The man in the prophecy

By: Mariana

INT. UNKNOWN PARK – SOMEWHERE IN L.A -NIGHT

ALL LIGHT on AERIN as she stands under a great oak tree. She’s all dressed in black; black
leather pants and a black shirt, complete with army boots. Her long dark hair is pulled back
into a ponytail and the only jewellery noticeable is an ornamented cross around her neck.
She seems to be zoning the surroundings.
The CAMERA SHOWS us a WIDE SHOT of the park. Appearing into view; a VAMPIRE. It’s
a man, probably turned in his mid twenties, and he’s wearing jeans and a white shirt. He’s
rather handsome – if you like the tall, dark and chiselled kind. The vampire suddenly comes
to a stop and tilts his head as if he picks up on something. Maybe Aerin’s presence?

VAMPIRE
“Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
(growling)
“Slayer.”

AERIN
(leaving her spot)
“I guess you got me.”

VAMPIRE
(smirk)
“Oh, may, slayers are beautiful indeed.”
(confused frown)
“And pregnant?”

AERIN
“Huh?”

VAMPIRE
“You didn’t know?”
(laughing)
“That’s rich!!”
(moving forward)
“Seems like I got two for one this night.”
FOCUSING on Aerin as she reaches for her stake. She twirls it in her hand for a while before
throwing it at the vampire. It hits it mark with perfect clarity. And another vampire bites the
dust.
ZOOMING IN on the shocked expression in Aerin’s face.

AERIN
(whispering)
“Pregnant?”

FADE OUT-

CUT TO-

INT. THE LOBBY – THE HYPERION – DAWN

A WIDE SHOT of the lobby as AERIN enters from the outside. Everyone seems to be
assembled there – except from Spike. Still in a coma maybe??

GILES
“Ah, Aerin!”
(smiling at the dark-haired slayer)
“How was patrolling?”

AERIN
“Guys…”
(hesitating)
“I’m pregnant.”

BUFFY
(tensing)
“Could you repeat that?”

AERIN
“I’m pregnant.”
(beat)
“And I desperately want a peanut butter and jam sandwich.”

BLACK OUT-

CREDITS
(see attached VMW)
 ACT I

INT. THE LOBBY – THE HYPERION - DAY

A WIDE SHOT of the lobby. Characters in play: BUFFY, XANDER, WILLOW, DAWN,
GILES, ANDREW, ILLYRIA and ANGEL. The blonde slayer sits on the couch with her legs
neatly tucked in under her and a sullen expression on her face. She’s wearing a blue halter
neck and a beige skirt. Her hair hangs loose and curls slightly at the end. On the floor, next to
the couch, sits WILLOW. She’s wearing a cute white and green summer dress. Xander, Dawn
and Andrew sits at the table while Giles and Angel stands somewhere in the middle of the
room. Illyria stands by the window as usual, wearing her body armour – as usual. Xander is
all dressed in black – so are Angel and Dawn. Giles and Andrew wear their suits.

WILLOW
(playing with her hair)
“Ya know, I’m happy for him. For having found someone he can love unconditionally.
Someone who loves him back. Someone he can have a family with.”

BUFFY
(not so very enthusiastically)
“Yay!!!”

ANDREW
(musing)
“Spike’s going to be a dad.”

XANDER
(noticing Buffy’s grim expression)
"Andrew. Could you get some coffee?”

ANDREW
"Kiss my ass.”

XANDER
(turning to face the young watcher)
"What?"

ANDREW
"All you have to do is ask.”
FOCUSING on Andrew as he leaves the lobby. Then ZOOM OUT to a WIDE SHOT.

WILLOW
"You know he just said ‘kiss my ass’.”

XANDER
(grinning)
"Yeah, I heard that."

A MOMENT OF COMPLETE SILENCE.

BUFFY
(out of the blue)
“How can Aerin be pregnant, Giles? There’s no way…”

XANDER
(holding up a hand)
“Whoa, wait a minute! Angel fathered a child - why not Spike?”

ANGEL
(brow knitted)
“That was a part of a prophecy.”

GILES
(cleaning his glasses)
“I am rather intrigued myself.”

ILLYRIA
“The half-breed’s body is modulating itself so that the host can be fully accepted. Therefore it
is able to reproduce offspring.”

BUFFY
(baffled)
“Huh?”

GILES
(putting on his glasses)
“Illyria is saying that Spike is becoming human…? So that the god successfully can use his
shell.”
 BUFFY
“Spike’s becoming human?”
(gulping)
“So that he can die.”

WILLOW
“Oh my goddess.”

GILES
“I would say so.”

FADE OUT-

CUT TO-

INT. UNKNOWN GRAVEYARD – SOMEWHERE IN L.A - DUSK

ALL LIGHT on BUFFY as she’s fighting a VAMPIRE.

BUFFY
(muttering)
“Stupid, selfish, arrogant prick!!”

VAMPIRE
“Really?”

BUFFY
(agitated)
“Not you!!”

ZOOMING IN as the slayer ducks a punch from the vampire and jabs it in the stomach. The
vampire howls in pain and retrieves a couple of steps.

BUFFY
(gritting her teeth)
“You just had to go and knock her up?!”

VAMPIRE
(distressed)
“I didn’t!!”
 BUFFY
(punching him in the face)
“Not YOU!!”

VAMPIRE
(relieved)
“Oh.”

BUFFY
(growling)
"Oh, you… you are such a... an annoying vampire!"
(kicking the demon in the groin)
"You drive me crazy!"

VAMPIRE
"Gee, thanks."

BUFFY
"Not you, idiot."

A TIGHT SHOT of the two of them as Buffy reaches for her stake and skilfully plunges it into
the vampire’s chest. We see the shocked expression in the man’s face before he turns to dust.

BUFFY
“And another one bites the dust.”

We suddenly hear the sound of approaching FOOTSTEPS and the CAMERA DRAWS BACK
to a FULL SHOT as DAWN, AERIN and ILLYRIA comes walking towards Buffy.

BUFFY
(surprised)
“Dawn?”

DAWN
(shrugging)
“I got bored.”

AERIN
(frowning)
“I tried to stop her but your sister is one stubborn chick.”
 ILLYRIA
“Yes. She was indeed very annoying.”

BUFFY
(turning to Dawn)
“Okay. But we have to be careful, right? I’m not completely sure that the First don’t have
some grand scheme to slaughter us all when we least expect it.”

ILLYRIA
“He will not succeed.”

BUFFY
(to Dawn)
”If there's the First shows up, you run away. Get as far as from here as possible.”
(regarding the other two)
”It's okay to leave them to die.”

FADE OUT-

CUT TO-

INT. THE ATRIUM – THE HYPERION – NIGHT

A WIDE SHOT of the atrium reveals XANDER and WILLOW…gardening??? Xander is

currently busy carrying a rather impressive plant across the floor.

WILLOW
(putting down a rose plant)
”Careful, Xander, That is one of Illyria's plants.”

XANDER
(huffing)
”I know.”

WILLOW
(emphazising)
”She loves them.”

XANDER
(nodding)
”I know.”
 WILLOW
”She gives them names.”

XANDER
”I know!!”
(accidentally drops the plant)
”Shit.”

WILLOW
(silently)
”I believe she called that one... Trent.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. THE LOBBY – THE HYPERION – NIGHT

ALL LIGHT on ANGEL and GILES. Both men sit by the table; Angel sipping, blood (?), from
a mug and Giles flipping pages from a book.

ANGEL
(looking up)
“Found anything?”

GILES
(shaking his head)
“Not yet.”
(sighing)
“I must say that this whole situation is unnerving.”

ANGEL
“With Spike transforming into a god?”

GILES
“Yes.”

ANGEL
“Well, that might have been avoided if you had only helped us to begin with.”
(accused look)
“When we called you for an example.”
 GILES
"You were working for Wolfram and Hart. What was I supposed to think?"

ANGEL
(sneering)
"That maybe we had a plan?”

GILES
"Well, be that as it may, Angel…"
(taking his glasses off and cleaning them)
"…this is the situation we're faced with right now.”

ZOOMING in on Giles.

GILES
“And the situation may be that we have to kill Spike.”

FADE OUT-

CUT TO-

INT. UNKNOWN STREET – DOWNTOWN L.A – NIGHT

The CAMERA FOLLOWS AERIN, ILLYRIA, BUFFY and DAWN as they walk down a dark
street.

BUFFY
“Kind’a dead tonight.”

AERIN
“I think is nice.”

ILLYRIA
“I wish to do violence.”

BUFFY
(sarcastically)
“If you wish to do violence, why don’t you go and find it?”

ILLYRIA
”I’m Illyria. God king... I'm not your pawn.”
 BUFFY
“Right.”
(rolling her eyes)
“Forgot about that.”

DAWN
(giddy)
“I’m happy it’s so quiet. It means the nasties are nowhere in sight.”

ILLYRIA
“The labels for your emotions are meaningless to me.”

DAWN
(frowning)
”Bitchy much?”

BUFFY
(coming to a halt)
“Wait a sec.”

DAWN
“What?”
(looking around)
“Do you sense vampires?”

BUFFY
(distressed tone)
“There are worse things out tonight than vampires.”

DAWN
“Like what?”

THE FIRST
“Like me.”

The CAMERA SWIRLS AROUND and we have a CLOSE UP on THE FIRST. He looks like
CALEB.

FADE OUT-
 ACT I I

INT. THE LOBBY – THE HYPERION – DUSK

A WIDE SHOT of the room reveals ANGEL, XANDER, WILLOW, ANDREW and GILES.
They all sit around the table looking at each other.

XANDER
“Shouldn’t they be back by now?”

WILLOW
“I’m sure they’re just fine.”
(uncertain expression)
“Right, Giles?”

GILES
“I am sure that they can take care of them selves. We are after all talking about two slayers,
an ancient ‘key’ and a powerful demon.”

ANDREW
(chipping in)
“Yeah!! Illyria is indestructible.”
(looking at Angel)
“Right?”

ANGEL
(crocked smile)
“I really don’t know.”

GILES
“I am however worried about Aerin. I mean in her condition…”

WILLOW
(huge eyes)
“Oh my goddess!! The baby.”
(biting her nails)
“I do hope that she’s careful.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. UNKNOWN STREET – DOWNTOWN L.A – DUSK

SPOTLIGHT on BUFFY, AERIN, ILLYRIA, DAWN and THE FIRST – who still looks like
CALEB. They stand opposite from each other, and the look in Caleb’s face is enough to send
shivers down my spine.

THE FIRST
“Little girls shouldn’t be out this late.”

BUFFY
(snorting)
“You mean early?”

THE FIRST
(turning to look up at the sky)
“You’re right there.”
(facing them)
“I sense fear from you.”

DAWN
(holding up a hand)
“That would be me.”

FOCUSING ON Aerin as she steps forward and puts her hands on her hips. She locks gaze
with the First, who’s attention is now completely on her.

AERIN
“You’re all talk.”
(raising a eyebrow)
“You can’t do anything to us. Only bore us with your ramblings.”

THE FIRST
(tilting his head)
“Heard you’re carrying Spike’s spawn.”

AERIN
(gritting her teeth)
“It’s not a spawn.”
 THE FIRST
“Fine.”
(beat)
“A miracle of life then.”

The CAMERA PULLS BACK to a WIDE SHOT.

THE FIRST
“Slayers aren’t meant to be mothers.”
(morphing into Nikki Wood)
“Trust me; I know.”

AERIN
“Is that supposed to scare me?”
(rolling her eyes)
“I’m not afraid of carrying Spike’s baby.”

THE FIRST
(grinning)
“My murderer.”

AERIN
“Huh?”

THE FIRST
“Didn’t you know?”
(morphing into the Chinese slayer)
“He killed her. He killed us.”

ZOOMING IN on the First as it morph into SPIKE. Then we follow it when he (??) walks
toward Aerin and circles around her with a smirk on the face.

THE FIRST
“They don’t call me the slayer of slayers for nothing.”
(nodding at Buffy’s direction)
“Ask her. She knows.”
(stopping in front of Aerin)
“The blood of a slayer is like ambrosia. Did you know that?”
(licking his lip)
“Mmm.”
 AERIN
(turning away her head)
“Stop it.”

THE FIRST
“Can’t handle the truth?”

AERIN
“Oh, I can handle the truth.”
(facing it again)
“I just can’t handle you looking like him.”

THE FIRST
(cocked eyebrow)
“I would think that this would turn you on?”
(cupping his bulge)
“You do desire this body.”

BUFFY
(shrieking)
“Oh my god!! It’s like you have some thing for Spike!”

THE FIRST
(growling)
“I do not have a thing for Spike.”
(morphing into Buffy!!)
“Although… he looks kind’a hot with his shirt off.”

FOCUSING ON the First as it gives them a smile before suddenly disappears in front of our
eyes.

ILLYRIA
“I have grown weary of him.”
(tilting her head)
“Next time I’ll show him what it means to have angered me so.”

BUFFY
(sighing)
“You do that. In the meantime…let’s go home.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. THE ATRIUM – THE HYPERION – DAY

A WIDE SHOT of the atrium as ILLYRIA stands in the middle and looks around with a
contemplating look on her face. To her right, and slightly behind her, stands WILLOW and
XANDER. They look really nervous.

WILLOW
“Do you like it?”

ILLYRIA
(cocking her head)
“One plant is missing.”

XANDER
(swallowing)
“Really?”

ILLYRIA
(facing them)
“You dropped it.”

XANDER
(writhing his hands)
“Yes. Yes, we did. And I’m sorry.”

ILLYRIA
(turning around)
“I am pleased.”
(waving a hand)
“You may leave now.”

FOCUSING ON Xander and Willow as they gratefully departs from the atrium, leaving Illyria
alone. The CAMERA ZOOMS IN on her as a smile slowly appears on her lips.

ILLYRIA
“Hello, my young ones.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – DAY

ALL LIGHT on BUFFY as she sits on her bed. She’s leaning against the wall with a blank
expression in her face. She’s adorable in a pink blouse and low cut jeans and hair hanging
loose.

ANGEL
“You know, there’s a prophecy. About a vampire being given a reward.”

A WIDE SHOT of the bedroom reveals that ANGEL is sitting in a chair on the opposite side
of the room. He’s all dressed in black – as usual.

BUFFY
(looking up)
“A reward?”

ANGEL
“It says that the vampire is going to play an important role in an apocalypse and by so be
rewarded with the Sanshu. To live until he dies.”

BUFFY
“Sanshu? Shoes?”
(musing)
“Spike had a dream about drowning in footwear.”

ANGEL
“He did?”

BUFFY
(nodding)
“Yeah. Right before the battle against the First.”

ANGEL
“Huh.”

BUFFY
(eyes downcast)
“I guess that the prophecy is about you after all.”
 ANGEL
“You mean because Spike’s becoming a god? I guess so.”

BUFFY
“Will Spike… Will he… whatever he becomes, have a soul?”

ANGEL
“Honestly? I don’t know.”
(pause)
“It would be terrible if he didn’t. After everything he went through to get it back.”
(beat)
“It’s amazing that it was his demon that wanted the soul. Nothing like that has ever occurred
before.”

BUFFY
(questioning)
“You almost sound proud over him?”

ANGEL
“I am. Spike deserved the prophecy. He has never run away. Not from his past, nor a battle.
Not even death.”
(sighing)
“He’s faced everything head on. Some might call it foolhardy, but it’s not. It’s what he is. A
warrior. A champion.”

BUFFY
(sullenly)
“A champion destined to become a god.”

ANGEL
“That might be his destiny. We can only hope that there’ll be something left of the old Spike.
Or else we’ve lost him forever.”

GILES walking in.

GILES
(looks from Buffy to Angel)
”Don’t count Spike out just yet. He’s worse than a cockroach.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. THE LOBBY – THE HYPERION – DAY

We follow WILLOW with a STEAD CAM as she walks over the lobby, then PULL BACK to a
WIDE SHOT as she comes to a halt in front of the table, where XANDER and DAWN sits.

WILLOW
(shaking her head)
“I just received some troubling news from the new Council.”

XANDER
“What kind’a news?”

WILLOW
“It seems that the First has allied himself with some hell god named Abigor. He commands
over sixty legions of damned warriors.”

DAWN
(tensing)
“A hell god?”
(looking around)
“He…it’s a he isn’t it..?... He doesn’t need a ‘key’…does he?”

WILLOW
(reassuring smile)
“I don’t think so, Dawnie.”
(serious again)
“And the Council also said that they didn’t like the ‘Spike-situation’. I guess that they’re
afraid that he’ll kill us as soon as the transformation is complete.”

XANDER
“Let’s run through this again: We do not only have to worry about the First allying himself
with some powerful hell god that commands sixty legions - but we also have to worry that
Spike’s slowly turning into a powerful semi god that just might want to kill us? Oh, goody.”

DAWN
“It could be worse.”

XANDER
“How?”
 DAWN
(tugging at her bottom lip)
“I don’t know. But I bet you that it could be worse.”

GILES
(walking in)
“It is as I feared. We might have to kill Spike before the transformation is complete.”

DAWN
“See!!!”

FADE OUT-
 ACT I II

INT. GILES’S OFFICE – GILES’S HQ - NIGHTFALL

ALL LIGHT on GILES behind his desk and ANGEL sitting on the chair opposite him.

ANGEL
“So the Council wants us to kill Spike?”

GILES
(fiddling with his glasses)
“I am afraid so.”

ANGEL
“But Spike’s a champion.”

GILES
“It’s hard to grasp that concept to be honest.”

ANGEL
“And why’s that?”
(vicious glance)
“Spike went to get his soul back on his own will and you can’t give him some slack? Do you
know how rare and fantastic that is?”
(pacing)
“Why can’t you just admit that Spike’s a hero? Someone to respect and trust in?”

GILES
“I guess that I’m afraid of him.”

ANGEL
(brow knit)
“Afraid?”

GILES
(sighing)
“I know how Buffy feels about him, and it scares me. I mean… all those years. She was
supposed to kill him but she couldn’t. And Spike? He had killed two slayers but never
managed to kill Buffy. It was unsettling. It was almost as if they knew it all along.”
 ANGEL
(curiously)
“Knew what?”

GILES
“That they would eventually fall in love with each other. And Buffy deserved… deserves
better.”
(sighing)
“And yet she chose him over me. Over us.”

ANGEL
(baffled)
“What?”

GILES
“I tried to have Spike killed. Buffy found out. And she… chose Spike.”

FADE OUT-

CUT TO-

INT. SPIKE’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – NIGHT

SPOTLIGHT ON BUFFY and SPIKE. The blonde slayer’s sitting on a chair next to the bed.
She’s all dressed in black and has her hair tied back into a knot.

BUFFY
”Hey, Spike.”
(reaching for his hand)
”I don’t know if you can hear me. I just wanted to talk to you. And I figured I could do that,
now when you can’t escape.”
(ragged laughter)
“God, I must be crazy.”

CLOSE UP on Buffy as she wipes away a tear from the corner of her eye. She sniffles and
reaches out a hand to caress the vampire’s cheek.

BUFFY
(whispering)
“Can you hear me?”
SILENCE.

BUFFY
“Probably not.”
(deep breath)
“I must confess something. About the time after you died… I mean… I tried to move on. Like
you probably wanted me to. Problem is that it was too hard. Without you by my side.”
(sad smile)
“Sometimes I would imagine what things would be like if I’d pulled you out of the Hellmouth
just in time. The two of us running across those rooftops…standing at the edge of the crater
together…sitting next to each other on the bus…”

The CAMERA DRAWS BACK to a WIDE SHOT of the room as Buffy throws her hands up in
the air.

BUFFY
“But no!! Spike had to stay behind and play the big hero!!”
(staring at the still vampire)
“You are such a selfish bastard! I thought you loved me. It’s all you talked about for years.
Couldn’t stop you from nagging about it. Then when I finally fall in love with you and TELL
you, you dare to question me! Idiot.”

Buffy sighs warily and lay her head down on the mattress, next to Spike’s still form.

SPIKE
“Buffy?”

ZOOMING IN on the bed as Buffy flinches and sits up with a gasp. Next to her SPIKE has
awoken and gives her a smile.

BUFFY
“Spike?”
(reaching for his hand)
“You’re awake?”

SPIKE
(shrugging)
“Looks like it.”
(blinking)
“What happened?”
 BUFFY
“Was kind’a hoping for you to answer that.”

SPIKE
(knitted brow)
“I’m sorry. I can’t remember…”

BUFFY
(shaking her head)
“It’s okay. I’m just glad that you’re awake now.”

SPIKE
(eying her closely)
“Buffy, what’s wrong?”

BUFFY
(sniffling)
”I feel like I'm all alone.”

SPIKE
”You *are* all alone. I'm only a part of you imagination.”

BUFFY
(confused frown)
“What…?”

FLASH.

A TIGHT SHOT of Buffy as she jolts up into a sitting position. She had fallen asleep when she
laid her head down!!!
ZOOMING OUT as the blonde slayer hesitantly reaches for Spike’s limp hand and takes it in
hers.

BUFFY
“I love you.”

SPIKE
(v.o)
“No you don’t. But thanks for saying it.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. ANGEL’S OFFICE – THE HYPERION – DAWN

ZOOMING IN on the door as ANGEL walks into the office. The dark-haired vampire seems
to be deep in thought.

SPIKE (?)
“Finally! I’ve been waiting forever, Peaches.”

DOOR POV: Angel’s office chair swirls around and reveals that SPIKE (??) is sitting in it.

ANGEL
“Spike?”

A WIDE SHOT of the room as Angel hesitantly takes a few more steps into the office.

SPIKE (?)
“Think again.”

ANGEL
(snarling)
“The First.”

THE FIRST
(clapping his hands)
“You’re not as stupid as you look.”

FOCUS on THE FIRST as it stands up.

ANGEL
(sneering)
“What do you want?”

THE FIRST
“Now isn’t that the million dollar question?”
(shuffling his hands in the dusters pockets)
“What do you think?”

ANGEL
“Is it about revenge?”
 THE FIRST
(ragged laughter)
“Revenge?”
(eying Angel)
“You could say that.”

ANGEL
“So it’s all about Spike?”

THE FIRST
(morphing in to Darla)
“My dear boy. Are you jealous of William?”

ANGEL
“Stop it.”

THE FIRST
(reaching out a hand but not touching the vampire)
“The power in that boy is intoxicating. Can’t you feel it?”

ANGEL
(backing away)
“What will happen to him?”

THE FIRST
(shaking its head)
“Even I can’t predict that.”
(morphing in to Drusilla)
“My boy walks in worlds others can’t even begin to imagine.”

The CAMERA FOCUS on the First as it starts to whirl around the office in the form of
DRUSILLA.

THE FIRST
“The stars will not speak of such greatness.”
(coming to a halt)
“My darling boy is slipping, daddy.”
(sniffling)
“That burning spark will swallow him whole. That and burning baby fishes all in the head.”
(turning to Angel)
“All I ever wanted was for us to be a family again.”
 ANGEL
(looking away)
“This is a mockery.”

THE FIRST
(morphing in to Angel)
“I made her in to a monster. I made Spike in to a monster.”
(morphing in to Spike)
“Look at you. The big savior. Fighting for truth, justice… and soccer mums?”

ANGEL
“At least I know what’s worth fighting for.”

THE FIRST
“Indeed?”
(circling Angel)
“I’ll tell you why you’re so afraid of me. And him.”
(stopping in front of the vampire)
“Cause every time you look at him you know you never really knew the real Spike.”

ANGEL
(warily)
“And who is the real Spike?”

THE FIRST
(morphing in to Cordelia)
“He’s the one who will win this in the end.”

ZOOMING IN on Angel’s shocked expression.

GILES
“We need to talk.”

The CAMERA SPINS AROUND to reveal GILES entering the office. The First is nowhere to
be seen.

GILES
(coming to a halt)
“Angel?”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. ANGEL’S OFFICE – THE HYPERION – DAY

A WIDE SHOT of the office shows that ANGEL sits behind his desk while GILES is seated on
the chair opposite the brooding vampire.

GILES
“Are you sure that you’re alright, Angel? You seem kind off…distracted?”

ANGEL
(clenching a fist)
“I’m fine.”

GILES
(not convinced)
“If you say so.”
(leaning forward)
“Buffy told me about the Sanshu prophecy.”

ANGEL
“She did?”

GILES
“Now… I am rather curious why you haven’t mentioned this before?”

ANGEL
(shrugging)
“I didn’t think it was that important.”

GILES
“Not that important?!”
(shaking his head)
“This is very important, Angel.”

ZOOMING IN on Angel. The dark-haired vampire’s eyes are downcast and he seems
generally out of shape. Did the First really affect him that hard?

GILES
(continuing)
“You will become human, Angel.”
 ANGEL
(whispering)
“It should have been Spike.”

GILES
“What?”

ANGEL
(looking up)
“The prophecy should have been about Spike.”
(looking away)
“He earned it.”

GILES
(rubbing his nose)
“Because of how he regained his soul?”

ANGEL
(nodding)
“That. But also because he wanted it.”
(sighing)
“He wanted it so badly that he fought me for it.”

GILES
“He did?”

ANGEL
(sullenly)
“And he won.”

GILES
“He did?”

A WIDE SHOT of the room as Angel stands up and walks toward the door.

ANGEL
“I’m tired, Giles. I’m going to rest now.”

As the dark-haired vampire walks out of view the CAMERA FOCUS on Giles, revealing the
stunned expression in his face.
FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. THE LOBBY – THE HYPERION – DAY

A WIDE SHOT of the lobby. People present: AERIN, DAWN, WILLOW and ANDREW.
They all sit around the table and seem to be playing…poker?? (A.N: Texas Hold’Em.)
Aerin’s wearing a loosely sitting blouse and a skirt in bohemian stile. Dawn’s wearing jeans
and a black tub top. Willow is dressed in jeans and a green shirt. Andrew is for once not
dressed in a suit. Instead the young man’s wearing jeans and a black turtleneck sweater.

DAWN
(laying her hand down)
“I fold.”

ANDREW
“Me too.”

WILLOW
(turning to Aerin)
“I raise you…”
(nibbling at her lower lip)
“A bag of chips.”

AERIN
(perking up)
“Chips?”
(smiling)
“I am so in.”

ANDREW
(clapping his hands)
“Show us your cards, ladies.”

WILLOW
“I have to pairs. Seven and tens.”

ZOOMING IN on Willow’s hands as she lays her cards down on the table. And indeed; she
has two pairs.

AERIN
“Nice cards. But they don’t beat a full house.”
ZOOMING IN on Aerin’s hands as she lays down her cards. She has three kings and two
fives!!
The CAMERA RETURNS to a WIDE SHOT as Willow falls back in her seat and pouts.

WILLOW
“Darn it.”

AERIN
(collecting her winnings)
“Hello, bag of chips.”

ANDREW
“Another round?”

AERIN
“Hell yeah!!”
(stuffing her mouth full of chips)
“I think I saw a Twinkie somewhere?”

DAWN
“That’s my Twinkie!!”

AERIN
“Are you a chicken or what?”

DAWN
“Hey!!”
(indignant)
“I am in.”

WILLOW
“Me too.”

AERIN
“Say goodbye to your goodies.”

ANDREW
(impressed)
“You sure can eat.”
 AERIN
“Pregnant here.”

We hear a SOUND on the CAMERA SPINS AROUND to show us BUFFY and XANDER
coming down the stairs.

XANDER
“How’s the game going?”

DAWN
(sighing)
“Let’s just say that Aerin got enough to survive the next ice age.”

XANDER
(grinning)
“That bad, huh?”

AERIN
“Hah!!”
(beaming)
“Take that, losers!!”

FOCUS ON the table as Aerin throws down her cards. It’s a flush and apparently no one at
the table has anything better than that, because the dark-haired slayer reaches out for the
pot.

BUFFY
(approaching the table)
“It’s time to wrap this up.”

DAWN
“What? Why?”

BUFFY
“Giles wanted to talk to us about something.”

GILES
(walking in)
“It’s about Spike.”

FADE OUT-
 ACT I V

INT. SPIKE’S BEDROOM - THE HYPERION – DAWN

ZOOMING IN on the bed in the dark room. There sits Spike. His hands move in random
directions as if he’s trying to reach for something only he can see. His legs jitter with every
movement. He stares straight ahead out of the blackened pools of darkness that remains of his
eyes.
FOCUS ON Aerin as she walks toward the vampire and gently brushes her hand along his
jaw. We see a glimmer of a smile on his face but then it’s gone and he stares blankly again.

AERIN
(sadly)
“Oh, Spike…”

The CAMERA PULLS BACK to a WIDE SHOT of the room as the blonde vampire moves his
hands in irregular motions. His eyes appear darker as the shadows grow around them. His
head dips and nods as if he grows more and more fatigued.
Suddenly Spike howls and throws himself down, beating the bed with his back. Aerin tosses
herself over his body and yells at Spike to calm down and try to relax.

AERIN
(distressed)
“Spike!!”
(struggling with the vampire seizures)
“Calm down!! You need to calm down!!”

BUFFY
“Oh my god…”

The CAMERA SPINS AROUND to reveal BUFFY by the door. The blonde slayer seems to be
deep in shock as she stares at the events taken place before her.

AERIN
(agitated)
“I need help here!!”

Suddenly Buffy’s pulled aside and ANGEL rush towards the bed. The dark-haired vampire
lays his hands on either side of Spike’s shoulders and pins the struggling man down.
 ANGEL
“What happened?”

GILES
(from the door)
“He’s starting to change.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. SPIKE’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – NIGHT

ALL LIGHT on AERIN and SPIKE. The slayer sits on the bedside with a weary look in her
face as she looks down at Spike’s still form. Almost hesitantly she reaches out a finger to run
it gently across his jerking hand. The vampire lets out a soft moan at her touch and his
unseeing eyes opens up to look out into nothingness. His hands start to dance over the covers
as he pulls himself up.
THE CAMERA ZOOMS IN on his gaze as it remains black with the blood in his eyes. Those
beautiful eyes…

AERIN
(whispering)
“Please come back to me.”

FOCUS ON Spike. His cheek muscles twitch and his teeth ground and chatter. It isn’t a pretty
sight. Suddenly, his eyes rolls back in his head and he slammed sideways off the bed. The
CAMERA shows us a TIGHT SHOT of the vampire’s face as his eyes snaps open. They’re
neon blue!! We can hear the gasp that escapes Aerin’s lips at this sight.

AERIN
“Spike…?”

ILLYRIA
“That is not the half-breed.”

The CAMERA PULLS BACK and SWIRLS AROUND to show us ILLYRIA in the doorway.
The entity takes a step closer to the bed with her eyes locked on the…vampire??

AERIN
“What?”
 ILLYRIA
(as a matter of fact)
“It is the god within that’s trying to break through.”

AERIN
(looking down at Spike)
“No.”
(shaking her head)
“No. Not yet. Not ever.”

ILLYRIA
(tilting her head)
"This is a wasteful expense of energy. He cannot witness your grief."

AERIN
(sniffling)
“How do you stand it?”

ILLYRIA
“What?”

AERIN
“To be so…inhuman.”

ILLYRIA
“I am not human.”
(pointing at Spike)
“Neither is he.”

AERIN
“Spike’s more human than anyone ever can be.”

FOCUS ON Spike as he stirs besides Aerin. We can see that his eyes are fully open and that
they are their usual colour.

AERIN
(tensing)
“Spike?”
(grim look towards Illyria)
“Leave us.”
The CAMERA STAYS with our two lovers, but we can hear the door close behind Illyria as
she leaves the room.

AERIN
(caressing Spike’s cheek)
“Spike?”

SPIKE
(hoarse)
“Hey.”

AERIN
(smiling)
”Hey.”

SPIKE
(echoing)
"Hey.”

AERIN
"Ok. "
(beat)
"You win, I'll start."

A SHOT of the slayer as she gently lays her head down on his still chest. The two of them
make a lovely picture. Aerin reaches out a hand and runs it through his hair.

AERIN
(whispering)
“I love you.”

SPIKE
“I love you too.”

AERIN
“Don’t you ever do anything like this again.”

SPIKE
(closing his eyes)
“I swear I won’t.”
FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. THE LOBBY – THE HYPERION – DUSK

A WIDE SHOT of the lobby. People accounted for: 8. ANGEL, GILES, DAWN, ANDREW,
WILLOW, XANDER, ILLYRIA and BUFFY.
Angel, Giles, Dawn and Andrew sit at the table. Both Angel and Dawn are all dressed in
black and Giles and Andrew have their usual suits on. Willow, Xander and Buffy sits on the
couch, seemingly deep in discussion. Buffy’s wearing jeans and a grey turtleneck, while both
Xander and Willow is dressed in black. Illyria stands in the middle of the room looking bored
as usual.

ILLYRIA
(looking up at the ceiling)
“Spike has awoken.”

XANDER
(turning his head toward her)
“How can you tell?”

BUFFY
“Oh. I get it. It’s because of that ‘bound’ between you.”

ILLYRIA
(staring at the blonde slayer)
“Correct.”

DAWN
(eagerly)
“Then shouldn’t we go up and see him?”

GILES
“I think that Aerin and Spike would like to be alone for a while.”

DAWN
(pouting)
“Yeah. Yeah.”

ILLYRIA
(tilting her head)
“His blood calls to me.”
 XANDER
(shivering)
“Creepy.”

WILLOW
“Tell me about it.”

FOCUSING ON Giles. The elder watcher seems to be contemplating something. Next to him
we can see the tense expression on Angel’s face.

GILES
“What does it tell you?”

ILLYRIA
(distant look)
“That the vampire is fighting for his existence.”
(meeting Giles’s gaze)
“He will not succeed.”

ANGLE ON the three on the couch. Buffy has positioned herself on the outer edge and she
looks really anxious and somewhat furious.

BUFFY
(grimly)
“There’s gotta be something that we can do to stop it.”

GILES
(sighing)
“I have been researching into this, but have not found anything that can help us in this
matter. But I think that there’s a way to slow it down. For a while.”

BUFFY
“Then that is what we have to do.”

GILES
“Buffy… The only thing that can help Spike is the blood of a slayer.”

XANDER
“Great.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – NIGHT

ALL LIGHT on BUFFY as she sits on her bed. We hear a noise from the door and the
CAMERA SPINS AROUND to reveal DAWN.

DAWN
(hush tone)
“How are you?”

BUFFY
(shrugging)
“Fine.”
(looking at her sister)
“Was it given to him?”

ZOOMING IN on the blonde slayers left arm. It’s covered with a plaster. So, it was Buffy who
gave up some of her blood to help Spike…

DAWN
(joining Buffy in the bed)
“U’huh.”

BUFFY
(biting her lip)
“Do you think that it will help?”

DAWN
(nodding)
“Maybe a little bit.”

ZOOMING IN on the two sisters as they hug each other tightly.

BUFFY
“Did you see him?”

DAWN
“Yeah, I saw him. He looked like shit.”
(laughter)
“A very sexy piece of shit.”
 BUFFY
(swallowing)
“Was Aerin there with him?”

DAWN
“U’huh. She wouldn’t leave his side.”

BUFFY
“Oh.”
SILENCE.

DAWN
“If you want me to I can totally hate her.”

BUFFY
(weak smile)
“I love you.”
FADE OUT-

CUT TO-

INT. SPIKE’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION - NIGHT

ALL LIGHT on SPIKE and AERIN, and it seems as if the blonde vampire just has woken up.

SPIKE
(sleepily)
"Hello, cutie."

Aerin lets out an ‘eep’ sound and straddles the vampire before he can say anything more.

AERIN
(caressing his cheek)
“Are you all right?”

SPIKE
“That depends.”
(looking down)
“I can't move my legs.”
 AERIN
(distressed)
“Why?”

SPIKE
“Because you're sitting on them.”

AERIN
(slapping him in the shoulder)
“You tease.”

ZOOMING IN as Aerin bends down to plant a soft kiss on his slightly parted lips.

AERIN
“I got news.”

SPIKE
(raising a eyebrow)
“Oh?”

AERIN
(beaming)
“I’m pregnant!!”

SPIKE
“WHAT??”

A CLOSE UP on the bewildered look in his chiselled face.

BLACK OUT-

END OF EPIS ODE