4BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: NORMAL AGAIN AGAIN
Projected Season 7 Episode 23
A Fan Fiction script by Lyle Francis Padilla
(AKA "MadTom")
Spoiler alerts for entire series!
Many BtVS fans at the time were speculating on whether or not the series would end with Buffy back in the mental hospital she had "hallucinated" in the Season 6 episode "Normal Again". Most felt that it would have been the worst series ending possible. I was inclined to agree, but just for the hell of it, I decided to write a spec-script finale ending that would make the "Normal Again" scenario a more acceptable happy ending.
The very first version was a short segment (now the last scenes of the current version) which could be tacked on to just about any series finale scenario in which Buffy and the Scoobies sacrifice themselves in a final showdown with the First Evil. After thinking about it, I realized that what happens to the other characters besides Buffy in their new "afterlife" could fill at least one whole episode. I wrote the first expanded version long before the actual series finale "Chosen" aired, with the assumption that it wouldn't take much change, if needed, for Buffy and all the Scoobies to all go out in a blaze of glory sealing the Hellmouth forever. I turned out to be right on that point, and this version incorporates dialogue and scenes from "Chosen" and other late Season 7 episodes, with that slight change.
I'd like to add the caveat that I make no secret of the fact that Dawn is my favorite character and that I think Michelle Trachtenberg is an adorable and wonderful young actress. For that reason, this may come across as a somewhat Dawn-centric story and for that I make no apologies.
Feedback is invited.
Enjoy!
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: NORMAL AGAIN AGAIN
TEASER
INT A BEDROOM IN A LOW-RENT COLLEGE STUDENTS' APARTMENT- NIGHT. Not too unlike Xander's old basement quarters, in fact with much of the same furnishings. We hear the MOANS AND CREAKING BEDSPRINGS of a couple making intense passionate love as the camera pans around and we see a pile of mixed men's and women's clothing beside the bed, then tilt up to see the couple. We recognize the man as Xander. We don't initially see the woman's face, although she does appear to have red hair.
WOMAN
Oh, Xander! Xander!
XANDER
Oh, Willow!
We see her face. Yes, it's Willow!
As they climax, the camera blurs and vibrates (the same SFX as in the scene in "Grave" where Evil Willow gets a head rush from tapping Giles' magic, only more intense), but they are oblivious to it, wrapped up in total ecstasy.
WILLOW
(breathlessly)
Oh, Xander! You never did it to me like that before!
XANDER
Yeah! Oh, Willow, you were something else! I feel like I died and went to heaven!
WILLOW
(nods elatedly)
That's exactly how I feel!
As they catch their breath, their eyes slowly open wide and they stare at each other in bewilderment and confusion. They both shut their eyes tight and shake their heads and then look into each others' eyes with continued confusion.
XANDER
Whoa!
WILLOW
Xander, where are we?
XANDER
In our apartment, Willow.
WILLOW
Yeah. Our apartment. In LA. Just three blocks off the UCLA main campus.
XANDER
Except...
WILLOW
Except we don't have an apartment. We don't live together. We don't even live in LA!
She nudges him off her and sits up, pulling up the sheet to cover herself.
WILLOW
We're not even lovers!
XANDER
Or are we?
WILLOW
I'm not even hetero. Or am I?
(beat)
My name is Willow Rosenberg, and you're Alexander Lavelle Harris...
XANDER
Yeah...
WILLOW
And we grew up together...
XANDER
Yeah...
WILLOW
But where?
XANDER
Here in LA...
(blinks and shakes his head, more confused)
or in Sunnydale?...
Willow just stares at him, her confusion intensifying and turning into fear.
INT DAWN'S BEDROOM AT THE SUMMERS HOME- NIGHT. Dawn lies sleeping, and then the camera blurs and vibrates again. Dawn wakes up with a SCREAM! She stares blankly, terrified, for several seconds before raising her head slightly.
INSERT DAWN'S POV panning around the room. It's the same as usual, pink interior and stuffed animals.
Dawn slowly gets out of bed without turning on the light. She is shaking.
INT THE SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY. A dim light emits from the master bedroom as Dawn steps out from her room, glancing around. We hear muffled conversation from the master bedroom.
DAWN'S POV. On the hallway walls, we see an old family portrait of Joyce and Hank with a 14 year old Buffy and 9 year old Dawn, a solo portrait of Buffy at the same age, then a larger, contemporary family portrait- of Joyce, Hank and Dawn.
JOYCE AND HANK step out of the master bedroom, looking at Dawn with worry.
DAWN
Mom? Dad?
END TEASER,INSERT OPENING CREDITS.
FEEDBACK/REVIEWS ARE INVITED!