Dead An d Unbu rie d

By: Mariana

INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – TIME UNKNOWN

SPOTLIGHT on BUFFY and SPIKE lying on the bed, safely tucked under the covers. Spike
lies on his back and the slayer is draped over him, nuzzling his exposed neck. After a while
she draws back and places a kiss on his mouth.

SPIKE
(looking up at her)
”Did I beat it then?”

BUFFY
(smiling)
”Yes.”

ZOOMING IN as she ducks her head and whispers against his mouth:

BUFFY
”You did well.”

SPIKE
”I love the taste of you,”

BUFFY
”And I yours.”

ANGLE on Spike as he blinks slowly, not letting his gaze waver away from hers. It’s almost as
if he can sense something about her. Something… off.

SILENCE.

SPIKE
”How did I do it?”

FOCUS on Buffy as she smiles and kisses him again.

There's the tiniest hint of despair beneath it all, and he wraps his arms around her and brings
her closer, looking like he never will let her go.
 SPIKE
(concerned)
”I don’t remember.”

BUFFY
(Hushing him)
”Shh, it’s over now. It doesn’t matter.”

PAUSE.

ZOOMING OUT as Spike holds her away from him, searching her face for the truth. Can he,
like we do, see the despair hidden deep in her eyes depths?

SPIKE
(sternly)
”What happened, Buffy?”

BUFFY
(avoiding his gaze)
”Does it matter? We’re together.”

SPIKE
”Are we?”
(intensely)
”Are we really?”

BUFFY
”I was strong…”
(watery smile)
”I was everything I was supposed to be.”

FOCUS on the slayer as she bends down to place a rather chaste kiss on his lips.

SPIKE
(frowning)
”There’s something…”

BUFFY
(gazing at him)
”What?”
 SPIKE
(blinking)
”I’m supposed to…”
(shivering)
”Oh God, something’s wrong…”

BUFFY
(caressing his cheek)
”It’s okay, Spike.”

SPIKE
(cringing)
”Am you real?”

BUFFY
(slowly)
”I’m as real as you are.”

PAUSE.

SPIKE
(confusedly)
”But that’s just it.”
(meeting her gaze)
”I think I died, Buffy…”

FLASH.

A CLOSE UP on BUFFY as she wakes up screaming, literally bathing in sweat.

WILLOW
”Buffy, calm down. We’re here.”

PANNING OUT to reveal WILLOW, ANGEL and GILES standing over the bed. The two
latter looking grim and exhausted. (A/N: Willow is wearing all black – and so is Angel. Giles
is wearing jeans and a grey turtleneck.)

FOCUS on Buffy as her head turns in all directions, as if she’s searching for something – or
rather someone.

BUFFY
“Spike… Where is he?”
SILENCE.
ANGEL
(clenching his fists)
“He, it, is with Illyria.”

BUFFY
“Illyria…?”

WILLOW
“He…”
(noticing Angel’s glare)
“…it… we couldn’t control it. Illyria was the only one that could reach through.”

BUFFY
(blinking)
“I don’t… it? Why do you keep referring him to it?”

ANGEL
“Buffy… Whatever he is, it’s not Spike anymore.”
(sadly)
“He’s gone.”
FADE OUT-

CR ED IT S

DAVID BOREANAZ as ANGEL

SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR as BUFFY SUMMERS
JAMES MARSTERS as SPIKE
AMY ACKER as ILLYRIA
ALYSON HANNIGAN as WILLOW ROSENBERG
MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG as DAWN SUMMERS
NICHOLAS BRENDAN as XANDER HARRIS

SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCES BY:

ANTHONY STEWART HEAD as RUPERT GILES

ELIZA DOZKHU as FAITH LEHANE

BLACK OUT-
 ACT I

INT. UNKNOWN ROOM - THE HYPERION - TIME UNKNOWN

A WIDE SHOT of the room reveals ILLYRIA and SPIKE/ILLYRIA. Spike/Illyria stands by the
window AND Illyria stands in the middle of the room. (A/N: They could be twins, so alike
are they in appearance. Well, except that one of this is of male descendent.)

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(monotone voice)
“This world is truly overrun by humans.”

ILLYRIA
“It is.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(turning to face her)
“Yet you linger here.”

ILLYRIA
“Reluctantly at first. But my temple was gone and so my armies.”
(eyes downcast)
“I could sense the power that reeked in the building of the Wolf the Ram and the Hart, so I
stayed there.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“And you degraded yourself to work alongside humans and half-breeds?”
(raising a hand to study it)
“You even let one of them touch you?”
(content)
“This shell. A mere half-breed.”

ILLYRIA
(frowning)
“You know this?”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(imperious glare)
“When this shell…”
 ILLYRIA
(sneering)
“He had a name.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“A name.”
(tilting its head)
“Very well. When Spike died his brain collapsed, and electrical spasms channeled into my
function system - memories.”

(A.N: Anyone thinking of Wes and Illyria talking in Fred’s office in ‘Shells ’?)

A CLOSE UP on Spike/Illyria as he, it, tilts the head and closes his eyes. As he holds up his
hand and we can see blue sparkles between his fingers. And in Spike’s voice:

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“Have I told you you’re quite irresistible in that sexy skin-tight getup?”

ILLYRIA
(shaking her head)
“That never happened.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(narrowing eyes)
”You’re memories has been altered.”

ILLYRIA
(nodding)
“I know of this. Winifred Burkle’s memories was altered a long time ago on the behalf of…”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(interrupting)
“This occurred recently.”
(tilting his head)
“Yet the memories are gone from your subconscious.”

A TIGHT SHOT of the peeved (?) expression on Illyria’s face. It appears that she’s bothered
that someone, or something has altered her memories.

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – TIME UNKNOWN

ALL LIGHT on WILLOW sitting on the floor with her legs crossed and with a single white
candle in front of her. She appears to be silently chanting to herself.

BUFFY
(o.c)
“Willow?”

PANNING OUT into a WIDE SHOT of the room to show us BUFFY sitting, also on the floor,
a few feet away with a concerned expression in her face.

WILLOW
(shaking her head)
“I’m sorry, Buffy. I can’t feel Spike at all. He’s gone.”

BUFFY
(harshly)
“Search harder.”

WILLOW
(sorrowfully)
“Buffy…”

ANGEL
(o.c)
“Give Willow some slack, Buffy”
(appearing in the doorway)
“Spike’s gone.”

ANGLE on the wary expression in the vampire’s face as he gazes down at the two women.

ANGEL
“There’s nothing left of Spike.”
(beat)
“Only a shell and a god that manipulates it like a puppet.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. THE TRAINING ROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – DAY

SPOTLIGHT on BUFFY sitting on the floor, her back against the wall and tears streaming
down her face. Then the CAMERA PANS OUT as the door opens and GILES enters the room.

GILES
“Buffy, what’s wrong?”

BUFFY
“I’ve been thinking, Giles.”
(deep breath)
“How many apocalypses have we faced?”

GILES
(sighing)
“More than anyone should have to.”

BUFFY
(voice shacking)
“I’m so tired, ya know? I’ve lost so much… First Angel, then my mom. Riley. I almost lost
Dawn…”

GILES
“But you didn’t.”

BUFFY
“No.”
(wavering smile)
“Instead I died. Then I was brought back - from heaven. Just so that I could go on fighting,
make the big decisions and be everyone’s savior.”
(shuddering breath)
“But I’m not, ya know.”
(meeting Giles gaze)
“I’m just me. Buffy.”
(looking away)
“Then with all the bad. The bringers. The First. And I lost Spike.”

GILES
“Buffy…”
 BUFFY
“I don’t think I have it in me anymore. I’m tired of making these choices, sacrificing all that I
love to fight evil. And losing parts of me on the way. It’s like I’m withering away piece by
piece ’til there’s nothing left of me.”

GILES
(concerned)
“Buffy…”

BUFFY
(shacking her head)
“It’s not in me anymore.”

GILES
“Buffy, you know I love you as a daughter. I guess that I knew that this was coming.”
(deep breath)
“I look at you, my brave unselfish slayer, and death is surrounding you.”

BUFFY
(resigned)
“Death is my gift.”

GILES
(shacking his head)
“God no, Buffy. Life is your gift.”

BUFFY
(crestfallen)
“Huh?”

GILES
“It’s the gift Spike gave you. Remember? Life.”

BUFFY
(big eyes)
“Life is my gift.”

The CAMERA FOLLOWS the slayer as she gets up from the floor to launch herself at the
watcher that envelops her in a warm hug. ZOOMING IN on her tear strained face.

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. UNKNOWN ROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – DAY

DOOR POV of SPIKE/ILLYRIA and ILLYRIA still (!) standing by the window and
overlooking the city outside.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(seemingly perplexed)
“I do not understand. Am I expected to aid these humans in a battle not by my making - but
theirs?”

ILLYRIA
“Yes.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(disgustedly)
“You have truly been tainted.”

ILLYRIA
“It may be so. But you will do this.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(tilting its head)
“Why?”

LONG SILENCE.

ILLYRIA
(using Spike’s words)
“Because it is the right thing to do.”

FOCUS on the calculating expression that Spike/Illyria sends Illyria’s way. (What can it be up
to now? Nothing good probably.)

The CAMERA DRAWS BACK and the SCENE…

FADE OUT-
 ACT I I

EXT. UNKNOWN BAR – DOWNTOWN L.A – DAY

PANNING ACROSS the bar to reveal the sullen faces of XANDER, FAITH, DAWN and
GILES. They’re all nursing drinks of some sort. Xander appears to be drinking whiskey, while
Faith is gulping down beer with impressive speed. Dawn is slowly sipping on what appears to
be a glass of red wine and Giles is playing with his glass of bourbon.

FAITH
(shaking her head)
“This doesn’t feel good, guys.”
(blinking)
“That thing… It look likes him.”
(looking up)
“It looks like Spike.”

XANDER
(swallowing)
“But it’s not.”
(staring down into his glass)
“Spike’s gone.”

DAWN
(sadly)
“It’s all because of me.”
(red eyed)
“People I love keep getting hurt because of me.”

FOCUS on the shocked expression’s on everyone’s faces as they stare at the young woman.

GILES
“Dear lord, Dawn…”
(shaking his head)
“That’s not true.”

XANDER
(nodding)
“Giles’s right: none of this is your fault.”
FOCUS on Dawn as she gulps down the remaining wine.

DAWN
“You may say it isn’t so…”
(repressing a sob)
“But I know in my heart that it’s the truth.”

FAITH
(hoarsely)
“Dawn…”

DAWN
(firmly)
“He didn’t blame me tough…”
(twisted smile)
“Bastard.”

XANDER
“Who?”

DAWN
(meeting their gazes)
“Spike.”

GILES
“Why should he blame you?”
(beat)
“This was entirely his choice, Dawn.”

SILENCE.

XANDER
(raising his glass)
“For Spike.”

CHORUS
“For Spike.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. THE TRAINING ROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – DAY

A SHOT of the wall. Suddenly ILLYRIA comes flying from nowhere and smashes into the
wall with incredible force. Enough force to leave after a gaping hole.
The entity slumps to the floor – and we’re not used to see her so weak, as the CAMERA
PANS OUT into a WIDE SHOT of the room. SPIKE/ILLYRIA approaches the hunching form
with a superior grin in its otherwise unemotional face. In the BACKGROUND we can see
BUFFY and WILLOW standing with wary looks in their tired faces.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(coming to a halt)
“Your strength is diminished.”
(snarling)
“You are nothing more than a ghost of what you once were.”

BUFFY
(grimly)
“Hey, give her some slack!”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“Mercy is for the weak.”
(picking Illyria up)
“Once she would have understood that.”

ANGLE on Spike/Illyria and Illyria as the first pins the second to the wall, holding her still
with a strong grip around the throat.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
”But now she’s weak.”
(tilting its head)
“Touched my human emotions.”

WILLOW
“If you haven’t noticed; you’re amongst human now.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“I have noticed.”
(looking over at them)
“All shall serve me.”
A WIDE SHOT as Buffy shakes her head and rolls her eyes at the arrogant entity.

BUFFY
“Yeah, yeah, we got it. You’re the all powerful god, able to kick the ass single-handed of
anybody and everybody here. So been there and done that.”
(sneering)
“Didn’t buy the T-shirt.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(releasing Illyria)
“You’re afraid of me.”

BUFFY
(insulted)
“Hey, now…”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“You are afraid of me.”
(speculative)
“You think I am unpredictable.”

BUFFY
“Hell yeah.”

PAUSE.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(EYING HER)
“This shell…”

BUFFY
“Spike.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(sneering)
“Spike. It reeks of you. It’s disgusting.”

BUFFY
“Well, thank you.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

EXT. THE BAR – DOWNTOWN L.A – DAY

A WIDE SHOT of the establishment.

XANDER
(small smile)
“Hey, do you guys remember when Spike threatened to rip Andrew’s throat out?”
(looking at the others)
“Just because Andrew walked in on him naked.”

FAITH
(giggling)
“Yeah.”
(beat)
“Do you remember how all the potential tried to sneak peaks at him while he showered?”

GILES
(sighing)
“I could her them giggle a mile away.”

XANDER
“He was special.”

DAWN
“He used to drink milk directly from the carton and put it back in the fridge.”
(fondly)
“He was such a pig.”

GILES
“He used to take the last of my weetabix and pore blood in it.”
(disgustedly)
“For texture he said.”

FAITH
“That’s just gross.”

XANDER
(nodding)
“Tell me about it.”
 DAWN
(nursing another glass of wine)
“He liked mom’s chocolate, with those ‘tiny marshmallows’, buffalo wings and onion
blossoms.”

GILES
(nodding)
“For a vampire he had a vast taste for human food.”

XANDER
“Buffy once told me that he had referred people to being ‘Happy Meals on legs’.”

BEAT.

FAITH
(slowly)
“Fascinating.”

SILENCE.

XANDER
(sipping on his drink)
“Remember how he used to make this elaborate and quite brilliant plans…”

GILES
(finishing)
“Only to destroy it all by getting bored.”

PAUSE.

XANDER
(moody)
“Damn, I’m gonna miss that pain in the butt.”

The CAMERA PANS OVER them all as they look down into their glasses.

GILES
“We should head back.”

They rise as one and begin to walk towards the door.

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. UNKNOWN ROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – DAY

A WIDE SHOT of the room to reveal ILLYRIA standing by the window, overlooking the
city. Her posture is rigid and we can almost sense the weariness roll of off her in waves.

BUFFY
(o.c)
“How are you?”

ANGLE on the door as it silently opened and BUFFY carefully walks into the room. She
seems to pay a proper respect for entering Illyria’s domains.

ILLYRIA
(turning around)
“I am well, Buffy Summers.”

BUFFY
“Are you sure?”
(approaching)
“It came on kind’a hard on you.”

ILLYRIA
“It is nothing I cannot tolerate.”
(tilting her head)
“It is strong.”

BUFFY
“Yeah…”

ILLYRIA
“Much stronger than me as it appears.”

PAUSE.

BUFFY
“It’s you.”

ILLYRIA
“What?”
 BUFFY
“It. It’s you.”
(frowning)
“In a way.”

ILLYRIA
(scrutinizing her)
“I do not understand.”

BUFFY
“You’re a part of it, aren’t you?”
(beat)
“It is a part of you.”

SILENCE.

ILLYRIA
(slowly)
“Indeed.”

BUFFY
“That means you can interpretive its every move.”
(cunning smile)
“You can read it like an open book.”

ILLYRIA
(admiringly)
“You are cleverer than I would have given you credit for, slayer.”

BUFFY
(ruefully)
“Gee, thanks.”

ILLYRIA
“But I would not lover myself to such levels.”

BUFFY
(baffled)
“Huh?”
(pause)
“Why?”
 ILLYRIA
“It’s deceitful.”

BEAT.

BUFFY
(raised eyebrow)
“Yeah…?”

ILLYRIA
(cold stare)
“It is the way of vermin.”

BUFFY
(holding up her hands)
“Hey, I was only trying to help.”

ILLYRIA
(turning to face the window)
“Cease it.”
(sigh)
“I wish upon silence now.”

FOCUS on Buffy as she gives the entity a last look before walking out of the room and slowly
closes the door behind her – leaving Illyria alone to gaze out of the window.

FADE OUT-
 ACT I II

INT. THE LOBBY – THE HYPERION – L.A – DUSK

A WIDE SHOT of the lobby to reveal quite the gathering going on. There’s BUFFY,
WILLOW, DAWN and XANDER on the couch. And GILES, ANGEL and ILLYRIA are
standing in the middle of the room. SPIKE/ILLYRIA is standing by the window and gazes out
with a passive expression on its face.

GILES
(rubbing his nose)
“We’re soon out of time.”
(gazing around)
“The First is on a move according to our sources and Abigor isn’t far behind.”

ANGEL
(firm voice)
“We need to set everything in motion in a matter of days.”

WILLOW
(tentative)
“I should have the spell ready in a couple of days.”

FAITH
(raising a hand)
“Question.”
(as all eyes fixes on her)
“How will this play out – exactly?”

GILES
“The plan is rather easy.”
(cleaning his glasses)
“Willow will access the power from…”
(pensive look at Spike/Illyria)
“it, and connect it with Dawn so that she can open up a portal that will suck our enemies into
a hell dimension from where this is no escape.”

SILENCE.
 XANDER
(stunned)
“That is simple.”
(beat)
“Will it work?”

ANGEL
(nodding)
“It should.”

WILLOW
(biting her lower lip)
“My only concern is that I have no idea what kind of power I will be facing when I perform
this spell.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(turning around)
“My power,”
(moving towards them)
“Can obliterate worlds.”

A WIDER SHOT as the entity comes to a halt in the middle of the room – facing the weary
crowd.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(speculative)
“And you want that power.”
(eyes seeking Willow)
“Tap into it.”

GILES
“It’s necessary to ensure everyone’s survival.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“Your survival.”
(dismissive wave)
“I could not care less.”

FAITH
(muttering)
“It sure knows how to make friends.”
 SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(pinning Faith with its glare)
“I do not need ‘friends’.”

XANDER
(heaving a sigh)
“Somehow Spike seems more appealing now for some reason.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(gazing around)
“You all had affection for this shell.”
(beat)
“It sickens me.”

FAITH
(focus on Giles)
“Are you sure that this will work?”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“Your feelings and uncertainties will get you all killed.”

XANDER
“Yeah? In what way?”

SPIKE ILLYRIA
“There will be death and mayhem. Hell upon earth.”
(longing smile)
“Nightmare’s will walk upon this soil and there will be fire and lava.”
(eying them all)
“None shall live and all will perish in the burning depths…”

A CLOSE UP on Buffy as she turns her head to the right.

BUFFY
”Xander. You’re panicking.”

XANDER
(o.c)
”I’m sorry. It's just... I react to certain doom in a certain way. It's a bad habit.”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. ANGEL’S OFFICE – THE HYPERION – L.A - NIGHT

A DOOR POV at the room to show us ANGEL and GILES sitting on the opposite sides of the
huge desk. Then a WIDE SHOT so we can see the lobby also. SPIKE/ILLYRIA is busy pacing
the floor and examining a jar with jellybeans.

ANGEL
(meeting Giles’s gaze)
“This Illyria version 2.0 is perfectly willing and able to slaughter us all, yet I can’t kill him…
it. Why? Because it resembles Spike?”

GILES
(insightfully)
“You think it would be like killing Spike all over again?”

ANGEL
(nodding)
“I mean… I guess that some small part of me hopes that, deep down, Spike’s somewhere in
there, in that creature, and maybe, if enough time passes, he’ll come back to us.”

PAUSE.

GILES
(sadly)
“That’s a rather foolish hope, Angel. Spike is to far gone for that.”

ANGEL
(shaking his head)
“I know.”
(eyeing the creature)
“So much like him. But not nearly enough.”
(sadly)
“Spike’s truly gone.”

FOCUS on Spike/Illyria as it throws the jar to the floor and watch it smash into millions of
pieces with a satisfied expression.

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. BUFFY’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – NIGHT

SPOTLIGHT on BUFFY sitting on her bed with her back against the wall and her head
leaning on her knees. She appears to be sobbing silently.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(o.c)
“You grieve still.”

ZOOMING OUT to a WIDE SHOT as the entity enters the room as if it owns it. Its gaze falls
unblinking on the crying slayer.

BUFFY
(head whipping up)
“Get out!”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(approaching)
“I wish no to.”

ANGLE on Buffy as she quickly gets up from the bed and walks over to the window. She
comes to a stop and turns to look at the entity. First her eyes are cold, then they soften and
we can see the pain in them.

BUFFY
(whispering)
“Spike…”

It moved with impressively speed, pinning the slayer against the wall. It’s cold voice cunning
and detached – not anything like Spike’s.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(coldly)
“I am not him.”

BUFFY
(strained voice)
“I know.”
 SPIKE/ILLYRIA
“Do you indeed?”
(its grip tightening)
“I can see how you look upon this shell. Your entire being reeks of longing and despair.”
(sneer)
“It is revolting.”

BUFFY
(hatefully)
“I loved him I have the right to grieve him. Damn you.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(tilting its head)
“This human emotion called ‘love’ appears useless. All it does is to leave you weak and
vulnerable.”
(releasing her)
“It’s an abomination.”

It back away from the slayer and she lets out a ragged breath, raising a hand to her – probably
sore throat. She sends the unfazed entity a vengeful glare.

The CAMERA STAYS with the entity as it walks towards the door. But just before it leaves
the room, it turns to look over at the frozen slayer.

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(monotone voice)
“He cannot return to you.”
(beat)
“It is the way of things.”

And with that it soundlessly closes the door behind it and leaves Buffy all alone.

The CAMERA ZOOMS OUT into a WIDE SHOT of the bedroom as Buffy turns around
towards the window and gazes out into the night.

BUFFY
(closing her eyes)
“Spike…”

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. THE LOBBY – THE HYPERION – L.A – DAWN

A WIDE SHOT of the lobby to reveal ANGEL, GILES, FAITH, XANDER and DAWN sitting
around the table.

GILES
(meeting everyone’s gaze)
“We should have a memorial for Spike.”

SILENCE.

FAITH
(nodding)
“I agree.”

XANDER
“Me too.”

DAWN
(hoarse voice)
“Spike would have liked that.”

ANGEL
(chastened)
“If no one objects I would like to say a few words about him.”

All eyes turn towards the brooding vampire and we can literally see the surprise written all
over their faces.

ANGEL
(lopsided grin)
“I know; I’m not really Spike’s biggest fan and I will never be.”
(beat)
“But he was family and in the end… a friend.”

GILES
(benevolent)
“We understand, Angel.”
 XANDER
(forced smile)
“We all miss him.”

FAITH
(irregular breath)
“Do we ever.”
(looking around)
“He was…special.”

XANDER
“A pain in the butt mostly but he never gave up.”

GILES
(nodding)
“That’s for sure.”

XANDER
“He saved our lives. More than once.”

SILENCE.

ANGEL
(solemnly)
“He was a true champion.”

FAITH
“A hero.”

DAWN
(silently)
“And he will be remembered.”

The CAMERA PANS FORWARD, leaving them to ZOOM IN on a silent figure standing
hidden in the shadows by the stairs. It’s SPIKE/ILLYRIA and it has an amused expression.
Almost triumphant…

FADE OUT-
CUT TO-

INT. WILLOW’S BEDROOM – THE HYPERION – L.A – DAWN

A WIDE SHOT of the room as WILLOW walks into it from the bathroom, only wearing a
towel. It’s safe to assume that she just recently has taken a shower.
The redhead walks over to the mirror, combing through her hair while she hums a tune.
ZOOMING IN on the mirror as it reflects the witch and the room as the door slowly opens
and SPIKE/ILLYRIA enters.
PANNING OUT into a WIDE SHOT again as Willow jerks around to the intruder with a
shocked gasp.

WILLOW
(breathlessly)
“By the Goddess…”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(imperiously)
“Your Goddess is weak.”
(sneer)
“Her powers diminished alongside the rest of the old ones.”

WILLOW
(fingering her towel)
“Is there something I can do for you?”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(circling her)
“You are strong in your magic.”
(scrutinizing her)
“They are expecting you to pull it all off.”
(beat)
“To save the world.”

WILLOW
(gulping)
“I guess.”

FOCUS on SPIKE/ILLYRIA as it steps closer to the slightly uncomfortable witch. Slowly a

hand rises to trace a pattern along her exposed collarbone.
 SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(narrowing eyes)
“Your temperature is rising.”
(tilting its head)
“You lust after this shell?”

WILLOW
(perplexed)
“What?! No!!”
(blushing)
“’s just all that leather and the ‘I’m-mightier-than-thou-attitude’.”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(stepping away)
“I’m not interested in the mating habits of vermin.”

WILLOW
(insulted)
“Hey!!”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(heading towards the door)
“You better be advised not to disturb the natural order of things, Willow Rosenberg.”

WILLOW
“What does that mean?”

SPIKE/ILLYRIA
(before disappearing)
“All will come to an end.”
(o.c)
“Sooner or later.”

FADE OUT-
 ACT I V

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

A CIRCULAR SHOT of the crowd that has gathered around a headstone in black marble. The
inscription read:

WI LLIA M ‘SPIKE’ PRATT

? – 2007
HE SAVED T HE WORLD.
A LOT.

There’s GILES, XANDER, WILLOW, DAWN, FAITH, DANA, JOHN, CANDY, FIONA and
the other SLAYERS. BUFFY is standing on the side, with tears running down her cheeks as
she gazes upon the headstone that has been raised in memory of Spike.

ANGEL
(reminiscently)
”Spike was a hero. A champion. He never followed the rules and refused to be a stereotype.
He loved the world and saved it countless of times.”
(beat)
”He once said that he was love’s bitch…”
(looking over at Buffy)
”And he was proud over it.”
(smiling)
”He used to…”

As the CAMERA PANS FORWARD to FOCUS solemnly on Buffy, Angel’s voice starts to fade
away…

MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND: WIND BENEATH MY WINGS

FLASHES:

ZOOMING IN on SPIKE as he emerges from the shadows, all feline grace and muscle with
bleached hair, clapping.
 SPIKE
(snickering)
“Nice work, luv.”

BUFFY
(unsettled)
“Who are you?”

SPIKE
“You’ll find out on Saturday.”

BUFFY
“What happens on Saturday?”

SPIKE
“I kill you.”

FLASH.

ROOM POV as the door opens and BUFFY comes in, dragging SPIKE with her.

SPIKE
"Hey! Watch it!"

BUFFY
"One more word out of you, and I swear.."

SPIKE
"Swear, what? You're not gonna do anything to me. You don't got the stones."

BUFFY
"Oh, I got the stones. I got a whole bunch of .. stones."

SPIKE
"Yeah? You're all talk."

BUFFY
"GILES! I accidentally killed Spike. That's okay, right?"

FLASH.
A TIGHT SHOT of SPIKE and BUFFY standing opposite each other.

SPIKE
“Death is on your heels, baby, and sooner or later it’s gonna catch you..”
(smirk)
“And a part of you wants it… not only to stop the fear and uncertainty, but because you’re
just a little bit in love with it.”

FOCUS on Buffy as she quickly swabs him in the face.

SPIKE
(laughing)
“Death is your art. You make it with your hands, day after day. That final gasp. That look of
peace. Part of you is desperate to know: What’s it like? Where does it lead you? And now you
see, that’s the secret. Not the punch you didn’t throw or the kicks you didn’t land. Every
Slayer… has a death wish.”

ANGLE on Spike as he gazes at her intensely.

SPIKE
“Even you. The only reason you lasted this long as you have is you’ve got tied to this world…
your mum, your brat sister, the Scoobies. They all tie you here but you’re just putting off the
inevitable. Sooner or later, you’re gonna want it. And the second, the second, that
happens…”
(clapping his hands inches from Buffy’s face.
“You know I’ll be there. I’ll slip in… have myself a real good day.”

FLASH.

ZOOMING IN on BUFFY sitting on the stairs as SPIKE approaches.

BUFFY
"What do you want now?"

SPIKE
(concerned)
"What's wrong?"

BUFFY
"I don't want to talk about it."
 SPIKE
"Is there something I can do?"

FLASH.

A WIDE SHOT of the room as SPIKE stares incredulously at BUFFY.

BUFFY
”Is this a date?”

SPIKE
” A… Please! A date? You are completely off your bird! I mean - Do you want it to be?"

BUFFY
"Are you out of your mind?"

SPIKE
"It's not so unusual. Two people ... in the workplace ... feelings develop."

BUFFY
"No! No, no, feelings do not develop. No feelings."

SPIKE
"You can't deny it. There's something between us."

BUFFY
"Loathing. Disgust."

SPIKE
"Heat. Desire."

FLASH.

A TIGHT SHOT of SPIKE’S face as he stares down at BUFFY.

SPIKE
“I’ll do it. For the right person? Yeah, I’d do it.”

FLASH.

A SHOT of BUFFY chained as SPIKE stands in front of her with a pleading expression.
 SPIKE
“I’m drowning in you, Summers. I’m drowning in you.”

FLASH.

A WIDE SHOT as BUFFY turns to face SPIKE.

BUFFY
“We’re not all gonna make it. You know that? “

SPIKE
“I always knew I would go down fighting.”

BUFFY
“I’m counting on you. To protect her.”

SPIKE
“ ‘til the end of the world. Even if it happens to be tonight.”

FLASH.

FOCUS on BUFFY as she walks up the stairs.

SPIKE
(calling after her)
“I know you’ll never love me.”

ZOOMING OUT AS Buffy turns slowly to look at him.

SPIKE
“I know that I’m a monster,” he continued, his amazing eyes steadily on her, a tiny smile in
his face. “But you treat me as a man. And that’s…”
(hesitation)
“Get your stuff. I’ll be here.”

FLASH.

A CLOSE UP on SPIKE and BUFFY sitting opposite each other, holding hands.

BUFFY
"How long was I gone?"
 SPIKE
"Hundred forty-seven days yesterday. Uh ... hundred forty-eight today. 'Cept today doesn't
count, does it?"

FLASH.

A TIGHT SHOT of SPIKE in the darkness of his crypt.

SPIKE
"But I want you to know I did save you. Not when it counted, of course, but ... after that.
Every night after that. I'd see it all again ... do something different. Faster or more clever, you
know? Dozens of times, lots of different ways ... Every night I save you."

FLASH.

A SHOT of SPIKE and BUFFY in the abandoned house.

SPIKE
"I wasn't planning on hurting you. Much."

BUFFY
"You haven't even come close to hurting me."

SPIKE
"Afraid to give me the chance? You afraid I'm gonna…"

FOCUS on Buffy as she attacks him with her mouth – silencing him.

FLASH.

A CLOSE UP on SPIKE and BUFFY at the vampire’s crypt.

BUFFY
"Tell me you love me."

SPIKE
"I love you. You know I do."

BUFFY
"Tell me you want me."
 SPIKE
"I always want you. In point of fact…"

BUFFY
"Shut up."

ZOOMING IN as she walks into his arms and effectively silences him with a kiss.

FLASH.

A TIGHT SHOT of SPIKE lying bleeding and bruised on the ground.

SPIKE
“You always hurt the ones you love.”

FLASH.

A WIDE SHOT with FOCUS on BUFFY’S stunned face as she studies SPIKE.

BUFFY
"Your soul . . ."

SPIKE
(laughs)
"A bit worse for lack of use."

BUFFY
"You got your soul back. How?"

SPIKE
"It’s what you wanted, right? It’s what you wanted, right? And now everybody’s in here,
talking. Everything I did, everyone I . . . and him . . . and it . . . the other. The thing beneath
– beneath you. It’s here, too. Everybody. They all just tell me go. Go — to hell . . ."

BUFFY
(horrified)
"Why? Why would you do that?"

SPIKE
"Buffy, shame on you. Why does a man do what he mustn’t? For her. To be hers. To be the
kind of man who would nev… To be a kind of man."
FLASH.

A SHOT of BUFFY sitting on the bed and SPIKE kneeling in front of her.

SPIKE
“You listen to me. I’ve been alive a bit longer than you, and dead a lot longer than that. I’ve
seen things you couldn’t imagine, and done things I prefer you didn’t. I don’t exactly have a
reputation of being a thinker. I follow my blood, which doesn’t exactly rush in the direction
of my brain. So I make a lot of mistakes, a lot of wrong bloody calls. A hundred plus years,
and there’s only one thing I’ve been sure of: you. Hey, look at me. I’m not asking you for
anything. When I say, “I love you,” it’s not because I want you or because I can’t have you. It
has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I’ve seen your
kindness and your strength. I’ve seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with
perfect clarity exactly what you are. You’re a hell of a woman. You’re the one, Buffy.”

FLASH.

A CLOSE UP on SPIKE and BUFFY standing in the kitchen.

SPIKE
“Where you there with me?”

BUFFY
“I was.”

SPIKE
(tilting his head)
“What does that mean?”

FLASH.

A TIGHT SHOT of the honest expression in SPIKE’S face.

SPIKE
“I don’t know what I would have done if you went up those stairs.”

FLASH.

A SHOT of BUFFY and SPIKE at the cave as it crumples around them.

 BUFFY
(gasping)
“Spike!”

SPIKE
(holding his hand out to stop her)
“I mean it! I gotta do this.”

ANGLE on Buffy as she stares up at him, her eyes filling with tears and then FOCUS on their
hands as she slowly laces her fingers through his.
Buffy holds on to his hand while it caught on fire.

BUFFY
(breathlessly)
“I love you.”

FOCUS on Spike as he turns his head towards her, giving her a gently smile.

SPIKE
(softly)
“No, you don’t, but thanks for saying it.”

FLASH.

A SHOT of SPIKE and BUFFY standing far from each other in the HYPERION LOBBY.

SPIKE
“We’ll always be friends.”

FLASH.

A CLOSE UP on SPIKE as he smiles sadly.

SPIKE
“You need to let me go.”

FLASH.

ZOOMING OUT as SPIKE opens his eyes.

 BUFFY
(grimly)
“Listen got damn it! You. Will. Not. Die.”

LONG SILENCE.

SPIKE
(coughing)
“Gotcha, pet.”

FLASH.

DOOR POV at SPIKE facing the window (there’s a lot of gazing out of windows).

SPIKE
(hushed tone)
“’lo, pet.”

A WIDE SHOT of the bedroom as BUFFY slowly enters.

BUFFY
"So what gave me away?"
(curious tone)
”Heart beat? Vampire sense of smell? What?”

We FOCUS on Spike as he walks over to the petite slayer with a slight smile on his lips.

SPIKE
(kissing her softly)
"I'll always find you, luv, always."

FLASH.

ANGLE on the anguished expression in Spike’s beautiful face. Then a tiny hint of a smile
appears as he gazes down at the slayer.

SPIKE
(whispering)
“I don’t wanna be the one.”
FLASH.

ZOOMING OUT as their gazes meets. Spike reaches out a trembling hand and places it over
her chest.

SPIKE
“Listen to that. It beats so steady…”
(smiling in awe)
“It’s so beautiful…”

Then he takes her hand and places it on his chest.

A TIGHT SHOT of Buffy’s shocked expression.

BUFFY
(breathlessly)
“Spike…your heart…it’s beating…”

THUMP. THUMP…THUMP…THUMP…

FLASH.

SPOTLIGHT on BUFFY and SPIKE standing face to face.

SPIKE
(whispering)
“Buffy I need you to do something.”

BUFFY
(shaking her head)
“I'm not gonna like this am I?”

ZOOMING IN as Spike lifts his hand and places it on her cheek. His thumb slowly caresses
her skin and she leans into his touch.

SPIKE
(smiling)
“Kiss me.”

FLASH.
ZOOMING IN on BUFFY’S tearstained face as she gazes at the monument. Then a WIDE
SHOT as she turns her back against it and leaves the CEMETERY, the skirt of her black dress
flapping around her legs in the brisk breeze.
SUPER LEGEND:

A TIGHT SHOT of SPIKE embracing the CRUCIFIX, resting one arm over each side of the
cross bar, and resting his head against the corner of the vertex. Smoke started to rise from his
limp body as BUFFY looks on, tears starting to fall down her cheeks.

SPIKE
“Can… Can we rest now?
(drifting into unconsciousness)
“Buffy… Can we rest?”

BLACK OUT-

END OF EPISODE