THE WILLOW AND SARA SERIES #1
SHATTERED ILLUSIONS
ACT FIVE
By DragonWriter17
 

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: All of the materials borrowed from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel belong to Joss Whedon and to the entities and companies associated with their creation.  I have borrowed them for creative and entertainment purposes only.  No compensation has been or ever shall be received for the writing below.  No copyright infringement is intended.

My Website: http://www.dragonwriter17.net/ 

Feedback: Yes, but only if it�s of the non-flamey variety: DragonWriter17@aol.com

Distribution: Mystic Muse and my personal site above.  (If you are interested in posting this on your site, please contact me first for permission.)

Spoilers: All seven seasons of BtVS, but especially Seasons 6 and 7.

Pairings: Willow/Kennedy, Willow/Other (Sara)

Author�s Notes: (1) This story is in screenplay format, not in fiction format.  It is the first of a series of screenplays intended to reunite Alyson Hannigan and Amber Benson in several spin-off TV movies that focus on the character of Willow.  However, they feature a new character for Amber Benson: Sara.  (2) Since the Willow and Sara Series is designed to be a true spin-off, it does employ only canon background material.

Number of Chapters: 7 acts

Complete: Yes

Summary: Two years ago, Willow lost the love of her life to a stray bullet that was meant for someone else.  She's recovered from her loss and even moved on to a new relationship.  Then a chance encounter brings her face-to-face with a stranger who looks exactly like her dead girlfriend.  What does she do?  This is the situation in which Willow Rosenberg, best friend of Buffy, finds herself.  It�s been a year since Sunnydale bit the dust, taking the Hellmouth with it.  But the danger is far from over--as Willow discovers in her new life with a new job in a new city, all without her best friends Buffy and Xander conveniently nearby.  A computer geek by day and a warrior witch by night, Willow leads the crusade against the local forces of darkness.  Aiding Willow in her fight are Kennedy, her current girlfriend and now a bonafide Slayer; Andrew, a former member of the Evil Trio, now reformed; and Ruby, a psychic advisor whose gift of Sight is very real.  The battle against evil isn�t the most difficult aspect of Willow�s life, however.  The hardest part is deciding what to do about her budding friendship with (and growing attraction to) Sara, her beloved Tara�s look-alike.  By the end of the movie, Willow will be forced to choose in a way she never expected.

ACT ONE       ACT TWO       ACT THREE       ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE       ACT SIX       ACT SEVEN

EXT. STREET NEAR WILLOW�S HOUSE � SAME

It is some time after Sara has run away.  Willow groggily wakes up where Sara has left her.  She touches the back of her head and groans in pain.  She gets to her feet and looks around.

                           WILLOW
               Sara?  Sara?

Willow returns to the corner and finds the panda.  She realizes that Sara isn�t around at all, that she�s gone.  Willow rips out her cell phone and starts to call.

                           WILLOW
                     (stops, realizing)
               You don�t have her number, doofus.  And
               she doesn�t want to see you right now
               anyway.

Willow sighs and drops her hands.  Then she gets an �uh-oh� look on her face.

                           WILLOW
               I�d better warn Dana.

Willow takes her cell phone and makes the call.  The phone rings once, and someone picks up.

INTERCUT TELEPHONE CONVERSATION � WILLOW AND DANA

                           WILLOW
               Dana?

                           DANA
               Willow!  What happened?  Thessaly just
               stormed through here a few minutes ago. 
               What is going on?

                           WILLOW
               Thessaly tried to attack me.  She�s on
               to us, so watch your back.

                           DANA
               What are we going to do?

                           WILLOW
               I don�t know yet.  Can you come by my
               house tomorrow?  Okay.  See you then.

Willow hangs up, picks up the panda, and hugs it tightly.  Then she trudges painfully home.

INT. WILLOW�S HOUSE � NIGHT

Willow is in the bathroom, pulling off her dirtied and tattered clothing and then checking out her various knots, bruises, and scrapes in the full-length mirror. 

                           WILLOW
               Boy, I sure could use some of those Slayer
               self-healing powers right about now.

The phone rings, and Willow rushes for it, hoping it�s Sara.

INTERCUT TELEPHONE CONVERSATION � WILLOW AND KENNEDY

                           WILLOW
               Hello?

                           KENNEDY
               Where have you been?  I�ve been calling
               you all night!

                           WILLOW
               Kennedy.  Hey.  I was...ummm...at
               the office...working.

                           KENNEDY
               I called there too.

                           WILLOW
               I...uhhh...turned the phones off.  I
               didn�t want to be interrupted.  I had
               this majorly tough recover job I was
               trying to finish up. 

                           KENNEDY
                     (not convinced)
               Really.

                           WILLOW
               You know me, work-a-holic, can�t let go
               of a challenge.  Say, how are things
               going at your parents� house?

                           KENNEDY
               Okay.  They�re still trying to talk me
               into coming back home.

                           WILLOW
               Oh.  Well, at least they�re not still
               mad at you for running away before.

                           KENNEDY
               Oh, they�re still mad about that.  They�re
               just not talking about it anymore.  I mean,
               I tried to explain, but it�s kind of hard to
               do that without telling them the truth.

                           WILLOW
               Too bad you can�t tell them the truth.

                           KENNEDY
               Yeah, right.  That would go over real well. 
               �Mom, Dad, the reason I ran away is because
               I�m a Slayer, and I had to go to Sunnydale,
               California, to help defeat the Ultimate
               Evil, who was trying to open a dimensional
               gateway which would bring about hell on
               earth.�

                           WILLOW
               Oh, I don�t know, they took the gay thing
               pretty well.

                           KENNEDY
               Gay is one thing.  Slay is quite another. 
               I don�t think they�re ready for that.

                           WILLOW
               So...when are you coming home?

                           KENNEDY
               Miss me already, huh?

                           WILLOW
               Well...yeah.  Of course I miss you.

                           KENNEDY
               I�ll be home some time next week.  Mom
               has this thing she wants me to go to
               Tuesday night.  I�ll call you and let
               you know exactly when.

                           WILLOW
               Okay.

                           KENNEDY
               Well, I�ll let you get to bed.  I know
               you�re probably wiped out after working all
               day.  I�ll call you this weekend.  You will
               be home, won�t you?

                           WILLOW
               Uhhh...I should be...as far as I know. 
               Unless I get an after-hours service call.

                           KENNEDY
               You mean if Mr. Maloney calls?

                           WILLOW
                     (laughs)
               No, he�s already had his disaster
               for the week, so I should be safe.

                           KENNEDY
               Good.  You get some rest, and I�ll talk
               to you later.

                           WILLOW
               Okay.  Bye.

Willow hangs up then lets out a �whew� kind of breath.

INT. WILLOW�S HOUSE � THE LIVING ROOM - DAY

Andrew and Dana are there with Willow.  They are helping research and plan.  Books are everywhere, and Willow has her laptop.

                           DANA
               Hey, what about this one?

Dana shows her book to Willow, who looks at it intently for a minute.

                           WILLOW
               Nope, that�s a Layvok demon.

                           DANA
               But it�s got that thing on its forehead.

                           WILLOW
               Yeah, but it�s not the same, see?

                           DANA
               Oh, right.
                     (frustrated, slams her book)
               Gosh, I can�t believe I�m doing this.
               Researching monsters and demons as if it
               were the most natural thing in the world to
               do on a Saturday.

                           ANDREW
               Oh!  Oh!  I�ve got it!  She�s a Skalgerik
               Succuba.

                           DANA
               A suck-you-what?

Andrew passes over the relevant book to Willow, who looks at it intently.

                           ANDREW
               A succuba.  She�s kind of like a vampire,
               only she doesn�t suck blood, she sucks
               energy. She absorbs a person�s mental,
               emotional, and spiritual energy...their
               life-force.  

                           WILLOW
               And she can use magic like a witch.

                           ANDREW
               So what does it say?  How do we kill her?

                           WILLOW
                     (turns the pages fruitlessly)
               It doesn�t say.  Let me cross reference it
               in Darcon�s Demonology.

Willow goes to get another book but is interrupted by a knock at the front door.  Willow goes to answer it. 

EXT. WILLOW�S HOUSE � THE FRONT DOOR � DAY

Willow opens the door.  Ruby is standing there.

                           WILLOW
                     (surprised)
               Sister Ruby.

                           RUBY
               Miss Willow.

                           WILLOW
               What are you --  How did you find me?

                           RUBY
               The phone book.

                           WILLOW
               Oh.  Right.  Ummm, what can I do for you?

                           RUBY
               I came to help.  May I come in?

                           WILLOW
               Ummm...okay...I guess.  Come on in.

INT. WILLOW�S HOUSE � THE LIVING ROOM � DAY

Willow leads Ruby into the living room where Andrew and Dana are continuing their research into Thessaly.  They are surprised that there is a visitor.

                           WILLOW
                     (to Andrew and Dana)
               Hey, everybody?  This is Sister Ruby.
               She�s a...ummm...client of mine.
                     (to Ruby)
               Ruby, this is Andrew and Dana.

                           RUBY
                     (nods at each)
               Nice to meet you.  Just �Ruby� will do.
                     (to Willow)
               I felt it when the She-Devil attacked you
               the other night.  I knew I had to come.

                           WILLOW
               You Saw it?

                           RUBY
               Yes.

                           WILLOW
                     (to Andrew and Dana)
               Ruby has the gift of Sight.

                           ANDREW
               Well, nothing special there.  We all do.

                           WILLOW
               She Sees Visions, Andrew.

                           ANDREW
               Oh.

                           WILLOW
               We�re researching now, trying to figure out
               how to kill her.  Any ideas?

                           RUBY
               No.  I only know that I must See for you.

                           WILLOW
               See for me?

                           RUBY
               Before you go to face the She-Devil, you
               must let me Look, See what I can See.

                           WILLOW
               Okay. 

INT. WILLOW�S HOUSE � THE LIVING ROOM � DAY

It is late afternoon, almost sunset.  The books have been put away.  Andrew and Dana and Ruby are seated on the couch, Ruby on the end, Andrew in the middle.  Andrew holds a notepad and pen in his hands.  Willow is squatting, putting the last of some magical items into a bag on the coffee table.

                           WILLOW
                     (to Andrew and Dana)
               Everybody clear on what to do?

Andrew and Dana nod.  Willow turns to Ruby.

                           WILLOW
                     (to Ruby)
               Ready?

                           RUBY
               Yes, child.  Come here.

Ruby pats the coffee table.  Willow comes and sits on the coffee table in front of Ruby.

                           RUBY
               I must warn you.  I cannot control what
               I See.  I may See things you do not
               wish me to See.  And when I look to the
               future, my Vision is clouded.  I won�t
               have any straight answers.

                           WILLOW
               I understand.

Ruby nods at Andrew, who holds up his pen and notepad indicating he�s ready.  Ruby holds out both her hands.  Willow takes a deep breath and places her hands in Ruby�s.

A power surge immediately goes through them both, rocking them hard.  Their heads are both thrown back, eyes closed.  They grip hands more tightly, then the shaking subsides.  Their heads tilt back down, and they both open their eyes. 

Willow looks at Ruby with concern.  Ruby appears to be looking directly at Willow, but she is Seeing something entirely different; it�s like she�s looking right through Willow.

                           RUBY
               I See her.  A man is there.  Screaming. 
               Books...many books.  An eagle watches.
               A window, stained glass.  Red triangle
               pointed down.  Shattering.  No!  Too soon,
               too soon!

Ruby�s head rocks forward, her vision over.  She and Willow release their grip.

                           WILLOW
               Ruby?  The books, the stained glass -- what
               does it mean?  Is it a location, a church or
               a library maybe?

                           RUBY
               I don�t know.

INT. DANA�S HOUSE � THE STUDY � NIGHT

Thessaly is gloating over MR. KELLUM, who is tied spread-eagle on top of the study�s large wooden table.  There are many book shelves, and a large painting of an eagle hangs above the fireplace.  Mr. Kellum is lucid, but terrified.

                           MR. KELLUM
               Thessaly, wh-wh-what is the meaning of this?
               What are you doing?

                           THESSALY
               Soon, my dearest.  The sun is nearly down.

INT. DANA�S HOUSE � THE KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

The back door to the house creaks slowly open, and Dana sticks her head in.  She looks around, then sneaks in.

                           DANA
               It�s clear.

Willow and Andrew follow Dana in. 

                           ANDREW

               Are you sure she�s here?

                           WILLOW

               Yes.  I can feel her.

                           DANA
               Ruby said there were lots of books and an
               eagle watching.  That�s got to be the study.
               Come on.  It�s this way.

INT. DANA�S HOUSE � THE FOYER - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

Willow and Andrew follow Dana into the large foyer where the main stairs are.  Dana goes to the study door and listens.

                           MR. KELLUM (O.S.)
               Thessaly, I insist that you release me
               at once!

                           DANA
               It�s them. 

                           WILLOW
               Okay.  Let�s get this bitch.

Willow starts getting out her magical stuff.  She and Andrew and Dana quickly set up a small altar.  They put down a circular cloth, place four stones in the shape of a square and a small cauldron in the center.  Dana lights some herbs in the cauldron.  They take their places in a triangle around the altar, with Willow at the top point of the triangle facing the study door.

                           WILLOW
               Now, once we start, she�ll know, so we can
               expect some backlash.  I think the triangle
               that Ruby saw is us.  So that means, no
               matter what, we can�t break the link until
               I give the word.  Okay?

Andrew and Dana nod.

Willow takes a gold dagger and draws it across her left palm.

                           WILLOW
               By our blood...

Willow draws the dagger across her right palm.

                           WILLOW
               ...we join in spirit.

Willow hands the dagger to Andrew, who is on her left.

INT. DANA�S HOUSE � THE STUDY - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

Thessaly is standing next to Mr. Kellum.  Then she suddenly jumps onto the table in one leap and squats next to him.  While he looks on, she changes into her demon face.  Mr. Kellum gasps in horror.

                           MR. KELLUM
               Dear god!

                           THESSALY
               God can�t help you now.

INT. DANA�S HOUSE � THE FOYER - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

Andrew takes the dagger and draws it across his left palm.

                           ANDREW
               By our blood...

Andrew draws the dagger across his right palm.

                           ANDREW
               ...we join in mind.

Andrew hands the dagger to Dana, who is on his left.

INT. DANA�S HOUSE � THE STUDY - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

Thessaly straddles Dana�s father, then rips his shirt open to bare his chest.  She draws her long fingernails seductively across his chest.  Then she grins and thrusts both her hands into his chest, using her fingers like claws.  It is a magical entrance, though, not a physical one.  Still, Dana�s father screams as the draining begins.  Energy is flowing from Dana�s father to Thessaly, and Dana�s father starts to shrivel.

INT. DANA�S HOUSE � THE FOYER - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

Dana takes the dagger and draws it across her left palm.

                           DANA
               By our blood...

Dana draws the dagger across her right palm.

                           DANA
               ...we join in heart.

Dana hands the dagger back to Willow, who places it on the makeshift altar at their feet.

All three put their fists over the dagger and squeeze, letting the blood flow from their hands onto the dagger.

                           WILLOW/ANDREW/DANA
                     (in unison)
               By our blood and by our wills, we join!

At these words, the three pull back and join hands.  A power surge occurs, but they remain linked.

INT. DANA�S HOUSE � THE STUDY - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

Thessaly�s draining process is interrupted.  She flips her head up in fury and howls.

                           THESSALY
               Noooooo!!!

INT. DANA�S HOUSE � THE FOYER - CONTINUOUS - NIGHT

                           WILLOW
               Great God...Dagda...

The dagger starts to levitate above the cauldron.

                           WILLOW
               ...Father of the Heavens...Protector of
               Men...grant us your strength!

The dagger floats higher until it is chest high, pointing at Willow.

                           WILLOW
               ...That we may destroy the evil one!

The study door suddenly explodes, pelting the trio with splinters.

Thessaly attacks the group with blast after blast of magical energy, but their shield holds. 

Thessaly volleys again.  The grip between Andrew and Dana starts to slip.

                           WILLOW
               No!  Andrew, Dana!  Don�t break the link!

Andrew and Dana regain their grip, and the triangle is solid again.

Thessaly tires and pauses.

                           WILLOW
               Now!

Andrew and Dana let go of each other and drop their arms and step aside.  Simultaneously, Willow uses her mind to flip the gold dagger and direct it right into Thessaly�s chest.  The blow knocks Thessaly back into the study.

Willow, Andrew, and Dana collapse with the sudden end of the spell.

                           DANA
               Daddy!

INT. DANA�S HOUSE � THE STUDY - NIGHT

Dana scrambles into the study.  Thessaly is on her back, gasping with the dagger sticking out of her chest.  Dana goes to her father.

                           DANA
               Daddy?

Willow and Andrew are quickly there.  They watch as Thessaly gives up her last breath and shrivels into ashes.  Then they turn their eyes to Dana and her father. 

Dana quickly unties her father�s arms and legs and returns to stroke his cheek.  His eyes flutter open.

                           MR. KELLUM
               Dana?  Baby?

                           DANA
               Daddy!

Dana hugs her dad tightly.  Then, with tears on her face, she turns to Willow and Andrew.

                           DANA
               Thank you.  Thank you so much.

Willow smiles happily.  She turns to Andrew, pats him on the back, and smiles at him. 

                           ANDREW
               We did good, didn�t we?

                           WILLOW
               We did good.

                           ANDREW
                     (smiling quirkily)
               Cool.
                     (grimaces at his cut hands)
               Owww.

INT. ELLIE�S RESTAURANT � NIGHT

Willow walks into the area near the cash register.  She has bandages on her hands.  A sign nearby reads �Ellie�s Kitchen.�  She stands at the front and looks around for Sara.  Not seeing Sara, she snags the WAITRESS.

                           WILLOW
               Excuse me.

                           WAITRESS
               I�m sorry, ma�am.  Someone will get to you
               soon.  We�re a little short-handed tonight.

                           WILLOW
               No, I�m not here to eat.  I was
               just --  Is Sara here?

                           WAITRESS
                     (very annoyed)
               No.  That little --  She called in sick. 
               On Saturday!   She knows Saturday is
               our busiest day.

                           WILLOW
               Did you talk to her?  Did she sound okay?

                           WAITRESS
               No, I didn�t talk to her.  Chad did.  Did
               something happen?  Oh god, don�t tell me
               she�s gone off the deep end again.

                           WILLOW
               Deep end?  What do you mean?

                           WAITRESS
               Last year, she tried to --
                     (reconsidering)
               I don�t think I should be telling you this.

                           WILLOW
                     (grabs her arm firmly)
               Tell me everything...now.

GO TO ACT SIX