More scripty fun.
I liked both how Joss wrote it and ED played it to perfection:
WOOD
Please. I'm much prettier than you.
Faith starts in open-mouthed, victorian shock -- she actually puts a hand to her breast.
a deleted scene, which - if we'd had more of these - might've given a bit more cool, proto-goth girl, morbid little Lilo quality to Dawn over the course of the season...
A messload of Potentials are in the room, some with sleeping bags, some just hanging, all more or less sitting at the feet or Dawn, who sits on her bed, in mid-tale.
DAWN
And the Master grabbed Buffy from
behind and bit her, she tried to move
but he was too strong, he fed on her
blood and he tossed her in the water,
cackling insanely as the bubbles rose
around her and she slowly drowned to
death.
VI
(upset)
Do you have any other stories?
Did Faith's last line here get cut?
FAITH
You're first, B.
Buffy takes the knife, cuts her hand, lets it drip onto the Seal. Faith takes the knife --
FAITH (cont'd)
Pucker up, ladies. We're going to Hell.
I like this bit because (a) it's easy to say "dead cool" but harder to portray it, and the Vi-actress did. Plus, in the scene description Joss is obviously falling in love with his own battle scene.
VI
(dead cool)
These guys are dust.
And the first wave hits, the vamps cresting the edge en masse, swarming over the girls -- Sorry. "Slayers". Who take the horde and beat it back, every single one of them slicing, kicking, twirling, punching, slaying like they've been doing it all their lives. They are taking out a bunch (Spike keeping his end up just fine, thank you), holding off others -- but the vamps keep coming, endlessly. It's brutal and dark and sweaty and bloody and I love it. I love it.
Heh...
BUFFY
(weakly)
Hold the line...
And she holds out her scythe to Faith. A moment, and Faith takes it. Stabs the guy behind her without looking at him. And then goes apeshit on the fuckers.
DAWN
And the Master grabbed Buffy from behind and bit her, she tried to move but he was too strong, he fed on her blood and he tossed her in the water, cackling insanely as the bubbles rose around her and she slowly drowned to death.
I love this because it takes you right back to Spike and Dawn in the crypt with the girl in the coal bin story. ContinuityYay!
I love this because it takes you right back to Spike and Dawn in the crypt with the girl in the coal bin story. ContinuityYay!
I thought so too. Joss has mentioned in interviews that he thought Dawn got cheated, as a character. That he had plans to develop her more but it didn't happen.
There are lots of cut lines in the script, so it's well worth reading to see Buffy going on after her bad pun...
BUFFY
He had to split.
She snorts with dorkish laughter. Angel just shakes his head reprovingly. She stops after a moment.
BUFFY (cont'd)
I'm sorry, I just... ahhhh... I haven't had a good pun in a while.
ANGEL
That would still be the case.
BUFFY
Hey! My kill, my wordplay.
ANGEL
(hands up)
I'm out of line.
BUFFY
Well, I'm still glad you're here.
a bit more Dawn characterization that got lost..
BUFFY
(re: scythe)
I did find out some history on this
puppy. I'll fill you in -- And I got
some...
(hands over files)
...files, might be helpful, and
(produces amulet)
This. Supposed to be powerful, don't
know much more.
GILES
Where'd you get all this?
BUFFY
Angel.
DAWN
Angel?
GILES
He's here.
BUFFY
I sent him back to L.A. To prepare.
She heads out toward the basement, turning back to add:
BUFFY (cont'd)
If we fail.
XANDER
Operative word "If."
ANYA
Operative word "Fail."
DAWN
Or, operative word "Wheeee!"
(crickets)
Nobody gets me.
So there are already two lines I'd use as tags that got cut...
Hey! My kill, my wordplay.
and...
Pucker up, ladies. We're going to Hell.
One last bit to compare how it was written vs. how it was shot:
We see the back of a beefy fellow as he is about to strike someone -- and HER hand blocks his blow. She rises into frame, slightly bruised and bleeding, but with a cold fury in her eyes that suggests that won't be happening again.
A twelve year old girl stands uncertainly at the plate as the power hits her: she takes it in, looking down in confusion.... then looking back up, slowly, her stance straightening and a wicked grin on her face.
We see the back of a beefy fellow as he is about to strike someone -- and HER hand blocks his blow. She rises into frame, slightly bruised and bleeding, but with a cold fury in her eyes that suggests that won't be happening again.
This is totally what I saw. Stunning moment.
A twelve year old girl stands uncertainly at the plate as the power hits her: she takes it in, looking down in confusion.... then looking back up, slowly, her stance straightening and a wicked grin on her face.
I didn't so much pick up on her uncertainty at the start, but the smile on her face was so knowing and powerful it just gave me chills. Happy chills.
I'm amazed at how masterfully they did what could have been a pretty cheesy montage.
I like Joss's glee at the end of the montage in the script:
INT. CAVERN - CONTINUING
As the girls come out of slo-mo and into their own.
AMANDA
Sweet fancy moses.
Buffy and Faith beam at each other.
FAITH
You feel that?
BUFFY
I really do.
Faith looks ahead, they all steel themselves, various expressions of readiness and uncertainty on various faces...
FAITH
Everybody, hold the line...
VI
(dead cool)
These guys are dust.
And the first wave hits, the vamps cresting the edge en masse, swarming over the girls --
Sorry. "Slayers". Who take the horde and beat it back, every single one of them slicing, kicking, twirling, punching, slaying like they've been doing it all their lives.
They are taking out a bunch (Spike keeping his end up just fine, thank you), holding off others -- but the vamps keep coming, endlessly. It's brutal and dark and sweaty and bloody and I love it. I love it.
A twelve year old girl stands uncertainly at the plate as the power hits her: she takes it in, looking down in confusion.... then looking back up, slowly, her stance straightening and a wicked grin on her face.
For God's sake. That *still* makes me teary. I am a sap.
