Act 2
Fade In:
Ext.
Amy’s House – Continuous
Kennedy watched in shock as Amy extended her hand. Vi picked up the slack and took Amy’s hand, instead. Upon seeing Vi shaking the woman’s hand, Kennedy mustered a grin.
“Uh, sorry. Yeah, I’m Ken,” Kennedy said, offering her own hand and giving Amy’s a shake. “I’m glad you could see us on such short notice. I’ve been out of town for quite a few years and I thought I might try to contact some friends while I’m around.” Vi gave a cough. “Sorry, this is my good friend, Vi Joston.”
“Nice to meet you,” Vi told her. “I still can’t figure out why I blew off class to be here but…here I am.”
Amy looked between the two of them, clearly confused.
Kennedy slapped Vi’s arm. “Now, we’ve had hours of meaningful conversation on the trip out here, so stop complaining. Plus, I haven’t driven us off a cliff at any point,” she teased.
“Not yet anyway,” Vi said, bumping shoulders with Ken.
“Like I said,” Kennedy told Amy, “thanks for seeing us.”
“Not a problem. I’m not sure if I can be of any help to you or not, though,” she said.
“Well, I’m looking for some people from the Sunnydale Class of ’99, in particular, Alexander Harris, or he sometimes went by Xander.”
“Ex-boyfriend?” Vi teased.
Kennedy did a double take. “Uh, no, but he was a good friend I haven’t seen in awhile and I –”
“Oh jeez,” Amy sighed, cutting her off.
“You can’t help?” Kennedy asked.
“Well, Xander, I’m afraid he’s…”
“What?” Kennedy asked.
Amy paused. “He joined the military after graduation and he was killed in Afghanistan. I got the news the day before they killed Bin Laden. I remember thinking he died without knowing they accomplished the mission, and how that made it even more sad.” Kennedy hung her head and sighed.
“Boy, do I feel like an ass now,” Vi remarked.
Kennedy managed a grin for Vi. “Not your fault.”
“I’m sorry I had to be the one to tell you,” Amy added.
“It’s…it’s okay,” Kennedy told her. “Again, not your fault either.” Kennedy chewed her lip nervously.
Amy gave her a comforting smile and put her arm around Kennedy’s shoulders, a gesture she examined closely. “Let’s go inside. I’ll get us some tea.”
Cut To:
Int.
Amy’s House – Living Room – Moments Later
Vi stood looking at Amy’s curio case, which held a host of cheerleading trophies. Kennedy was on Amy’s sofa, looking through her notebook. She set it down briefly as Amy brought out three glasses of iced tea.
“Thanks,” Kennedy said as she took the glass. She took a sip and nodded. “Good.”
“Thanks,” Amy said to her as she took a seat across from her. “Now, did you have some other folks on your list that I might help with?”
“Oh,” Kennedy said, digging into her back pocket and producing her small notepad. “Yeah, a Rupert Giles, but he wasn’t a student. He would have been on the staff, a librarian.”
“Mr. March was our librarian. It’s possible they mighta had a Mr. Giles after we graduated.”
“No slayer, no watcher,” Kennedy muttered to herself.
“Excuse me?” Amy said, not quite catching what she had said.
“Uh, nothing. What about a Faith Lehane?”
“Let me look on the list,” she said as she glanced at the paper in her hand. “No, sorry, no Lehane. Are you sure it was Sunnydale High you needed? That name doesn’t sound familiar.”
“Yeah, I’m positive,” Kennedy replied. “I did have a question about someone on the wall – Buffy Summers. It lists a Dawn Summers too, so I’m wondering if that was her sister.”
“No, that was her daughter. I didn’t know her that well, but she transferred…around sophomore year I think. She was pregnant then. I guess her mom was some big shot art gallery person, so the baby was in daycare until Buffy graduated. She worked at the Doublemeat Palace after that but…then the earthquake…”
“I knew another Dawn Summers,” Kennedy said. “I was just curious about the name. Of all the names…well, let’s just say it was kind of a surprise to see someone by the same name…Well, anyway. One more. Last one, I promise, and we’ll be out of your hair,” she said as she smiled. “Willow Rosenberg.”
“Now, Willow I remember pretty well,” Amy replied.
Hearing the excitement in Amy’s voice brought Vi back over to the couple.
“Were you friends?” Kennedy asked tentatively.
“No, we ran with a different crowd. Come to think of it, Willow never really ran with any crowd.”
“What do you mean?” Vi asked.
“She seemed like a nice person, don’t get me wrong, but she was always a bit…backward. She wasn’t very social, from what I remember, but she was super smart.”
“Super smart?” Kennedy asked.
“Yeah, like genius smart. All she ever did was study. She never did anything except go to class. She used to be friends with Xander, actually. And another boy, uh, Jesse was his name. But he was killed in a car accident not long after graduation. That’s when Xander decided to join the army.”
“So Willow’s still here? In California, I mean?”
“No, she went to England on a scholarship. She’s still there, as far as I know.”
“You wouldn’t happen to have an address, would you?”
“Yeah, but good luck having her reply,” Amy replied.
“Why’s that?” Kennedy asked.
“I’ve sent her notices about the reunion and other events but…nothing. Rumor has it she went to her parents’ funeral and then hopped a plane back to England that very night. Like I said, she’s quite a brain but…she’s kind of a recluse. The only way you’ll probably talk to her is face to face.” Amy smiled. “So unless you plan on flying to England anytime soon…like I said…good luck.”
Cut To:
Int.
Unknown Building – Later that Day
Kennedy’s hand slammed down a driver’s license, passport and credit card on a counter all in one swoop.
“One way ticket to London, please,” she said.
A male airline clerk collected her items.
“Thank you, ma’am. Let me see what I have available.” He began to type on his keyboard.
Vi looked at her watch. “Ken, it’s late, and I have to go,” she told her with a yawn.
“No,” Kennedy insisted. “Stay with me, okay?”
“What’s the point?” Vi asked. “It’s not like I can fly to Europe. I don’t have a passport, and even if I did, I don’t have the money.”
After pausing and reading for a short while the clerk looked up. “We have a flight leaving in one hour going to Boston and then a connection to London-Heathrow. I’m afraid you’ll have to stay overnight. The Boston connection doesn’t leave until tomorrow morning. I know it’s a bit of an inconvenience, but I can check other flights –”
“Boston? No, no,” Kennedy told him. “A layover in Boston will work out perfect. Go ahead and book it.” She then turned to Vi. “See? Boston. You can go to Boston.”
“I’m done, Ken,” Vi told her. “Finished. Over.”
“Don’t say that,” Kennedy scolded her. Vi seemed taken back by Kennedy’s animosity. “It just…it bothers me to hear you say that, okay? Look, Boston’s only a few hours by plane, and we can go –”
“The only place I’m going, Ken, is home,” Vi told her. “I’ll see you in class this week. Provided you’re back and haven’t taken off for Asia next.”
Kennedy sighed. “I know how crazy you must think I am.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Vi sighed.
“But I’ll be back, and maybe someday I can explain it all, okay?…Besides, didn’t you have fun today hanging out?”
“Ken, anything is more fun than psychology,” Vi replied. “So yes.” She gave Kennedy a ghost of a grin. “Give me a ring when you get home, okay?”
Kennedy nodded and Vi gave her a wave before trying to turn around. Kennedy didn’t let her leave, though. She pulled Vi into a tight embrace, her hands running over the back of Vi’s head.
“Thanks for spending the day with me,” Kennedy said softly.
Vi seemed unsure of what to do at first, but she put her arms around Kennedy and eventually returned the hug. “Call me, okay?” Vi insisted. “You’re really freaking me out.”
“Like I said,” Kennedy told her. “Later.”
Vi waved goodbye again, and this time she walked away.
“Will you be checking any luggage?” the clerk asked.
“No,” Kennedy replied. “Just my carry on,” she said, holding her book bag.
“Okay, just one moment while we get those tickets printed up,” he told her.
“Thanks,” she replied.
She watched him nod and then walk away. As she stood, she felt her cell phone begin to ring, playing the chorus from “You and Me” by Lifehouse. She held it up to see it read “Rob calling.” She stared at the phone, eyes wide, for a few seconds, but then she pried the lid open slowly and put it to her ear.
“Hello?” she said.
“Hey, Sweetheart! Looking forward to tonight?”
Kennedy’s eyes widened further. “Tonight?”
“Our anniversary, ya goof,” he replied with a chuckle. “Now, I’ll pick you up at seven because –”
“Look, Rob,” Kennedy told him. “Something’s kind of come up and…I have to cancel tonight.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked. Kennedy paused, as if unsure what to say next. “Ken?”
“Yeah, look. The thing is…I’m sorry but I think I’m a lesbian and this just isn’t working out. I gotta go…Sorry,” she said again meekly, before snapping the phone shut. “Oh jeez, that was smooth,” Kennedy berated herself. She began to look through her book bag when her phone rang again, with the same ringtone. She simply stuffed it back into her pocket, not bothering to answer.
“Here you go, ma’am,” she heard a female clerk say, getting her attention.
“Thank…” Kennedy paused when she saw Althenea Dimmons standing there. “You,” she finished, as she took the boarding pass. “I’m sorry but…have we met?” she asked her.
“I don’t believe so,” Althenea replied.
“You wouldn’t happen to know anyone named Willow Rosenberg in London, would you?”
“Can’t say I do.”
Kennedy nodded and pulled her book bag over her shoulder. She turned to leave, but then stopped. “What about a Rowena Allister?”
“No, sorry,” Althenea replied. Kennedy turned again to step away, but stopped when she heard Althenea say, “I know a Rowena Tyrell. We both worked at Heathrow together until I got reassigned here.”
“Really?” Kennedy asked.
“Yes, do you know her?”
“Maybe,” Kennedy answered. “She’s originally from Canada, right?”
“Yes, that must be the same Rowena,” Althenea replied. “What a small world,” she added with a chuckle. “How do you know her?”
Kennedy opened her mouth, then closed it, gears turning. “My father,” she said quickly. “I knew her by Allister, because it was quite a few years ago. We’d vacation in Canada while my dad did business up there.”
“Oh, I see. Well, she’s been married to Jordon for quite some time now. But if you ask me, he’s a bit of a wanker…please don’t tell her I said that. And you very well might see her, since she still works at Heathrow.”
“How did she meet this…Jordon? It’s been years since I saw her.”
“He’s a pilot in the Royal Air Force and they were doing an air show in Canada. They hit it off and began writing and from there she left home to be with him in England.”
“You don’t say?”
Althenea just nodded, but then someone shouted for her. “Well, I better get back to work. I’ll tell her I saw you next time we chat.”
“Thanks,” Kennedy replied. “You take care.”
“You too,” Althenea said, before walking away.
Kennedy watched her for a moment longer. “Well, at least someone else has a not so bad ending,” she said to herself.
Cut To:
Ext.
Boston Logan Airport – Arrivals and Departures – Hours Later
Kennedy walked over to a waiting cab and hopped into the back seat.
“Andrew Square,” she told the driver as she took a seat in the back.
“You sure you wanna go down there this time of night?” he asked.
Kennedy opened up her wallet and held up a wad of money. “Just drive,” she told him.
“You got it,” he replied, and put the car into gear.
Cut To:
Ext.
West Side Home – Later that Night
Kennedy got out and shut the door behind her.
“Sure you don’t want me to wait?” the driver asked.
“Nah, thanks, I’m good.”
“You’re the boss,” he said, putting the car back into gear.
Kennedy looked at the house in front of her and then back again at the cab as it drove away.
She walked up to the porch and knocked on the door, not getting an answer. She moved over to peer inside the window and saw Hope sitting on the sofa, watching T.V. in the dark.
Kennedy’s jaw set in determination and she went back to knocking on the door, not pausing for anything. Finally, after around the twentieth knock, the door opened through a chain.
“What?” Hope asked, annoyance in her voice as she peeked through.
“Is Faith here?” Kennedy asked.
“No,” Hope answered. She started to close the door, but Kennedy managed to get the tips of her toes inside.
“Can you tell me where she is?” Kennedy asked.
“18th Street,” Hope answered.
“Got an address?” Kennedy asked.
“There is no address, just 18th Street.” With that, Hope stomped on Kennedy’s foot, making her move it. Once it was free, she slammed the door and locked it again.
Kennedy limped back down the steps to the sidewalk. She turned and began to walk, shaking her foot, when she saw a cab coming toward her. It slowed to a stop and she peered down to see the same driver. He rolled down his window.
“I thought I’d take a cruise around the block first before leaving you out here. Sure you don’t want that lift?”
Kennedy grinned and hopped into the back again.
Cut To:
Int.
City Cab – Same Time
“I guess I should thank you,” Kennedy told him as he began to drive.
“Nah, I gotta girl your age,” the cabbie told her. “I know if it were my daughter, I’d want someone to do the same for her.”
“Well, I appreciate it,” she told him.
There was a short silence, then he asked, “So where are you going now?”
“18th Street,” she told him.
“Out of the frying pan and into the fire, huh?” he remarked.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
He seemed reluctant to go on at first. “Tell me somethin’. What’s a clean cut girl like you doing traveling around this place in the middle of the night all by yourself?”
“I’m looking for someone,” she told him.
“A drug dealer?” he asked.
“Why? Are you trying to sell me something?” she asked.
“Nah, I told you kiddo, there’s a lot of scum in this area – people you just don’t want to get mixed up with. I’m sure you’ve got someone back at your house worrying about you right now. And I’m sure they’d like to see you again someday, that’s all.”
“I can take care of myself,” Kennedy answered. “And for the record, it’s a friend, not a drug dealer.”
The cabbie laughed. “How old are you? Twenty?”
“Twenty three,” Kennedy answered.
“Yeah, well, just realize you’re not invincible. You’re not Supergirl. I know I’m talking to a brick wall ’cause of how my girl is, but…you can get hurt, is all I’m sayin’.”
“I hadn’t really thought of that…I’m not Supergirl anymore,” Kennedy said absently.
“Honey, you never were,” he laughed. “So…is there someplace else I can take you, then?”
“No,” she replied. “18th Street, please.”
The driver grinned and shook his head. “Brick wall,” he muttered.
Fade To:
Int.
City Cab – Minutes Later
“We’re here,” the cabbie told her, putting the car in park. “Fifteen seventy.”
Kennedy handed him a fifty-dollar bill. “Get your girl something for having a nice dad,” she told him. “Do you guys run out to this area in the morning?” she asked.
“If you call, we’ll come,” he replied.
Kennedy took out her notepad and wrote down the number before sticking it back into her pocket. “Thanks,” she told him as she opened the door.
“Be careful,” he told her, stressing each word.
“I’ve spent some time on the street, I’ll handle myself,” she told him. “Thanks again,” she added as she got out.
She closed the door behind her and walked up to the sidewalk. Immediately, a homeless man approached her.
“Gotta quarter?” he asked.
Kennedy took a closer look at him and faint recognition came into her eyes. The man was Jason Felix.
“Sorry,” she answered. “Maybe later,” she added, as she walked around him and moved down the street.
Kennedy continued on her way. A pair of vagabonds sat on the ground next to a stoop and she continued until she reached the corner. She saw three women standing, each smoking cigarettes, clad in skimpy attire.
“Excuse me, ladies,” she asked them. “I’m looking for a woman?”
“Time is money darlin’,” one of them said. The woman turned around and Kennedy found herself face to face with Mia.
Kennedy lost her breath for a moment, but she quickly regained herself and grinned, playing along. “How much?” she asked.
All three of them chuckled but one of them stepped closer.
“Honey, you’re a beautiful girl. I’m sure if you go right up the road you’ll find a gal your age at the college looking to…experiment…”
All of them chuckled again.
“I’m looking for one girl in particular, and not to experiment,” Kennedy told them, her eyes lingering on Mia for a moment. “She hangs out around here, I’m told. Her name’s Faith – about my height, dark hair, brown eyes.”
“We might have seen her,” another lady said, stepping forward. “But it’ll cost you.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Kennedy chuckled. “Again, how much?”
“Fifty,” she replied.
“Why don’t you tell me something about her first,” Kennedy replied, “so I know we’re talking about the same gal?”
“She’s got a tat on her arm,” the woman said. “Like barbed wire or something like that. Never got close enough to get a good look at it.”
“If it’s the same gal, she’s one bad mofo, honey,” Mia replied. “You don’t want to tangle with her.”
“I’m not looking to tangle,” Kennedy replied. “But I’ll make a deal. I’ll give you each twenty now if you tell me where I might find her around here. Once I do find her, I’ll come back tonight and give you each fifty more.”
“You must want this girl pretty bad,” Mia answered.
“Do we have a deal?” Kennedy asked, as she brought out three twenty-dollar bills.
The three of them looked at each other and shrugged. Then they took the bills.
“Head down that alley,” Mia said, pointing with the money in her hand. “There’s a couple of places I hear she likes to hang. Not sure if she’s there, but that’s the best place to start. Last name’s Lehane, right?” Kennedy nodded. “She goes by Hannie around here. Ask a few folks for her up on the other block. They might tell you where to find her, now that you’ve got a name,” she added.
“Thank you, ladies,” Kennedy replied as she walked away.
Cut To:
Ext.
Alley – Moments Later
Kennedy walked down the dark alley, not seeing anyone around in plain sight. She sighed.
“The Sunnydale gang’s mostly dead and Mia’s a ho. But that’s not too bad, I mean, I can get her off the streets, maybe into school somehow.” Kennedy continued to walk, looking at her dark surroundings. “Why do I get the feeling this is going to be another unhappy ending?” she asked herself.
As soon as the words left her lips, Kennedy heard a switchblade open behind her and someone say, “Give me your money.”
Kennedy put her hands up in the air and slowly turned around to see Faith.
Her hair looked greasy, as if she hadn’t showered in days. She had dark circles under her eyes, and the knife in her hand shook. She appeared almost feral as she waved for Kennedy to hand over her wallet.
“Right again,” Kennedy muttered.
Black Out
End of Act Two