Chapter Three
Willow finally stops falling and lands with surprisingly little pain in an empty place. She looks around for a short time until she’s joined by another. He appears just as she’s moving in his direction and she collides with his chest. She looks up in shock.
Willow:
Giles? Where did you come from?
Giles:
(looking around) It would seem I came from Buffy’s living room. And you?
Willow:
Bedroom. Floor to be precise. That was new. Did you get to…
Giles:
I’m afraid not. I was speaking one moment and then…I heard you call and felt a pulling. Next thing was you bumping into me. looking down) Perhaps you could move back now?
Willow:
Oh…of course. I’m sorry. (pauses) Thanks for hearing me Giles. I feel funny here.
Giles:
Funny you say? A bit off perhaps.
Willow:
I think I’ve been off for a while now. So, do you recognize this place? Is this the tribunal?
Giles:
Well, there certainly isn’t a tribunal committee here, but there must be some purpose.
Willow:
I don’t have time for these mind games. And I won’t play them anymore.
Giles:
Willow. That’s not you speaking. You have to recognize the forces within you.
Willow:
That sounds like the job of a watcher to me. But wait, you don’t really have anyone to watch these days. Slayer’s all grown up, doesn’t need Daddy-Giles anymore does she? At least that’s what you told yourself wasn’t it? (steps closer) Is that what you told yourself Giles? When you abandoned her?
Giles:
It won’t work again. Willow, where ever we are is a test. You have to prove yourself worthy of…
Willow:
Punishment? Since when do you have to ask for punishment? What kind of logic is that?
Giles:
It may not be logical, but I’m afraid it’s your only choice. Now Willow, shut up and do what you came for!
Willow grows uncomfortable at his tone as they face off.
Cut to Ocean Lookout
Fred:
He was here Gunn.
Gunn:
We knew that already sweetie. Tire tracks don’t mean a whole lot.
Fred:
(looking over the drop) I don’t like this. Something isn’t right.
Gunn:
Tire tracks don’t signal wrong Fred.
Fred:
They do when there’s only one set.
Gunn:
Come again.
Fred:
Angel was coming here to meet Cordelia Gunn. So why aren’t there two sets of tracks?
Gunn:
(looking down) She never showed.
Fred:
What could have happened to keep Cordelia from something as important as…her meeting with Angel?
Gunn:
Well, if Cordy didn’t make it, then who took her place?
Fred:
(turning around to face Gunn) What?
Gunn:
(pointing) That looks like two sets of footprints to me. And I don’t think that pattern means they were dancing.
Fred:
(with trepidation) Connor.
Cut to Sunnydale
Dawn:
What did you say Buffy?
Buffy:
You heard me. (stands up)
Xander:
You saw Angel? Angel was here?
Buffy:
No. When I fell, I saw him. It was so dark.
Dawn:
Buffy, you’re freaking me out here. You haven’t mentioned Angel in months. What does he have to do with Willow and Giles disappearing?
Xander:
I’ll take this one. Nothing.
Dawn:
But Buffy said…
Buffy:
He’s right Dawn.
Xander:
I am?
Dawn:
He is?
Buffy:
(walking past them to look out the window) The reason I saw Angel has nothing to do with Willow.
Xander:
So it was just a simple relapse. Damn those first loves and their untimely reminders.
Dawn:
And I'm actually supposed to look forward to this? No thank you.
Xander:
So Buff…about Will and Giles? Disappearing act? What’s the plan?
Buffy:
(still looking out the window)
We can’t help them guys. They’re doing what’s needed. Let it go.
Xander:
Just like that.
Buffy:
(turning to face him)
Xander, Giles said we couldn’t help her. What part of that didn’t you understand?
Xander:
I guess the part where we just leave our friend to fend for herself againt the forces of both sides raining down punishment at their every whim.
Dawn:
It’s not gonna be that bad Xander. Giles is with her. It’s not gonna be that bad right?
Buffy:
We can’t second guess what’s out of our hands. We just have to pray for the best. (turns back to the window) I can’t stay here.
Xander:
Hello? Didn’t we just cover that?
Buffy:
(ignoring Xander) Something’s wrong.
Dawn:
Stop saying that.
Buffy:
(still not hearing their words-mumbles to herself) Angel.
Cut to Ocean
Camera pans once again down to box.
Angel (V.O.):
I came to the ocean for Cordelia. I joined with the ocean for Connor. But I couldn’t see the ocean anymore for the sight of Buffy. She was everywhere I looked. With eyes open or closed. She was there. And when I heard her call my name, I didn’t hesitate.
The camera focuses on Angel’s face as he opens his mouth without sound or breath to form the word. His lips are easily readable. He calls back to Buffy.
Cut to LA
Lilah sits in her office working when the door bursts open
Lilah:
I thought I told you not to come crawling back for more.
Wes:
And I thought I told you there was nothing worth coming back for.
Lilah:
So why are you here?
Wes:
I think you know.
Lilah:
I really don’t have time for this Wesley.
Wes:
(swipes the papers off her desk in a rush) You’ll damn well make time you heartless wench! What have you and your mindless cohorts done?
Lilah:
(leans back in chair calmly) I thought you were over the paranoid delusions part of your nervous breakdown.
Wes:
I’m going to give you one more chance Lilah. Tell me what you’ve done and I might not tear you apart limb from limb.
Lilah:
(smiling) My Wesley Wyndham-Price, look at the depths to which you’ve sunk. I don’t know what’s got you so riled, but you’ll never be welcomed back in the fold if Angel Investigations hears such threats against a human.
Wes:
Oh but part-demons and vampires don’t count do they?
Lilah:
What are you babbling about?
Wesley:
(straightens up to stand) You really don’t know do
you?
Lilah:
Last I checked, it wasn’t my job to keep up with your nonsense. Now if you’ll excuse me.
Wes:
(opens his mouth to say something but stops) Right then. I’ll just leave you to…whatever you’re calling it these days.
Lilah watches him leave and then stands suddenly.
Lilah:
Cordelia and Angel! That’s what he meant. He’s looking for Cordelia and Angel.
She picks up the phone to make a call.
Cut to Beach
Fred and Gunn are combing the beach under the cliff trying to find any sign of what happened.
Gunn:
We’ve been going at this for over an hour Fred. There’s nothing here.
Fred:
There has to be. You saw how it looked. The footprints stopped at the edge. Angel was attacked. Maybe by Connor. He must have fallen.
Gunn:
(looks around) Have you noticed what there’s an abundance of on this beach?
Fred:
Huh?
Gunn:
(pointing) Look around you Fred. People have parties here all the time. There’s firewood everwhere.
Fred:
So what?
Gunn:
Well, if Angel fell that distance, he’d hit the ground pretty hard.
Fred:
And? (looks at Gunn when he’s silent) Oh no. You can’t be suggesting…no, Angel’s not…he wouldn’t have…Gunn!
Gunn:
I’m just trying to think of all the possibilities here Fred.
Fred:
Well that’s not a possibility. Angel’s not…he didn’t get dusted Charles Gunn!
Gunn:
Okay, okay! It was just a thought. And we don't know Connor did this. I mean, he was digging the father-son thing remember? Anyway, Angel's too quick to get staked by a measely piece of driftwood. We just have to…
Fred:
(looks past him) Gunn, look!
She runs a few feet and picks up the smashed cell phone.
Fred:
It’s his Gunn. He was down here.
Gunn:
It does look like his. So where is he now?
They begin to look around again and the camera pans over to someone watching form afar.
Connor:
Your loyalty to the beast is undeserved…and useless.
He smiles wickedly before walking away.
Cut to Sunnydale
Xander:
Buffy, this is not the time to go off on some Angel quest.
Dawn:
Xander’s right Buffy. You need to be here for Willow when she gets back.
Buffy:
You two can handle it for a while. I have to do this.
Xander:
And what is it exactly that you’re doing? Don’t you remember what happened last time you showed up unannounced in Angel’s city?
Buffy:
That was different.
Xander:
Yes, then you actually knew for a fact that he was in danger. This time all you have is a flash of Angel-face during a fainting spell. Yes, this is a much more sound decision.
Buffy:
(zips the bag with force) Xander don’t. It’s not like I planned this. But I have to go. I know it. I can…
Dawn:
Feel it.
Xander:
And what are we supposed to do?
Buffy:
Wait for Giles and Willow. I’ll be back…(frowns) or I’ll call.
Dawn:
Wait! What does that mean? Or you’ll call?
Xander:
You might not come back?
Buffy:
Stop second guessing me! Angel is in trouble and I’m going!
She doesn’t wait for an answer before striding past them and out of the house.
Cut to Box
Angel (V.O.):
Something changed in that instant. When I spoke her name and felt my lips move, something changed. It wasn’t what I spoke that brought it on, it was what it meant. I could speak because I wasn’t dead. I had accepted my fate because it was given by the one person that I would accept it from. But my lips could still move and so could my mind. It sped through scenarios of what was happening on the surface. Everyone I loved was at risk. I wasn’t there to protect them and I hadn’t been for some time. I had been wrapped up in my hopelessness. But I wasn’t dead. I wasn’t alive either. I was something in between and that was my gift. It had been so long since I became. I had forgotten what it felt like. What it took out of you. I knew why I saw her then. It all became clear. She could help me. She didn’t have to be here. But she was. I brought her here for a reason. Just as I brought her with me before. It isn’t the battles that we win that make us. It’s the ones we lose. She hadn’t learned that last time I saw her. I didn’t get it because I had forgotten. And now, Connor had unwittingly allowed me to be reminded. And now I wanted to be the one to teach her. I wanted to show Buffy everything I couldn’t for all those years. Only then would I find my friends again. My family. Then I would see Cordelia.
