers: Except that which you give us.

He places the sword on Richard's arms.

Tom: We have no power, no place in the world... except that which you give us.

Brothers: Except that which you give us.

Richard hugs the sword to his chest, crossing his hands over his heart.

Cordelia: What are they, some kind of cult or something?

Buffy: Yeah, a psycho cult.

Cordelia: You've gotta do something.

Tom: It's been a year since our last offering.

Richard lowers the sword and rests the tip on the floor.

Tom: A year in which our bounty overflowed. We come before you with fresh offerings.

Cordelia: Offerings? He's talking about us?

Callie: Do you see anyone else chained up in here?

Tom: Accept our offering, Dark Lord, and bless us with your power. Machida!

Brothers: Machida!

Tom tosses the stones into the well at the center of the basement one at a time.

Cordelia: (frightened) What's down there?

Tom: Come forth, and let your terrible countenance look upon your servants, and their humble offering. We call you, Machida.

Brothers: In his name. Machida.

Cordelia: There's something down there and he's gonna throw us down there with it.

Buffy: I don't think so.

Cordelia: No? Well, that's good! That, that's...

Buffy: I don't think we go to it. I think it comes to us.

Cordelia: (terrified) Ooohhhhhhh! No!

Tom looks up, awaiting Machida's arrival. The camera closes in on the well, and suddenly Machida rises out of it.

Cordelia: Oh, my God! (screams)

It's a half-man, half-snake, green and scaly. He growls as he looks at the girls. Cordelia keeps screaming at the top of her lungs. Buffy stares at Machida in wide-eyed horror.

Act Four

The basement. Buffy tries to yank her chains from the ceiling.

Cordelia: C'mon, Buffy! Oh, my God! Oh, c'mon! Oh!

Machida remains stationary and spreads his arms.

Tom: For he shall rise from the depths, and we shall tremble before him.

The camera pans down and over to Tom.

Tom: He who is the source of all we inherit and all we possess. Machida.

Brothers: Machida.

Tom: And if he is pleased with our offerings, then our fortune shall increase.

Brothers: Machida. Let our fortunes increase.

Tom: And on the tenth day of the tenth month he shall be enhungered. And we shall feed him.

Machida gazes over at the girls.

Cordelia: Feed him?

Machida rises before her.

Cordelia: Feed him?!

Buffy renews her efforts to break the chains from the ceiling.

Cordelia: Oh, no!

Cut outside. Angel, Willow and Giles walk through the bushes from the street to the lawn.

Willow: Looks like everyone's gone.

They look up at the house as a robed figure comes up behind them. The figure steps on some foliage, and Angel instantly spins around to confront him.

Angel: Hey!

Xander: Hey! (lifts the hood from his eyes) What are you guys doing here?

Willow: A bunch of girls are missing, and the Zeta Kappas may be involved, and Buffy. Are you wearing makeup?

Xander smears the lipstick off with his fingers.

Xander: No. I think Buffy's still inside somewhere with Cordelia. Her car's still here.

Giles: Why are you wearing that? (indicates the robe)

Xander: Oh, I found it in their trash. I saw them through the window.

They were wearing robes and went down to the basement. I was gonna use it to sneak in.

Giles: They may be involved in some kind of ritual.

Willow: With the missing girls.

Angel: (growls, vamped out) With Buffy!

Xander: Okay, that *is* the guy you wanna party with.

Cut to the basement. Machida closes in on Cordelia and she screams.

Buffy: Hey, reptile boy! (gets his attention)

Tom: No woman speaks to him!

Buffy: You don't want her. Look at her. She's all skin and bones. Half an hour later you'll be hungry.

Tom: (comes over to Buffy) I told you to shut up!

He backhand punches her and holds up his sword.

Tom: You speak again and I'll cut your throat.

Cut upstairs. Xander steps up to the door holding his head down and knocks. Tackle comes to the door to answer.

Xander: Got locked out dumping the trash. Let me in. I don't wanna miss the, uh...

Tackle opens the door and waves him in.

Tackle: Come on.

Xander: ...you know what. (throws back his hood) Where are they?!

He punches Tackle in the face and knocks him down, but has really hurt his hand doing it. Angel comes in behind him and punches out Linebacker. Willow and Giles follow them in. Cut to the basement. Two brothers unchain Cordelia and hold her. Tom hears the commotion upstairs.

Tom: Something's going on upstairs. (to the brothers) Go. Go!

Several of them rush upstairs to see what's going on. Buffy looks up at her chains again, then back at Machida.

Tom: Feed, Dark Lord!

Machida rises above Cordelia, then moves in to take her from the brothers' grip. She screams loudly and struggles. Buffy yanks hard at her chains again, and they finally break loose from the ceiling. She quickly steps over to Machida and punches him in the face. He pulls back away from them, holding the side of his face. Buffy starts fighting the brothers. Tom takes a swing at her with his sword. Cut upstairs. Angel throws a brother to the floor. Willow jumps over him, runs to the basement door and goes in. Xander is on Tackle's back, punching him.

Xander: That's for the wig! (punches again) That's for the bra!

Giles struggles with a door. A brother tries to grab him from behind, but he elbow-punches him and knocks him out. Willow comes back out of the basement door.

Willow: Some guy's attacking Buffy with a sword! Also there's a really big snake!

Angel punches another brother and sends him reeling into the sill of an opening in the wall. Willow screams and backs off as the brother falls to the floor. Xander keeps punching Tackle.

Xander: That's for the makeup! (punches again, knocking him out) And that's for the last sixteen and a half years!

Willow: Guys! Buffy! Snake! Basement! Now!

She heads back into the basement as the others jump to follow. Angel punches out a brother who is giving chase. Cut to the basement.

Tom: You bitch! I'll serve you to him in pieces.

He attacks her with the sword, but she catches the blade in her chains, throws a loop of it around his neck and pulls him in.

Buffy: Tom, you talk too much.

She shoves him away, and he rolls over a table, knocking everything off of it. Machida grabs Cordelia and starts to drag her away as the others come down the stairs. Buffy picks up the sword and jumps up onto the edge of the well. She holds the sword above her head, ready to strike.

Buffy: Let her go, wormy!

Machida doesn't heed her warning and continues to hold on to Cordelia, so Buffy wields back the sword and slashes it into him. He drops Cordelia and rears back, screaming in pain. A moment later he drops to the floor dead. Buffy makes a face at the grossness of it. Willow comes down the rest of the steps and goes over to free Callie. Buffy comes down to look at what's left of Machida. Angel is behind her. Giles helps Cordelia up.

Cordelia: You did it! You saved us! (grabs Angel in a tight hug) I've never been so happy to see anyone in my whole... (lets go) You guys. (cries) I just... hate you guys! The weirdest things always happen when you're around!

Angel brings Tom over. Cordelia grabs him by the shirt.

Cordelia: And you! You're going to jail for fifteen thousand years!

She lets go of him and starts up the stairs. Angel shoves Tom up the stairs ahead of him. Giles puts his fists on his hips and gives Buffy a stern look. She looks down in shame.

Buffy: I told one lie, I had one drink.

Giles: Yes, and you were very nearly devoured by a giant demon snake. The words 'let that be a lesson' are a tad redundant at this juncture.

Buffy: I'm sorry. (looks at him for forgiveness)

Giles: So am I. I... I drive you too hard because I-I know what you have to face. From now on no, no more pushing, no more prodding. Just, uh, an inordinate amount of nudging.

Buffy smiles up at him and then starts up the stairs. Giles takes her arm and goes up with her. Cut to the Bronze. Jonathan is at the bar anxiously waiting for a large cup of cappuccino.

Jonathan: C'mon, hurry!

Barmaid: Here you go.

She hands him the large cup and saucer and he takes it and a plate with a muffin over to Cordelia.

Cordelia: Thank you, Jonathan. (looks at the cappuccino) Did we forget something?

Jonathan: Um... Cinnamon, chocolate, half-caf, nonfat.

Cordelia just looks at him. He realizes his mistake.

Jonathan: Extra foam!

Cordelia grabs the muffin and waves the cappuccino away. She steps over to Xander, Willow and Buffy at their table. Xander is reading the Sunnydale Press.

Cordelia: Young men are the only way to go. (leaves)

Xander: Says here that they've all been sentenced to consecutive life sentences. Investigators found the bones of missing girls in a huge cavern beneath the frat house. And older bones dating back fifty years.

Buffy and Willow exchange a grossed-out look.

Xander: A surprising number of corporations whose chairmen and founders are former Delta Zeta Kappas are suffering from falling profits, IRS raids... Ooo, and suicides in the boardroom. Hmm. Starve a snake, lose a fortune. Boy, I guess the rich really are different, huh?

Willow: (to Buffy) Have you heard from Angel? When he got so mad about you being in danger, and changed into a (makes a face) grr, it was the most amazing thing I ever saw. I mean, how many guys can...

Angel comes down the stairs and over to stand behind Xander.

Xander: Angel, Angel, Angel. Does every conversation we have have to come around to that freak? (notices Angel) Hey, man, how you doin'?

Angel: Buffy.

Buffy: Angel.

Xander: (in a deep voice) Xander! (shakes his head)

Angel: I hear this place, uh, serves coffee. (Xander looks up at him) I thought maybe you and I should get some. Sometime. If you want.

Buffy permits herself a bit of a smile.

Buffy: Yeah. Sometime. I'll let you know.

Angel eyes her suspiciously. Buffy gets up and leaves with a smile on her face.

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