act 3
Fade In
Int.
Comic Book – Same Time
“Unstoppable foe?” Willow exclaimed. “Presidium? You’ve got to be kidding me?”
“Don’t worry,” Comic Faith told her as she cupped her face with one hand. “I’ll keep you safe.”
Willow waved her hands pushing Faith away.
“Stop it! You won’t keep me safe! You’re gonna be the reason I get killed! I can’t be the love interest, a-and for more reasons than I can count! So just stop!” Willow answered.
Faith grabbed Willow by the waist and pulled her into a passionate kiss. Willow’s eyes were wide when they finally pulled away, still wrapped in each other’s arms.
Cut To:
Int.
Watchers Council – Coven Room – Same Time
Rowena’s eyes bore into Faith who was standing next to her. Faith caught the expression out of the corner of her eye, but then turned to look fully at Rowena.
“It’s a friggin’ cartoon,” she told her. “It’s not me, so don’t spaz, Spaz.”
Cut To:
Int.
Comic Book – Same Time
Willow froze in Faith’s arms.
“Calm down,” Cartoon Faith told Willow.
“What the hell was that for?” Willow asked as she batted Faith’s hands away.
“It was either kiss you or slap you. You were gettin’ hysterical,” she replied. Slowly, she began to grin. “You gotta admit kissing was more fun.”
“Oh, boy,” Dawn sighed.
“Okay, we need to think about this,” Andrew said.
“What’s to think about?” Willow said. “I can’t do this again. I can’t go against a Presidium member. Once was enough.”
Cut To:
Int.
Coven Room – Same Time
Rowena folded her hands across her chest and walked over to the bench where Althenea was working.
“Any luck?” she asked.
“Perhaps,” Althenea replied. “According to something Becca found, I might be able to create a talisman Willow can use.”
“Wonderful,” Rowena complimented.
“Getting it to her, however, might be a problem,” Althenea added.
“What if we gave Willow the instructions and she –”
Althenea shook her head. “It has to be created in one realm and brought into another. Even if I gave her the directions, it wouldn’t work where she is right now. I can make it, but getting it there…that’s another matter. Either way, I’m almost finished with it. We’ll worry about step two next.”
Cut To:
Int.
Comic Book – Same Time
The noise of heavy footsteps made all four ‘toons turn their heads in the direction of the sound.
“This doesn’t sound good,” Andrew replied.
Faith pulled out a weapon from behind her back that looked like six other types of weapons combined. “You guys stay here for now,” she said as she got up and ran toward the footsteps.
Dawn got a peculiar look on her face and asked, “Really, where does she store something like that in such a skimpy outfit?”
“Hello,” Andrew said sarcastically. “It’s a cartoon. You can do anything in a cartoon.”
Willow chewed on her bottom lip, but said nothing.
Cut To:
Int.
Watchers Council – Coven Room – Same Time
“Hey, did you see that weapon?” Faith asked Xander. “Can you make me one of those?”
Xander shrugged in response. “I can try. I have to admit that’s pretty cool.”
“Cool? That’s kick ass. She’s got gadgets like Batman. I want some gadgets too.”
“Hey guys?” Buffy interrupted. “Can we just get everyone out safe first?”
“Actually,” Rowena commented as she stepped closer. “Althenea made a talisman, but someone Chosen needs to force their way into the comic to deliver it.”
“So when do I go?” Faith asked.
“It might not be a good idea to send you,” Rowena answered. “You’re already in the comic, not you exactly, but –”
“Right,” Althenea interrupted. “We don’t know if your presence might have an effect since there is already one Faith inside there. We don’t want to upset the balance.”
“Send me,” Kennedy offered. “I’m a slayer.”
“But you’re not originally Chosen,” Althenea replied. “It would be better to send a…a first generation slayer in.”
“So that leaves me,” Buffy replied. “Where’s the talisman?” she asked, extending her hand.
“Buffy,” Rowena said. “You’re the head of the Watchers Council. We need you.”
Buffy sighed. “Giles?” she asked and motioned him over. Once he and Becca were there she said, “You know about this talisman?”
“Yes, but we –”
“If I don’t make it back, will you take up your old post as Head Watcher?” she asked.
All eyes fell to Giles and he looked at Becca for a moment. She simply looked back at him, a small grin creeping to her face.
“We all know the answer, so just say it,” she told him.
“I will,” he told her.
“Then it’s a done deal. When you’re ready, let me know, and I’ll go in,” Buffy told them.
“We’ll need to tether you first, in case we need to pull you back out,” Althenea told her.
“However it has to be,” Buffy said. “Just tell me when we’re on.”
“Huh, guys?” Tracey said, “Something’s happening.”
Cut To:
Int.
Comic Book – Same Time
“Runnnn!” Faith exclaimed as she bolted past Willow, Dawn and Andrew.
They didn’t need to be told twice and all ran out of the frame into the next one.
“What is it?” Willow asked as they ran.
“Something bigger than this thing can handle,” Faith said, waving her weapon. “We need to retreat and regroup…This way.” She pointed.
Cut To:
Int.
Watchers Council – Coven Room – Same Time
“Xander, hurry up,” Rowena told him as he tightened the strap around Buffy’s waist.
“Here,” Althenea said, handing Buffy the talisman. “Just stay in long enough to get this to Willow…Are you ready?” Buffy nodded. “Okay,” Althenea replied before turning to the others. “I need everyone to clear the room immediately.”
“I’m staying,” Rowena replied as the others started to go.
“Everyone means you, too,” Althenea said. Rowena was going to start to argue, but Althenea held up her finger and turned to Kennedy. “Get her out of here. Pick her up if you have to, but everyone needs to be gone. You too, Kennedy.”
“You can’t make me –” Rowena began to say. Kennedy wrapped her arms around Rowena’s waist and physically picked her up off the floor and began to carry her. “Hey!” Rowena said. She tried unsuccessfully to pull at Kennedy’s arm and wriggle away.
“Take this,” Althenea said, handing Buffy a vial of liquid. “Start on the comic and pour it toward you until it touches you. You should start to get sucked inside like they did, but the tether will hold you in this realm. Under no circumstances should you –”
“I got it,” Buffy said. “Get out of here.”
“Good luck,” Althenea sighed. “Yell when you’re back and I’ll come in. If I hear nothing, I’ll be back in five minutes, so work quickly.”
Buffy nodded and Althenea was the last one to go, closing the door behind her.
Cut To:
Int.
Watchers Council – Outside Coven Room – Same Time
Rowena rushed around Kennedy and toward Althenea.
“You had no right –!” Rowena began.
“I have every right!” Althenea shot back, surprising Rowena with the fierceness of her tone. “The Coven is my domain, this room is my room and as standing High Priestess of this Coven at the moment, my word is the law.” Rowena looked away and Althenea’s mood softened. She reached over and pulled Rowena into a hug. “This may not work,” she confessed. “And I can’t lose both of you…the Council can’t lose both of you. So please, do as I say?”
Rowena released a ragged sigh and nodded her head.
Cut To:
Int.
Watchers Council – Coven Room – Same Time
Buffy took a deep breath and began to drip the contents of the vial on the comic book, slowly moving the liquid upward toward herself. After a moment, an orange mist began to pour out of the comic book, and she tightened her hold on the talisman.
“Here we go,” she muttered as she began to feel her face contort and travel toward the book. She got halfway through but then seemed to hit an invisible barrier, unable to move any further inside.
She pulled herself back out with an audible pop and fell back to the floor on her behind.
“Damn it,” she swore as she scrambled to her feet.
Cut To:
Int.
Comic Book – Same Time
“Where are we?” Willow asked.
“The shipping docks,” Faith told her. The group moved to hide behind various boxes and crates, moving from box to box.
“What was that thing? Did you see it?” Andrew asked.
“Yeah, I saw it,” Faith told him. “That’s why I ran.”
“Some comic hero you turned out to be,” Andrew remarked.
Faith grabbed him by the shirt and pushed him against the wall. “Listen, shrimp. Sometimes the smartest move is to run away so you can live to fight another day. What good is a dead hero? I need time to figure out how to take this guy down.”
“Why don’t we figure out how to take him down?” Willow suggested. “There’s no reason for you to go all lone wolfy on us here.”
“Although the idea of us together is appealing,” Faith began with a sexy leer, “I’m not risking you.”
“I didn’t mean us like that,” Willow argued, but then she stopped herself. “Okay, listen, we need –”
Faith put her hand over Willow’s mouth and motioned everyone to move the dock.
The creature showed up in the corner and looked around. It was enormous, wearing creaking metal armor and a billow dark cloak. His head stopped when he looked in their direction.
“Damn it. He spotted us,” Faith told them. “Run for it!”
As the team stood up and started to move, the demon let out a great roar, making them all scream.
Cut To:
Int.
Watchers Council – Coven Room – Same Time
Hearing the scream from the inside of the comic, Buffy walked back to the wall, a finger of orange mist still following her as she moved. She took a sword from where it had been hanging on the wall.
“Screw this,” she said, and with a swift movement, she sliced through the tether. “I’m coming, guys!” she yelled over. Then she took off into a sprint and dove head first, arms extended, into the comic book. But instead of her entire body going in she only managed to make it to her waist. Her kicking legs were still visible in the real world.
Cut To:
Int.
Comic Book – Same Time
“Willow!” The witch heard Buffy’s voice and began to look around. “Up here,” the slayer yelled.
“Buffy?” Willow asked as she made eye contact with her.
Buffy saw a demon twisting inside a binding spell, though the magical bindings of the spell were starting to flicker and fade away. She also noticed a dock below her. She looked around quickly at her surroundings.
“Am I stuck in a ship?” she asked. Willow nodded her head. Buffy sighed. “Look, Al made this to get you out. Come get it.” As if tugged backwards, Buffy began to sink back into the ship. “Hurry!”
Willow and her team ran up the dock and Buffy hurled the talisman toward Willow, but it bounced off her hand and skipped across the surface of the water.
“Damn it,” Buffy and Willow both swore at the same time.
Cut To:
Int.
Watchers Council – Coven Room – Same Time
With a whooshing, sucking noise, Buffy’s body was pulled back into the room and she landed again on her backside, the talisman now gone.
“Al, get in here!” she shouted. Immediately, the door burst open.
Althenea moved inside and quickly shut the door behind her to prevent anyone else from entering.
“Did it work?” She walked over and examined the cleanly-cut tether. “How did this happen?”
“I had to improvise,” Buffy told her. “Check the comic.” She nodded toward the book on the floor as she moved to her feet.
Cut To:
Int.
Comic Book – Same Time
Andrew dove into the water just as the demon gave a mighty roar and finally busted free of his confines.
“Your actions will cost you,” their pursuer told them as he stalked closer. “For my family, for my birth brother Imbethit’s disgrace. You will pay with your very lives.” Willow cast another spell in his direction, but he batted it away. “Not again,” he told her. “I know who you are…the one known as Rosenberg. Your magics are useless against me.”
“Andrew?” Dawn shouted, sounding slightly panicked.
A long beat later, Andrew burst from the water. “I’ve got it!” he yelled.
The demon threw a thunderbolt in his direction and the shock made him drop the talisman. They watched helplessly as he began to slip beneath the surface.
“Save him! And get that talisman,” Willow told Faith. “I’ll try to hold this guy off.”
Faith dove into the water as Willow and Dawn turned back toward the demon, still stalking ever closer
“Any ideas?” Dawn asked.
Willow looked around for an escape and found none. But then a look of realization came to her face. “I can do anything here, this is a comic,” she replied.
“Well, then do something!” Dawn told her.
Willow closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She turned to the ship docked at the end of the pier. “Get down,” she told Dawn.
With a deep groan, Willow raised her hands in the air, the boat groaning upward as she did, dripping water as it rose. Using all her might, she moved her hands toward the demon. Willow and Dawn ducked as the boat flew over the pier just inches above their heads.
With a mighty crash, the huge sea vessel slammed into the demon pinning him beneath it on the shore.
“Did you kill him?” Dawn asked as she got to her feet.
Willow looked at the demon for a moment. “If he’s not dead, at least he’s knocked out…for now.”
They looked over to the water, where Faith swam backward, pulling Andrew’s limp body along with her.
“Come get him,” she said.
Taking another deep breath, Willow pulled her hands back and levitated Andrew until he was on the dock. Dawn leaned down and felt his chest.
“He’s not breathing, guys,” she said, eyes wide. She quickly started CPR.
Cut To:
Int.
Watchers Council – Coven Room – Same Time
“Did it work?” Rowena asked, peeking her head inside the Coven Room.
Buffy and Althenea looked at each other.
“Yes and no,” Buffy answered. “I had to throw it and it landed in a lake or something.”
Slowly, the group began to file in and stand around the comic.
“Oh, God,” Tracey breathed when she saw Dawn trying to resuscitate Andrew.
Cut To:
Int.
Comic Book – Same Time
“Are you okay?” Faith asked. She gently pushed Willow’s hair behind her ear.
“Yeah, gotta…gotta catch my breath after all that,” Willow replied.
“Here.” Faith handed the talisman to Willow. “What is that thing?”
“Our ticket home, if it’s not too late,” she said. She glanced over at Andrew as Dawn continued to work on him. She knelt down next to Dawn. “Will it work?”
“What?” Dawn stopped and watched Faith walk back down the pier for just a moment.
“Think about Andrew waking up as you’re doing that,” Willow told her.
Dawn closed her eyes as her lips covered Andrew’s again and suddenly, after her second blow of air into his mouth, he began to cough. She quickly rolled him to the side, and he coughed water onto the pier.
“How did you know?” Dawn asked Willow.
“Andrew figured it out, actually,” Willow explained. “It’s a cartoon. You can do anything in a cartoon. Right, Andrew?” Willow asked him.
He could only nod, still coughing, as Dawn and Willow both grinned at each other.
“Then why not make that demon’s head explode?” Dawn teased.
“I guess we’ve got some rules, such as an unstoppable foe,” Willow replied with a grin. “Why don’t we see if this works and we get out of here, huh?”
Willow gave the talisman a twist and a light began to shimmer, enveloping all three of them. They all started to fade away as the shimmering light spread out further and further.
Cut To:
Int.
Watchers Council – Coven Room – Same Time
Willow opened her eyes to see Rowena standing in front of her, slack jawed.
“Don’t look so surprised,” Willow said. “Althenea knows her stuff.”
When Rowena and no one else spoke, Willow reached out to her and that’s when she saw her hand and her arm…and her body.
“Hey Al?” Willow asked, trying to keep her cool. “Why am I standing here, in my Coven Room, but I still look like a cartoon?”
No one in the room spoke.
Black Out
End of Act Three