THE WILLOW AND SARA SERIES #2
SOULMATE
ACT ONE
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/Other (Sara)

Author�s Notes: (1) This story is in screenplay format, not in fiction format.  It is the second 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.  (3) Shattered Illusions should be read first.

Number of Chapters: 7 acts

Complete: Yes

Summary: Willow and Sara are a month into their new relationship.  All is going well--until Wai-Yi, a powerful warlock from China, comes calling.  He has come halfway around the world for one thing and one thing only: Willow.  But not the good Willow we all know and love.  No, he wants Evil Willow.  And he�s willing to do anything to get her, including raising Warren from the dead and enlisting his aid in the project.  Gifted with powers from Wai-Yi, Warren begins a campaign of terror designed to push Willow over the edge.  When Warren fails, Wai-Yi takes matters into his own hands.  He succeeds in bringing out Evil Willow, but in the process, he gets more than he expected.  Sara ends up being the only thing standing between Evil Willow and the world.

ACT ONE       ACT TWO       ACT THREE       ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE       ACT SIX       ACT SEVEN

ACT ONE

INT. ELLIE�S DINER - DAY

WILLOW is sitting in a booth, finishing her breakfast and drinking coffee.  SARA is on duty and comes to Willow�s table with a coffee carafe in her hands.  CHAD, Sara�s boss, is nearby, watching Sara, with his arms folded across his chest.

                          SARA
                     (in exaggerated tone)
             Excuse me, ma�am, but would you like
             some more coffee?

                          WILLOW
                     (playing along)
             Why, yes, I would.  Thank you very
             much.

                          SARA
             Well, you�re just so very welcome. 
             Can I get you anything else?

Chad glares, then goes into the back.

                          WILLOW
             No, that�ll be it.
                     (seeing Chad leave)
             He�s gone.

                          SARA
             Thank god.  He is driving me crazy!

                          WILLOW
             I can tell.  Well, here�s something
             more pleasant to think about: It was
             just one month ago today that I saw
             you for the very first time, right
             here, at this very booth.

                          SARA
             I know.  Hard to believe, huh?

                          WILLOW
             Yeah.  Are we on for this afternoon?
             I mean, is Chad going to let you off
             in time?

                          SARA
             He better.  Otherwise, I might have to --

Sara stops as the first rumblings of an earthquake move through the restaurant.  The floor and furniture shake, dishes fall.  Willow takes shelter under her table.

                          WILLOW
             Sara!  Under the table!

Sara joins Willow under the table as the quake continues to rock and roll for a little longer.  Eventually, the quake stops.  Willow and Sara emerge from their hiding place.

                          WILLOW
             Some ride, huh?

                          SARA
             I don�t care how long I live in
             Southern California, I will never
             get used to that.

                          WILLOW
             Aw, just think of it as nature�s
             roller coaster.

                          SARA
             Aren�t you worried that it might be
             some portent, though?  You know, some
             new evil out and about?

                          WILLOW
             If evil happened every time there was
             an earthquake around here, we�d have evil
             coming out the wah-zoo.

                          SARA
             Don�t we have evil coming out the wah-zoo
             around here?

                          WILLOW
             Oh.  Well, yeah.  But that doesn�t mean
             it�s connected to earthquakes in any way. 
             I mean, this one was probably completely
             innocent, harmless in every way.

INT. AIRPORT TERMINAL - DAY

                          SARA (V.O.)
             Yeah, you�re probably right.

A big jet from a Chinese airline pulls into the terminal, and people start disembarking.

                          SARA (V.O.)
             Just because we had an earthquake doesn�t
             mean anything bad is coming.

WAI-YI, a middle-aged but very good-looking Chinese man, exits the terminal.  There is an aura of eerie strength about him.  He stops and looks around for a moment, then smiles wickedly but mysteriously.

EXT. THE PARK - DAY

Willow and Sara are in a grassy area beneath some trees.  Picnic stuff is nearby.  Willow and Sara sit side by side, facing in opposite directions.  They get in meditation mode by sitting cross-legged, rolling their head and shoulders to relax.  They close their eyes and place their palms on the ground to their sides.  They seem ready to go, then Sara opens her eyes and speaks, interrupting.

                          SARA
             Willow, are you sure this is a good idea,
             I mean, with the earthquake and all?

Willow opens her eyes and looks at Sara.

                          WILLOW
             I�m sure.  It was just a little one. 
             Besides, we�re just drawing energy from
             the earth.  It�s not like we�re gonna
             cause an earthquake or anything.

Willow closes her eyes again, and Sara follows, only to quickly repeat her interruption.

                          SARA
             Are you sure?  We�re not gonna suck up
             some that bad earthquakey energy, are we?

Willow opens her eyes again and tries to reassure Sara, who�s nervous about experimenting with magic.  She reaches for Sara�s hand.

                          WILLOW
             Here, give me your hand.  I�ll start, then
             you can see what it feels like.  Then you
             can jump in and try it on your own.  Okay?

                          SARA

             Okay.

The two women close their eyes again.  Willow begins drawing energy from the earth.  Small tendrils of energy flicker around Willow�s hands.

                          WILLOW
             You feel that?

                          SARA
             Yes.  It feels...

                          WILLOW
             Tingly?

                          SARA
             Yeah.

                          WILLOW
             Why don�t you try now?

                          SARA
             Okay.

Sara concentrates, and very shortly, energy tendrils start forming around her hands.

                          WILLOW
             That�s it...you�re doing it, Sara!

The energy tendrils get stronger and start entwining their arms and upper bodies.

                          SARA
             Oh...god...

Wai-Yi walks in the direction of Willow and Sara.  He looks around as if trying to find something.  Then he sees the two women.  He stops beside a tree and observes them from a short distance.  He smiles broadly.

                          WAI-YI
             Ah...my Dark Star.  Soon you shall burn
             with your former glory.

INT. DIAMOND DOJO - NIGHT

Willow and Sara are at self defense class.  MICHAEL ANG, the instructor, is walking around, watching his students practice some new moves to their kata.  Sara is doing well, but Willow isn�t.  She�s clumsy and self-conscious. 

                          MICHAEL
             That�s it, nice and slow.  Let me see
             what you�re doing.

After a full pass around the class, the instructor claps his hands together loudly.

                          MICHAEL
             Great!  Now I want you to break into
             pairs and practice those flips we covered
             last class.  Okay?

The class breaks into twos to practice on each other.  Willow and Sara naturally pair off together.  Sara pretends to be the attacker, and Willow tries to flip Sara, but fails.  They try again with the same result.  Willow just can�t seem to get the hang of it.

                          SARA
             I know what you need: some taunting. 
             Yeah, that�ll get your motor going.
                     (as attacker, circling Willow)
             I�m gonna get you, little girl!

Sara attacks and quickly gets Willow into a hold, despite Willow�s best efforts.

                          SARA
             Is that the best you can do, little girl? 
             I�m gonna --

Suddenly, Willow executes a perfect flip, whacking a very-surprised Sara onto the mat.

                          SARA
             Ooooofff!

Willow�s face shows first surprise, then pleasure and pride at finally doing the flip right, then mild anguish.  She runs to Sara�s side.

                          WILLOW
             Oh, sweetie, are you okay?  I�m sorry. 
             I didn�t mean...

Sara leans her head up to look at the concerned Willow, then lets her head flop back onto the mat while she groans.

                          SARA
             I�m fine.
                     (sits up and leans on her elbows)
             Will, you aren�t supposed to apologize
             to your attacker.

                          WILLOW
             Well, I know...and I wouldn�t...if it were
             a real attacker...but it wasn�t, it was you,
             and --

The instructor comes over and pats Willow on the back, interrupting her babble.

                          MICHAEL
             Good job, Willow!  Glad to see you�re
             finally catching on.

EXT. DIAMOND DOJO AND NEARBY STREETS - NIGHT

Willow and Sara leave their self defense class and start walking home.  They are carrying gym bags.  They are sweaty and tired, but in good spirits.

                          SARA
             Willow, can I ask you something?

                          WILLOW
             Sure.  Shoot.

                          SARA
             It�s not so much a question as it is
             an observation.

                          WILLOW
             What?

                          SARA
             When you�re fighting in class, you�re
             nervous and unsure of yourself and just
             a little...

                          WILLOW
             Clumsy?

                          SARA
             Well, yeah. 

Sara is a little embarrassed.  She doesn�t want to seem like she�s criticizing Willow.

                          SARA
             But when you�re fighting for real, using
             magic...there is no clumsiness, no hesitation,
             you just kick ass!  Why is that? 

It�s Willow�s turn to be a little embarrassed, but then she thinks hard.

                          WILLOW
             I don�t know.  Maybe it�s just that I know
             magic, and I�m comfortable with using it. 
             Throwing punches, flipping attackers, in a
             purely physical way -- that was always Slayer
             territory.

They continue walking down the street, thinking.

                          WILLOW
             You know, I could say the same about you. 
             When you�re physically fighting, you are
             completely fearless.  You just jump in
             there and pow!  You let �em have it.  But when
             we start using magic, you get...cold feet.

Sara stops walking and faces Willow.

                          SARA
                     (slightly annoyed and defensive)
             Well, I have good reason to be, remember?

                          WILLOW
             I know.  I�m just saying that we both have
             our strengths and our weaknesses, and I think
             it�s good that we�re working on our weak areas. 
             I�m...I�m proud of you, Sara.

                          SARA
                     (softens)
             Thanks.  I�m proud of you, too.  I think we
             make a great team.

                          WILLOW
             Me too.

Willow takes Sara�s hand, and they continue down the street.

EXT. WILLOW�S HOUSE - NIGHT

Willow and Sara stand on the front steps of Willow�s townhouse, embracing.  They kiss sweetly, then passionately, then pull apart.

                          WILLOW
             Want to come in?  Maybe...stay the night?

                          SARA
             I�d like to, but I didn�t bring any clean
             clothes or anything with me.  Maybe
             tomorrow?

                          WILLOW
             You know, if you wanted, you could bring
             some of your stuff over and keep it here.
             Like for when you stayed over...clothes,
             toothbrush, that sort of thing...you know, if
             you wanted...

                          SARA
             Will, are you asking me to move in with you?

                          WILLOW
             Well, maybe, sort of, a little bit -- ?

                          SARA
             Are you sure?  I mean, are we ready for
             that?  It hasn�t been that long since
             Kennedy moved out.

                          WILLOW
             I know.  But we could...start small, like
             I said, just a few things for when you stay
             over...then maybe go from there. 

Willow looks hopeful.  Sara frowns, deep in thought.

                          SARA
             Let me think about it, okay?

                          WILLOW
                     (trying to hide her disappointment)
             Okay, sure, no rush, no pressure.

                          SARA
             I better go.  I�m working the early shift
             all this week. 

Sara looks deeply into Willow�s eyes and sees the disappointment behind them.  Sara kisses Willow once again.  When they pull away, they lean their foreheads together for a moment.  Then Sara looks at Willow again.

                          SARA
             I just want to be careful, you know?  Not
             rush things?

                          WILLOW
             I know.  You�re right.  Slow is good.

Willow and Sara reluctantly part, and Sara heads off for her apartment.

Across the street, Wai-Yi has been watching.  He narrows his eyes as if displeased, then he dematerializes.

INT. SISTER RUBY�S - THE KITCHEN - DAY

Willow is sitting at the small table, fidgeting worriedly.  Ruby stands beside the table, pouring tea into their tea cups.

                          WILLOW
             And then she says that she needs to
             think about it, that she doesn�t want
             to rush things.  What does that mean?

                          RUBY
                     (sitting down)
             I think it means that she needs to
             think about it, that she doesn�t want
             to rush things.

                          WILLOW
             Very funny.

                          RUBY
             What did you expect her to say?

                          WILLOW
             I don�t know.  I thought maybe she�d like
             the idea, you know, get excited or something? 
             I mean, she�s the one who pursued me.  She�s
             the one who tried to kiss me on the Farris
             Wheel before Kennedy was even out of the
             picture.

                          RUBY
             Kissing is one thing.  Moving in together
             is quite another.  You�ve only been dating
             for a month.

                          WILLOW
                     (smiles weakly)
             You�re right.  I�m being too sensitive.

Willow stares into her tea cup, now frowning.  Ruby gently puts her hand on Willow�s.

                          RUBY
             Do you love her?

Willow smiles again and looks up to meet Ruby�s gaze.

                          WILLOW
             Yes, I do.  I know it seems too sudden,
             but I do.  I love her.

                          RUBY
             And does she love you?

                          WILLOW
             I...I think she does.  She hasn�t said so,
             exactly, but the way she looks at me, the
             way I feel when she looks at me...it's like
             I can feel the love, you know?  I�ve only
             felt this way with one other person.

                          RUBY
             Tara?

                          WILLOW
             Yes.  I�m not saying I didn�t love Oz and
             Kennedy.  I did, very much.  But...it�s just
             not the same.  What I feel for Sara...it�s
             so intense.  It�s like...I�m not whole
             without her.  Sounds silly, doesn�t it? 
             Can we say �codependent�?

                          RUBY
             It�s not silly, child.  It�s love.
                     (pauses to think a moment)
             Perhaps, she is your soul mate.

                          WILLOW
             Which one?

                          RUBY
             Maybe both.

                          WILLOW
                     (dismissive)
             Pah!  I can�t have two soul mates. 
                     (then thinks about it)
             Can I?

                          RUBY
             You�ve fallen in love with identical
             twins, one of whom has passed on.  It
             doesn�t seem that far-fetched to me,
             but then I�m a sentimental old romantic.

Ruby pats Willow�s hand affectionately. 

                          RUBY
             Willow, just enjoy each other, love each
             other.  And don�t sweat the small stuff. 
             I think I read that somewhere.

                          WILLOW
                     (smiling broadly)
             Thanks, Ruby.

EXT. WILLOW�S OFFICE - DAY

Willow is walking down the street near her office.  She is carrying her computer bag.  She appears to be deep in thought.

                          WILLOW
                     (reciting Ruby�s words of advice)
             �Enjoy each other, love each other, and
             don�t sweat the small stuff.�
                     (smiles and makes a resolved face)
             Yeah!  That�s what I�ll do!

Willow is so wrapped in her thinking that she doesn�t see Wai-Yi, who steps in front of her out of a doorway.  She falls down, dropping her bag.  She looks up -- at first annoyed then not, deciding it�s nothing to get angry over.

                          WAI-YI
                     (bowing slightly)
             Forgive me, I beg you. 

                          WILLOW
                     (waving it off)
             Oh, it�s no biggee.

                          WAI-YI
             Here, let me help you.

Wai-Yi holds out both of his hands to help Willow up. 

                          WILLOW
             Okay.

Willow puts both her hands in his and lets him lift her to her feet.  When he does, they make eye contact.  Willow is immediately mesmerized.

                          WILLOW
                     (slowly, almost groggily)
             Thanks.

Willow is caught in his thrall, unable to break from his gaze.

Wai-Yi pulls her into his arms.  Willow doesn�t resist.  He strokes her face gently.

                          WAI-YI
                     (whispering)
             My Dark Star.

Wai-Yi leans in slowly, then kisses her.  When he does, he reads flashes of Willow�s past: her magic beginnings, her killing of the fawn, the ritual to bring back Buffy, her binge with Rack, her reunion with Tara, Tara�s death, her transformation into Evil Willow, her vengeance on Warren.

When Wai-Yi ends the kiss, Willow is passed out.  Wai-Yi smiles and strokes her face once again.

EXT. WILLOW�S OFFICE - DAY

Willow is now alone, standing in the middle of the sidewalk, confused, unsure of where she is and how she got there.  She frowns then picks up her dropped computer bag, swings it over her shoulder, and starts back down the street.

INT. WAI-YI�S HOTEL - DAY

Wai-Yi is in his very posh hotel suite.  He does a ritual that opens a portal.  WARREN appears in the glowing portal, lying face down on the floor.  He is wearing tattered clothes, looking like he�s been in the wilderness for days being chased and attacked by dogs.  He is shaking in shock, fear, and pain.  Wai-Yi goes to help him up.  Warren recoils from his touch and moves away, cowering against the wall, huddled with his face down. Wai-Yi moves to kneel in front of Warren.

                          WAI-YI
             Do not be concerned.  You are no longer
             where you have been.

                          WARREN
                     (still not looking up)
             Wh-where am I?

                          WAI-YI
             Home. 

Warren looks up, and his confused face is revealed.

INT. WAI-YI�S HOTEL - DAY - LATER

Warren is now clean and properly clothed, sitting at the table, wolfing down massive amounts of room service food.  Wai-Yi waits patiently as Warren regains his strength and composure.  When Warren finally finishes eating and leans back to rest, he eyes Wai-Yi warily.

                          WARREN
             So...�Wai-Yi,� right?  What�s the deal? 
             What do you want with me? 

                          WAI-YI
             Let me ask you a question first.  If I
             allowed you to remain here, in this
             mortal plane, what would you do? 

A look of primal hate fills Warren�s eyes.

                          WARREN
             I�d find that red-headed bitch who sent
             me to hell and make her pay. 

Wai-Yi smiles wickedly and leans towards the table. 

                          WAI-YI
             I am very pleased to hear you say that.

GO TO ACT TWO