New Moon Rising
[S4.19 : W/T.9]
 

You have to be with the one you love.  

... continued ...

INT. CAMPUS HALLWAY - DAY

Tara is, indeed, running. As fast as her legs will carry her. Oz, who is now COMPLETELY TRANSFOMRED INTO A WEREWOLF, chases after her into -

INT. CAMPUS LECTURE HALL - DAY

The lecture hall, which is empty and dimly lit. Tara realizes too late that it's a dead end. She tries to turn back but Oz Wolf is blocking the entrance.

Tara runs up into the seating area, where she and Oz play a brief game of Wolf and Mouse. Tara runs from row to row. Then, when Oz gets too close, she climbs over seats to get away from him. Before long Tara starts to tire and she makes a final dash for the exit. But Oz blocks her. It's clear he's moving in for the kill...

CLOSE ON TARA

Who tries to utter a spell. But speech is near impossible.

TARA
B-b-back demon... In the-the name
of Th-th-

Tara desperately grabs a chair from behind the desk and HURLS it at Oz Wolf. Much to her (and our) surprise, Oz Wolf yelps and goes down.

Tara's stunned at her good fortune until she sees RILEY and FORREST enter, along with a few other men. They are all dressed in civvies. Riley re-holsters the pistol he just fired and moves to help the commandos who roughly bind Oz in leather restraints, pulling a canvas bag over him.

Forrest goes to Tara, backs her away from the scene.

FORREST
Are you okay?

TARA
(nods)
Where are you... what's going on?

FORREST
We'll take it from here.

ANGLE ON

Riley and ANOTHER COMMANDO, who don't hear Tara's objections.

COMMANDO #2
(re: Oz Wolf)
This thing looks like it may be one
of the demons that took out Graham's
guys the other night.

RILEY
(hard)
So we'll take it back and make an I.D.
If it is, we'll put him down.

ANGLE TARA AND FORREST

Tara watches, alarmed, as Oz Wolf is loaded into a large body bag to conceal him.

TARA
You don't understand. That's a p-p-p-

Tara can't get the words out, she's so upset. She moves to try to stop them but Forrest blocks her.

FORREST
Listen, we know what we're doing.
You just need to calm down, okay?
You're in shock. Go outside and
get some air.
(Before she can speak he turns
to the others)
Let's move!

Off Riley and the Commandos, taking Oz away - and Tara's helplessness.

INT. LIBRARY - DAY

Willow's in a study group. People share notes, chat quietly... But Willow is clearly lost in worry... Then she sees a shaken TARA standing at the doorway, anxiously searching the room for her. Willow goes to her.

WILLOW
What's up? Are you okay?

TARA
Oz.. We were talking and he - he
changed. Right in front of me.

WILLOW
(alarmed)
What? It's day time...

TARA
I know, but it happened.

WILLOW
Oh, God... Are you alright?

TARA
I'm fine. Riley and the commando
guys - they stopped him, but they
don't know it's Oz. I tried to tell
them, but they took him away.

Willow is clearly growing more and more upset.

WILLOW
When? Just now?

TARA
(nods)
I think they might hurt him.

WILLOW
I have to go. I have to find Buffy.

TARA
I know.

Willow races off without another word.
Pained, Tara watches her go off to save Oz.

INT. OZ' VAN - NIGHT

Oz and Willow are sitting up front. He's a bit of a distance from her. They both look up, uncomfortable...

WILLOW
(re: van)
This thing looks pretty good
considering you drove it overseas.

OZ
It broke down outside of Mexico. I
traded my bass to have it fixed
and garaged.
(frustrated)
I shouldn't have come back now. I
thought I'd changed...

WILLOW
You have changed. You stopped the
wolf from coming out - I saw it.

OZ
But I couldn't look at you. It
turns out the one thing that brings
it on, is you. Which falls under
the heading of ironic in my book.

WILLOW
It was my fault. I upset you.

OZ
So we're safe then, 'cause you'll
never do that again.

Willow sees the ridiculousness of that. A beat. Then -

WILLOW
When you spoke to Tara...

OZ
I knew.

WILLOW
I'm sorry. The last thing I wanted was -

Oz stops her. Doesn't want to get into it.

OZ
It's - it's okay.
(then)
But you're happy?

WILLOW
(realizes)
I am. I can't explain it-

OZ
Maybe safer for both of us if you don't.

Willow quiets, pained and emotional.

WILLOW
I missed you, Oz. I wrote you so
many letters - but I didn't have
any place to send them, you know?
I couldn't live like that.

OZ
It was stupid to think you'd just
be waiting.

WILLOW
I was waiting. I feel like some
part of me will always be waiting
for you. Like, if I'm old and
blue-haired and I turn a corner
in Istanbul and there you are -
I won't be surprised. Because
you're there with me - you know?

Oz allows himself to look at her.

OZ
I know.
(with difficulty)
But now's not that time, I guess.

WILLOW
No.
(then)
What are you going to do?

OZ
I think I'd better take off.

WILLOW
When?

OZ
Pretty much now.

Willow nods, starts to cry. Oz finally touches her, puts his hand on hers. Willow moves into his arms - and they stay like that for a long time.

INT. TARA'S DORM ROOM - NIGHT

Tara, alone, has been crying in the dark.

A knock takes her to the door. Willow stands in her threshold, holding a lit candle.

WILLOW
No candles? Well I brought one --
it's extra flamey.

She hands it to Tara, who steps quietly aside for Willow to enter. Tara's silent, her whole body tensed, waiting for the brushoff.

WILLOW (cont'd)
Tara, I have to tell you that --

TARA
I understand. You have to be with
the person you l-love.

WILLOW
I am.

Tara looks up at her, too hopeful to be sure of her meaning. Willow looks a bit tentative as well.

TARA
You mean --

WILLOW
I mean.

Tara smiles -- Willow returns it.

WILLOW (cont'd)
Okay?

TARA
Oh yes.

They both look like their hearts might explode out of their chests...

WILLOW
I feel horrible about everything
I put you through. I'm gonna make
it up, too. Starting right now.

TARA
(softly)
Right now?

Willow just smiles a little. Tara returns it, her eyes never leaving Willow's as she blows the candle out...