INT. THE BRONZE - NIGHT (NIGHT 1)

A SEXY ROCK SONG with a danceable beat pulses through the REMODELED room as we MOVE AMONG dancing couples, including XANDER and ANYA, then WILLOW and TARA... MOVING PAST them and ACROSS the floor, we come to find.

BUFFY, sitting alone at a table. She nods her head to the beat as she watches the dancers. On the table-top are empty glassed, a candle and a few BILLS of MONEY on a little black bill tray. Buffy watches her friends, smiling wistfully - happy for their happiness, though somewhat ambivalent of her own non-couplehood. 

> Lots of Spuffy then -

Tara and Willow approach.


XANDER
So, who's for another round of liquid
refreshments? I'm buying. For I am
Payday Man.


ANYA
Yay. I love Payday Man. He's cool
and rich.

Will reaches into her bag and takes out a bottle of aspirin.


WILLOW
I could use some water.


XANDER
Water poses no challenge for Payday
Man for I have--
(scans the table)
Hey, where's my change? It was right he--

The same thought occurs to all of them and they look over at the bar.

THE GANG'S POV - SPIKE waves a bill at the bartender.


XANDER
Spike, you diabolical fiend.

Xander heads off toward the bar. Buffy eyes Willow with concern.


BUFFY
Poor Will. Headaches still coming?


WILLOW
Fewer and further between, but, yet.
they're still exercising their visitation rights.


TARA
Honey, in case you didn't hear me
the first six thousand times: No more
teleportation spells.


WILLOW
Hey, you won't get any argument from me.
(considering)
Or maybe a tiny one.
(off Buffy's look)
It's just... we've got squat in the
way of Glory fighting arsenal.
Another run in with her and my
headaches and nosebleeds will
be the least of our problems.


BUFFY
Will, this is the first R&R I've had
in weeks. Can I just go one night
without hearing the name "Glory."


TARA
I'm down with that. In fact, let's
just call She Who Will Not be Named
another name entirely... Let's call her...


BUFFY
(noticing something off)
Ben...


TARA
...for example.

---

INT. COMMONS - DAY

ON BUFFY, TARA and WILLOW strolling through, post-class.


WILLOW
I just don't see why he couldn't have
ended up with Esmerelda. They could
have the wedding right there.
(a little misty)
Beneath the very bell tower where he
labored thanklessly for all those years...


TARA
No, see, it can't end like that, 'cuz
all of Quasimodo's actions were
selfishly motivated. He had no moral
compass, no understanding of what was
right. Everything he did, he did out
of love for a woman who'd never be
able to love him back. Also, you can
tell it's not gonna have a happy ending,
when the main guys all bumpy.


WILLOW
What do you think, Buffy?


BUFFY
The test is tomorrow. I don't have
to have an opinion 'til tomorrow.


WILLOW
But you read it, right?


BUFFY
Kinda not. I rented the movie.


TARA
With Charles Loughton?


BUFFY
I'm not sure. Was he one of the
singing gargoyles?


WILLOW
Uh boy.


BUFFY
I'm kidding!

They pass a STUDENT reading a newspaper. We may not notice the headline, but Buffy does. She freezes in her tracks, takes a step back.


BUFFY
You done with this?

She grabs the paper away, staring at the front page. The student starts to protest, but Buffy has moved on and he gives up. Buffy shows Will and Tara the headline.

CLOSE ON HEADLINE: "METROTRAIN MASSACRE." Below in smaller type: "Six found Murdered on Train at Sunnydale Station."


WILLOW
(reading)
"Six found Murdered on Train
at Sunnydale Station."


TARA
Glory?


BUFFY
(reading)
"...unconfirmed reports of severe
trauma to the throats of one or more
of the victims..."

PUSH IN on her as she looks up.


BUFFY
Survey says... Vampire.