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INT. AUDITORIUM BACKSTAGE - LATE AFTERNOON Illyria (back in her BLUE form) and Nina are standing behind an old drama stage set--a house painted on a broad flat board--snatching glimpses through its open windows and through a thin GAP in the curtains that separate the backstage from the stage. ANGLE ON - the GAP. We have a partial view of Spike, lying on the table. We can hear the shaman chanting softly, and glimpse him passing in front of the gap. CUT TO - INT. AUDITORIUM - LATE AFTERNOON ANGLE ON - The stage, POV from somewhere near the middle of the auditorium. The shaman is hovering over Spike. Prudence, Temperance, and Charity are watching from the first row of seats. INT. BACKSTAGE - LATE AFTERNOON Illyria and Nina whisper to each other, low. NINA Who is that? ILLYRIA He appears to be a sorcerer of some kind. Perhaps a shaman. NINA What's he doing? ILLYRIA (eyes on the gap) Performing a spell to remove Spike's soul. The previous owner of this body had a ritual very much like this one described to her in detail. I recognize the incantation. NINA Can he do that? ILLYRIA I do not know. If he has enough power, perhaps. Nina paces back and forth, trying to get a glimpse at other angles through the gap. Her POV - A PAN past the gap, showing each of the three Virtues in turn. NINA (whispering) Looks like there are just the three female vampires out there and that shaman guy. ILLYRIA (whispering) You said there would be four females. NINA (slightly irritated) I could have been wrong. I mean, it was my first try. Illyria looks contemplative. ILLYRIA Stay here. I will deal with them. NINA (surprised) You can take out four people, uh, three vampires and one guy on your own? ILLYRIA Yes. Nina steps back as Illyria strides around the set and walks over to the curtain. She YANKS it open. INT. AUDITORIUM - LATE AFTERNOON ANGLE ON - the stage. Illyria marches out, walking directly over to the shaman. She drags him away from Spike. REVERSE ANGLE - Charity, Temperance, and Prudence immediately switch to vamp-face. WIDE SHOT - They LEAP UP on the stage, grabbing at Spike and Illyria both. Illyria DODGES their hands easily, TWISTING and TURNING and KNOCKING them away. CUT TO - INT. AUDITORIUM BACKSTAGE - LATE AFTERNOON Nina steps around the set, trying to get an angle to view the fight. She walks closer to the curtain. FRONT POV on Nina - looking back over her shoulder. DRUSILLA is standing a few feet behind her. She smiles and glides forward, then reaches out and SLIPS ONE HAND OVER NINA'S MOUTH. Her other arm goes around Nina's waist. Nina struggles. DRUSILLA Shhh. Don't worry, puppy, I won't harm you. Yet. EXT. NINA'S SISTER'S HOUSE - SUNSET CLOSE-UP - Angel opens the front door and peers out. His POV - the houses across the street, bathed in a red-orange glow. SPED-UP TIME PROCESS - the sun slowly falls below the horizon. When it is sufficiently dark, he slips outside and walks across the lawn to the sidewalk. The sound of CRUNCHING GRASS and a LOW GROWL make Angel turns around. REVERSE ANGLE - A BLACK PANTHER appears at the corner of the house and strides across Nina's lawn, its hunched posture and feral expression making clear it is ready to POUNCE. Angel freezes momentarily, bewildered. ANGEL (holding his hands out) Uh, good kitty. Nice kitty. The panther snarls and LEAPS AT HIM, CLAWS OUTSTRETCHED. Angel deftly dodges the cat's bulk, but the claws of its hind legs RIP INTO THE SLEEVE of his leather jacket, and one front paw RAKES ACROSS HIS FACE. ANGEL (annoyed, glancing at his sleeve) Hey, do you know much that cost? The panther circles him, baring his RAZOR-SHARP TEETH. Angel turns, keeping a steady distance between them. The panther LUNGES at him again. This time, Angel is ready. He leaps swiftly to the side and catches the panther by the neck, then TWISTS and SNAPS IT with one deft movement. The panther falls to the grass, dead. Blood trickles down Angel's face. He nudges the cat with his foot, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. He looks worried and upset. INT. HYPERION HOTEL LOBBY - SUNSET PAN TO - The second-floor balcony overlooking the lobby. The elevator doors open and Lorne comes out. ANGLE ON - the second-floor hallway. A door opens and Gunn comes out. They each head to meet halfway at the staircase. LORNE Well, I found more bodies, kiddo. GUNN Human? They start down the stairs. LORNE No, Northal. A female and a child. Both looked half-eaten. GUNN (troubled) Oh, man. What do you think happened to them? LORNE I think your friend got a little too hungry and turned cannibal on his own clan. And when you didn't return, he turned cannibal on his own family as well. GUNN (shaking his head) Uh. LORNE Yep. I'll bet that was why he was so nervous when you mentioned another Northal clan. They would know what he'd done. GUNN How would they have known? He could've claimed everyone else was killed off somehow. LORNE Did you notice the fur on their faces? GUNN Yeah. LORNE The Northals have an unhappy habit of using friends and family as a larder in hard times. (off Gunn's expression of disgust) Oh, it's forbidden and all, but if they consume Northal flesh, parts of the hair on their faces turn different colors. Kind of like a mystical scarlet letter. He must have had a small clan to be able to go through the buffet before his hair turned. GUNN Guess you'll have to tell the other clan they won't have a new member after all. LORNE (nodding) Yeah. Sad, really. Gunn comes to a halt at the bottom of the stairs and sets his hands on his hips. Lorne stops beside him, gazing with concern at the troubled look on Gunn's face. LORNE I don't need to hear you sing to know you got more weighing you down than just one family tragedy. GUNN (gazing up at him, distraught) Lorne, it's gotta stop. Gunn paces into the middle of the lobby, holding his arms out with frustration. GUNN The things I've seen since we got back, so much of it could have been prevented, even with the chaos going on. (he sets his hands back on his hips) With a little organization.... No. A lot of organization, people could be helped. People and demons. Like what you're doing with your demon clan friends. Only bigger. LORNE (nodding somberly) I know. But I don't know what else to do. GUNN Do you like living in that crummy apartment? LORNE I can take it or leave it. GUNN Because I got some really nice wallpaper over here that's just being wasted. Lorne smiles. He glances up and around the lobby. LORNE I don't know how I would feel moving back in here. There are so many memories. (he points at the round couch) Like over there is where you tied me up when Cordy's memory spell went kablooey. (he points towards the office) And there's where Wesley beat me up after Holtz somehow convinced him that Angel would turn against us. (he points to the weapons closet) And there's where Fred threatened to cut off my head. (frowning) O.K., that one's not as awful as it sounds, but.... GUNN I get it. Too many bad memories. LORNE (shrugging) On the other hand, I also had some of the best times of my life here. (he turns towards Gunn) All right, Charles, I'll do it. Gunn smiles. LORNE But I get to pick the room. INT. AUDITORIUM BACKSTAGE - NIGHT Drusilla has turned Nina around to face her. She still has one hand clasped over Nina's mouth. The other she holds in front of Nina's eyes, fingers up in a "V". DRUSILLA (crooning and swaying) Look up at the moon, puppy. The moon waxes, but now it changes. Now it's fat and full and filled with light. Look up high at the full moon. CLOSE-UP on Nina. She shakes her head and her eyes shut briefly. Then she opens them, looking deep into - QUICK-CUT TO - DRUSILLA'S EYES. Two pinpricks of white light flare up there, growing and merging to fill the whole screen with the sight of the FULL MOON. TWO-SHOT - Nina sways back and forth in rhythm with Drusilla's voice. Then BACK TO the image of the moon. DRUSILLA (o.s.) The moon is murmuring to you now, telling you that it's time, time to shed your form. It's in your blood now, puppy, taking your body as its own. The moon fills you. And you change. CUT TO - Drusilla holding Nina. She lets go. Nina slumps to the floor. ANGLE ON Nina. She tenses, the tendons in her neck TIGHTENING. Her BODY BULK starts to EXPAND. Hair sprouts from her arms and face and hands. Her CLOTHES RIP and her face elongates into the muzzle of a WOLF. CUT TO - Nina-wolf, standing on all fours over her tattered clothing. She GROWLS. DRUSILLA (holding out her hand towards the curtain) Rawf! Go, my pet. Go and get your treats. Nina-wolf charges through the curtains. CUT TO - INT. AUDITORIUM STAGE - NIGHT Nina-wolf LEAPS ONTO the stage where Illyria is still battling the three vampires. Illyria has broken off a leg of the table where Spike was. She now has a makeshift stake, while Spike lies sprawled on the floor. Illyria dusts Temperance and Prudence just as - NINA-WOLF TACKLES HER. Illyria falls forward. She turns and struggles with the Nina-wolf for a few seconds as she stumbles back up to her feet, then she THROWS NINA-WOLF INTO THE SEATS. The wolf HOWLS, but manages to land on flat, broken chairs with scrabbling feet. CUT BACK TO - Illyria, who is promptly attacked by Charity. Illyria backhands the vampire, then stakes her to dust. Nina-wolf jumps back onto the stage. She stops and tenses and growls low at Illyria. ILLYRIA There is no full moon tonight. You should not have transformed. (she raises her haughty chin) But if you attack, you will leave me no choice. Nina-wolf LEAPS AT HER, all teeth and claws. Illyria grabs the wolf in mid-air and THROWS HER ACROSS THE STAGE INTO THE WALL. The plaster cracks. Nina-wolf falls to the stage floor, whimpers, and lies still. She transforms back into Nina, bloodied and bruised. Nina doesn't move. OFF-SCREEN - the sound of someone clapping slowly. Illyria turns around. CUT TO - Drusilla walks out from behind the stage curtains. DRUSILLA Well played, pretty blue. You must be the poor, confused God-King. Do you know what always happens to kings who are confused? (she tilts her head) They get their heads whacked off. Drusilla giggles insanely. ILLYRIA I know you. I've seen your picture before. You are Drusilla. Angel sired you. DRUSILLA Oh, yes. Daddy doesn't come around here anymore. It was just Grandmother and me and, well, she's gone now, too. (she pouts) So I'm not letting you take my baby boy. She kneels beside Spike, her skirt pooling beside him, and pats his head. ILLYRIA You are insane. Drusilla stands back up. DRUSILLA Aren't we all? Quickly, Drusilla LUNGES FORWARD, fingers raised and bent like claws. She SLASHES AT ILLYRIA'S FACE. Illyria backs away and gingerly touches her cheek. It's bleeding, red. ILLYRIA (stunned) You have cut me. DRUSILLA Yes, I have. But a royal should have blue blood. Perhaps you're not really a king after all. ILLYRIA (grimly) You have cut me. For that you will die. DRUSILLA (petulantly) Already dead. Illyria jumps forward and KICKS THE TABLE up between them. Spike is no longer lying beside it. Drusilla leaps up and over it, meeting Illyria half way. The two DANCE AROUND EACH OTHER rapidly, Illyria trying desperately to land a punch or a kick and Drusilla twisting frantically to avoid them. She CLAWS at Illyria repeatedly, managing to cut Illyria's face twice more before Illyria finally grabs her arm and TWISTS IT UNTIL THE BONE SNAPS. Drusilla winces and gasps and smiles seductively. DRUSILLA You're good, but not as good as Daddy. THE SOUND OF GLASS BREAKING interrupts their fight. SPIKE (o.s.) Yeah, but Daddy isn't here. Drusilla hits Illyria's elbow with her free hand. Illyria loses her grip on Drusilla's arm. They both turn around to see - SPIKE, standing at the edge of the stage with the shaman lying at his feet and the muo ping shattered on the floor. DRUSILLA (walking towards him) Spike? My Spike? SPIKE (regretfully; shaking his head) No, Dru. I'll never be your Spike again. Drusilla gazes at him with wide eyes, disappointed. CUT BACK TO - Illyria, who touches the wounds on her face and then stares at the blood on her fingers, almost hypnotized by the sight of it. Drusilla steps closer to Spike. DRUSILLA (pouting) Well, that's hardly fair. (she gazes down at the shaman) I paid him good money. Oh well. (she looks up and smiles furtively) If at first you don't succeed.... Drusilla moves to Spike's side at vampire-speed. DRUSILLA (whispering in his ear) ...Try, try again. She licks his ear, then laughs as she bolts up the aisle towards the front of the auditorium. Spike tenses as if he is going to go after her, then relaxes again. He gazes down for a moment, his expression sober. Then he turns to look at Illyria. ANGLE ON - Illyria, who lowers her blood-stained hand, looking almost distracted. ILLYRIA You let her get away. SPIKE No. She would have gotten away whether I tried to stop her or not. ILLYRIA (blinking, still spacey) You don't know that. SPIKE Yes, I do. Spike eyes her uncertainly. Then a SOFT MOAN steals his attention from Illyria. NINA (o.s.) Um, excuse me? A little help here? ...Maybe some clothes? EXT. LOS ANGELES SKYLINE - NIGHT The downtown buildings are sporadically lit. Traffic jams on the freeways are a thing of the past. EXT. MONASTERY FRONTACE SHOT - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING ANGEL (v.o.) So it really was Drusilla? INT. MONASTERY LIBRARY - NIGHT Angel and Spike are standing in the doorway while Nina sits in a chair wearing a robe and sipping a cup of tea. SPIKE Yeah. It was definitely her. ANGEL (knit brow of concern) Do you know how long she's been here? SPIKE (shaking his head) Who knows. Long enough to sire at least three minions. Dozy bints they were, too. ANGEL This is bad. SPIKE (sarcastically) You think? Spike crosses his arms. His deep brood almost rivals Angel's personal best. SPIKE (quietly) Tried to knick my soul, she did. And she would have, too, if the spell she used.... (he looks up at Angel) Blue tells me it was a spell they tried on you once. Perfect happiness, and all that. ANGEL (remembering) A perfect day. SPIKE (enigmatically) Yeah. A perfect day. (a beat; then he frowns at Angel) And what happened to your face? Can't leave you alone for a minute. ANGEL Got mauled by a panther. I don't want to talk about it. NINA (o.s.) Angel? I think I'd like to go home now. ANGEL (smiling) Sure. I'll take you home. ANGLE ON - Nina. She gets up and walks over to him. He puts his arm around her. NINA How's Illyria? She looked... funny the last time I saw her. Distracted, or something. ANGEL I'm sure she's fine. Are you O.K.? NINA I think so. The last thing I remember is a hand over my mouth. CUT TO - INT. ILLYRIA'S ROOM - NIGHT Illyria sits on her bed, gazing around the room. The walls are COVERED IN SCRAWLED WRITING and MATHEMATICAL EQUATIONS. We see various words and phrases like A HOUSE OF DEATH and MY ONLY SUNSHINE and one line of text which reads, "She felt as if she had lived a long, long time." Illyria's ice-blue eyes drop away from the sight. Her expression is blank and unreadable. BLACK OUT. |
Comments?
| Written by | Alliterator |
| Directed by | Lady Starlight |
| Stunt Coordinator | LadyS' Eldest Spawn |
| Executive Producer | Masquerade |
| Senior Script Editor | Anom |
| Main Credits photo credit | LittleBit |
| Angel | David Boreanaz |
| Gunn | J. August Richards |
| Illyria | Amy Acker |
| Spike | James Marsters |
Guest Starring
| Lorne | Andy Hallett |
| Nina | Jenny Mollen |
| "Wesley" | Alexis Denisof |
Special Guest Star
| Drusilla | Juliet Landau |
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