The Party
ACT FOUR
INT. SUMMERS’ DINING ROOM – NIGHT
(DAWN
& LISA are standing in the doorway of the dining room whispering with
each other)
LISA
He
wants you
DAWN
Doubtful.
LISA
He’s
looking at you.
DAWN
He’s
probably wondering what he’s doing here.
LISA
He
wouldn’t have come if he didn’t like you.
DAWN
So
he likes me. Big deal. Friends tend to like each other. Doesn’t mean anything.
LISA
But
he’s not really your friend. He’s just a guy you know. That opens up possibilities.
Avenues of romance.
DAWN
Well
then he can come over here and talk to me.
LISA
It’s
your party. You’re supposed to mingle.
DAWN
Right.
And right now, I’m mingling with you.
LISA
DAWN!!
DAWN
Oh
alright.
(She
starts to move towards KEVIN, but just as she reaches him, KIRSTIE steps towards
him in front of her. DAWN glares at the back of the blonde girl’s head)
INT. JUNIOR HIGH CLASSROOM – NIGHT
(BUFFY
& SPIKE are lying together on the floor, at the side of the desk furthest
from the door, discreetly covered by SPIKE’S duster. Both look very happy)
BUFFY
Wow.
SPIKE
(SMILING
AS HE KISSES THE TOP OF HER HEAD)
Yeah.
I
mean wow. (SNUGGLING CLOSER TO HIM) It’s never been like that before.
(SPIKE
closes his eyes as he smiles in contentment holding her close. Suddenly his
eyes spring open again and he turns his head to face her)
Never?
(OBLIVIOUS)
No.
Never,
ever?
Never,
ev…
(She
realises what she’s just implied)
(CONT’D,
SIGHING)
If
I say it, will you promise not to bring it up all the time, or call him and
gloat?
No.
Spike!
OK.
OK. Now what was that better than?
(STARTING
TO GRIN AT HIS COMPLETE JOY, BUT QUIETLY, JUST IN CASE)
It
was better than Angel.
(JOYFUL
SHOUT)
Yes!!
(GIGGLING)
Since when do you have an inferiority complex about Angel?
SPIKE
I’ve never had one. I know damn well
I’m better than the poof. It’s just nice to hear you admit it, that’s all.
Well,
from here on out buster, no talking about ex’s in bed. K?
Fine
by me. Captain Cardboard always did manage to kill the mood for me anyway.
While
I would, of course, be overjoyed to hear about your non-relationship with
Harmony.
Jealous?
In
your dreams.
Every
night.
(They
lie there for a while, both comfortable in each other’s embrace. BUFFY lies
her head on SPIKE’S chest. His arms are around her)
BUFFY
Spike?
SPIKE
Yeah?
BUFFY
You
know that list of things you said you didn’t love me for?
SPIKE
Uh-huh.
BUFFY
Well
I was wondering if maybe it had something to do with…
SPIKE
If the word ‘chip’ appears in your next
sentence I’m going to leave.
BUFFY
But…
SPIKE
Buffy
I don’t love you because of the sodding chip, ok? And that means that if it
ever comes out or stops working, I’ll still be in love with you; I’ll never
hurt you. Can you stop worrying about things that don’t matter?
BUFFY
Not
really. I tend towards being a worrier.
SPIKE
Well
you never have to worry about me.
BUFFY
I
know.
SPIKE
I
love you.
BUFFY
I
know.
INT.
SUMMERS’ DINING ROOM – NIGHT
(DAWN
has once again gathered the nerve to go and talk to KEVIN. KIRSTIE this time
is as far away as possible)
DAWN
Hi
Kevin.
KEVIN
Dawn.
Great party.
DAWN
Thanks.
Um, do you want to dance?
KEVIN
Well,
I don’t dance at parties.
DAWN
(DISAPPOINTED)
Oh.
KEVIN
(LEANING
FORWARD TO SHARE A SECRET)
I’m
a horrible dancer.
DAWN
(FEELING
A LOT BETTER, SHE SMILES)
You
can’t be any worse than Xander.
KEVIN
That
guy you were dancing with before? (DAWN nods) Believe me, I’m worse.
KIRSTIE
(APPEARING
FROM NOWHERE AND IGNORING DAWN)
Kevin,
do you want to dance?
DAWN
Kevin
doesn’t dance at parties.
(KEVIN
smiles at DAWN, but KIRSTIE continues to ignore her)
KIRSTIE
We
could do something else? I mean if you want to get a drink or go for a walk?
KEVIN
No
thanks Kirstie. I’m fine just hanging here with Dawn.
(DAWN’S
face is luminous as KIRSTIE walks away, glaring at the brunette)
INT.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL – NIGHT
(The
Scoobies have made their way into the school and are now walking along the
main corridor, searching for BUFFY & SPIKE)
Buffy…
Here Buffy.
Buffy?
Spike? Where are you guys?
(SPIKE
& BUFFY can hear the Scoobies as they call out. They share one panicked
glance before lunging for their clothes)
(TARA
& WILLOW open doors and look inside classrooms at the far end of the corridor
as XANDER & ANYA check the near end. Luckily for SPIKE & BUFFY, it’s
ANYA who opens the door to the classroom they’re in. Her eyes widen as she
catches them fumbling with the zipper of BUFFY’S dress, SPIKE being already
fully dressed. BUFFY’S eyes also widen as she realises they’ve been caught.
For once though ANYA manages not to over react. She steps into the classroom
and closes the door behind her)
(GRINNNING)
Is
that dress going on or coming off?
(BUFFY
is still a little too shocked to talk)
Going
on.
OK.
Well hurry.
(SPIKE
goes back to his task and ANYA runs to collect BUFFY’S shoes and coat. BUFFY
looks oddly at ANYA as the former demon pushes SPIKE out of the way, quickly
fastens the dress and hands BUFFY her coat and shoes. Just as BUFFY finishes
putting her coat on, the door opens. WILLOW, TARA & XANDER are standing
in the doorway)
An?
What’s going on in here?
Well,
these two were about ready to kill each other, but other than that…
(The
other Scoobies relax. BUFFY & SPIKE fighting is nothing new, nor anything
to worry about)
Well,
we’re here to rescue you.
Thanks
Will… Guys. Um, shall we go?
(The
Scoobies turn to leave. BUFFY, SPIKE & ANYA share a smile before they
follow)
(BUFFY,
SPIKE & the Scoobies enter the house, to find the party over. DAWN &
JOYCE are lying on the couch, while GILES is sitting in the armchair)
Party
over?
Yeah.
I think everyone had fun though.
(HIS
GRIN HAS NEVER WAVERED)
I
know I did.
You
were only here two minutes.
What
can I say? You Summers’ women sure know how to show a bloke a good time.
(ANYA
snorts with laughter, while BUFFY glares at both of them)
(TURNING
BACK TO DAWN)
I’m
sorry I missed your party.
Hey.
My birthday’s not finished yet. We still have time for all of us to do something
together. Don’t we mom?
(HOPEFULLY)
Something
quiet?
Movie
night?
(Everyone
agrees happily. WILLOW & TARA go to bring the rest of the food into the
living room and BUFFY runs upstairs, as the others settle down in front of
the TV. DAWN runs across and pushes a tape into the machine before returning
to the couch)
(BUFFY
has changed into some more comfortable clothes and is busy pulling blankets
out of her wardrobe. Cautiously, SPIKE enters)
I
was wondering if you needed any help.
(BUFFY
smiles as she turns to him and puts her arms around his neck as she kisses
him)
I’ll
always need that kind of help.
Then
I’ll always be here to provide it.
Spike.
There’s something I want to say to you. Something I want to tell you. But
I’m scared.
You
don’t have to be afraid of me Buffy.
No,
it’s not you. It’s it. I’m afraid of it.
SPIKE
(GENTLY)
Don’t
worry about it. I’ll wait.
Really?
You’re not mad?
Nope.
Because I know you’re thinking it. And you pretty much proved it to me earlier.
I’ve always found words to be highly overrated.
(SMILING)
And
just think, when everyone’s gone home, I can prove it to you all over again.
(GILES
has moved to sit next to JOYCE & DAWN. Their legs are now lying across
his kness, as the remain cuddled together at the other end.
XANDER
& ANYA are on the floor; WILLOW & TARA re-enter and place the food
and drinks on various nearby tables, etc, before sinking down together in
the armchair.
BUFFY
& SPIKE return, carrying blankets. One covers JOYCE, DAWN & GILES’
knees; the second is for WILLOW & TARA. ANYA & XANDER cuddle up beneath
the third. BUFFY lies on the far side of ANYA with SPIKE next to her. She
covers herself and the vampire with the remaining blanket.
Everyone
is intent on the screen, except GILES, who has noticed that SPIKE & BUFFY
are a little too close to each other – the Slayer’s head is practically resting
on SPIKE’S shoulder. With a sigh and a roll of the eyes that seems to say
‘Here we go again,’ he turns his attention back to the movie.)