Joss Whedon and Twentieth Century Fox own the concept and the characters. And I don't own even one single little bit of the music: "The Search is Over" [sung by Survivor]; *The Phantom of the Opera*, "Angel of Music", "All I Ask of You" [ALW]; "Ev'rything I Do" [sung by Bryan Adams]; "My Heart Will Go On" [sung by C*line Dion]; "Mummers' Dance" [Loreena McKennit]; "Angel" [Sarah McLachlan]; "On My Way Home" [Enya].
[BUFFY is hunting in the graveyard. As usual. A little distance away, we can see WILLOW and OZ hiding in a clump of trees, and XANDER and CORDELIA necking in another clump. In the branches of a large oak, we can just barely catch a glimpse of tweed.]
BUFFY: [to herself] I really hope this works]
OZ: Poor Buffy. This has got to be hard on her.
WILLOW: I hope this works. Oh, I hope it does.
OZ: [doubtfully] It seems kind of far-fetched. I mean, I know you guys do this magic stuff all the time, but, still....
WILLOW: [smiles a little] You know, you have to trust us on this stuff.
How can I convince you that this plan cannot fail?
We can't keep on with Angelus, that plot is going stale.
You've got to make a leap, sometimes, of intellect, and trust
That someone else knows what to do, when logic is a bust.
OZ:
So we're waiting in the dark, waiting on a moment,
Hoping for a sign that what we're doing's right.
BOTH:
I look into the night.
It's hard to understand it-- but I will try and trust you--
I'll be right here by your side....
[XANDER and CORDELIA have finished making out. Temporarily.]
XANDER:
Ms Calendar is ready-- I hope she sees this through.
If Angelus takes over, here, there's nothing we can do.
CORDELIA:
You're always telling me these plans are going to work out,
So have a little faith, you dope, get rid of all your doubts....
[In the OAK, GILES and JENNIE CALENDAR are hiding.]
JENNIE: [softly; GILES does not hear her]
And I'm waiting in the dark, hoping for forgiveness,
Waiting for a sign that we're not really through....
GILES: [softly; JENNIE does not hear him]
Times have been so hard,
But maybe there's an answer, maybe we're not over--
I'll be right here by your side....
[BUFFY is waiting. She can almost feel him.]
BUFFY:
Where in the world could you be hiding?
I know you're there, somewhere.
I am the Slayer, can't you hear me?
Thought you were trying to kill me.
[Silence. Nothing.]
BUFFY: [to herself]
Once, I was sure I knew Angel.
That other meant nothing to me.
Now, as I wait here, I'm praying
We can set him free....
[Silence. Then:]
ANGEL:
Say you'll stay by me, through death and darkness,
Save me, free me from my demon, here.
Say you'll share with me your nights-- not mornings--
Promise me you love me, dear--
Love me-- that's what I need--
[crash of electric guitar, and ANGEL shifts into ANGELUS]
ANGELUS:
Every night in nightmares, I know that you feel him,
That is how I know you still care.
I'm the one in charge, now, and glad I'm between you,
I have come to kill both of you.
[BUFFY walks toward him, and ANGELUS backs up.]
You are all going to star
In the torture of Angel tonight.
No hope-- here's the end of the rope,
And I'll finish it now,
And the end is tonight, this night.
[JENNIE is ready to strike; ANGELUS is almost directly beneath the tree.]
BUFFY:
That's not how it works, this time-- you're done with his lifetime,
I'm not ashamed to say I still love.
Strength is what I cling to, one truth I believe in,
And that's how I'll end it tonight.
[They are both under the tree.]
BUFFY & ANGELUS:
This time, it will be the time
That we finish the fight we began.
EVERYONE:
No way to last one more day,
We will finish it now--
And the end is this night, tonight....
ANGELUS: What--??
JENNIE:
When in the graveyard, cold and still,
When the vampires rise to strike,
When Angelus, without Spike and Dru,
Is poised to take a bite.
When Slayer calls the meeting time,
In the coldness of the night,
The time is ready for the end--
The time has come to fight.
I've been working magic'lly
To fin'lly make things right.
And now it's time to finish things--
It's true, the end's tonight.
[Flames shoot from JENNIE's fingertips. ANGELUS snarls and dodges back, but BUFFY grabs him by the hair and forces him to his knees. EVERYONE ELSE rushes forward, armed with crosses, and forms a circle around JENNIE, ANGELUS, and BUFFY.]
GILES: Stay back-- stay back-- give them room!
ANGELUS: [snarling]
Every night in nightmares, I swear, you'll see him dying--
Until I rip your heart out, too--
BUFFY:
I'm the one in charge, now, and I will stand between you,
We've come to get rid of you.
JENNIE:
I've been working magic'lly
To fin'lly make things right.
And now it's time to finish things--
It's true, the end's tonight.
BUFFY:
No way to last one more day,
We will finish it now--
And the end is this night, tonight....
ANGELUS: If you kill me, you'll kill us both--!
[ANGELUS writhes, screaming and fighting. BUFFY holds him, but tears are running down her face.]
BUFFY: At least-- at least he'll be free!
[There is an incredible blaze of light, consuming all three of them. EVERYONE's crosses blaze in sympathy with the magic of the circle.]
OZ: What's happening??
WILLOW: I don't know, I can't see--
[Just like that, it's over. EVERYONE is night-blind for a few moments. When their vision clears, they see:]
[BUFFY sitting, holding ANGEL's body in her arms. She has stopped crying, and looks very calm. JENNIE is kneeling beside them.]
CORDELIA: Oh. Oh, no....
GILES: Buffy-- oh, I'm so sorry--
BUFFY: It's okay. It's over, now. We're all safe. [she smoothes his hair away from his face]
Spent too much time trying to be casual,
Pretending that I didn't care.
And now I'll remember all that I never said,
And I'll wake up, and you won't be there....
In the dark, and the shadows,
I will learn to heal.
I will hope you are watching,
And knowing at last, how I feel.
I will wait, I will follow
My endless destiny.
In the dark, and the shadows,
I will wait, I will-- [her voice cracks]
[GILES helps JENNIE stand. WILLOW leans against OZ; XANDER puts an arm around CORDELIA.]
GILES: [gently] We can't stay here, Buffy. We need to get you home--
BUFFY: I can't leave him. I can't.
[GILES puts his hand on her shoulder-- she shakes him off-- and ANGEL opens his eyes.]
ANGEL: Remind me not to do that again-- [sees the crosses EVERYONE holds and cringes] Uh-- could you guys--? [Stunned, EVERYONE puts their crosses away.]
BUFFY: Angel! you're all right?
ANGEL: [pause] Yeah-- yeah, I'm back to 'normal'.
[Slowly, shakily, he stands up. BUFFY looks at JENNIE, who has stepped away slightly from the group.]
BUFFY: Where do you think you're going?
JENNIE: [looking away] I'm heading home. It's been a long night.
BUFFY: Oh, yeah? Since when are you *not* a part of this group??
[JENNIE stares at her, then smiles, just a little. BUFFY shrugs, and smiles back, just a little.]
GILES: [firmly] I think *everyone* needs to get indoors. We still have Spike, and Drusilla, and--
WILLOW: Giles?
GILES: Yes?
WILLOW: Let it go.
GILES: [looks at BUFFY and ANGEL, who can look only at one another] Ah, yes. Quite. So, everyone is going *home*. Now.
XANDER: [goes to BUFFY and hugs her, hard; he nods to ANGEL] Sounds like a hint, to me. [He and CORDELIA begin to leave.] Will, you need a lift?
WILLOW: That's okay; Oz has his van.
XANDER: Like I said--
[CORDELIA jabs him in the ribs, and they leave. WILLOW hugs BUFFY *and* ANGEL. BUFFY smiles, ANGEL looks surprised. WILLOW and OZ head off in the opposite direction.]
XANDER: [holding CORDELIA's hand]
What's waiting for us?
Who knows what things should be?
CORDELIA:
I don't do magic,
But I know you're for me.
BOTH:
Let's try together,
We can make it all right.
WILLOW: [looking at OZ]
You're always saying
You want me around you.
OZ:
I'm being truthful,
I'm glad I have found you.
BOTH:
Let's try together,
We can make it all right, now.
ALL FOUR:
On the way home, we can make things
Work the right way.
On my way home, memories make
Better new days.
I'm on my way home, and I remember
All the best days.
JENNIE:
Can this be happening?
Has the past been forgiven?
GILES:
I've got my own faults,
They can't keep us from living. [kisses her gently]
BOTH:
Let's try together,
We can make it all right, now.
BUFFY:
Darkness is breaking,
Like the snow melts in springtime.
ANGEL: [turns to her, holds her close]
I'll be gone, come morning,
But for now, we're right here...
BOTH:
Let's try together,
We can make it all right, now.
ALL FOUR:
On the way home, we can make things
Work the right way.
On my way home, memories make
Better new days.
I'm on my way home, and I remember
All the best days.
EVERYONE:
When we get home, maybe things will
Work the right way.
On my way home, I remember
All the best days.
I'm on my way home, and I hope for
Better new days.
On the way home, we can make things
Work the right way.
On my way home, memories make
Better new days.
I'm on my way home, and I remember
All the best days....
[Fade to black.]
END
Back to SunS Fanfic.