The Choice

   Fanfiction
      -My Fics
      -Collaborations
      -Other Buffy/Spike Fics
      -Series
      -Challenges
      -Non Buffy/Spike Fics
   History
   Links
   Link to Me
   Updates
   Awards Won


   Back to Main

   E-mail Hilary

TITLE: The Choice

AUTOR: BTVS fanaddict

DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and there fore rightfully his to rule. He is the King. I’m just pretending to be Queen for a day.

Rating: G ( Come on we are talking about TV here!)

Summary: Takes place after The Body. Just can’t wait for the next new Buffy ep, so I wrote a script myself. Hope you enjoy. This is they way it would go if I could have it my way ! :)) First fan fic so feed back welcome but r/r please.

The Choice

Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer:

SCENE:

GILES: Why? What does it say?
BUFFY: Same as all the others. Slayer called... blah, blah... great protector... blah, blah... scary battles... blah, blah... oops! She's dead. Where are the details?

NEXT SCENE:

BUFFY: Slayers. You killed two of them.

SPIKE: (wary) I did.

BUFFY: You're gonna show me how.

NEXT SCENE:

BEN: Go! Before she finds you. Don't ask me how she knows, 'cause she always knows. Just go.
DAWN: Wait! Calm down, just tell me-

BEN: (agitated) You don't understand, you're a kid. (Dawn gets up) You stay, she'll find you. She finds you, she'll hurt you.
DAWN: What's wrong with you?
BEN: You're what she's been searching for. I am telling you, run. You don't know, you - (looks around nervously) Oh god. Oh god no, she's coming. (Dawn looks frightened) I can feel it, you've gotta get out. No ... oh no, she's here!

NEXT SCENE:

DAWN:

Wait. Ben. He was here, he was trying to help me. He... (stops, looks confused) I ... I think he might have left before Glory came ... (frowns) I can't, I can't remember.

NEXT SCENE:

SPIKE: Something's happening to me. I can't stop thinking about you.
BUFFY: Uhh. (turns away)
SPIKE: And if that means turning my back on the whole evil thing-

NEXT SCENE

SPIKE: No, look at me! (grabs her chin and forces her to look at him)

I ... love you. (Buffy jerks her chin out of his hand) You're all I bloody think about. Dream about. You're in my gut ... my throat ... I'm drowning in you, Summers, I'm drowning in you.

BUFFY:…..whatever you think you're feeling, it's not love. You can't love without a soul.
DRUSILLA: Oh, we can, you know. We can love quite well. If not wisely

NEXT SCENE
BUFFY: Spike.... The only chance you had with me was when I was unconscious.

NEXT SCENE:

Giles shoves Spike backward. He stumbles into a bookshelf. Giles walks slowly up to him, glaring angrily. He takes off his glasses.

GILES: (softly) We are not your friends. We are not your way to Buffy. (Giles leans in closer to Spike and glares at him) There is no way to Buffy.

NEXT SCENE:

Shot of Joyce lying on the sofa. Her eyes are open, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. One arm hangs loosely over the edge of the sofa. She does not move or blink.

BUFFY: (quieter) Mom? (even quieter) Mom? (very quietly) Mommy?

NEXT SCENE:

WARREN: Trina, no, wait, listen, listen, I'm so sorry. I guess I asked- No, no, just give me a chance to explain, I ... Yes! No, but she - no, no, listen, listen, I'll do anything, just, no, no, don't hang up!

He sighs, goes to hang up the phone. Turns around and gasps in shock as he sees Spike standing behind him, holding the box full of Buffy Shrine stuff.

WARREN:How, how'd you get in here?
SPIKE: Your mum let me in. (walks closer) I'm placing an order.
WARREN: Oh, no, no, I'm not making any more girls.
SPIKE: Sure you are. (shoves the box into Warren's hands) Here's your specs.

Shot of the box full of Buffy photos and the Buffy wig.

Warren stares at Spike.

SPIKE: You're gonna make her real good for me. (smiles)

(Yeah, yeah…Sorry, I know longest lead in ever but..it had to be done. On with my stuff now!)

Mine picks up where this scene left off.

ACT I

WARREN: Look I don’t know who The HELL you think you are or why you think I’d do this again cause… been there done that, don’t have the T-shirt but Ive got more hand knit sweaters then I could wear in a lifetime. …

SPIKE: (vamps out and interrupts) Oh, you’ll do it alright, that is (gives him an evil grin) if you want to live.

WARREN:(perturbed) Okay, know what, (looks irritated) seen vamps before maybe not up this close and personal but close enough. I grew up in Sunnydale, and Im really not that intimidated by your kind anymore.

Spike still in his vamp guise gives him a dismayed look.

WARREN: (Takes the box and shoves it back in Spikes hands) and the one thing that matters most to me in this whole wide world is about to take off in thirty minutes on a bus to God only knows where, she wont tell me ( with panic he grabs his car keys and his coat and puts it on ) and come hell or high water I will be there before she gets a chance to do that, * even * if I die trying. (He squares off with Spike)

Spike goes back to his human guise and he gives Warren a reluctant look of understanding mixed with a tiny hint of..compassion. This is followed by a slow look of realization.

SPIKE: Yeah.. right…I get that. (he says slowly and turns with the box in his arms and heads for the door) Nevermind about the robot, Im leaving. (He opens the door walks out and says over his shoulder) You’d best hurry. ( He leaves Warren’s house)

Cut to Buffy’s kitchen. They all have just gotten back from the hospital. Buffy, Giles and the Scoobies are standing around the small island. Dawn is sitting on the floor against a cupboard away from the crowd. Buffy is looking at her with a mixed look of worry and sadness. Giles breaks the silence and to Buffy says,

GILES: I’d best go fill out this paper work now. I’ll be in the living room. (He grabs some papers on the counter behind him and leaves)

Buffy nods not taking her eyes off of Dawn. Everyone else just looks on, not saying anything.

Scene cuts to outside of Buffy’s kitchen window. Spike stands taking in the scene, smoking a cigarette. There is a look on his face that conveys that he is sensing that something is not quite right. He watches the window intently. From his position he can see Buffy the best, he hears the doorbell ring and watches her leave momentarily and come back with Ben in tow. A look of jealously comes over his face. He throws down his cigarette and quickly leaves his current position for another as he sees her taking Ben out the back door.

Ben and Buffy sit down on the top of the stairs where she and Spike had sat the night he had come with intentions to kill her.

BEN: Being a doctor.. you’d think it be easier for me to know what to say… but it’s not.

BUFFY: It’s OK, no one knows what to say right now. ( She looks at him and gives him a small smile then looks down again.)

BEN: Well, I went in tonight for my shift and that’s how I found out.

Buffy gives a weak nod again. This time she doesn’t look up. She is obviously still in shock.

From his new position behind a tree close by Spike takes this in listening to every word.

BUFFY: (Looks up at the night sky) It’s so strange, so unreal, I keep waiting for the part where I wake up. (Her eyes fill with tears) But I’m not waking up.

Ben puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.

BUFFY: (She looks at Ben) I just can’t believe she’s….d.d.dead. (she says it hesitantly as if it’s everything for her to say it)

The scene has cut to Spike listening as she says this and the expression on his face changes from confused discernment to first realization, then pain and sorrow and his eyes begin to water.

BEN: As sorry as I am Buffy it is not the reason why I’m here tonight. And as bad a time as it is to come and tell you this I hope you will please forgive me and believe me when I tell you I had no other choice.

BUFFY: Tell me what?

BEN: Buffy, what I am about to do and what I am about to tell you, you are going to find very strange, but all I ask is that you trust me and do as I ask and listen to what I am about to say.

Buffy nods as Ben takes out a folded piece of paper from his coat pocket and hands it to her.

BEN: I need you to read this, but only to yourself, you *can not * read it out loud.

Buffy nods again and opens the note. The camera pans to the note, it’s written in Ben’s handwriting and it says:

Glory is my sister. We are both hellgods and cursed to share one body. She is stronger then me and evil.

I know that Dawn is the key and because of that I am leaving town tonight but I am afraid it is temporary and will only be a matter of time before Glory returns to Sunnydale.

Buffy reads the note and looks at Ben in disbelief and fear, Ben further explains:

BEN: I had to give you a note because the curse comes with it’s own safety net that erases the memory of any human that might happen to see us change or somehow discover our secret. I also have to tell you this quickly because I dont want Glory to sense what I’m doing,… what I’m telling you right now. She could break through like she did with Dawn. And I am urging you, as much as this news might alarm you, it is best that you just say nothing at all and leave this porch… now. Go back inside and tell your friends what I told you about the note. Before you forget. (He stands up) I have to leave now.

Buffy hesistantly stands up and turns to go back in. Ben reaches out and briefly touches Buffy’s arm.

BEN: I am sorry.

Buffy nods reluctantly and goes back inside. Ben steps off the porch to leave and staggers. He mutters no, not now and closes his eyes tightly as if he is pushing Glory back down inside. It works momentarily. He opens his eyes and leaves the porch.

Meanwhile Spike who was being incovert behind the tree stops being incovert when he sinks against it in sorrow dealing with the pain he is feeling over the news he’s just heard.

Ben hears the noise and walks toward it. Spike is so distraut he does not hear Ben come around the tree. Ben discovers Spike and grabs his throat and pushes him back up against the tree.

BEN: What are * you * doing here?

SPIKE: Bloody HELL ! Bugger off, mate, it’s’not your business. ( tears are rolling down his face)

Ben doesn’t even take notice to this he just shoves Spike up harder against the tree.

BEN: Well I’m making it….(he stops in mid sentence and lets out a moan The hand on Spike’s throat morphs into Glory’s hand. She finishes Ben’s sentence.)

GLORY: ….my business.

Without moving it she looks at her hand then looks at the person on the end of it see’s it’s Spike and shoves him even harder against the tree.

GLORY: Well who do we have here, Fluffy’ the Vampire Slayer’s boyfriend. (She says this with glee as she looks around the tree ) and right next to her house too. (She looks back at Spike) HOW conVENient. If I can’t send her little brat sister as a message, well (she grins at Spike evilly) you’ll do. And you’re a hottie too. (She strokes Spike’s cheek with her other hand.) First, Im gonna have to let you go, but I am warning you once I do, I wouldn’t move if I were you. ( Spike just glares at her. She taunts) I’m letting go now.

She lets off her grip on his throat, Spike lunges forward vamped out and she lands a powerhouse punch to his face which sends him falling back against the tree hard, he slides to the ground.

GLORY: Cant say I didn’t warn you. (she says this pointedly)

Vampire hmm, never had one of those before.

Looks around the tree at the scene in the kitchen and sees that no one has notice what’s going on outside yet.

GLORY: Oh yeah, this should be interesting. (she smiles widely)

She reaches up to Spikes temples, her fingers prone, they slide inside and the usual white light appears but with it comes a violent streak of blue electricity which shocks Glory and sends her flying through the air, she lands on her back ten feet away, passed out.

Back inside the house Buffy is alone in the living room with Giles, he is reading the note.

GILES: Did he explain in any more detail then this?

BUFFY: Something about a safety net that makes people forget once they’ve found out he and Glory are one person. I think…. (she shakes her head ) I’m already starting to forget our whole conversation.

GILES: I see, this is very interesting and disturbing. I think it would be best if I take you and Dawn to my house tonight.

Cut to scene out side. Spike comes to shakes his head and his face goes back into his human guise. He puts his hands to his head rocks in pain for a moment and slowly gets up. He begins to walk and sees a body on the ground. First the foot then the pant leg then the torso, he sees the face and it’s Ben, passed out, his arms are outstreached and something small and square is resting in his hand. Spike bends down and picks this up and looks at it in the moonlight. A close up reveals that it is a small green computer chip. While he is looking at this Ben comes to. Sees Spike and stands up. Spike is so busy looking at the chip that he doesn’t notice Ben who begins to grab Spike from behind. Spike senses this and immediately whirls around vamped out and seems to fly in midair with Ben in tow to the nearest tree. He shoves Ben hard against the tree and dives into his neck for a bite, then stops looks at Ben and morphs into his human guise again.

SPIKE: Sorry mate.

His face is still streaked with tears. He looks back at Buffy’s house, sniffles and wipes one eye with his free hand, the other hand remaining on Ben’s throat.

SPIKE: Just checking something.

He lets go of Ben and walks off. Ben grabs his throat, and rubs it He watches Spike walking off and steps away from the tree. He walks away in the opposite direction, gets in his car and leaves.

Cut to the Sunnydale Cemetary Spike is seen walking into his crypt not far from the crypt a bright light shoots from the sky to the ground and brings with it a beautiful tall light skinned woman with black hair and blue eyes. She is wearing black leather pants with a black halter top. She looks intently at the door where Spike has just entered.

Cut to Buffy who is standing at her front door talking to Giles. Everyone else has already left. He is about to leave with Dawn.

GILES: Are you sure this is what you want to do.

BUFFY: I’m sure. I know patrolling is probably the last thing that I should want to do tonight but actually, it’s the only thing I want to do right now…. even under these circumstances. And… it’s not just that I want to do it..I need to do it.

GILES: I understand. But I will….

BUFFY: See me later, (she finishes his sentence) I promise, one pass through the cemetery then I’m on my way to your place. I’ll try not to be too late. (She tries to give him a reassuring smile but it doesn’t come off well)

Giles reluctantly agrees and leaves. Buffy closes the door and leans against it. She looks up at the stairs in front of her and ascends. She goes up to her bedroom, takes out a change of clothes from her closet and walks to the bathroom but stops by her mother’s bedroom. She turns on the light and goes in. On the bed is the blue fuzzy robe. Buffy slowly walks into the room and falls on her knees by the bed. She picks up the robe and holds it to her face and begins to cry uncontrollably.

Cut to Ben. He is at an airport. He is talking to a pilot who is standing next to a small cargo plane.

PILOT: You woke me up to do what now?

BEN: (insistant) I don’t have time to explain here and now. (He hands him a stack of cash) Is this enough to get you in that plane and off the ground? I can explain better then.

The pilot takes the cash from Ben and fans it viewing the bills. His eyes get wide.

PILOT: With this kind of cash, you don’t even need to explain. Get in.

ACT II

Cut to Buffy in the cemetary she has changed and is now wearing sweats, a t shirt and a sweat jacket. She holds a stake loosely in her hand at her side and walks steadily and determidly through the grave yard.

A group of three vamps come out of nowhere. She is in front of Spikes crypt. They attack. The tall woman from the light is standing at a distance watching. Spike is inside sitting in his chair smoking, eyes still red and wet from tears, he hears the noise and gets up. Outside, Buffy roundhouse kicks the first vamp which reels him away and gives her the opportunity to pounce and stake him he explodes to dust, the second vamp attacks from behind, she reaches back and throws him over her back onto the ground in front of her with the heel of her shoe she holds him down at his throat and turns her torso and with a cross cut stakes the vamp that is coming at her from behind. The vamp on the ground sees his opportunity and pulls the foot that is not jammed into his throat from the ground which sends Buffy reeling backward. She turns to catch her fall and her head collides with the sharp corner of a marble tombstone as she falls to the ground. She passes out. The vamp hurriedly jumps up and makes a quick move to attack and bite when suddenly his form disappears and turns to dust revealing Spike yielding a stake from behind.

The unseen figure in the shadows takes all this in then stops and looks up as if she is listening to something coming from the night sky, she nods her head in response and leaves.

Spike looks down at the Slayer, reaches down and picks her up in his arms and carries her to his crypt. He awkwardly manages to open the door carries her in and closes it.

He takes her over to his chair and sits down with her still holding her in his arms. He looks down at her with a look of love and sadness on his face and says out loud to her unconscious form.

SPIKE: Buffy, I’m so sorry. If there was anything I could do to take away the pain you must be feeling right now,… the pain that’s yet to come… I would ….and add it to my own mind numbing pain.

He gently brushes the hair back from her forehead looks lovingly at her face. Pain and heartache are in his eyes and come through in his voice as he speaks.

SPIKE: Yes, that’s what Im saying, me William the Bloody, * ME * who walked and roamed the entire world for over a century wrecking havoc and killing whatever was unfortunate enough to fall or land in my path, including two of your kind suddenly, for first time in my evil, wretched exsistance as a vampire * feels * pain… not my own mind you, but… for you, for your loss, and something else something more powerful and painful then even that,… I’m not sure but I think it’s…. guilt and remorse… for my own.

He gently strokes her face with his hand.

SPIKE: And it’s foreign to me, Luv. Something has happened to me. Something has been happening to me ever since I fell in love with you. I’m not the same creature living with an insatiable force inside me driving me to do evil. Instead, suddenly all that’s gone now and all that s left in it’s place is a desperate desire to do good. To do what’s right. And I’m glad you’re not awake to hear this because I know you wouldn’t believe me. But I do love you, Buffy, and I am going to do right by you no matter what it takes…. no matter the sacrifice. Now I just have to figure out what to do with you.

Tears are in his eyes again, he looks down at her face there is a bruise and a gash on her forehead. Spike lovingly brushes a small kiss on it.

He cradles her and holds her closer and continues.

SPIKE: I can’t very bloody well let you wake up here. (His look turns from love to concern) I don’t want to add anger to your pain. And I can’t very well call the Scoobies. They’ll just think * I * did this and bloody stake me!

He takes his hand and pulls her right arm that is loosely hanging at her side in and rests it on her stomach.

SPIKE: I could take you to your house and leave you on the doorstep til you come to but the idea of leaving you out in the open as helpless "slayerbait" for all the big nasties to find isn’t the brightest option.

Looks away, rolls his eyes, looks back down at Buffy again. He lightly brushes the gash on her forehead with his finger.

SPIKE: I’m a vampire not a doctor how do I know you don’t need one. To the hospital then? ( He is asking himself really more then her.) No not there, I’ve got a better idea. They will get you a doctor if you need one and no one will need to know I was involved.

Cut to Ben. He is in the back of the cargo plan now. He’s wearing a parachute and a backpack the door is open he is about to drop out. Over the loud engine the pilot is questioning:

PILOT: You’re sure about this? You didn’t tell me I was flying you on a suicide mission!

BEN: Yeah, I’m sure.

Ben jumps out.

Cut to the Convent. Spike walks up to the door with Buffy in his arms. He rings the bell. A small elderly nun answers.

SPIKE: (Looks off to the side and not at the Nun as if he is embarrassed or ashamed) I need your help. (Looks at the Nun)

NUN: Yes, I know. I invite you in. (she stands back)

SPIKE: (frowns and says with alarm) Do you know who I am woman?

NUN: (with calmness) Yes, I do. And I know who she is as well. Follow me.

Spike follows the nun. The nun leads them to a room with a single bed. She motions Spike to lie the slayer on it. A doctor is already in the room waiting. He bends down and looks at Buffy’s head wound.

SPIKE: (looks at the Nun in confusion) But how did you?….

NUN: (Waves him back out of the door) It’s not important, we’ll take it from here.

Spike looks disconcerted and hesitantly turns and walks out and back to front door .

SPIKE: Very well then, there’s only one thing I ask of you.

NUN: Yes?

SPIKE: Don’t tell her it was me who brought her here.

He leaves.

Cut to Ben. He lands on the ground. The parachute lands behind him. It’s dark, he discards the parachute. He is wearing fatigues and combat boots. He settles his back pack on his shoulders and walks away.

ACT III

Spike opens the door of his crypt and walks in.

VICTORIA: Bout time you got here (her accent is British).

She is sitting in Spike’s chair her back to him. She keeps her back to him as she says this.

SPIKE: Victoria? . But where and …bloody how….did you come from,

YOUR DEAD!

VICTORIA: (teasingly) So are you William but it hasn’t seemed to stop you from moving and being on this plane. (her back is still to him, she is remaining seated)

SPIKE: Are you saying your one of us now?

VICTORIA: (She stands up and walks to the side of the chair to face him) No quite the contrary . (she points up) I’m one of them.

Spike looks at her in confusion.

SPIKE: An alien?

Cut to the convent. The nun is dipping a white cloth into a bowl of water and gently patting Buffy’s head wound. Buffy winces and slowly comes to.

BUFFY: Where am I?

NUN: St. Francis’ Convent dear.

BUFFY: (still woozy ) How’d I get here?

NUN: A friend brought you.

BUFFY: Who?

NUN: I made a promise not to tell.

BUFFY: (gives the Nun a strange look) Whatever.

The nun continues to attend to Buffy’s wound and Buffy winces in pain and takes the cloth from her.

BUFFY: Thanks but… I can do this myself.

She takes the cloth from the Nun and holds it on her wound.

NUN: (with amusement) You’re an independent one! Don’t like to ask for help much do you?

BUFFY: Well…no. Specially when the helpees are mostly always thrown into some kind of mortal danger or another.

NUN: And so you think because you are the one with the supernatural powers you should do it alone….Slayer?

BUFFY: (startled) How do you know…. who I am?

NUN: It’s not important really, shouldn’t concern you. The question that should concern is…..do * you * know who you are?

Cut to Spike’s crypt.

Victoria is now sitting on top of the tomb Indian style facing Spike who is seated in his chair looking up at her in amazement.

SPIKE: So Victoria, the Vicious, has gone all angel-ley and grown herself a pair of wings now eh? First a Slayer, then an Angel, quite a resume you got their Vic. Why’d they send you down here after me? Figure you had a little unfinished business left to clean up from your previous employment (he says this sarcastically takes a drag from his cigarette and gives her a little grin)

Victoria unfolds her long legs, stretches them out and dangles them on the edge of the tomb.

VICTORIA (smiles) Yeah…something like that.

SPIKE: So what happened to ya? How’d you bite the dust, pardon the * non-pun *. Dru and I searched for you from ’92 til '95 that’s when we got the news the new slayer’d been called. Could never keep up with the likes of you.

VICTORIA:(coolly) I know. Moved ‘round a lot. Had places to be, (raises her eyebrows at him)… demons to kill.

SPIKE: Well obviously one took a bite out of you.

VICTORIA: (looks off to the side) You could say that, I guess. (Looks back at Spike) Still the longest living Vampire Slayer to this date. Gotta give me credit for that one… Spike.

SPIKE: Too-shay. How old were ya…40? (he says teasingly)

VICTORIA: (perturbed) Thirty-five!

SPIKE: Oh right sorry. Got called right after I killed that one in New York.

Don’t mind me after ya lived as many years as I have you sorta loose track of time.

VICTORIA: (Gives him a small smile) Forgiven.

SPIKE: You were always one * for* the small talk VIC. Trap your prey paint them into a bloody corner and then have a little heart to heart before you ram the stake through it. Guess * some* things don’t change.

VICTORIA: Oh but William, you weren’t just my prey, you were my friends, my child hood playmates. That’s what happens when you’re raised the Head Watcher Councilman’s daughter. No school, no friends, no dates, just me and my demons and my lovely, lovely vampires.

SPIKE: Miss us, aye?

VICTORIA: (smiles again) Maybe..Knew most of you better then you knew yourselves.

SPIKE: Ah yes, quite the little book worm too. Giles would of * loved * you.

VICTORIA: Had to be.

SPIKE: Alright then. Nuf with the chit-chat,(puts his cigarette out) all caught up now, are you going to tell me the real reason you’re here, or did you just come down to gloat now that I actually feel something other then bloodlust, greed and hate?

VICTORIA: Not gloating Spike, only here to help.

SPIKE: Help me!? (gasps in disbelief) Yeah RIGHT.., the powers that be send me an angel to help * me *. Going to be my guardian angel now? Well if there was ever a time I needed one….

He trails off and shuts up.

VICTORIA: No,… not here to be your guardian but I am here to be your guide.

SPIKE: Guide. Yeah right, like that’s going to bloody help. If you’re going to be a guide then guide Buffy. She more then anyone, needs your help, if you are what you say you are you can help her more then you could ever begin to help me. I don’t need your help, don’t need any one’s help I have other things I intend to do. Go * Help* Buffy.

VICTORIA: Don’t worry William, I’ve already taken care of Buffy. I’m here for you now, and I’m not leaving until I’ve had my say.

SPIKE: (mutters quietly) Stubborn bint. ( looks up at her and quietly listens.)

VICTORIA: You see William, you do need my help. Your lost confused, and for the first time in your unlife afraid. Afraid for Buffy, afraid for her friends…. her sister. But beside all of that there is something inside of you changing.

SPIKE: Oh and now I suppose you’re going to tell me that I am somehow miraculously growing a bloody soul?

VICTORIA: No, not a soul, it’s not possible, demons can’t have souls the two can not co-exist but there is something more powerful then a soul growing inside you, something that conquers all obstacles all evil, all wrong.

SPIKE: And that would be?

VICTORIA: Love.

Cut to convent

Buffy sits up on the side of the bed.

BUFFY: Look, appreciate the help and all but I * really * should go. (stands up, wooziness pulls her back down) …in a minute. (Puts cloth back to her wound)

NUN: I know who you are because I knew the other.

BUFFY: Other who?

NUN: The chosen one before you. Her name was Victoria.

BUFFY: You knew the slayer before me?

NUN: I was her guide, her counselor, I helped her find her way to the true source of her power. To the one who made that power and gave it to her.

BUFFY: ( weary, distraught) Look, this is very interesting and all but I really have to go. My friends are probably worried and wondering where I am. (She manages to stand up)

NUN: (remains seated and looks up at Buffy intensely) You think you know who you are…what’s to come…you haven’t even begun.

ACT IV

Cut to crypt:

VICTORIA: You see William. Since the beginning of time there has only been one battle between good and evil and all the other battles have really been just a result there of.

SPIKE: And that battle would be?

VICTORIA: The battle of the choice between self and surrender.

SPIKE: What do you mean?

VICTORIA: I mean William, that every act of evil and hate begins and ends with choosing self and every act of good and love begins and ends with choosing surrender. In this we all have a choice every day to choose which we live by. Humans, demons, angels, all walks of life here and beyond William, ….even you.

Spike looks away. Victoria continues.

VICTORIA: The choice that you make is the Power that you pledge allegiance to. For 121 years, you Spike have chosen and been under the forces and the Power of the first. Then the initiative put that chip in your head and suddenly your allegiance is taken away, gone, you became an outcast synthetically forced to be an allegiance for good but forced, not a choice.. it’s not the same. Now the chip is gone.

Spike starts to speak but Victoria raises her hand to silence him.

VICTORIA: Yes I already knew, it’s why they sent me here.

She jumps down off the tomb and goes to stand in front of him.

SPIKE: And the choice is yours William, I was not sent here to force you to make that choice or even to coerce. My job is to simply make you aware * of * the choice and let you make it on your own.

Spike looks up at her with tears in his eyes, then he looks down and for a minute buries his face in his hands. He takes his hands away and says.

SPIKE: But Vic..you don’t understand…

He looks up but she’s gone.

At the convent Buffy hears what the nun has just said and sits back down suddenly.

BUFFY: What…how did you…what do you mean by that.

NUN: You’ve heard it before, haven’t you? It’s all been leading to this. This moment, this choice.

BUFFY: What choice?!

NUN: The choice of fighting the forces of evil with your own infinite power and facing ultimate defeat or asking to be helped by a power far greater and unimaginably more finite then your own.

BUFFY: Look, I don’t know who brought me here or why, and you refuse to answer those questions, but if this is a “come to Jesus meeting” then really no offense but this is just not the time. And I really appreciate your help and all, she gets up and begins to stand up to leave, but I really have to go.

As she says this you can see she is uncomfortable by what the nun is telling her and also still very distraught.

The nun stands up and gently grabs Buffy’s arm before she can walk away

NUN: I know it seems that way. As if I am trying to inflict beliefs on you that are my own, but you are wrong child, I am not. I have simply been given the duty of being the messenger to tell you about what the choice is. The choice regardless, is still your own.

The desert, the sun is just beginning to rise Ben is holding a note firmly in his hands, straining and sweating profusely, as he morphs into Glory the change completes and she stares down at the note that is now in her hands.

In a voice over Ben reads.

BEN: For eternity we have been brother and sister, for much of that we have been one. I chose the path of good and you my sister chose the path of evil. I can not stop you or choose your actions, where you go what you do, but I can choose mine.

With that she looks up from the note and the new rising sun reveals nothing but desert as far as the eye can see. Glory violently tears up the note throws her head to the sky, opens her mouth and screams.

The End

Read on