Robert Devlin'sInside the Watcher's Council

TeaserStory by Dan Joslyn, CN Winters and Zahir al Daoud

Written by Dan Joslyn and CN WintersDirected by Dan Joslyn and CN Winters

Produced by CN WintersEdited by Lilly

Sounds by CN WintersArt Direction by Robert Kidman

Artists – Robert Kidman, CN Winters, Zahir al Daoud, Isis, and MattxxxCover Art by CN Winters

Fade In:

Graphic

A giant red 3-D CNN logo whooshes into place, accompanied by the usual deep voiced narration of James Earl Jones.

" This is CNN."

Fade to Black

Title: The following is an Exclusive CNN Special Report.

Fade to Black

Title: Sensitive viewers should be advised that this program contains graphic violent content and potentially disturbing situations, including death and dismemberment of vampires.

Fade In:

Television Studio

"Hi, I’m Robert Devlin, and I would like to welcome you to this Exclusive CNN Special Report."

The former newspaper reporter walks toward the camera in an ultra-modern TV news studio, lined with tempered glass and large television screens.

"The Watchers Council burst onto the world scene during the Crisis of May 2005, after centuries of rumors and cover-ups. An organization that had spent most of its existence being mentioned in the same breath as the Illuminati and UFOs suddenly found itself in the international spotlight. The Council has all the elements that make up a good story…drama, adventure, heroics, a little sex…but it was also intensely private. Most high-ranking councilors have resisted attempts by the press to turn them into superstars, with varying degrees of success. The existence of the Watchers Council may have been exposed, but its dealings still took place behind closed doors."

"I had my own run-in with the Watchers Council in 2005 while working for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, several months prior to the Council’s coming out party. The evidence I uncovered was incontrovertible enough to warrant an order to erase my memory, an order that came from then-Chairwoman Rowena Allister herself. I later received a formal apology for this incident, and went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for my work."

"I do not know whether the lingering guilt over what happened then is related to the Council’s recent decision to allow myself and a CNN camera crew exclusive, unprecedented access to the Watchers Council’s HQ in Cleveland. I can tell you that this documentary is the result of that access, which took place over a few weeks prior to Christmas. With that said, CNN will be the first to take you…Inside the Watchers Council."

Cut To:

Apartment Complex Hallway

"Alpha team is in position."

Amira, Valentine, and a few other girls crouch in a dingy hallway outside a door marked "#302", except the three is backwards and falling down. It was Amira who spoke into her radio. They are all dressed in stealth armor.

Cut To:

Council Command Center

Robin takes a sip from a mug of coffee and speaks into the microphone in front of him.

"Roger, Alpha Team, you are a go. Be careful in there."

Cut To:

Apartment Complex Hallway

The camera zooms in on Amira’s face as she replies. "Roger that, we are go."

Cut To:

Interview

Amira speaks directly to the camera.

"My name is Amira Aziz and I work for the Council on…Special Operations. I was born in the Gaza Strip. I worked as a slayer in Paris for many years. That’s where…sorry about the accent, I have only been in this country for a year."

Cut To:

Apartment Complex Hallway

Two of the girls break down the door of room 302, and camera shakily follows Amira and Valentine as they enter the room, weapons drawn. At the far end of an incredibly cluttered room, a man hunches over a large, bubbling cauldron.

"This is the Watchers Council. Put your hands in the air."

Amira (V.O): "The life I have lived has taught me that there are terrible things in the world, but there are also other terrible things… what I mean is, you cannot become upset."

The man turns, an angry expression on his face. He throws a fireball at the slayers, just missing, and then they open fire. Rather than being torn apart by a hail of bullets, he finds himself trapped in a deep red anti-magic field. The mage screams.

Devlin (V.O.): "This is what most people have in their heads when they think about the Watchers Council. Super-powered young women, magic, daring raids…"

Cut To:

Council Cafeteria

Several young girls wait in line at the lunch counter, talking excitedly and wielding red plastic trays. At the front of the line, Andrew plops a pile of macaroni and cheese on Denise’s plate.

Devlin (V.O.): "But this is also the Watchers Council."

Cut To:

Watchers Rec Room

Jackson and his friend Markham engage in an intense game of "Guitar Hero," playing the song "Woman" by Wolfmother with varying degrees of success.

Devlin (V.O.): "And so is this…"

Cut To:

Council Library

Dawn sits alone at a research table in the middle of the night, an incredibly thick tome open in front of her. She rubs her eyes with her hands, then returns to the research.

"And so is this. Join us as we unravel the mystery of the Watchers Council."

Cut To:

Buffy’s Office

Announcer (V.O): "Coming up on Robert Devlin’s Inside the Watchers Council…"

Buffy points to the Scythe as it hangs on her office wall. "And this is it, with a capital S."

Announcer (V.O.): "A visit with the Council’s reclusive Chairwoman."

Cut To:

Coven Room

Announcer (V.O.): "And tragedy strikes the Watchers Council."

Willow holds a cell phone to her ear as other members of the Coven look on. "She’s…she’s dead?"

Black Out

 

End of Teaser

Act One

Starring:

Lacey Chabert as Skye Talisker, Gale Harold as Jim Pollan, Caroline Dhavernas as Grace Hatherley, Elijah Woods as Jeff Lindquist, Norika Fujiwara as Mia Nakata, Laura Pyper as Casey Pierce, Asia Argento as Marie, Alexis Bledel as Denise, Tessa Thompson as Chamique, Steffani

Brass as Shannon Matthewson, Rachel Hurd-Wood as Lorinda Sheparton, T.R. Knight as Jackson, Helen Shaver as Becca Giles, Robert Picardo as Dr. Miller, Laura Prepon as Lori Carew, Christine Romano as

Hope Lehane, Cote de Pablo as Amira Aziz and Gary Oldman as Mr. Jason Felix

Guest Starring:

Philip Seymour Hoffman as Robert Devlin, Freema Agyeman as Siobhan Hartley, Winona Ryder as Valentine Pavlov, Marcia Cross as Autumn O’Mara, Jonas Armstrong as Stewart Markham, Lee Pace as

Rocky Cartwright, and Brad Dourif as Brell.

 

Graphic: "CNN Special Report"

Announcer (V.O.): "And now we return to an exclusive CNN Special Report….Robert Devlin’s Inside the Watchers Council."

Fade In:

Council Kitchen

Andrew pours a bag of coffee beans into a filter.

Robert Devlin (V.O.): "Morning at the Watchers Council."

Andrew fills a large pot with oatmeal mix.

Andrew shakes an industrial-sized jug of orange juice.

Devlin (V.O.): "One man awakes early for a daily ritual…making the breakfast that will fuel a few hundred evil-battlers for the day ahead."

Cut To:

Interview

Andrew speaks directly to the camera, his face in close-up.

"My name is Andrew Wells. I’m the Hospitality Chief. I also hold a high rank in the Coven…I see my job as making everyone feel at home, which is important because most of us live here. If people didn’t feel at home where they live, they would just be…homeless. No one wants that."

Cut To:

Interview

Faith sits comfortably in a chair in her apartment, feet up. She speaks directly to the camera.

"Andrew’s kind of our den mother. It’s been that way since we started this…I guess he’s s’posed to keep us from going crazy. Works sometimes."

Cut To:

Council Cafeteria

A long line of girls waits for food. At the front of the line, a small, sleepy-looking boy with a prominent brown cowlick plops a large serving of oatmeal onto his plate.

Andrew (V.O.): "Balancing different responsibilities helps me, I think. Cooking isn’t that different from magic. You mix the ingredients, and sometimes you end up with something great. Sometimes…it’s like that time Nemesis went up against Harry Potter. Not pretty."

Images follow of people eating together, laughing. Young slayers gossip, and Kennedy and Kadin share a meal in a corner.

Devlin (V.O.): "Mr. Wells oversees the daily meals of several hundred Council employees, a task he handles entirely in-house."

Cut To:

Interview

"As the number of people has grown, we’ve discussed going to frozen food, catering services," Andrew says, "and maybe that would be more practical…but we’re a family here. All of us. We should eat family meals."

Cut To:

Council Meeting Room

The camera follows Robin through a door and into what looks like a large lecture hall, full of half-awake watchers.

Devlin (V.O.): "After filling up on Mr. Wells’ home cooking, the rest of the family begins what is sure to be another long day."

The camera catches Grace yawning.

Robin takes his place behind the podium and opens a binder. "Okay," he says, "Good morning everybody. I’ll be running the early meeting today once again, due to the absence of Councilor Allister."

Cut To:

Interview

Rowena sits on her and Willow’s sofa, a thick blanket over her round stomach. She speaks directly to the camera.

"Yes, technically I am on maternity leave, but…we all live in the same building, so it’s not much of a leave. If something’s killing people, well, I’m all over that. But these children are not going to be born in a meeting."

Cut To:

Council Meeting Room

Robin flips through his notes. "Yesterday we received several confirmed sightings in the Cedar-Lee and Little Italy neighborhoods. Looks like there’s a new threat in that area. Demons of all different types. I’m going to form a task force…Jackson, you’ll head that up."

Jackson nods and types something on his open laptop. "That’s something new," he comments.

"That’s why this is a high priority," Robin tells him.

Cut To:

Interview

Grace stands outside the meeting room.

"Something new?" She scoffs. "Yeah, right. Sometimes I feel like Bill Adama in this business…you know: ‘All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.’"

Cut To:

Hallway Outside Meeting Room

Lori exits the meeting, leaning heavily on her cane. She speaks with an African-American woman who looks about thirty. "I think you may want to give Jaye a little more leeway. She’s had problems in the past, but she’s coming along…"

Devlin (V.O.): "The Watchers Council recently merged with a commercial organization known as Bureau Nine. On the surface, the transition seems to be going smoothly. We asked one of the better-known of those who came over from the Bureau, former CNN commentator Lori Carew, about how she and her colleagues have been adjusting."

Cut To:

Interview

Lori sits in the Watcher Rec Room, her face in close-up.

"It’s going amazingly well, actually. I think there was some skepticism at first…on both sides, really. We both brought strong personalities, but I think that when we merged, it was…it was something we both needed, at least I thought it-I thought it was…"

Her voice breaks, her eyes glistening. "When we came together, it was beautiful. I think…I think I can only see that now."

Devlin, sitting across from Lori, looks confused. "I’m sorry…was?"

Lori stutters. "Um...I…I’m sorry, I…I can’t…what is it?"

Siobhan suddenly appears behind Lori, softly placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Jason needs you…" Siobhan glances up at the camera, "for an issue…that he’s having…relating to monsters."

"Oh, okay, um…" Lori wipes an eye with the back of her hand, turns to Devlin. "Sorry."

Cut To:

Interview

Xander is in his workshop, eyeing the camera suspiciously.

"Well, I agree with her, then. Things couldn’t have gone better. We’re just one big happy family. I personally have always been supportive of our new friends from the Bureau, and have done everything I can to make their lives…pleasanter…wait, is that a word? It isn’t, right?"

Cut To:

Interview

Jason Felix sits in a large, comfy-looking chair in his living room, fireplace going in the background.

"I personally feel that the Council’s original staff has been more than welcoming…it’s been an incredibly exciting opportunity."

Cut To:

Interview

Faith raises an eyebrow.

"He said that?" She bursts out laughing, then tries to control herself. "I’m sorry, I’m sorry…just, wow."

Cut To:

Buffy’s Office

Buffy glances through a report while speaking on the phone. "So it looks like that situation is under control, but I’d still like to…"

Devlin (V.O.): "The architect of the merger was the Council’s chairwoman, Buffy Summers. Her exploits as both a slayer and a leader are the stuff of legend, but I found her to be surprisingly down to earth."

Cut To:

Interview

Buffy is behind her desk, Devlin in the chair across from her.

"First of all, I feel like I have to ask, is Buffy your real name?"

Buffy just looks at him, then just can’t help herself and emits a girly giggle.

Devlin (V.O.): "We asked Chairwoman Summers to show us around her own, little-seen personal world."

Cut To:

Buffy’s Office

Buffy points out the spot on her wall where the Scythe is hanging.

"This is the Scythe…it’s supposed to be the ancestral weapon of slayers, forged by the ancients to kill the last pure demon, you know, usual conversation piece. I still take it down and give it a workout every once in a while."

"You still work in the field?" Devlin asks.

"Well, yeah." She shrugs. "It’s who I am. I’m still a slayer, right?"

Cut To:

Interview

"You have been a part of this fight during basically three entirely different eras," Devlin points out. "At one time, you were the only slayer in the world, working in secret. Then that changed, and there were many slayers."

"Yes," Buffy answers immediately. "And maybe kinda no, too. When you’re out there with your weapon in your hand and something fangy is trying to rip your head off, yeah, that doesn’t really change much. At the same time, it’s hard to explain how much of a relief it is that there’s so many of us in this together."

Cut To:

Slayer Memorial Park

With Lake Erie in the background, Buffy and Devlin walk by the wall covered in names.

"Did you know all these girls?" Devlin asks.

"A lot of them…" She stops, looking at one name in particular. "There’s too many names." She turns, looks at Devlin. "I started this 13 years ago, you know that? It feels weird to say that out loud."

Cut To:

Interview

"Buffy?" Faith asks. "Yeah, she’s pretty good at this chairwoman stuff, but you shoulda seen her before. We had some times…you know, back in the day or whatever."

Cut To:

Interview

Casey edges forward in her seat in the slayer rec room, looking a little excited.

"I’ve heard what they say about ‘er. How she personally stopped the apocalypse so many times. How she defeated the First Evil. How she blew up a wanna-be world-destroyer with a rocket launcher. How she beat off a God. They say she used to spare some vampires lives and take them as her lovers…which kinda gives a whole new meaning to the ‘beat off a God’ thing, actually."

Cut To:

Interview

"Let’s talk about the romance thing," Devlin says. "Can you address the rumors of your past affairs with vampires?"

Buffy sighs. "Do I hafta?"

"Is there any truth there at all?"

Buffy licks her lips, looks back at Devlin. "What do you think?"

Cut To:

Interview

In the slayer gym, Dawn blinks a few times incredulously as Shannon does push-ups in the background.

"Can you ask that again?"

"Has your sister ever been romantically involved with a vampire?" Devlin’s voice asks.

"I’m done!" Shannon calls.

"One second!" Dawn calls back over her shoulder. She turns back to the camera, an uncertain look on her face. "Is she going to see this?"

Cut To:

Interview

"Another transition you have led this Council through is the public revelation of the existence of the supernatural," Devlin points out. "How do you think the adjustment is going?"

"Look," Buffy says, "all I can do is try to do my job, and that isn’t any different than it was before May 2004. The rest, well…it’s a little weird. You know, Playboy called here yesterday, asking if I would do a spread for them."

"What did you say?"

"I gave them Faith’s number."

Cut To:

Interview

"That was her?!" Faith yells angrily.

Cut To:

Hallway

A hallway at the Watchers Council is filled with young students in long-shot. In a more medium-shot, a few girls chat at a locker and look longingly at a boy walking past.

Devlin (V.O.): "In addition to the daily ritual of fighting monsters, the Council has another daily ritual, a lot more familiar to most of us. School."

Cut To:Classroom

A middle-aged man with glasses discusses a simple algebra problem on a chalkboard.

"Can anyone tell me what we do next here?"

A few young slayers raise their hands from their desks.

Devlin (V.O.): "The Headquarters in Cleveland is home to a fully functioning, accredited school, where America’s future watchers, slayers, and witches learn the basics of their respective crafts…and the basics of life."

Cut To:

Interview

Devlin (V.O.): "Cindy Loomis is a Slayer-in-Training from Mahwah, New Jersey. She wowed spectators as part of U.S. team at the recent World Slayer Games."

Cindy sits at a desk that’s too big for her in an empty classroom, nervously (and unsuccessfully) trying to smooth down her hair.

"Well, I have classes in the morning. Normal stuff, y’know…English, Social Studies, Math, Science. Then after lunch I have more classes, for more slayery stuff…tactics, technique, demonology. Then I train with my squad. Right now I have some free-time after that."

Cut To:

Slayer Gym

Cindy does exercises with other, bigger looking girls while hanging on to the barre attached to the wall.

Devlin (V.O.): "How do you think your academics relate to the rest of your training?"

Cindy pulls her leg up behind her head, contorting into a position that looks positively painful.

Cindy (V.O.): "Well, a lot of vampires and demons are really old, so you need to know about history to understand them. And math is great for figuring out angles and odds and stuff."

Cut To:

Interview

"What about English?" Devlin asks.

"Um, right now we’re reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," Cindy says. "I can really relate to it."

"Why is that?" Devlin presses.

"’Cause the girl in the book, she had to grow up fast, too."

Cut To:

Council Library

A group of several watchers of all ages stands and waits as Jackson gives instructions, ticking off points on his fingers.

"I think we should take a look at the history of the area, um, possible demon religious connections…"

Devlin (V.O.): "Meanwhile, the new task force begins the arduous task of finding out just what the heck is going on."

Cut To:

Interview

Jackson stands and speaks directly to the camera as the library bustles with activity behind him.

"How does this work? Well, um, every problem is different. We have a lot of highly trained people here who are really great at their jobs. We have to take some really great accounts of the attacks and turn them into a concrete strategy for the slayers and witches in the field."

Cut To:

Council Computer Lab

The young watcher Markham sits at a computer, scrolling through what looks like a very old scanned document.

Jackson (V.O.): "We use all the resources at our disposal here. There are things out there on the Internet that we don’t have in our library, and a lot of the historical material in our library contains info you won’t find on a computer."

Cut To:

Council Library

A young woman, maybe 18, with frizzy hair and glasses, slots another push-pin into a map of Cleveland that already had several colored pins stuck in it.

Jackson (V.O.): "This case is particularly difficult because we’re looking for so many different things. We need demon identification so slayers can use the right strategies in the field. We need to figure out what the nature of the threat is and analyze the priority level. And we need to try and project where they will strike next."

Cut To:

Council Library

Jackson sits at one of the research tables and looks through a large, leather-bound volume, sighing as he turns the page.

Devlin (V.O.): "Unfortunately, progress is slow on all fronts."

Grace appears behind Jackson’s shoulder. "Any luck?"

He shakes his head. "You wouldn’t happen to have heard of any creatures with winged feet, superhuman strength, and a quote-unquote bad attitude, wouldja?"

"Well, there’s Namor the Sub-Mariner," Grace offers.

Jackson looks up at her, surprised. "Really? Did you find that in the Florentine Index?"

"Oh, wait… did you mean in the real world?" Grace asks. "’Cause if so, I got nothing."

Jackson makes a huffing noise in his throat.

Cut To:

Meeting Room

Faith saunters into a meeting room full of slayers, including Kennedy, Mia, Siobhan, Hadley, and many others. The camera focuses on Casey in the back of the room, with her feet up on the desk in front of her.

"Alright," Faith shouts over the chatter, "the sooner we get started, the sooner we can all get out of here."

Devlin (V.O.): "It’s 11am, and while the watchers have been at work for hours, many of the slayers are just starting their day."

Cut To:

Interview

"Why do the slayers meet later than the other branches?" Faith asks the camera. "Because I like to sleep in, that’s why. Deal with it." She stops and thinks for a moment. "Actually, I think that pretty much sums up the difference between watchers and slayers. That, and the part where we could beat up the watchers without breaking a sweat."

Cut To:

Meeting Room

Faith looks over a crumpled-up piece of paper, then back up at her troops. "The big scary today is what looks like a new bunch o’ demons on the East Side. There’s going to be extra patrols switched over there at some point. I don’t know when yet. Stay tuned on that one. Um…

Mia, you’ll be running drills this afternoon. Says here you’re scheduled to work on the ju-jitsu with the slayerettes. That work for you?"

The camera swivels and zooms in on Mia, who gives a thumbs-up signal without looking up from the doodle she’s making on her notebook.

"Right." Faith looks back down at her paper. "Okay, uh, next thing…"

Devlin (V.O.): "Faith Lehane is probably the Council’s best known slayer, but she is still full of surprises, as I discovered a few days earlier at the Council’s annual Christmas benefit."

Cut to:

Interview

Devlin (V.O. as Becca takes a seat on a bar stool on a stage.): The Council seems to be connected - not just to fellow members, but also to their extended family members as well. And they come to each other in times of trouble as Becca Giles, wife of Rupert Giles, explains.

"Each Christmas season we do a party where I sing," Becca explains in a strained voice. "In fact, the first kiss Rupert ever gave me was during one of those parties. But our keyboard player broke his right hand hanging Christmas lights and when I woke up today I had laryngitis. I thought I’d have to cancel but the gals came to the rescue."

Devlin asks, "So technically you shouldn’t be talking now, right?"

Becca grins and nods. "But Faith sang, even though her son is in town, and Willow stepped in on the ivories and…well, you saw them tonight. My band wants to replace me now," she says before laughing slightly.

Cut to:

Christmas Show Stage

Becca plays guitar with her band and looks to Faith with a smile as she watches the slayer sing Idaho. Faith walks over to where Willow is playing piano and the two share a smile as well, obviously enjoying themselves. She moves back to face the audience and gives someone at a table in front a wave and a smile.

The camera pans to the audience where Robin is proudly watching Faith, waving back. He puts his arm around Norman who’s seated there, looking equally impressed. He leans down to say something in the boy’s ear. The young man then smiles and nods his head enthusiastically. Also seated at the table are Norman’s mother, father and sister.

On the opposite side of Robin sits Rowena who also watches with a proud smile.

Cut to:

Interview

Devlin is smiling as he asks Faith, "Where did you learn to sing like that? You’re like a musical chameleon."

Faith laughs and appears to blush a little bit. "Yeah, just make sure when you put in the video of me singing you pick a cool song."

"Not You Light Up My Life or Shadow Dancing?" Devlin teases. "I gotta say, you do a damn good Andy Gibb."

Faith buries her face in her hands and shakes her head in embarrassment before rising to face him. "Oh man…Yes, like that. Don’t ruin my rep as the cool slayer with that tacky 70’s music."

"So no Macarena either, I take it?"

Faith laughs again. "You do realize I can snap a man in half, right?"

Devlin can be heard laughing although the camera stays on Faith, who’s looking more bashful by the moment. "All jokes aside, you have a true talent Faith. Not only do you know every popular and indie song from the last 50 years, you can sound like the original singer. It’s uncanny. How do you manage to do that?"

"Well, I didn’t have a stellar childhood and music was like, I don’t know, an escape I guess. I listened to lots of music over and over – and all types of music. I still do. My iPod is a hodge-podge of stuff. But until

that night I think Robin’s the only one who knew I could sing okay. I don’t wander the Council halls singing after all."

"Do you do impressions too?"

Faith gives him another nervous laugh. "No, but if I’d been a movie fan instead I might have."

"I think you could do this singing stuff professionally."

Faith chuckles again. "Thanks, but I already got a gig."

"And one that’s brought you quite a bit of press over the years. What started out as 100 people at that party ended up looking like 1000 by the time you finished. Word spread pretty quickly that you were out on the town that night."

"Yeah," Faith says, "I guess it did fill up pretty good, didn’t it? Everybody had to come see the ‘born-again’ singing slayer, I guess."

"What’s that like?" Devlin asks sympathetically. "It seems like it’d be a lot to balance."

Faith sighs. "Some people act like I asked for all the attention – like a Paris Hilton wannabe. Some think I’m a superhero; others actually think I’m Jesus returned."

"What do you think?"

"I’m just Faith," she says with a shrug.

Delvin smiles, "You mean it’s kind of like that song you sang, ‘You can’t be anyone but you?’"

Faith grins. "Pretty much."

"So if that’s true, who are you?" Devlin asks.

The camera moves in closer for Faith’s response. Again, she shrugs.

"I’m a slayer, a part-time mom, someone’s fiancée, a friend and to people or creatures who deserve it, an enemy. But like I said, at the

end of day, once the vamp dust is washed off…I’m just Faith – no more, no less."

Cut To:

Coven Room

Willow, Andrew, Jeff, Hope, Dawn, Skye, and a few younger kids sit on mats on the Coven Room floor, beginning a simple chant.

Devlin (V.O.): "The most mysterious branch of the Council is certainly the Coven, which uses methods from the mists of the past to control the fundamental forces of the universe."

Cut To:

Interview

Willow sits on the couch in the apartment she shares with Rowena and Skye, with Devlin in a chair across from her.

"Can you tell me…what is magic?" he asks.

Willow sighs, thinking it over. "Magic is…it’s just like science. They both operate under a set of rules. The rules for magic are just different. It’s like…magic takes the ordinary things that surround us every day, and gets them to do extraordinary things."

"Like getting your hands to sprout balls of fire?" Devlin asks.

"Yep!" Willow replies cheerfully.

Cut To:

Coven Room

Devlin (V.O.): "But this is not just any other day."

The Coven’s chant is interrupted by the chorus from The Donnas’ "Take It Off." Willow looks sheepish and gets up. She walks over to the corner, where she had left her cell phone.

She picks up the phone and presses a button. "Hello?" There’s a pause, as Willow looks absolutely shocked. "Wh-What?"

Dawn looks concerned. "Willow, what is it?"

Willow has trouble forming the words. "She’s…she’s dead?"

Cut To:

Slayer Gym

Announcer (V.O.): "Coming up on Robert Devlin’s Inside the Watchers Council… Tensions rise."

Mia screams in someone’s face. "Why are you here? TELL ME!"

Cut To:

Buffy’s Office

Announcer (V.O.): "And the Council is forced to deal with another loss."

Buffy sits behind her desk. "This is always hard...and it never gets easier."

Announcer (V.O.): "That and more, next on CNN."

Black Out

End of Act One

Act Two 

Graphic: "CNN Special Report"

Announcer (V.O.): "And now we return to an exclusive CNN Special Report…Robert Devlin’s Inside the Watchers Council."

Fade In:

Interview

Willow sits on the couch in the apartment she shares with Rowena. Rowena is next to her, an arm around Willow’s shoulder.

Willow sighs. "Jocelyn O’Hara was…a student of mine. She had so much power…" She shakes her head. "But no matter how much I worked with her, she couldn’t control it. And, in the end, I think she let it control her."

"Do you have any regrets?" Devlin’s voice asks.

Willow sets her lips, and Rowena’s hand squeezes her shoulder.

"We can’t live in the past."

Devlin (V.O.): "But sometimes, moving on isn’t so easy."

Cut To:

Council Hallway

In long shot, Willow leans against the wall of an empty white hallway. She doesn’t seem to notice the camera. Quickly the camera zooms in. Willow takes a deep breath and blinks several times. Her upper lip quivers.

Then, with a sob, Willow’s personal dam breaks. She covers her mouth with a hand as tears stream down her cheeks. The camera focuses on her for several seconds, the only sound her sobs.

Cut To:

Interview

Buffy sits behind her desk, the Scythe hanging behind her head. It looks as official as possible.

"Jocelyn O’Hara was in the custody of the Council’s London branch, where our Coven head there, Althenea Dimmons, was attempting to find a way to rehabilitate her. She came to the conclusion that Joc…Miss O’Hara was never going to recover on her own. That was why she made the decision, approved by Miss Rosenberg and myself, to perform a ritual known as Persephone’s Knot."

Buffy licks her lips, looks down at some papers in front of her. "It’s a very dangerous procedure, but we all knew the risks. Miss O’Hara was pronounced dead one hour ago."

She looks back up at the camera. "She was supposed to play me in that movie." There is silence. "This is always hard...and it never gets easier."

Cut To:

Interview

Dawn and Skye sit next to each other on a couch in the watchers lounge.

"Wow," Dawn breathes. "Wow. I mean Jocelyn didn’t have that many friends here, but she was a nice girl. I remember that time with the terrorists…she saved our lives. Well, not my life, but you get the idea."

"I’m just sad that those boobs had to go to waste," Skye comments. Dawn gives her a baleful look. "What?"

Cut To:

Interview

"You know, she wanted to be an actress, or maybe a model," Jeff says in the Coven Room. "For all I know, she could have done it. She certainly had the looks. But sometimes, I guess life chooses for you…what you’re going to do, I mean. She was a witch. She had no other choice."

Cut To:

Interview

Kennedy sits on a couch in the slayer rec room. Her face doesn’t betray any emotion.

"We lose people all the time. You tell yourself that you have to learn how to deal with it but you never learn how. You just start burying it deeper every time. You get harder. Like an old jelly bean."

She pauses.

"Can you edit out that last part?"

Cut To:

Weapons Room

Kennedy and Xander walk through a large room where many pointy things are stored. Swords, knives, daggers, arrows, bows, and some more esoteric weapons line the walls.

Devlin (V.O): "Despite the loss, life still goes on at the Council. The slayer known publicly as Kennedy has been tapped to lead the expedition against the new demon threat."

"We’re not sure exactly what we’re up against here," Kennedy tells him, "so we’re looking to cover all the bases."

"Both ranged and melee?" Xander asks. Kennedy nods.

Cut To:

Interview

Devlin and Kennedy sit across from each other in the slayer rec room, with a few blurry figures in the background.

Devlin (V.O.): "The Council’s reclusive number two slayer granted us a rare interview before heading into the field."

"Yes, it’s my real name," Kennedy says.

"First name or last name," Devlin presses.

"First," Kennedy replies.

"Do you have a last name?"

"Yes."

"Are you going to tell me what it is?"

"No."

Cut To:

Slayer Meeting Room

Kennedy’s usual team, including Marie, Chamique, Denise, and a few others, are arrayed in comfortable chairs. Kennedy stands in front of them.

"This is a day raid," she announces. "We don’t have all the information we’d like to, so we want to catch them napping. Hopefully literally. Now, Marie, you’ll…"

Devlin (V.O.): "Though the exact nature of the threat has not yet been identified, Kennedy has been charged with preparing her girls for any eventuality."

Cut To:

Interview

"I’m responsible for these girls," Kennedy says. "I try my best to be part of their lives, and they’re definitely a part of mine."

"So being a slayer’s not just about hacking and slashing?" Devlin asks.

"Oh, hell no." Kennedy says. "I mean, wait…can I say hell? I mean, even if I couldn’t, you could bleep it, right? Anyway, that is part of it, but it’s also about responsibility and leadership and camaraderie and a bunch of other big words…What it really comes down to is ‘I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine.’ Every slayer is part of that."

"What about Heli Hamalainen," Devlin asks. "Was she part of it?"

There is silence for a moment. Kennedy’s eyes flick down. "I thought she was. That’s what made me so angry."

"Made? So you’re not angry about it anymore?"

Kennedy stares at the camera. "Oh, I’m still angry."

Cut To:

Faith’s Office

Faith and Kennedy discuss slayer assignments in Faith’s office. They’re both behind the desk, Faith sitting, Kennedy peering over her shoulder.

Devlin (V.O.): "Kennedy has been the chief lieutenant for Slayer Commander Faith Lehane for years now, ever since the founding of the latest incarnation of the Watchers Council."

Cut To:

Interview

"Faith and I work really well together," Kennedy nods. "I don’t think either of us would have been as successful as we’ve been without the other."

"So, there have never been any problems between the two of you?" Devlin asks.

"Nope," Kennedy says quickly.

"None at all?" Devlin presses.

Kennedy gives him a glare. "We’ve each done things we’re not proud of. The past is the past. The now is the now."

"Well said," Devlin comments. "So, why are you so reticent when it comes to giving interviews?"

Kennedy just continues to glare in his direction.

Cut To:

Council Hallway

Willow walks down the hall, carrying two salads in clear plastic boxes.

Devlin (V.O.): "While the strike team continues preparations, most of the Council takes a break for lunch…including the Coven Mistress herself."

Cut To:

Willow and Rowena’s Apartment

The camera follows Willow as she enters her apartment and finds Rowena splayed out over the couch, a quilt over her prodigious stomach

"I come bearing leaves!" Willow calls out. "I hear they’re edible now. It’s the neatest thing."

Rowena’s eyes widen. "You’re going to let them put me on national television like this?"

"Oh, come on," Willow chides her. Rowena makes room for her on the couch and Willow sits. "You know you’re beautiful."

The two of them kiss briefly before Rowena reaches for her salad.

Cut To:

Interview

Willow and Rowena sit next to each on the couch, Devlin in a chair across from them.

"What’s it like being the most visible lesbian couple in history?" he asks.

There’s a moment of silence as the two of them take in that question.

"I guess we don’t really think of it that way," Rowena says. "If we did, it’d be more than the two of us in this relationship, and that’s not what we want."

"It is nice, though," Willow chimes in, "to think that maybe we can be an inspiration to other girls who might be feeling like outsiders."

"Yes, I guess it is," Rowena agrees. "We’re just two important and powerful women who just happen to be in love with another woman." Willow grins and nods her head. "What?" Rowena asks.

"Important and powerful," Willow tells her, still with a grin.

"The two of you certainly are," Devlin nods, "and a lot of people are certainly interested. Although actually, much of the media attention has been frustrated because the two of you just seem so…normal."

"I don’t think I’ve ever thought of my life as normal," Willow says.

"It’s funny to read what they’re saying, though," Rowena says.

"Last week one news outlet called the two of you, and I quote, ‘Ozzie and Harriet,’" supplies Devlin.

"More like Ozzina and Harriet," Rowena grins.

"I don’t know what that even means," Willow says. "Was that a TV show? Were they boring or something?"

"One subject of speculation recently has been the nature of your pregnancy, Mrs. Allister," Devlin continues. "Who the father is, for instance."

The two of them look at each other, then back at the camera. "I don’t know if we need to talk about that right now," Rowena says.

"We are very happy about it, though," Willow puts in.

"Yes," Rowena nods. "Happy."

"Happy as a clam," Willow continues. Her brow furrows. She turns to Rowena. "Where does that expression come from?"

"Clams look like they’re smiling," Rowena tells her.

"No, they don’t," Willow insists. "They don’t even have mouths!"

Cut To:

Slayer Gym

Devlin (V.O.): "After their morning classes, many of the teenage slayers drill in combat skills. Today is no exception."

Shannon and Lorinda are in the center of a circle of girls yelling encouragement…mostly for Shannon. Both brandish long, wooden staves that look a little too big for them, though they handle them easily enough. They maneuver deftly around each other, eyes fixed on their opponent. Mia stalks the perimeter of the circle, arms crossed.

Devlin (V.O.): "Every once in a while, two girls are pulled out to spar, demonstrating their abilities to the others. I’m told that today’s match is particularly interesting."

Shannon feints right, then executes a spin-attack that Lorinda blocks with her staff. Lorinda tries to counter-attack, but Shannon dodges the blow. She replies with a flurry of attacks, the first several of which Lorinda parries before Shannon suddenly spins once again and catches her in the back. Lorinda doubles over, until Shannon’s staff catches her under the chin and sends her tumbling backwards to the padded mat.

Mia walks forward, speaking to the group. "Okay, so does anybody want to tell me what the difference was here?"

Devlin (V.O.): "The class’ instructor is Mia Nakata, who has the number three slayer job that was once filled by Violet Joston. Slayer Nakata’s rise to prominence is the stuff of an Alger novel."

Cut To:

Interview

Mia speaks directly into the camera.

"When I got my powers, I was living on the streets. I was part of a gang…did some things I don’t like to remember, just to get by. When the Council found me…I saw them as three steady squares, a roof over my head. Now it means a lot more than that to me."

Cut To:

Slayer Gym

Mia is still speaking to the class. "You don’t want to commit yourself too fully, especially when you’re dealing with a double-sided weapon like this one…"

Behind Mia, the camera catches Shannon helping Lorinda to her feet. "You okay?" she asks.

Lorinda works her jaw back and forth. "Nothing’s broken," she replies.

Mia hears the two of them talking and turns. "Lorinda! Since you’re feeling so chatty all of a sudden, why don’t you tell us what you did wrong there?"

Lorinda shifts her weight and shrugs. "I dunno." She lowers her voice and grumbles, "Why do we have to know this, anyway?"

Mia steps forward, and the camera scrambles around to close in on her and Lorinda’s faces, which are now inches from each other. "What did you say?" Mia growls.

Lorinda sizes up Mia and sets her jaw. Shannon rolls her eyes and sighs, as if she’s seen this a million times before.

"I said I don’t know why we have to learn this," Lorinda repeats, this time so everyone can hear. "Quarterstaffs are just so 1066."

"You have to learn it because I said you have to learn it, you hear me!?" Mia shouts in her face, then gestures to the rest of the class. "Look at everyone here. They all had to learn it. What makes you so special that you don’t have to?!"

"I don’t –"

"WHY ARE YOU HERE!?" Mia is screaming now. "TELL ME, SHEPARTON! Let me let you in on something. It’s not always about you. All I’m trying to do here is help you, and you spit in my face."

"I—"

"I’m sick of you, Sheparton. I’m sick of everyone like you. I’M SICK OF THIS BULLCRAP!"

Mia grabs one of the quarterstaffs from the mat and, full of frustration, flings it wildly through the air. The circle of girls parts hastily and it slams into the mirrored wall of the gymnasium, shattering a panel of glass before falling to the floor with a clatter.

In the ensuing silence, Mia runs both hands through her hair and takes a deep breath. "I don’t need this," she says under her breath. With that, she walks to the door of the room and exits, slamming it behind her.

The camera swings back to the girls, who continue to just stand there, most with their mouths hanging open. "Wow," Shannon breathes. She glances back and notices the camera. "Oh, geez."

Cut To:

Interview

"Was it embarrassing?" Mia repeats. "Of course it was. I lost my temper. There isn’t much more to say."

"Do you have any idea where it came from?" Devlin’s voice asks.

Mia blinks a few times. "I’m just…not used to this. I’m fine with a gun or a sword in my hands, but kids, especially snot-nosed little…She disrespected me, and not for the first time...and something just clicked or snapped or whatever."

"So where do you go from here?"

"I’m just going to have to get past it and move on...And Lorinda needs to get serious about her studies."

Cut To:

Interview

Lorinda stands in the hallway outside the gym. "I would like to point out that I am completely innocent here. I have done way worse than that, and there has never been that level of insaneness. That woman has issues. It’s my opinion that she needs serious professional help. Seriously."

Cut To:

Interview

"Mia’s a top-notch slayer," Kennedy insists. "We’d never trust the girls with her if she wasn’t. She’s been through a lot, but she’s a good person. Whatever happened in there, if she screwed up…you can’t look at just this one thing, okay? The skills we teach these girls - it's not playtime. We're talking life and death stuff here."

"Ms. Sheparton did raise a point. How often do you use quarterstaffs?"

"Never."

"Well then,-."

"But ask me about a tree limb, a steel pipe, a broom stick..." Kennedy grins. "Get the point? Sometimes you have to use the things around you as weapons. The first step is actually learning those weapons. And I'm sure anything that Mia said or did is nothing compared to what a demon would do to those girls. We rarely need to do it, but we investigate any claim that a student might make against an instructor.

These girls need to feel safe inside these walls, but they also need to be serious about being here."

Cut To:

Interview

"Have I ever gone off on a student?" Faith asks. "Hmm…Can you define ‘gone off’?"

Cut To:

Coven Storage Room

Dawn and Skye walk through the Coven’s extra storage room, selecting ingredients. Jars and boxes line the walls, their contents often colorful and exotic.

Devlin (V.O): "I found one of the Council’s most controversial figures gathering ingredients for a protection spell."

Dawn reads from a list. "We’re looking for kingsfoil, um, sulfur…" She looks up at the walls. "It’s on the top shelf. I can’t reach it."

"No problem," Skye tells her. She easily jumps about six feet off the ground and grabs a jar from the top shelf, before falling back down and handing the jar to Dawn. "Here ya go."

"Okay, now you’re just showing off for the camera," Dawn says with a smile.

Cut To:

Interview

Skye sits in a chair in an empty classroom, speaking directly to the camera. "My name is Skye Talisker, and I’m dead. My heart doesn’t beat, and my skin is room temperature. I’m a vampire. And I work here, at the Watchers Council."

Cut To:

Coven Room

Dawn and Skye spread out ingredients on the Coven Room floor, separating things into piles.

Skye crinkles her nose. "Man, this stuff smells like rotten fish wrapped in underwear."

Dawn giggles.

"Skye Talisker has volunteered to be the subject for extensive Council experimentation on vampire physiology, the results of which have extended human knowledge and become a fixture on the best-seller lists. However, the mere idea of the Council harboring a vampire has been the subject of a spirited debate, a debate which boiled over last winter."

Cut To:

Interview

Devlin sits across from Skye in the classroom.

"How did it feel to be at the center of the first slayer strike in recorded history?" he asks.

"It was flattering," Skye replies instantly. "I didn’t know everyone cared so much."

"Most people believe that all vampires are evil. Are they really just people too?"

"I can’t speak for all vampires," Skye replies, "but I’m definitely evil. I like to get my evil out through sarcasm rather than neck slurping, though. I can tell, you, though…being undead isn’t as glamorous as Stephenie Meyer would have you believe. Getting burned by sunlight is very, very inconvenient, and blood…tastes pretty frikkin’ bad."

Devlin raises an eyebrow. "Really?"

Skye nods. "Think of it this way... how would you feel if the only thing you could get nutrition from was brussel sprouts?"

Cut To:

Interview

"Dating a vampire is…weird," Dawn admits with a shrug. "It hasn’t been the easiest thing in the world, but confidentially…it’s also kinda hot."

Cut To:

Interview

"Do they have my blessing?" Buffy asks from behind her desk. "Dawn is an adult, and Skye is a…Do I have to answer this?"

Cut To:

Interview

"Talisker’s done her part," Faith says. "And in return, we put up with the part where we’re living with an evil bloodsucking fiend. Next question."

Cut To:

Staging Area

Marie sits on a bench below a rack of battle gear, listening to loud rock music on her iPod. Her eyes are closed.

Marie (V.O.): "Before I go on a mission, I like to get myself into the zone, relax."

Nearby, Denise has a sword in her hand, and is executing a series of moves with it.

Devlin (V.O.): "Each slayer on the strike team has her own method of preparing for the upcoming mission, which will be the first ever accompanied by television cameras."

Denise executes a spin-kick, then lets out a deep breath.

Denise (V.O.): "I was actually watching the Olympics a while back and they had the skiing on. They showed Picabo Street, and she was visualizing exactly what she was going to do. Then she went out and won the gold medal. Before I go on a mission, I like to visualize exactly how it’s going to go."

Cut To:

Weapons Storage

Shilpi shows the camera a thin, slightly curved sword with a simple cord woven around the handle.

"I brought this with me from Bureau Nine," she says. "It’s been in my family for a long, long time. I had an ancestor who used it in the service of the Mughal Emperor. It’s the only sword I ever use."

Cut To:

Council Van

The camera is jostled in the back of the van. Denise and Chamique sit in the back. They’re silent, and never look at each other.

Kennedy (V.O.): "You’re always aware when you go out that you might not come back. You’re going out to kill things, things that want to kill you."

Cut To:

Outside Abandoned Church

The camera catches up to Kennedy just as she hops out of the van and slams the passenger-side door behind her. The van is parked out front of an abandoned brick church, its sign half torn away. The skies are overcast with a dark gray hue, and there is an intermittent coating of slush on the ground.

Kennedy (V.O.): "After a while, some girls start to think, ‘I’ve done this 20 times and I was fine. Nothing’s gonna happen this time.’ And those are girls who get killed."

The team gathers in front of the van, Kennedy doing a visual once-over to make sure everyone’s accounted for.

"Not your usual demon haunt," Chamique comments, looking at the church’s modest steeple.

"We’ll go in through the front," Kennedy announces. "Everyone stay close." She turns to look at the camera. "You too."

Cut To:

Church Front Door

Kennedy opens the church’s front door with long, loud creak. The camera follows her and the rest of the team as they creep inside. A few of the pews are missing. The curtains hang, haphazardly and diagonally, across only a couple of windows.

"Doesn’t look ocupado," Marie comments. "Maybe the watchers gave us the wrong location."

"Eyes peeled," Kennedy whispers.

The sound of metal rolling across the floor can be heard distinctly, followed by a hiss.

"What’s—" Denise begins.

"Smoke," Kennedy realizes. "Stay together."

Indeed, clouds of smoke are beginning to waft across the church, obscuring the leaning cross at the far end. A silhouette emerges out of the gathering gloom, an indistinct shape except for its glowing gold eyes.

"Welcome," the shape’s inhumanly deep voice announces.

"Who are you?" Kennedy asks. Behind her, Chamique coughs into her sleeve.

"I serve the Voice of Hell," comes the reply. "She speaks through me."

"The Voice of Hell is a girl?" Marie whispers.

Kennedy ignores her. "Why are you here?"

"We are gathered for the War," the demon with glowing eyes tells them. "The Final War between your kind and ours, which will end with your kind banished to the same hell where you sent our ancestors."

Kennedy smirks as the smoke continues to fill the church, reducing the visibility to almost nil. "Right. The darkness approaching, blah, blah,

blah. You apocalyptic demon types really don’t come up with new lines, do you?"

"You’re wrong," the demon says, with the slightest hint of a smile in its voice. "The darkness isn’t approaching. The darkness is here."

Feral cries suddenly overwhelm the camera’s microphone into static, and the camera captures several demons, of varying shapes, colors, and sizes, flashing across the frame, barreling into slayers.

"Ambush!" someone shouts.

"It’s a trap!" someone else yells.

The cameraman runs, his panting audible. The picture shakes to near incomprehensibility, as the camera captures a series of images rising out of the smoke. Marie takes a punch from a seven-foot-tall demon with blue fur, and flies backward several feet. Shilpi stands majestically on the top edge of a pew, fighting a lithe, black-scaled demon with her ancestral sword.

The camera stops briefly on Kennedy, hunched between pews, whispering frantically into her radio. "Base, this is Slayer Two. Come in base. Dammit!"

Then the camera hurries forward, but stops when Denise lurches out of the mist towards it. One hand is holding her neck, while the other reaches out feebly towards the camera.

"You…" she rasps, barely loud enough to hear. "You have to get out of here. Get out…" She removes her hand from her neck, revealing that it is soaked with blood from a very serious looking wound on the side of her throat. She falls to her knees and then collapses face-first into the ratty carpet. Somewhere, a female voice can be heard screaming incoherently.

Cut To:

Abandoned Church Interior

Announcer (V.O.): "Coming up on Robert Devlin’s Inside the Watchers Council...the battle continues…"

Kennedy yells, "Follow my voice!" in the smoke-filled church, then spins and perfectly stakes a vampire through the heart.

Cut To:

Council Infirmary

Announcer (V.O.): "And ends in a medical emergency."

Dr. Miller shouts to a nurse in a bustling infirmary. "I’m going to need a transfusion…" he looks down, then back up at her. "Maybe several transfusions."

Announcer (V.O.): "That and more, next on CNN."

Black Out

Graphic: "CNN Update"

Fade In:

News Studio

A music cue leads into Rock Cartwright sitting behind a desk, a busy computer-filled newsroom behind him.

"This is the CNN Update," he begins, "giving you the latest headlines every half hour. I’m Rock Cartwright."

A graphic appears over his shoulder, "O’Mara Fights Back", with a picture of the Congresswoman.

"Ohio Congresswoman Autumn O’Mara spoke out strongly today against a string of apparent terrorist attacks by a demon group calling itself the Voice of Hell. The presidential hopeful’s rhetoric today in Concord, New Hampshire was surprisingly aggressive."

Cut To:

Concord, NH – Auditorium

Congresswoman O’Mara stands behind a podium, speaking passionately. "I will not stand idly by and let these monsters destroy our way of life. There is a reason we call them demons, and that is because they are creatures from Hell! I call on our leaders to take drastic measures now. The time when we could live side-by-side with these creatures in ignorance has passed. For the sake of our children, we must act."

Cut To:

News Studio

"O’Mara made the comments after the attack yesterday on a Skokie, Illinois LargeMart that killed 7 and injured 25," Cartwright explains. "The store was crowded with last-minute Christmas shoppers. The suspect, a Greatsnak demon, killed himself before he could be apprehended by the local Council."

The graphic over his shoulder changes to the Council shield.

"Meanwhile, on 10th Street, Council Spokesman Jim Pollan commented on the Voice of Hell attacks for the first time."

Cut To:

Council Press Room

Jim stands behind his own podium, the large Council logo framing his head.

"We are taking the situation very, very seriously, and we are investigating the matter as thoroughly as we can. But, and I can’t emphasize this enough, the public should not panic. We are remaining vigilant, and hopefully the public is as well, but the only difference between this and previous threats is that the campaign seems to be somewhat more organized."

Cut To:

News Studio

The graphic over Rock Cartwright’s shoulder is now a large dollar sign.

"Retailers expressed concern that the attacks would keep fearful shoppers home in this final week of the Christmas shopping season.

One CEO said that the impact on the economy could be, quote, simply enormous."

The graphic over his shoulder changes to the stick-figure logo of Major League Baseball.

"Big news today out of the sports world, as the New York Mets announced the signing of professional baseball’s first female player. 19-year-old Venezuelan Selena Betancourt, who has slayer powers but declined to work for the Watchers Council, signed a five-year, fifteen-million-dollar contract. At a press conference today, she defended her decision to pursue a career in athletics."

Cut To:

New York City – Mets Press Room

Selena, a small, beautiful girl with a ponytail sticking out the back of her blue and orange Mets cap, sits behind a table and speaks into a microphone. Behind her is a backdrop that interlaces the Mets logo with that of Subway.

"With this contract, I can support my family," she says in heavily accented English. "They can move here, to America, and my younger brother can go to college. None of that would have been possible had I gone to the Council. Also, I wish to follow in the steps of my hero, Omar Vizquel. I am very happy today."

She grins widely, and cameras flash.

Cut To:

News Studio

"The Philadelphia Phillies announced today that they plan to protest the signing of Betancourt, claiming her powers will give the Mets an unfair advantage," Cartwright explains. "However, inside sources claim Major League Baseball will reject the complaint."

"This has been a CNN News Update, giving you the latest headlines every half hour. I’m Rock Cartwright."

The camera swings out to a wide shot, while Cartwright shuffles papers. The theme music plays him out…

Fade to Black

 

End of Act Two

Act ThreeGraphic: "CNN Special Report"

Announcer (V.O.): "And now we return to an exclusive CNN Special Report… Robert Devlin’s Inside the Watchers Council."

Cut To:

Abandoned Church – Interior

Denise is on the floor, motionless and bleeding profusely. The camera shakes wildly, which only adds to the limited visibility caused by the thickening smoke. Inhuman sounds and the occasional clash of metal can be heard clearly. The camera spins just in time to catch a demon with sharp teeth and loose, floppy skin, possibly a distant relative of Clem’s, running directly towards it with a feral growl.

The demon is pulled away at the last second by Chamique. She falls on top of her opponent and takes the opportunity to run a sword through its chest. She, the sword, the demon, and the surrounding area are splattered with a fountain of purple goo.

The camera whips around, and things become visually incoherent for a moment. When the view gets steadier, it is of the altar. Kennedy spins into view, fighting a gigantic bald vampire with a massive scar over one eye. The vampire’s punch catches Kennedy hard over the eye, but

she is relatively unfazed. She attempts a side-kick, but the vampire catches her leg. Kennedy spins to free herself, and both she and the vampire are thrown off balance and fall to the floor.

The vampire is on its feet first and rushes her but as it dives on her, Kennedy uses her legs and sends the vampire flying past her. She flips easily to her feet, pulls out a stake, and plunges it into the vampire’s heart as it lies on the ground. It dusts on camera.

Kennedy turns and yells into the smoke. "This is Kennedy," she shouts, before being interrupted by a coughing fit. "We’re gonna get out of here. Just follow my voice!"

She runs for the aisle between the church pews, and the camera hurriedly follows. "Follow my voice," she yells again. She comes to halt when she almost trips over Denise.

"Oh, girl…" Kennedy can barely be heard to sigh. She kneels next to Denise and looks up at the camera. "You. Help me."

"Do…do you…" an unseen voice stutters.

"Look, I know this is killer footage or whatever. But she’s going to die if we don’t get her out of here ASAP. She’ll probably die anyway. So use that camera light as a spotlight so I can carry her out of here."

After a moment’s hesitation, the image swirls.

Fade to Black

Devlin (V.O.): "The strike team would make it out of what had once been First Ascension Reformed Church with no further casualties. This would be the Council’s first encounter with a group that would soon come to be identified as the Voice of Hell."

Fade In:

Dr. Miller’s Office

"I am Dr. Albert Miller. Albert to my wife, Dr. Miller to everyone here at the Council. I run the infirmary here at headquarters."

Dr. Miller is sitting behind his desk, various charts hanging in the background.

Devlin sits across the desk from him. "I’ve heard that referring to the department you run as merely an infirmary might be slightly misleading."

Dr. Miller allows himself a modest chuckle. "Well, I suppose you could say that. We’re certainly pioneering treatments here. We’re always doing research as well, studies of slayer hormone levels, things like that."

"What’s one method of treatment that you invented here that’s now starting to gain wider acceptance?" Devlin asks.

"There’s a…cocktail, I guess you would say, with magical properties that, when administered to a habitual magic user, we’ve found enhances their healing abilities close to those of a slayer. We are looking into whether that could have wider applications."

"You seem like a fairly laid-back guy," Devlin comments. "Would you say this is a high-stress job?"

Dr. Miller hesitates. "It can be. It certainly can be."

Smash Cut To:

Council Infirmary

The doors suddenly burst open as two nurses wheel Denise into the infirmary on a gurney. One attempts to keep pressure on the wound on the slayer’s neck. Denise appears unconscious, though her eyes are moving beneath mostly-closed lids. They are accompanied by Kennedy and Marie.

Dr. Miller finishes snapping on a pair of disposable gloves and turns to examine Denise’s wound. "Vampire?"

"We don’t know," Marie answers. "We…couldn’t see."

"Okay," Dr. Miller tells the nurses. "We’re gonna move her. One, two, three." On three, the doctor and two nurses lift in unison and move Denise onto an examination table.

"She’s lost a lot of blood," one of the nurses comments.

"She’s in hypovolemic shock," Dr. Miller says, "prepare for venous cutdown."

The other nurse is shooing Kennedy and Marie out of the infirmary. "We just need some space to work."

"Is she going to be okay?" Kennedy asks.

"We won’t know more until the doctor’s treated the wound," the nurse replies.

"I’m going to need a transfusion," Dr. Miller calls out. He looks down at the wound again for a split-second. "Maybe several."

"Please," the nurse tells Kennedy and Marie, "let us work."

Cut To:

Interview

Kennedy stands in the hallway outside the infirmary.

"It’s tough when someone gets hurt like this. There’s nothing you can do at this point, it’s all up to the medical people. So what you do is think about all the things you could have done before that would have prevented what happened. You think about all the stupid things you’ve done and said. That’s what it’s like."

Cut To:

Interview

"Would you say you have a lot of friends here at the Council?" Devlin asks Dr. Miller in the latter’s office.

There is a moment of silence as Dr. Miller thinks over his answer.

"No, no, I try not to…get too close. It can be difficult to stay uninvolved, but I’ve found that if someone works here, the chances that I’m going to treat that person in a life or death situation are pretty high. And you can’t let emotion enter into it more than it usually would."

Cut To:

Interview

"Thank the goddess we have the medical staff that we do," Willow says. "I think we’ve all been unconscious in there at one time or another. Dr. Miller is really our unsung hero."

Cut To:

Council Infirmary

Kennedy and Marie have left, and the doctor and a nurse continue to work on Denise. The camera can’t quite find the right angle to show what they’re doing.

"Heartbeat is weak," the nurse reports.

"Where’s that transfusion?" the doctor calls. There is no answer.

"Breathing is irregular," the nurse announces.

"We’re about to lose her," Dr. Miller realizes. He takes a deep breath and turns towards the camera. "Okay, you need to get that thing out of here."

Cut To:

Interview

Denise lies in an infirmary bed, awake and alert. She wears a large bandage that covers half her neck.

Her voice is raspy, but clear. "I just want to thank Dr. Miller and the nurses…they saved my life." She is silent for a long moment. "So…there that is. And I’ve got it all on tape to show my grandkids."

Cut To:

Interview

"What did you do to save Denise?" Devlin asks Dr. Miller. "Last we saw, things looked pretty grim."

"Honestly?" Dr. Miller takes off his glasses. "I don’t remember. Things happen quickly, and you make snap decisions.

"That doesn’t seem like a very reliable system."

"Well, all I know is, my job is to save lives," Dr. Miller replies. "And if I don’t do that, I don’t have anything."

Devlin sits back in his chair. "You’re obviously very driven, focused on your work…does that take a toll on the rest of your life?"

"Oh, of course it does," Dr. Miller replies. "Of course it does. My wife hardly knows what I look like some weeks…she’s done such a great job with our son, I don’t know where to begin. But they understand that this is what I need to do. And I understand that it’s just as hard on them as it is on me."

"What did you think when you learned exactly what you were going to be doing on this job?"

Dr. Miller chuckles. "You know what? My job is here. This infirmary is my domain, if you want to call it that. The rest…I let the brass take care of that. We’re all happier this way."

Cut To:

Slayer Gym

A long shot shows Mia on her back, bench-pressing a hefty amount of weight.

Jeff walks towards her. "You really should use a spotter."

Mia sets the weight down on its supports. "Did you need something?"

"I wanted to talk to you about what happened with Lorinda in class."

Mia sits up, and the camera zooms in on her. "I’m not sure what to say. She was disrespectful, and I lost it. There’s going to be a meeting about it, they’ll probably—"

"That’s not what I’m concerned about," Jeff interrupts. "I wanted to remind you…if you have a problem with my slayer, you take it up with me."

Mia gets to her feet, doing her best to look intimidating. "Look, I don’t know what she told you…"

Jeff doesn’t back down. "She told me you went after her in front of her class, and then you lost it and started throwing things. I understand Lorinda can be a handful, but I am her watcher. If she has a behavior

problem, you come to me and we’ll talk it out…in private." The two of them are staring at each other now, and Jeff pronounces each word carefully. "Is that clear?"

After a moment, Mia looks away, licking her lips. "Yeah, I gotcha."

Devlin (V.O.): "The close relationship between a slayer and her watcher is unique and difficult to fully understand. We spoke to the former watcher of Buffy Summers herself, Rupert Giles, to try and shed some more light on the subject."

Cut To:

Interview

Giles sits in antique leather chair in what looks like his study, with Devlin seated in a similar chair across from him.

"A watcher guides his or her slayer, trains her, gives her the information and tools she needs to be successful."

"That seems awfully cut and dried," Devlin comments.

"That’s because you asked for a simple explanation," Giles replies with a hint of a smile. "It’s true that, in my experience, a watcher is often much more than what you would read in a press release or a textbook. Watchers are…friends, parents, confidants…when you’re assigned a slayer, she has to become like a member of your family."

"Does it ever strike you as a strange way of doing things?"

"When every slayer was a pre-pubescent girl and every watcher an elderly male…perhaps," Giles chuckles. "But things were done that way for centuries."

"Why do you think the system has endured for so long?" Devlin asks.

Giles thinks about this. "It is my belief that, in a situation such as the one a slayer faces, a support system is incredibly vital. A good watcher can provide that support under the most dire of circumstances."

"Here’s a question I’ve had a tough time getting an answer to," Devlin begins. "Who’s the boss…watcher or slayer?"

Giles takes off his glasses and begins to wipe them off with a handkerchief.

Cut To:

Interview

"Oh, slayers," Faith says. "’Cause we can beat the crap out of things. And if they tell you to do something, you just go ‘screw that.’"

Cut To:

Interview

"Knowledge is power is our whole slogan," Rowena comments. "So I think you can logically infer…I probably shouldn’t finish that sentence."

Cut To:

Interview

"Watchers, apparently." Kennedy does not look happy. "That’s been my experience."

Cut To:

Interview

"Please tell me you didn’t ask Faith that question," Buffy sighs.

Cut To:

Interview

"There’s no boss," little Cindy says. "It’s an equal partnership. That’s what my watcher, Mr. Portis, says. He’s really great."

Cut To:

Faith and Robin’s Apartment

Devlin (V.O.): "It’s not all work at the Watchers Council. Each member has his or her own hobbies to unwind from a busy day."

Devlin points to a canvas and asks, "What do you call this one?"

"I really don’t give them names," Faith replies. The camera shows a Faith sitting on a stool with a painting in front of her. It’s a landscape with the moon coming over the water.

"What was the inspiration for this one?" Devlin asks.

Faith seems reluctant to answer. "After I died, and came back, I had a lot of questions I never got answers to. I still don’t, and for the first few months, I found myself going back to where it happened. Where I died, I mean. So I’ve seen this view," she says gesturing to the painting, "like a million times it seems. So I thought I’d put it on canvas."

"It’s very good," Devlin replies. "But this one over here," he said pointing to a canvas that was completely black. "Not sure about this one."

Faith chuckles. "When you do acrylic you start with a base color. When you start putting in your other colors that ‘back’ color ‘bleeds’ through to the front, giving it an underlining ‘feeling’. My son – he’s a great artist, by the way – he told me about that when I decided to start painting. So a sunny shot, for example, would have a yellow base coat."

"You mentioned your son told you. Does that mean you didn’t always paint?" Devlin asks.

"Heck, no," Faith chuckles. "I did sketches, still do actually, with charcoal. But this is whole new territory for me but I’m getting some pretty good cash on e-bay for them."

"So you’ve got a hobby and a part-time job?" Devlin asks with a grin.

"Hobby, yeah, it takes off the edge, but I don’t keep the money. Well, I do keep some to buy another canvas for the next painting and for shipping, but the money I actually earn goes to various charities each month."

"Like who?" Devlin asks.

"I don’t give to big names because, well, it always seems like one scandal after another at some of them. Some slob takes off with millions of dollars meant to help other people so I try to avoid them." Faith turns to the camera. "No offense to anyone at those places. I just don’t have time to research every organization’s histories and goings-on."

"So where does the money go that you earn?"

"Usually smaller, local places like here in Cleveland or to particular cities where some of the slayers are from. Soup kitchens, homeless shelters, places like that. Somewhere that I can actual walk into and say, ‘Yeah, these people are doing some good.’ Interesting side note by the way: most people don’t realize we lose a lot of homeless people on the streets to vamps. They’re easy targets, ya know? And they unwittingly keep vamp populations high. So anything that helps overall, and keeps them off the streets each night, is a good thing - for them since they’ve got a place to sleep and for the population at large so the vamps can’t feed as easily. So that’s where I send the profits. And as for the painting itself, it’s a great way to relax at the end of a long night."

Faith motions Devlin to follow her and they walk over to a third easel with a small canvas. She hands him a paintbrush and motions to the bottles of paint nearby. "Give it a go," she tells him.

"Me?" Devlin asks surprised. "Oh, I’m not a painter."

"Neither am I," Faith replies. "But you don’t have to be an expert at something to have fun. Give it a try."

Devlin begins to get his supplies in order and start to paint, as Faith looks on coaching him.

Devlin (V.O): "While my creation didn’t turn out as well as Faith’s, she did show me that a slayer’s life isn’t always about killing and destroying. Sometimes it’s about creating beautiful works of art and putting smiles on people’s faces. Sometimes even your own."

The camera shows a seascape that Devlin’s made and a tiny, mangled looking boat on the horizon. Faith and Devlin both laugh as he points to the canvas.

"I goofed," he says pointing with his brush.

"Easy fix," Faith tells him as she takes the brush and lightly goes over the area with another color. "See? Good as new. Now you can try again."

"Maybe I’ll just avoid putting in a sailboat this time." Devlin laughs and Faith joins him.

Cut to:

Shannon’s Dorm Room

"What do I do?" Shannon asks and then shrugs. "Well, a lot of my time is spent as the team leader but I do like to write stories. I know I’ll never be anything but a slayer. I mean, that’s okay and all, but sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a different kind of future. Plus, when I reach 30 I’m no longer on active duty so I could start a career then, well, maybe. But usually when I wonder, I just I make up stories."

Devlin (off camera): What kind of stories?

"Lots of things," she says with a bashful grin. "You name it and I probably wrote about it."

"Investment banker?"

"Yeah."

"Short order cook."

"Yep."

Devlin chuckles.

"Told you I’ve written about everything." Shannon smiles.

Cut to:

Slayer Gym

Kadin is holding a punching bag while Kennedy works a combination of kicks and punches.

"She likes to stay fit," Kadin tells the camera. "It shows," she adds slyly.

Kennedy hits the bag with each word. "Stop…breaking…my…con…cen…tration."

"She’s also very sexy when she’s annoyed." Kennedy drops her arms to her side and stares at Kadin. "Well, it’s true."

Shot of Kadin standing in the gym.

Devlin (V.O): "However, not everyone at the Council is an official member."

"How did you meet Kennedy?" Devlin asks.

"I really don’t think that’s anyone’s concern," Kadin replies. "Let’s just say I was working a job and we crossed paths."

"Fair enough. Now your name is Van Helsing, like…"

"Yes, Dracula’s Van Helsing, yes," she says sounding bored. "Ever since the Council’s gone public, you have no idea how many people have mentioned that."

"What’s it like to be part of a family legacy of monster fighters?"

Kadin looks away from the camera for a moment and then looks back. "Again, let’s just say it’s had its ups and downs, and we’ll leave it at that."

"If you don’t mind me saying, you and Kennedy are quite a bit alike. Neither of you seems to enjoy answering questions."

Kadin says nothing and simply looks at Devlin. Finally, she says, "I didn’t hear a question in there."

Nervously, he adds, "Would you say that’s correct?"

Again, Kadin says nothing at first, but then she clears her throat and simply answers, "Sure."

Cut to:

Willow and Rowena’s apartment

Rowena stands in the kitchen over the stove, stirring something in a pot.

"Hot chocolate," she mentions to the camera. "Willow’s taking the news about Jocelyn pretty hard so we all do what we can to try to lift her spirits a little. And since she likes hot chocolate, I’m making some. It won’t change what’s happened. But sometimes the best you can do in this job is to take what little comfort you can. In this case, a little milk and coco." Rowena stirs some more. "It’s really sad," she continues. "When you lose someone, I mean. The old guard, that’s what we call the former Council that operated in secret, their attitude was the slayer was just a tool. The coven was a means to an end. Our attitude is about 180 degrees from where it once was. Slayers and watchers have tight bonds. That’s due in part to Buffy and Giles working out scheduling assignments and helping train both parties in what worked for them. The same is true of the high priests and priestesses and their witches. So when you lose someone, no matter who, it’s rough." Rowena tapped the wooden spoon on the side of the pot and repeats, "It’s rough."

Rowena closes her eyes briefly and places a hand on her stomach, taking a deep breath. "The twins are fighting for dominance again I think," she says before reaching for a mug from the cupboard.

Cut to:

Buffy’s Office

Giles’s arm is around Willow, who has the same cup Rowena pulled from the cupboard now in her hand. He says something to her, she gives him a melancholy smile and puts her head briefly on his shoulder. Xander appears to say something on the other side of Willow and she slaps his leg playfully. Buffy, seated on the other side of Xander, smiles at the three of them.

Devlin (V.O): "While the Council is comprised of many people, there are four who have known for the last decade that ‘monsters’ are real. For all that time, they’ve been fighting them together."

"Some days," Willow begins, "it seems like everything that can go wrong, goes wrong." The others nod in agreement. "We just can’t catch

a break because good people are lost. A-And don’t even get us started on all the apocalypses."

"There’ve been more than two?" Devlin asks. The gang all look at each other and begin to chuckle and smile, all of them talking at once. "I’ll take that as a yes," Devlin says over the commotion.

"I’ve actually lost count," Buffy admits.

"Yeah, and we could list them all, but this show’s only an hour," Xander adds. Buffy playfully bumps shoulders with Xander.

"Now you guys have a nickname, right?" Devlin asks. "The Scooby gang, is it? How did that come about?"

"Yeah, because we were the group of meddling kids thwarting the powers of darkness," Xander pauses and then looks over at Giles. "Except for him. He’s always been old."

"Ha, ha," Giles remarks.

"Oh, hey, Giles, do your speech? You’re one girl speech," Buffy leans over and tells him.

"It really doesn’t make much sense now."

"True, but he had this great speech," Buffy says to the camera, "and the way he said it was really cool." She turns back to Giles. "Go on and do it."

Xander and Willow join in on the prodding and Giles clears his throat before saying, "In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer."

The three of them all hoot and applaud, making Giles blush and shake his head.

"But it wasn’t just she alone, was it?" Devlin asks.

"Not at all," Buffy answers. "Of course, there were times when only I could do certain things that needed to be done – slayer strength and all that. But I never would have gotten to those times

without these guys. I needed them, and the truth is I still do, and so does the world."

"Miss Summers," a voice calls from out of camera shot. The camera pans over to see a blonde woman standing there, perhaps thirty years old. "I know you said no interruptions but Rowena is on line one for Willow."

"Wait…who’s that?" Willow’s brow furrows.

The woman waves. "Hi, I’m Joan. Miss Summers’ assistant, remember?"

"She’s real," Xander exclaims. "She’s really really real."

"This is kind of like when I found out Santa was real." Willow grins.

"Wait, Santa’s…" Devlin begins.

"Your wife’s on the phone," Joan reminds Willow.

Buffy rolls her eyes. "Thanks, Joan. She’ll take it here."

"Sorry, guys," Willow tells Devlin and the crew, before picking up the phone and pressing the line. "Hey Sweetie, what’s up?…I’m not sure, why?…Really! Right now?…An hour ago and you’re just telling me now?…You’re right, you’re right. I’m on my way." Willow hung up the phone. "Sorry guys, the interview is over." Not waiting for a question from the confused faces she announces, "Rowena’s in labor."

Cut To:

Council Hallway

Announcer (V.O): "As the Council grieves for recent members lost, two more join the ranks."

Rowena cries out and clutches her stomach.

"Oh, goddess," Willow says in a panic, "you’re gonna end up having our kids right here in this hallway!"

Announcer (V.O): "Coming up next, we’ll meet the newest and youngest additions to the Watchers Council."

Fade to Black

End of Act Three

Act Four 

Graphic: "CNN Special Report"

Announcer (V.O.): "And now we return to the conclusion of an exclusive CNN Special Report… Robert Devlin’s Inside the Watchers Council."

Cut To:

Council Hallway

The camera follows the quartet as they walk briskly down the hallway with Willow in the lead. She turns her head back toward the camera.

"Interview’s over guys," she tells them.

Devlin’s voice comes in from off camera. "Maybe but we’re going where the action is."

Willow rolls her eyes and walks into her apartment, everyone else filing inside behind her. Rowena looks over to everyone now standing there, examining her.

"I see you brought the Calvary…and the camera crew."

"I couldn’t ditch them," Willow says quickly. "The crew; not the Calvary. Where’s your coat? You’re not even ready yet?"

"My bag is packed right there by the door where you left it, but I can’t leave just yet. I’ve got to get these SR-214 forms to Grace, and-."

"You’re having a baby, two babies," Willow insists. "This can wait. Grace can handle it on her own. So get your coat, and let’s go!"

"Remember to call me guys," Xander says. "I want to know how things are going."

"We’ll call," Willow answers him before turning back to Rowena. "Now please…" she says looking around for Rowena’s coat, "where’s your jacket?"

Rowena grins. "Over there on the coat rack, like usual," she says as she points. "Geez, calm down Will."

"I-I-I can’t be calm. You’ve been in labor for at least two hours I bet! You say it’s only been one but chances are it’s been at least two. I know how you are," she says waving a finger.

Rowena gives her a guilty grin. "Maybe two and a half, alright three" Willow gave her a disapproving look. "Hey, I sit here or I sit at a hospital. I’d rather sit here. But the contractions are starting to come at about 10 minutes apart, so now we can go."

"Then let’s go," Willow says motioning to the door.

"After I talk to Grace."

"She is as pig-headed as Will, isn’t she?" Buffy says to Xander.

"I don’t care as long as they call me," he adds.

"We’ll call," Willow and Rowena both say at the same time.

"You rang?" A voice calls from the open door.

The camera swivels around to show Grace standing there.

"Yes," Rowena says as the camera moves back to her, "I need you to, arghh…" Rowena clutches her stomach and hunches her shoulders in pain before starting to breathe in and out deeply. Willow and Xander

both come to her side and grab an arm to steady her so she doesn’t fall.

"Is she in labor?" Grace asks.

"Yep," Buffy replies.

"Where are the SR-214's?" Willow asks Rowena. She motions to the desk and Willow turns back to Grace. "Tell her you’ll finish those so we can get the heck outta here, would you please?"

"I-I’ll finish them," Grace says.

"Wonderful, can we go now?" Willow asks Rowena.

Rowena nods quickly. "Yeah," she says short of breath. "Yeah. Oh wait!" she exclaims, as if remembering something.

Willow sighs audibly. "Buffy get her coat, please," Willow says.

"Grace, I don’t have Ken’s report in yet," Rowena continues. "I need that in the next 24 hours. Dr. Miller says Denise is doing better so make sure she’s got hers done too." Buffy immerges in camera view and helps Rowena with her coat as she still talks to Grace. "Oh, and be sure that DD-90 gets filed with the research department."

Willow begins to pull Rowena toward the door and the cameraman takes a few steps back to give them clearance while being able to follow them.

Devlin (V.O.): "If nothing else, we have learned that the members of the Council are dedicated in all the tasks they’re assigned, but they also have dependable counterparts they can trust."

Cut to:

Council Hallway

"I got it Ro," Grace says as they all walk down the hallway. "Don’t worry. I’ll handle it all. Just concentrate on having those babies right now."

Rowena continues to focus on her breathing as she walks down the hall. "That’s…wha…I’m…doin’."

Willow looks at her watch. "It hasn’t been 10 minutes! You’re having another contraction already?"

Rowena stops walking for a moment. "Just a little one," she says through gritted teeth.

"Oh, goddess. You’re gonna end up having our kids right here in this hallway!"

"Chill!"

"The suitcase!" Willow says and starts to turn around. Giles hooks her by the arm and then holds it up and motions her back toward Rowena. "Oh, good!"

"Try deep breathing, Will," Rowena says with a ghost of a smile. "I think you need it more than me right now."

Cut to:

Watchers Council Lobby

"Come here," Xander tells both Willow and Rowena. He opens his arms and he pulls them both into a group hug. "You be sure to call the first chance you get. I mean it."

"Again," Willow says as she pulls away. "We will. But really we’ve gotta go."

Xander gives her a nod.

Cut to:

Watchers Council Garage

The camera shows Willow helping Rowena into a Council car while Xander takes the suitcase and puts it into the backseat.

"Now you promise you’ll call me, right?"

"Yes, Xander," Willow tells him.

"Because I want to know she’s okay, and the babies too, of course. I just-."

"Xander…" Willow throws her hands up in the air. "Get in the car and come with us, alright?"

"Well," he says bashfully. "I don’t want to intrude."

"Get in the car now! I just spent a lifetime getting her in the car, so don’t you argue with me too!" she says firmly, poking his chest, before walking over to the driver’s side.

Xander shrugs and hops into the backseat after moving the suitcase to the side. Seconds later, the car is in motion. The camera then turns to Buffy and Giles, who are standing nearby.

"And there you have it - Labor Watchers’ Style." Buffy shrugs.

Cut To:

Chester Ave.

It’s night now, and the streetlights aren’t exactly in mint condition. Some are blinking, a few are out completely. The sidewalk is laced with slush, and the gutters are lined with small piles of snow, smudged black by car exhaust.

Devlin (V.O.): "Night in Cleveland. Like many cities around the world, the residents have grown used to seeing packs of young women roaming the streets. And feeling safe."

Siobhan leads a small, but well-bundled, group of slayers down the sidewalk. She speaks into her radio. "The main streets are looking clear. We’re gonna start digging deeper." The reply is loud and staticy, but not entirely clear.

Cut To:

Interview

"Nightly patrol is our bread and butter," Kennedy says, looking like she’s caught while hurrying from one command center to another. "That’s where we keep things in

control. That’s where we gather our information. That’s how we make our living. That’s our grind."

Cut To:

Chester Ave.

Siobhan speaks to the camera as she leads the group.

"Just by showing ourselves, we keep many of the bad ones off the streets. A vamp that stays in its nice and cozies when the sun goes down is a vamp that’s not biting a warm body."

"She’s British," one of the girls announces. "If you couldn’t tell."

"What’s the biggest adjustment you’re having to make here in Cleveland?" A voice asks from behind the camera.

"Weather," Siobhan says. "Just the bloody wind…" She shivers. There are giggles in the group behind her, but Siobhan shushes them. They’ve come to a pitch-black alley.

With a nod of Siobhan’s head, the girls file in, weapons ready. The camera follows them, switching to night vision.

There are several moments of tension and hard breathing. Slayer breath shows clearly in the cold. A rattling noise causes the camera to swing toward… a squirrel, bright green under night vision, skittering out of a dumpster.

"It’s clear," Siobhan announces.

"Clear?" The voice behind the camera sounds disappointed.

"Yeah," she tells him. "Not every alley has monsters in it. Be thankful."

Cut to:

Interview

The camera shows Brell sitting down as someone puts a microphone on his shirt.

Devlin (V.O.): "Not all monsters are evil either according to the Council."

"My name is Brell. I help the Council when I can and over the years Mr. Giles has helped me with my English. My speech was very choppy before the Council arrived in Cleveland, but I’ve gotten better over the years."

"Does Mr. Giles provide lessons?" Devlin asks.

"When he first retired he did and that helped very much. Now that I have a better understanding I study on my own and ask him questions as needed. Plus, once a month, my wife Greet and I get our families together so that gives me the chance to ask questions too. Our two children, Kher and Shaznay, are older, but our son Belizet was born the same year as Elizabeth so they often play together. In fact, Shaznay sometimes baby-sits for the Giles or Belizet will simply sleep over at their home."

"So there’s a great deal of trust between your families then?" Devlin asks.

"Oh, yes. It was very difficult for us when the truth first came out. People see the color of your skin, and they make assumptions about you that just aren’t true. For many weeks the slayers would stop by to check on us, do grocery shopping since I couldn’t go out, you know…small things that I took for granted. But things have gotten better."

"How so?"

"I’ve found steady work. I can go out in public…The Council did a very good job of letting people know who they can trust and who not to trust. Of course, there are bad ones within good demon species but that can be said of the human race also, right?" Brell asks with a smile.

"Yes, that’s certainly true. There are good people and bad people," Devlin agrees.

"In any case, I really credit the Council for having good people in place who spread the true word."

Cut to:

Interview

Jim Pollan sits behind a desk talking on the phone.

Devlin (V.O.): "And Public Relations is certainly something the Council can’t do without in today’s world."

"I admit I get offended when people call me a spin doctor," Jim says. "I don’t make a habit of making up stories about the news that goes on at the Watchers Council. I simply inform the press on matters of interest to the public while at the same time maintaining a level of confidentiality to protect the welfare of our staff."

"So is the Council in the habit of keeping secrets?" Devlin asks.

"Years ago, yes. They believed it was best if the world didn’t know how precarious things really were. It was easier to operate and protect the public at large if they remained anonymous. Today, we don’t have that option. When they say it’s a global world, it truly is. A vampire attack might happen and 15 minutes later it’s on the web. My watcher predecessors never had to deal with Youtube," Jim says with a smile.

"So you are a watcher yourself?" Devlin asks.

"That I am. In fact, Rowena and I were at the academy at the same time. So we have a long history."

"So you’ve been friends for awhile?"

Pollan grins. "I respect Rowena a great deal, but let’s just say we’re friendly rivals and leave it at that."

"Picking your words wisely I see," Devlin says with a chuckle.

"That’s what I do," Jim says with a faint smile.

Cut To:

Council Library

A tall young man, mid-twenties with dark hair, speaks directly to the camera while standing in the library.

"My name is Stewart Markham, and I’m the Head Watcher On-Call tonight."

The camera shows several people behind him, going through papers and taking phone calls.

"We go through reports, we organize information, and we’re ready to help with any threat in approximately 2.7 seconds. There are at least three watchers on-call here at headquarters 24/7/365. Evil never sleeps, so I don’t get to. I wish evil would sleep every once in a while."

Cut To:

Library Stacks

Jackson puts a book back on its shelf. "Yes. I was up early this morning, but I think I over-caffeinated, so everything’s fine on that front." He turns to look directly at the camera. "Right now there’s not much going on in the field other than the usual couple of stakings, so we’re looking at this situation with the Voice of Hell and trying to figure out, basically, what the hell happened at First Ascension."

Cut To:

Interview

"I’ll tell you what the hell happened at First Ascension," Kennedy says angrily. "We went in there and got BLEEP BLEEP BLEEEEEP BLEEP BLEEP. That’s what happened."

Cut to:

Hospital Hallway

The camera shows Xander pacing. He stops and looks up at the clock before he resumes his pacing again.

Devlin (V.O.): "The Council has a dedicated staff, but they have also managed to create a dedicated family."

The camera then shows Buffy, Giles, Faith and Robin walking up to Xander, who shakes his head. Giles reaches out and gives Xander’s arm a firm squeeze. He says something that makes Xander smile for a moment.

Cut To:

Interview

Devlin’s voice can be heard from off-camera in the hospital hallway. "If you don’t mind me asking, Mr. Giles, what did you say to Mr. Harris a few moments ago that made him smile."

Giles grins again. "Oh, I simply pointed out that it took 9 months to create these children, so it’s only natural t-that the transaction won’t be a quick one."

Cut To:

Interview

"I’ve known Will my whole life," Xander says. "Literally – we grew up together. And there were footy pajamas and fire trucks and Snoopy dances. And she’s gone through a lot of pain over the years, like all of us really. I just…waiting right now is hard. I know how much Will loves Ro – she’s her wife and I want everyone to be okay. All of them. I just wish I could find out how it’s going."

Cut To:

Interview

"This?" Faith says as she holds up a plush toy in the hospital waiting room. "It’s a toy stake. See?" She pushes it into Robin’s chest, who smiles in response. "I figured I’d teach these kids the basics starting now," she replies with a grin.

"When they’re big enough to handle pointy wooden objects I’m sure she’ll have them using the real thing," Robin adds.

"You know it," Faith tells him with a smile.

Cut To:

Interview

"My role?" Buffy asks. "The cool aunt that spoils them to the point that Will and Ro want to kill me." She smiles broadly. She raises a bouquet of flowers. "That’s why I’m going to try to bribe Ro now with these."

Cut to:

Hospital Hallway

The camera shows Xander looking concerned, but then beginning to grin as he starts to walk down the hallway. He meets Willow, still in her scrubs, and sees her smiling as well. Soon the others start to follow Xander’s lead.

"Ro’s on oxygen," she tells them, "They were a bit concerned for awhile but she’s stable and doing fine now. The babies are both doing great – a boy and a girl and they’re both…perfect – just perfect."

Xander hugs Willow first, pulling her into a tight embrace, but saying nothing. After a second or so, Buffy joins in, too.

"Way to go Red," Faith compliments.

"Yes, congratulations," Giles adds.

"Can we see her?" Robin asks.

"Right now she’s sleeping," Willow replies.

"I bet," Buffy says with a grin.

"But later, yeah," Willow adds quickly. "Until then, though, you could always see Alexander and Jennifer," she tells them.

Xander’s smile broadens even more. "Thank you, Will. Really. That sounds lame and all, but thanks."

"Xan, thank you. I wouldn’t be here without you and you know I’m not talking about this hospital. Besides, it’s the least we could do.

However, we will call him Alex for short, though, so there’s no confusion," she adds with a smile. "Come on guys. Follow me."

The camera starts to follow them but Xander steps forward, preventing them from moving. "Sorry guys. Family only for this one, okay?"

Devlin’s voice can be heard from off-camera. "Alright Mr. Harris. Give Ms. Allister and Rosenberg our congratulations. Shut it down, guys."

The camera goes dark.

Fade In:

Council Lobby

Devlin (V.O.): "It’s very late, or very early, depending on your point of view, but the day hasn’t quite ended yet at the Watchers Council."

Various tired-looking slayers file through the front door of the Council. A few wave good night to each other.

Cut To:

Interview

"Here’s the thing," Kennedy says. She sits in her apartment, looking tired. Kadin is next to her on the couch. "No matter how hard your day was, you have to go out there again and do it tomorrow. Denise will get a few days off, but then she’ll be back at work."

Cut To:

Council Armory

Shilpi turns in her sword and laughs with the male attendant.

Kennedy (V.O.): "We live here and we die here. Sometimes there are rewards, and sometimes you just have to get through it."

Cut To:

Slayer Rec Room

Mia is up late in the slayer rec room. Seen in long shot, she’s seated in front of the television, which is showing an infomercial for a magic-

powered blender. She isn’t watching, though… her head is just cradled in her hands.

Kennedy (V.O.): "Sometimes it’s just too much to bear. Sometimes you get out your suitcase and seriously think of packing it."

Cut To:

Council Library

Jackson has fallen asleep on a book, his drool puddling on a drawing of a nasty-looking demon.

Kennedy (V.O.): "The hours are long, and the salary’s not that big. The worker’s comp is good, though."

Cut To:

Interview

It’s Kadin who asks, "So, is it worth it?"

Kennedy takes a deep breath. "Well, I guess it has to be, right? It has to be."

She pauses. The camera zooms in slightly on her face.

"That’s why we had to become a family."

Fade To:

CNN Studio

Devlin walks toward the camera, in the same studio from which he opened the program. "And the Watchers Council is a family. There’s no other organization on Earth quite like it, and maybe that’s a good thing. The Council’s track record isn’t entirely spotless, but it’s spotless where it counts. The world’s still here, after all."

"When we took cameras into the Watchers Council, we weren’t sure what we were going to find. We found a group of ordinary people,

doing their best under extraordinary circumstances. In the opinion of this reporter, that is all any of us can ask of them."

"I want to thank CNN, as well as everyone at Black Crystal Productions. Of course, all of us want to thank the Watchers Council for their complete cooperation in this project, especially Jim Pollan and the Council Public Relations Office. Without them, none of this would have happened."

"So now we close this evening with the first publicly released footage of Alexander and Jennifer. We wish them, as well as their parents, and their council family, all the best in their future endeavors. I’m Robert Devlin, and you’ve just gone Inside the Watchers Council."

Lights dim, and Devlin begins to walk out of frame.

Fade To:

Hospital Viewing Room

The camera, clearly shooting through the viewing window, shows two tiny newborn babies, one in a pink cap, one in a blue. The camera pulls out to show that Xander is waving to the two of them through the glass.

Fade to Black

 

Special guest starKristy Swanson as Joan

End of Robert Devlin's Inside the Watcher's Council