The Party
ACT ONE
INT. MAGIC BOX – NIGHT
(ANYA
is behind the counter cashing up, while GILES locks the front door. XANDER
is seated at the table, reading. As GILES moves back towards him, XANDER keeps
shooting him nervous glances. He obviously wants to tell the watcher something
but doesn’t know how to start)
GILES
Spit
it out Xander for God’s sake or we’ll be here all night.
(ANYA
finishes what she is doing and moves to join the two men, clearly interested)
XANDER
(GLANCING
BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN GILES AND ANYA)
Alright…
Here’s the thing… The thing is…
ANYA
Honey, you know we’ve talked about taking
deeper breaths before you start sentences.
XANDER
OK.
Earlier today, Buffy told me… Well she told me…
GILES
Xander
you have one minute to tell me or I’m going to ask Buffy myself.
XANDER
Spike’s
in love with Buffy.
(GILES
is clearly shocked. He remains seated, staring at XANDER. ANYA sighs and rolls
her eyes at the two men before standing and fetching her coat)
ANYA
Is
that all? I thought you were going to say something awful there for a second.
XANDER
(DOING
HIS BEST TO CONVINCE HIS GIRLFRIEND)
It
is awful. This is Spike. We’re talking about Spike. Spike loves Buffy.
ANYA
I
know. It’s been obvious to me for some time.
XANDER
And
you didn’t feel like sharing that little piece of information with us because…?
ANYA
It
wasn’t my secret to tell. What kind of person would I be if I went around
telling people things that are none of their business?
XANDER
And
why doesn’t this philosophy extend to our private lives?
ANYA
Because
it’s my secret then.
XANDER
(SIGHING
IN DEFEAT)
Giles?
What are we going to do about Spike?
GILES
(HAVING
REGAINED THE ABILITY TO TALK)
Umm,
well… I guess I’ll talk to Buffy and if there appears to be any problem then
I’ll…
XANDER
Yes?
GILES
(WITH
A DANGEROUS EDGE)
Then
I’ll deal with Spike.
INT. SUMMERS’ LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
(WILLOW
and JOYCE are waiting for BUFFY to return. They sit silently together, each
throwing nervous glances at the door every now and then. BUFFY enters, murmuring
something we don’t hear as she crosses the threshold. She notices her mother
and WILLOW and smiles brightly at them as she hangs up her coat)
Hi
mom. Hi Wills. You didn’t need to stay you know. You must be really tired.
No
Buffy I’m fine. I just wanted to make sure that everything went ok. I did
the spell like you asked, so…
(INTERRUPTING)
Yeah
I know. I just revoked it.
(DISBELIEVING)
What?
OK
guys. Calm down. Spike and I talked and we’ve sorted a few things out. I told
him how I felt and he asked if we could try and be friends. He said he wanted
to help so; I’m giving him a chance and the de-invite seemed a little petty
after that. He promised not to come in whenever he felt like it and I promised
to stop being a bitch.
(BUFFY
walks through into the kitchen followed by a happier JOYCE and a confused
WILLOW)
But
Buffy…?
NO
buts Will. This is something we’re going to try. And I’m counting on you to
try and make him feel more included. And to try and get Xander to stay calm
about all of this.
Buffy,
when you left you totally hated the guy. Now you’re giving him a chance?
I
think it’s very good of you Buffy. He’s always been very nice to me. He’s
interesting and sweet. And I think he’s quite lonely. Especially since Drusilla
left him.
(BUFFY
and WILLOW are staring at her. The Slayer starts to laugh softly)
Well
he’s not lonely enough to take the demon queen back.
What?
Oh.
Dru came back, that’s why I was gone so long. We had to put her on a train.
In a trunk this time, so she can’t hurt anyone. We sent her to Angel. Hopefully
he’ll know what to do with her.
(JOYCE
nods approvingly, while WILLOW sighs and shakes her head wearily)
Maybe
I just need sleep. You’ll explain all of this again in the morning, won’t
you?
(BUFFY
nods and the two friends walk to the front door)
(CONT’D
THOUGHTFULLY)
OK.
Well, I’ll see you tomorrow Buffy.
(WILLOW
exits and BUFFY calls out to her as she leaves)
Bye
Wills.
(BUFFY
walks back into the kitchen and faces her mother)
Buffy?
Are you in love with Spike?
(ADAMANTLY)
NO!
No. We’re just going to be friends.
(MOVING
ROUND THE COUNTER TO STAND IN FRONT OF HER DAUGHTER EVERY SO OFTEN REACHING
TO STROKE BUFFY’S HAIR)
Look,
I know I ‘freaked’ earlier, but if you want to be with him, maybe not now
but in the future, then I’ll be behind you. I just want you to be happy.
(BUFFY
hugs her mother tightly, truly grateful for her words)
Thanks
mom.
(BUFFY
is getting ready for bed. She turns to find DAWN standing in the doorway)
So?
Am I still forbidden to see Spike?
(WITH
A WRY SMILE)
No
Dawn, you are not forbidden. Spike is going to help us. I hope.
(SMIRKING)
I
told you he was in love with you.
(SIGHING
& CLIMBING INTO BED)
Yes,
you did.
But
you’re still anti- the idea.
Yes.
Friends I hope we can do. The idea of anything else just wigs me out.
But
why? I mean, apart from your whole stance on soulless vampires, even ones
who can’t kill… you have to admit that, Spike is a hottie.
No,
I really don’t have to admit that.
(But
she’s thinking about it.)
(KNOWINGLY)
Doesn’t
mean you don’t think it.
Goodnight
Dawn.
(WILLOW
and TARA are seated at the table, reading through some books. ANYA is helping
a customer. GILES enters from the training room as BUFFY and DAWN enter through
the front door)
Hey
there birthday girl. How does it feel to be fifteen?
Strangely
enough, exactly the same as fourteen. But that may be some weird key thing.
No.
That’s just life. Now sixteen, that’s different. (EXPLAINING TO WILLOW AND
TARA) Well it was different for me, because I was in the cemetery staking
the undead. Probably wasn’t too different for you guys.
Are
you kidding? Can’t you remember what we did on my sixteenth birthday?
(BUFFY’S
eyes widen as she remembers and shudders slightly)
What
did you do?
There
was this huge, huge demon… I’m talking king of the giants here and there was
just me and Buffy… And I had this tiny little axe and Buffy has this big sword
and we’re not really doing much damage except to our special birthday party
clothes… we ended up completely covered in demon goo.
(RATHER
PROUD OF HER GIRLFRIEND)
But
at least you killed it.
(WILLOW
grins widely at the praise. BUFFY hasn’t noticed and finishes the story)
Actually
it just turned around and kind of stalked away. We went back later when it
was asleep with Giles and Xander, and Angel.
(WILLOW
looks a little disheartened, but Tara pats her hand reassuringly)
You
were still very brave. I can’t imagine doing anything like that when I was
sixteen.
(TO
BUFFY)
Can
I start to patrol with you when I’m sixteen?
No.
(PLEADING)
Buffy!!!!
No.
Now if you want to be the guest of honour at your party tonight, go sit over
there and do your homework.
(MUTTERING)
I
hate you.
I
heard that.
(XANDER
enters the store and ANYA greets him with a kiss before the pair move towards
the others)
Hi
guys. Hey it’s the birthday girl. Looking forward to your party tonight?
(NOT
LOOKING UP FROM HER WORK)
I
guess.
We
are looking forward to it. We have gifts.
(TAKING
NOTICE)
Gifts?
What gifts? What’re my gifts?
(XANDER
moves over behind DAWN and starts to tickle her)
Nuh-uh
Dawnster. That would spoil the surprise.
(GIGGLING)
Alirght,
alright. STOP!
(XANDER
stops and sits down next to her, grabbing a book from the pile on the desk)
Who
else is going to your party Dawn?
Um,
school friends mainly. You guys, Giles, Spike…
(A
LITTLE TOO QUICKLY)
Spike?
Spike’s coming? Why is Spike coming?
(SLOWLY,
AS IF EXPLAINING TO A CHILD)
He’s
my friend. And you said we had to include him.
BUFFY
In work. Not in social situations.
DAWN
So he can only be OUR friend when he’s helping YOU?
BUFFY
Dawn, that’s not what I meant…
DAWN
(ANNOYED)
Good. And anyway, he’s not coming to the party for you. He’s my friend and it’s my party…
XANDER
“And I’ll cr…”
BUFFY
(POINTING AT XANDER)
Don’t!
INT.
SUMMERS’ LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
(DAWN’S friends are crowding the living room and dining room. The presents are laid out on the coffee table and the dining room has been cleared for dancing. JOYCE is making her way through from the kitchen, smiling and greeting DAWN’S friends as she walks through the dining room and into the living room, where DAWN is standing with LISA)
JOYCE
Dawn honey, do you want anymore…?
DAWN
(THOROUGHLY EMBARRASSED)
No mom. We’re fine. Now will you please go away?
(JOYCE grins at her daughter and makes her way back to the kitchen where GILES and BUFFY are standing picking at the food)
JOYCE
She’s fine.
BUFFY
Told you she would be. Now why don’t you just relax? If Dawn needs anything, I’ll handle it.
EXT.
SUMMERS’ HOUSE – NIGHT
(WILLOW, TARA, ANYA & XANDER all exit XANDER’S car and walk up to the house)
WILLOW
(WALKING
NEXT TO ANYA)
What
did you get her?
It’s
a surprise.
(LOOKING
BACK)
For
Dawn. You can tell us can’t you?
You
don’t even know?
She
won’t tell me. I got Dawn a CD.
We
got her that dress she wanted.
(They
knock politely but the music is too loud so they enter anyway)
(LOOKING
AROUND AT THE ROOMS FILLED WITH TEENAGERS)
Does
anyone else feel old?
(XANDER
and TARA nod in agreement. ANYA merely looks around with interest. She spots
DAWN and walks over to her, the others quickly follow)
(WITH
A BRIGHT SMILE AND PRESENTING DAW N WITH HER GIFT, WHICH IS A SMALL, BRIGHTLY
WRAPPED, RECTANGULAR BOX)
Happy
Birthday Dawn.
(DAWN
smiles brightly as she takes her present)
Thank
you Anya.
(She
goes to put it on the table, but ANYA frowns and stops her)
Open
it.
(PLACING
HIS OWN GIFT ON THE COFFEE TABLE)
Yes,
please. We’re all dying to find out what she got you.
(DAWN
shrugs and starts to unwrap the gift. ANYA bounces nervously next to her.
Inside the box is an old-fashioned silver key, with an inscription down the
centre. DAWN gasps as she sees it and the others frown at ANYA worried that
DAWN is upset. DAWN glances up at ANYA who’s face no longer holds its excited
expression, but seems rather wise and knowing)
(SERIOUSLY
BUT KINDLY)
It’s
for protection. I found it a few days ago. I almost forgot I had it. It was
blessed by the same order of monks that created… well you. If you keep it
with you, it will protect you from evil. I though tyou should have it.
(DAWN,
with tears in her eyes, looks from ANYA to the key and then back, before throwing
her arms around the former demon and hugging her. ANYA is a little surprised
but not unhappy and cautiously hugs her back)
(Later
that night. The party is in full swing. JOYCE and GILES are chatting happily
in the kitchen, DAWN is dancing in the dining room with her friends and XANDER,
WILLOW and TARA are laughing quietly together on the stairs, while ANYA and
BUFFY are sitting on the couch, talking)
We’re
all having trouble adjusting. We don’t really know what to say to her, or
how she’s feeling. But that was… Thank you.
ANYA
For what?
For
making her feel special. And safe.
Buffy,
you don’t have to do this alone. As you said, we’re all adjusting. And I think
I know a little better what it feels like to be something else. She’ll be
fine. She’s very strong.
(GLANCING
ACROSS AT HER SISTER)
I
know. I just worry about her so much.
Well
you love her. We worry about the people we love. (LOOKING AT XANDER) Sometimes
more than we worry about ourselves.
You
know I think I should talk to you more often.
(BEAMING
WITH HAPPINESS)
I’d
like that.
(There’s
a knock at the door. BUFFY gets up to answer it)
(TRYING
TO REMAIN ALOOF)
Spike.
(She
steps back to let him in)
(SMILING
AT HER AS HE ENTERS)
Hi
Buffy.
(SHRIEKING
FROM THE DINING ROOM)
SPIKE!!
(DAWN
runs to him and hugs him tightly. SPIKE hugs her back)
Hi
Nibblet. (GLANCING AROUND HIM) Special occasion?
(MOCK
ANGRILY)
How
could you forget?
SPIKE
(FROWNING)
Forget
what?
(HITTING
HIM)
Spike!
(LAUGHING)
Alright.
Happy Birthday sweet bit.
(He
removes a package from his duster pocket and hands it to her her)
At
least it’s not chocolates.
(SPIKE
glares at her, while the others look on, confused. She opens the gift to find
a small book of horror stories)
(LAUGHING
UP AT THE VAMPIRE)
Spike
I love it. Thank you.
You’re
welcome.
(DAWN
and the Scoobies move away, leaving SPIKE and BUFFY alone. BUFFY turns to
follow her friends but SPIKE stops her)
SPIKE
(CONT’D QUIETLY)
Buffy. There’s trouble.
BLACK
OUT