DISCLAIMER:This piece has been re-worked to fit more accurately into an overall story and to follow the time line of Once More With Feeling. No offense is intended to the original authors, who are credited below. In addition all the original texts can be found in the All Purpose Creative Spoiler Thread.
We hope you all enjoy this piece with the humor and love with which it was created.
-Tommo & RallyOnce More With Bitterness
1) Going Through The Spoilers by Banshee2) I've Got A Bitter Theory by Rally3) I've Got A Theory by Willowlicious4) They Got The Lesbo Out by Grim Jack5) Under The Ground by Tommo6) Joss Makes It Hell by Tommo7) Marti's Song by Tommo8) Take The Piss by Tommo9) That's What It's All About by Kyrarco10) Clearly, They Are Gay by The Literary Exterminator11) Wish She Could Stay by Grim Jack's Friend12) Caught in the Mire by Autumn13) Warlock’s Song by Web Warlock14) Where Can I Get A Beer? by Web Warlock15) It's Just A Show by Kitten ChatPreviously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer…
Multiple scenes of Willow/Tara goodness, kissing in the Bronze, holding hands in Hush, hugging at the end of Season 4, Tara getting her brain back. It’s all lesbo type goodness. And then, the Kitten Board, looming like a monolith on the internet, holding the Spoiler Forum. Flashes of bad spoilers flicker up, incensed kittens spinning and crying at the very mention of Tara’s death.
Cut to the graveyard that is the Buffy fandom on the internet. It’s a place where spoilers reign supreme, and bitterness is more than a watchword; it’s a way of life.SHANNON:(coming wearily onto the board, hoping to find something assuage the darkness inside her)Every single night the same spoiled rantings
I just try to read it all
Still, I always feel it’s people venting
None of these are real,
None of these are right
Some unspoiled newbie kittens rear their heads in the daily thread.
Shannon eyes their posts with the gaze of an experienced shipper.I've been with show since the first episode
And now I just don’t know
’Cause I’ve been
Going through the spoilers
Reading all the pain
Nothing seems to make sense in my brain
I was always brave and kind of bitter
Now I find I'm just depressed
Crawl out of your bed you'll find this plot
Is full of lesbo death
Just like all the rest
I hope it’s done in jest.
UNSPOILED KITTENS:She does pretty well with trolls who dwell
But lately, we can tell
That she's just
Going through the spoilers
Treading through the muck
It’s not even half the show it ...
(they find themselves in the spoiler thread, being pummeled on all sides by theories and speculations and,
worst of all, the news of Tara’s death)Fuck
SHANNON:Will it be this way forever
I thought Joss was really clever
UNSPOILED INNOCENT:Do you think it’ll change?
SHANNON:It better
I don't want to be
Going through the spoilers
I lose my fragile mind
I can't even see
How you could be so mean
I just want Tara to be
Aliiiveee
Shannon shakes her head and leaves the Spoiler Forum in a fit of anxiety, instead going to chat where she can pour out all her bitterness.
Cut to magic shop, day. The bell jingles. Buffy enters.GILES: (O.S.) Good morning, Buffy!
We see Willow and Tara standing by the counter. Giles in background..WILLOW:Oh, hey, did Dawn get off to school all right?
BUFFY:(distracted)What? Oh, uh, yeah. I think so.
Buffy walks farther into the store. We see Xander sitting at the round table holding a donut in each hand.XANDER:Respect the cruller. And tame the donut!
Anya passes by en route to the counter.ANYA:That's still funny, sweetie.
Anya goes behind the counter. Giles looks in the box of donuts, takes one out, takes a bite.BUFFY:So, uh, no spoilers? Nothing going on? Herc or whatnot?
Giles and Xander shake their heads "no," continue eating donuts.BUFFY:Good! Good.
(awkwardly) Uh, so, did anybody ... uh ... last night, you know, did anybody, um ... burst into bitterness?
Giles stops chewing. Everyone stares at Buffy for a moment.XANDER:Merciful Zeus!
Willow, Tara, and Anya rush over. Everyone talks at once.WILLOW: We thought it was just us!
GILES: Well, I sang but I had my guitar at the hotel...
TARA: It was bizarre. We were talking and then it was like-
BUFFY: Like you’d been horribly cheated or something?
TARA: Yeah!
GILES: That would explain the way I wanted to go off back to the UK and do other things with the BBC.
WILLOW: We did a whole duet about dead lesbians.
ANYA: And we were arguing and, and then everything rhymed and there were harmonies and Xander was the hero of the season…
WILLOW: There was an entire verse about cliches.
XANDER: It was very disturbing.
GILES: (to Buffy) What did you get bitter about?
BUFFY: (pauses) I don't remember. But i-it seemed perfectly normal.
XANDER: But disturbing. And not the natural order of things, and do you think it'll happen again?
GILES: I don't know. I should look into it.
WILLOW: With the thread. O-on the board.
TARA: Do we have any threads on this?
XANDER: Well, we just gotta break it down. Look at the factors before it happens again. Because I for one-
Giles begins to sing, interrupting XanderGILES:I've got a theory
That it's the network
Network executives
No, something isn't right there.
WILLOW:I've got a theory
Some Spuffer’s dreamin'
And we're all stuck inside his wacky S/M nightmare.
(Tara mimes being shot as Willow sticks her fingers down her throat)XANDER:I've got a theory we should work this out.
ANYA/TARA/WILLOW/XANDER:(looking at one another with fear and concern)It's getting eerie, what's this bitterness all about?
XANDER:(jumps up, finger in air)It could be lesbos!
Some evil lesbos!
(sees Willow and Tara’s expressions)Which is ridiculous, 'cause lesbo's they are persecuted,
Lesbos good with bitterness and woman power
and I'll be over here.
(sits)ANYA:I've got a theory! It could be fundies!
Silence. The others just stare at her. Sound of crickets chirping.TARA: I've got a-
Suddenly the tune changes to a frantic hard-rock beat with electric guitar and a roving spotlight that waves crazily over Anya.ANYA: (shrieking a la Alanis Morissette)Fundies aren't just Republican like everybody supposes!
They've got them abortion and anti gay agendas!
And what's with all the tax shelters?
What do they need so much money for anyway?
(playing air guitar)Fundies!
Fundies!
It must be Fundies!
Fireworks go off all around her, then the smoke clears away. The others continue simply staring.ANYA: (back to original melody)Or maybe Marti.
WILLOW:(quickly sits down beside Giles and opens a book)I've got a theory we should work this fast.
WILLOW/GILES:Because it clearly could get serious before it's passed.
Performed by the Speculation and Hope Thread PlayersI've got a theory
That it's a reset
A cheezy reset
No, something isn't right there
I've got a theory
That Buffy's dreamin'
And we're all stuck inside
Her hell dimension nightmare
I've got a theory we should work this out
It's getting eerie, what's this crap about Xander talking Black Willow down?
I've got a theory that Tara's staying dead
Which is ridiculous, because Tara is essential, she's Willow's soulmate,
Dawnie's mother figure, Buffy's confidante and she also has the best breasts on the show
I've got a theory it must be Amber…
(Crickets chirping)I've got a the--
I don't think that Amber's fired like everyone supposes
She might've signed a new contract under everyone’s noses
Cuz what's with all the conventions?
And why is she writing those damn W/T comics anyway?
Amber
Amber
It must be Amber!!
Or maybe Emma?
I've got a fear that some of us won't last
Don't look back insanity is closing on us fast
I've got a theory...that we deserve this
Across the board are unspoiled Kitties
They have no idea who the BSD is
But look at us
We're getting mean and snide
Lost in pain and bitterness
With hints of suicide
What can we do if we're this bitter?
Let's toss the whole show down the shitter
We're spoiler whores
Our life isn't nice
We know Tara's gonna die
We sure pay the price
But what can't we face if we're together
There's nothing in these spoilers we can't weather
There's nothing we can't face
LONE VOICE CRYING IN THE FRIGGIN’ WILDERNESS:Except no Amber
XANDER: (sits) See, okay, that was disturbing.
WILLOW: (sits) I thought it was neat.
BUFFY: So what is it? Are these spoilers true?
GILES: I thought it didn’t matter; it’s the bitterness that’s killing us.
BUFFY: Well, I'm not exactly quaking in my stylish yet affordable boots, but there's definitely something unnatural going on here. And that doesn't usually lead to hugs and puppies. Or gunshot wounds in the back.
(Glances over at Tara who shifts uncertainly)ANYA: Well, is it just us? I mean, is it only happening to our show?
(Buffy turns away) Cause that would probably be some homophobic network executive or something…
Buffy goes to the door, opens it. The bell jingles.Scene is outside the Moral Majority headquarters in Closed Mind Gap, Deep South. Jerry Falwell comes out the front door, holding aloft a BtVS shooting script, followed by his minions; Boy Scout leaders and other properly joyless fundie twits, all heavily supressing their own homoerotic impulses. His minions form around him in a strangely joyless fundie dance number as Falwell thrusts the pudgy fist holding the shooting script into the sky, a joyless look of triumph on his piggy little face.Falwell: We got... the Lesbo... out!
Minions: We got the Lesbo ouuuut...!
Buffy turns back into the store, closes the door.BUFFY: It's not just us. Looks like it’s US TV. Maybe even the world
Cut to later. Dawn enters the store wearing a huge smile.DAWN: Oh my god. You will never believe what’s happening in this season.
Reveal the rest of the gang sitting around the table looking at books.BUFFY: The lesbians get the shaft?
Dawn looks disappointed.DAWN: I’m going to be the next Slayer.
ANYA: Oh my god, and you’re in the credits too!
Shot of Willow and Tara whispering to each other.DAWN: So, you guys read the spoilers too, huh?
(walks closer)XANDER: So what'd you guys find out?
DAWN: (sighs) Tara dies.
Dawn puts down her backpack, sits on a stool by the counter. We see Willow whispering in Tara's ear.TARA: (loudly) Tha-That's right! The, thread. The board.
GILES: What board?
WILLOW: The kitten-y board. You know? The, the Kitten, the Witches and the
(mumbles) Wardrobe.
XANDER: The what now?
TARA: Oh, there's just a few ideas back at the house that deal with reset theories, wish fulfillment, alternate universes. It might be relevant.
WILLOW: Yeah, we could, um-
GILES: Well, I'm a hair's breadth from getting blow jobs on tacky British shows so I’m open to anything.
WILLOW: Great, we'll, uh, go check it out and uh, we'll give you a call.
TARA: Yeah, this could blow the whole thing wide open.
Cut to Willow and Tara walking through a park. It's sunny and beautiful. Green grass, blue sky, etc.
Lone gunman hiding behind the grassy knoll…that kind of thing…TARA:Do we even have any shred of hope for a happy future at home?
WILLOW:Well, who wants to be cooped up on a day like this? The sun is shining, there's songs going on...someone’s waiting to shoot you in the back with a gun…
A couple of young men walk by and look at Willow and Tara as they pass.WILLOW:...that writer’s checking you out.
TARA: What?
(turns to look) Wh-What is he looking at?
WILLOW:The dykeness of you, doofus.
TARA:That writer really thinks I’m a lesbian?
(looks back at them again)WILLOW:Entirely.
TARA:Oh my god. It’s clear! I must die!
Tara makes like she's going to run after the writer. Willow grabs her and pulls her back. Tara giggles.WILLOW:Do I have to incinerate everyone to keep you? Cuz I’m not large with the influence on Joss.
She flicks her eyes nervously to where the figure of Joss looms over them.
Because he sees everything. Everything. They stand underneath a tree, leaning on a wooden railing.TARA: I'm just ... not used to that. H-he was really looking at me, like, with a writer’s eyes?
WILLOW: (fondly) And you can't imagine what they see in you.
TARA: I know exactly what they see in me.
A happy and sweet lesbian who’s never hurt anyone and has enabled you to find some truth and peace in your life at last, never mind the great sex we’re obviously having…realization dawns on her…aaah, right. Yeah. I have to die. Clearly.TARA:I lived a time of madness
When that Glory bitch sucked my brain
My girls, they felt such sadness
Thinking I wasn’t the same
And now in Season six
Joss kills me just for kicks
I’m under the ground
How else could it end
I should have just stayed Willow’s friend
I know how this must sound
But he’s got Firefly
And now the lesbian must die
Pan across a little stream with a bridge over it. Willow and Tara are on the bridge. Tara takes Willow's hand and they walk off the bridge onto a path, holding hands. We see them walking through the sight of a gun, trained on a spot in the middle of Tara’s back.I was just making Scooby
Buffy confided in me
Tara touches her chest and bows her head with the honor of having Buffy as a friend, because surely that would mean she might not die. Um, wouldn’t it?And Willow touched my boobies
We got to kiss quite freely
Willow makes as though to grasp a hold of Tara’s breast, but Tara pulls away, wagging her finger and pointing towards the Grim Reaper-like shadow of Joss on the horizon.We touched and gazed and laughed
Then Marti gave me the shaft
I’m under the ground
Nothing I can do
My character is really screwed
And now my fans have found
Of smoochies there's no lack
And then I get shot in the back
You made me believe…
Willow and Tara spin around in one another’s arms, moving from the park to their bedroom back at Buffy’s house. Moving to sit on the bed, Tara picks up a rainbow flag and waves it listlessly, before throwing it to one side.So goodbye to Gay Pride
The lesbian has died
I’m under the ground
(lies down on the bed with her hands crossed over her breast, funereal style)Lifeless dead and cold
(she stiffens her body)This cliché now is getting old
Though rumors will abound
That I’m coming back
But you know what, you’re all on crack
I’m six feet under ground…
I’m six feet under
I’m six feet under
I’m six feet under
Open on exterior shot of Xander's apartment building.XANDER VOICEOVER:You want some straightness, Willow?
Cut to the bedroom. Xander and Willow lie tentatively on the bed together, confusion on Willow’s face, unadulterated glee on Xander’s.WILLOW:You don’t have a storyline of your own then?
XANDER:Nah, I’ve been pretty much underused the whole season. You and Tara were having so much fun, I thought I’d muscle in on it. It’s a guy thing. So, lesbian gay type lovers?
WILLOW:Will you still mooch off my storylines when Tara’s dead?
XANDER:No, your character will be screwed to hell by then. But by Jossian law, I’ll probably come out on top. I usually do.
(grins) Hey, how about Boystown? I could help you get back to Boystown, I’ve got that whole macho thing goin’ on…
Xander continues talking unintelligibly as Willow sits up and begins to sing to the camera.WILLOW:This is the man that I planned to avoid
And isn’t he shite
Though you may say I was gay, no more boys,
Yes that was my plight
But now I’m off the crack
They shot my Tara in the back
The only trouble is
(pauses, shakes her head)Joss makes it hell
Willow gets up and walks off. Xander sits up in bed and sings to the cameraXANDER:She is the one
Treated her just like scum, with her pasty face
I talked such shit, and Willow fell for it, yes she knew her place
I had a weakling spell
Now a hero’s role just suits me swell
(flexes his muscles)There’s just one thing that, well
Joss makes it hell
XANDER AND WILLOW:Cause he makes our lives hell
Cut to the two of them moving into the living room.WILLOW: (she puts a hand over her yawning face)He bores
XANDER: (he checks Willow’s eyes for signs of blackness)She’s casting
WILLOW: (pushes him away, annoyed)His blight is everlasting
XANDER: (wiggles his eyebrows)She did that lesbo magic that I can’t describe
WILLOW:I talk, he ignores me
XANDER:Her pain has always bored me
WILLOW:I think he got his balls from the Nancy tribe
XANDER AND WILLOW:The vibe gets kind of crazy
XANDER:Like her loyalties amaze me
WILLOW:And his lack of faith does craze me
XANDER: And my promises are hazy
XANDER AND WILLOW: But it’s all very well (give one another fake smiles)
Cause Joss makes all our lives hell
Xander opens the Sunnydale High Yearbook and looks at the collection of Buffy pictures. Written next to one of them in his handwriting is “I’m going to shag her by the end of the series if it kills me.”WILLOW: I know above me he wants to first boink Buffy
Now look he’s getting huffy cause he knows that I know
XANDER: She clings, she’s greedy
For Tara she is needy
She never -
WILLOW: His thoughts are seedy
XANDER: This is my story arc, hello!
She -
Willow begins to wave her arms around in the air, trails of magical energy coming from her fingertips. Her eyes darken to a shade that is distinctly black.WILLOW: (spoken) Look at me, I’m casting magic crazy!
She chases Xander around the living room, zapping his butt with little sparks of magic and making him jump in the air as he tries to placate her.XANDER:You know you’re really funky
WILLOW:You’re a butt monkey
XANDER:You’re the weirdest of the Scoobies
Cuz you touch other girls’ boobies
And you need to get back to Xandertown
Xander grabs Willow by the upper arms and thrusts his crotch at her. She gives him a look, black-eyed, and he immediately lets go. Throwing her arms up in the air, Willow slumps into a seat at the dining table.WILLOW:I’m done
XANDER: (Sitting down at the table)She’s bitter
WILLOW: (rests her head glumly onto her hand)Been shafted up the shitter
XANDER: (Bright smile)But hey, I win all round and I don’t get killed.
WILLOW:I’ve read this tale, the lesbian betrayal
I know that one fine day the writers blood will be spilled
XANDER AND WILLOW: (Looking at one another across the table)I lied when I said I loved you
I tried, but the writers they won’t budge
XANDER:Is she looking for a gay old time?
WILLOW:Can he even count past 69?
XANDER: (Checks his rather large upper body)Does she think “Oh he’s beneath me cuz he’s gone and got too beefy”?
WILLOW:(Shudders visibly)Will the writing get much darker that I’ll end up shagging Parker?
XANDER:(Standing up tall and proud)I’m a hero
WILLOW:(Calling to the Nether Realms)Tara come back!
XANDER: I can sit around and do jack
XANDER AND WILLOW: It was once a great tv show but it’s now just a shell
Cause Joss makes all our lives hell
He loves making our lives hell
XANDER:I come out on top
WILLOW: My character’s fucked
XANDER: (Waves his hands in the air) Get off scot free, nothing to pay
XANDER AND WILLOW:Joss makes it hell.
They fall backwards onto the sofa, laughing fake Hollywood style laughs, before Willow pushes Xander away from her and bursts into tears.Sung by an embittered kitten.Why won't you take that plot away?
I'm asking you please no.
It isn't right, it isn't fair.
Last year her brain was god knows where
I think that gunshot wasn’t there
Why can't you let it flow
I don’t think they’ve fucked their share
They’re just some poor dykes don’t you care?
It seems your writing’s lost its flare
Cut to the Kitten Board. Joss is lurking, but only Ruth can tell. Her bitterness-o-meter rises about ten notches.RUTH: The shit hits the fan and he appears.
JOSS: So you know what's going on.
RUTH: Well I’ve seen some bloody horrid spoilers in the last few weeks. Spoiler whores going to pieces over the news about Tara,
that one will stay with you. Please don’t kill Tara?
JOSS: A world of no.
(sits) So, any idea what on earth possessed me to do this?
RUTH: (disappointed) Oh. So that's all. You've just come to gloat.
JOSS: What else would I wanna visit the Kitten Board for?
Lesbian gay type lovers that you all are…
(cringes) I really just said that, didn't I?
RUTH: Yeah well, I wouldn’t wanna bore you with the comforting smutfic over on Pens…
Ruth makes as though to leave the board, then turns toward Joss.RUTH: I used to believe in you man, now I don't know a thing.
JOSS: (frowns) What's up? You're all bad 'n moody.
RUTH: Nothing. Glad you could stop by.
She makes a gesture towards the rest of the internet, indicating the Bronze Beta or someplace like that.
Joss doesn’t move; looks at her.RUTH: (defensive) It's nothing.
JOSS: What?
RUTH:I laughed so many years ago
You can make me feel
Like it isn’t so
Joss rolls his eyesWhy do you keep on hurting us?
I think I finally know
You’re a git
Giving us the shaft
Showing us the lesbo love
We knew it couldn’t last
(Joss can’t look at Ruth, or the rest of the Kitten Board)So what’s your answer to it all?
You shoot her in the back?
(Ruth mimes a gun going off)That’s great
But I don’t wanna play
Losing Tara touches me
More than I can say
But hey, I’m just a poor shipper
And worse than that I’m gay
So please don’t take the piss
Please don’t take the piss
Did you think I’d miss
All the Tara smiles and smoochies that
Can make our Will feel bliss?
I can turn my tv off
But I can’t fill the deep abyss
So please don’t take the piss
Joss looks annoyed, turns toward the Bronze Beta to seek refuge, but Ruth intercepts him.You know you got a heart of stone
Letting all this happen after
Everything she’s done
She brought Willow into the light
And the rest of us at home
So please don’t take the piss
Cut to the graveyard. A group of men carry a coffin along. A few dozen yards away we see
Ruth and Joss walking along side-by-side.I know I should go but I follow you
Like a fan possessed
And I can’t not watch as you make this mess
And it hurts me more than you’ve ever guessed
How you’re putting the gay lovers to the test
But I can see you’re unimpressed
So leave Tara be
Ruth jumps up onto the coffin being carried by the men which tips under her
substantial Sapphic weight.Please don’t take the piss
Did you think I’d miss
The pall-bearers tip the coffin and Ruth goes arse over tit onto the graveyard floor.All the Tara smiles and smoochies that
Can make our Will feel bliss?
I can turn my tv off
But I can’t fill the deep abyss
Joss grabs Ruth and they tumble into an open grave. Joss lands on Ruth,
which means a nice comfortable landing for him. Humph.So please don’t take the piss
Oh Joss
Please don’t take the piss
They still lie in the grave with Ruth scrambling to get on top. She stares at Joss for a moment,
then gets off him, leaps out of the grave and runs off.
Joss pokes his head up out of the grave to watch her go.JOSS:
(Spoken) So ... you're not watching then?
Cut to Dawn's bedroom. Dawn is dumping stuff out of her schoolbag. Tara watches from the doorway.
Tara has forbidden pages of a BtVS script pinned to her blouse, showing just how, where and when she dies.TARA: Lotta angst this season?
DAWN: Ah, death. It seemed cool when Joss talked about it.
TARA: (smiles) Willow said they have a lead on the whole “It’s a reset” theory. This demon that possessed the Buffy writers,
some sort of Lord of the Angst.
(grins) Oh, but not the Jossman himself. Just a writer.
DAWN: Um ... do they know what the hell they’re doing?
TARA: They don't even know their arse from their elbow yet. But Willow will find out. She's the brainy type.
(smiles)DAWN: Hm.
(smiles at Tara) I'm glad you guys made up.
TARA: What?
DAWN: That great sex scene you had in episode 18 and 19.
It’s so good to see lesbians treated the same as other couples.
TARA: (confused) Dawn, Willow and I have never -
DAWN: It's okay. It's just ... you guys are so great together. I just hate it when you-
Tara puts her hand to the script pages on her blouse, removes them and reads them with increasing concern.
Her "I'm Under The Ground" melody plays in background.DAWN:But that was the only non-metaphorical love scene anyone’s seen you guys have anyway.
TARA:(Staring at the script) Dawn, I, um ... there's something I need at the shop.
Will you be okay for a little while?
DAWN: Yes. The fifteen-year-old can spend a half an hour alone in her locked house.
TARA: I-I won't be gone long.
Tara leaves.
Dawn goes over to a side table, opens a small wooden box. It's filled with stuff she has taken from the magic shop.
She takes out the necklace from before and puts it on, looks at herself in the mirror.DAWN: (sings)Do other boards even know she’s dead?
Do other boards even care?
She turns around to find a Buffy writer (Joss’ minion) standing behind her. Its whole head is like a big pile of scripts that weren’t good enough to make the final cut. We see there are actually three of the minions. They throw a bag over Dawn's head.
She continues screaming, muffled.
Blackout.
Open on the Bronze Beta. Pan down to reveal Rally asleep in front of her computer.
She suddenly jerks awake, sits up, begins to read the utter nonsense posted there.
She is confronted by one of the Beta Posters. They do a ballet-ish dance of sequential posts that basically represents Rally trying to escape the “Tara dies” spoilers and the Beta Poster stopping her by dwelling on the horrific death scene that is coming up. The other two Beta Posters appear and join the dance. They surround Rally as she huddles close to the VIP thread in case Steve De Knight or Drew Greenberg show up. Then they fling her and she goes sliding across the floor, stopping beside the stage. We see a pair of feet in raggedy denims and sneakers with holes in the toes. They begin to do a squeaky number, tripping down the stairs and toward Rally... Meanwhile the camera moves up to reveal Joss. He hovers almost nervously around to the other side of Rally, pointing her towards her rantings on the Kitten Board Spoiler Thread.
JOSS:Why'd you start this thread?
Don't you like my . . .
Plot?
Don't want to see her dead?
I'll guarantee you . . .
Not a lot.
This comes from my
Imagination
Which controls what is on your
TV Station
So what do you say?
Why don't we angst awhile?
I'm the big brain
I'm the twists and turns
When you're feelin' pain,
When you want your . . .
Set to burn.
When you cry from pain that's impending
I bring the level up
I change the ending
Now we're terrified
That's what it's all about.
'Cause I know . . .
What you need, fan.
I know just what you need, fan.
RALLY:(spoken, nervous) So ... you're like a good executive producer? Changin' it to a happy ending?
Joss laughs, shakes his head "no."JOSS:All these TV shows . . .
They go on too long
Then the plots get slow
So we come on way too strong
If the ratings go down - they'll pull it
So, some character will eat a bullet
Joss opens the door and the dead corpse of Tara falls through it. Rally stares in horror.JOSS:That's just how it goes
When writing teams go wrong.
You're watching yet, it's on your set
And, when I show this scene
You'll watch all the rest in the hope it's a test
But I just might be mean . . .
'Cause I know what you need, fan.
RALLY:We will not
Watch a lot
If your plot is this random
JOSS:I'll make her bleed, fan.
RALLY:She'll be missed -
You'll have pissed
Off the lists, boards, and fandom!
JOSS:I can write plotlines and supervise edits
And keep a main character out of the credits
RALLY:No, please wait
Let me state
If for ratings you pander -
JOSS:Got to go now, sorry, you 'shipper -
I'm doing Firefly, Angel, and Ripper
KITTEN:Save the dyke
That we like
And kill Spike, Dawn, or Xander!
Joss stops in mid-kick, looks surprised, stops dancing, turns to Rally.JOSS: (spoken) Kill Xander?
RALLY: (nods, nervously) Yuh-huh.
JOSS: (chuckles, turns to minions) Find the writers. Tell them . . . tell them I'm permanently killing everyone but Buffy!
(Rally looks nervous) Just do it - I want to see them burn.
(Rally looks alarmed.)JOSS: (sings) Now we're losing it. That's what it's all about.
Cut to the spoiler thread. The Literary Exterminator is giving us a voice of reason.
Bitterness attempts to kick it in two.THE LITERARY EXTERMINATOR: Good. Good. Feel the bitterness, gain perspective.
XITA:I feel like I should…say fuck, or motherfucker, or something…
THE LITERARY EXTERMINATOR: It may seem hokey, but we need to work on precision and concentration as much as bitterness.
(Goes to post some more rationality) We're still not sure that Tara’s not coming back.
XITA: (Makes a hundred new avatars, each increasingly focused on Tara’s breasts and Willow’s proximity to them) Oh, you'll figure it out. I’m just worried this whole spoiler thread’s turning into a suicide watch.
(she reads) Spinning? Puking? Crying?
(she sighs) I can’t moderate it all.
THE LITERARY EXTERMINATOR: Ah. Well, if we hear any more ‘Xander saves the day’ spoilers, we'll just lie down until they go away.
(Posts a reply) Anyway, I don't think we need to work that much on your moderating skills.
XITA: Yeah, I'm pretty aware for a person who only gets three hours sleep a night.
(She flits back and forth between new posts, scanning for trolls)THE LITERARY EXTERMINATOR: (pauses) Have you spoken to the other moderators about the incessant trolling we’re getting from other boards?
Xita stops in her moderating. Looks. Frowns.XITA:Oh. I think the chat ho’s took care of that.
THE LITERARY EXTERMINATOR: (softly) Right.
XITA: (oblivious) What would I do without their bitterness?
The Literary Exterminator looks pensive, turns and begins to go towards the ‘Support Thread’ in which
a skirmish of hopelessness has broken out. Looks at the pictures of Willow and Tara at the bottom of the board and sighs.
Glances at a little quote from Joss saying that Amber is part of the “heart of the show”.XITA:I mean…she might come back…
THE LITERARY EXTERMINATOR:The world's not ready
For this silly plot.
Maybe if straight,
But they're clearly not.
When you thought of this,
You were surely smoking pot.
Because, clearly ...
This path's been beaten
'Till it's made me ill.
And you could fix it,
But you never will.
And the world just keeps on standing still.
'Cause clearly,
Clearly they could break the cliche
That permeates this land
And they could stand together
Guided by your hand
And they could stay-ay-ay,
But you blew it, man
Because, clearly .... they are gay.
As The Literary Exterminator continues singing, we cut to the spoiler support thread.
Xita is going through the posts, reading the hopeful words, tears springing to the back of her eyes.The screams around you,
You don't hear at all.
Xita reads through her email again, searching for any spoilers she might have missed that
refute the overwhelming reality of Tara’s death.'Cause to break this trend,
It would take a ball.
Cut to The Literary Exterminator scrolling pointlessly through the forty five pages of the spoiler thread,
reading wave upon wave of bitter anguish.So you just lie there
When you should be standing tall
'Cause clearly,
Clearly they should stay together,
And be as one at last.
They should please their fanbase,
But now you have them brassed.
To pave the way-ay-ay,
They should be holding fast.
Because clearly
They are gay.
Because clearly
They are gay.
Xita returns to the spoiler thread.XITA: (To The Literary Exterminator) Did you just post something?
Cut to the spoiler forum. A relatively new kitten is reading the news of Tara’s death with horror in her innocent eyes. She shakes her head, matching the small picture of Joss by her computer to the picture being formed from current spoilers.KITTEN:I was under your spell
Joss, how can this be?
Playing with my loyalty
I'm gonna go through hell
ME can't you see?
I will turn off my TV
You made me believe
Xita comes into the spoiler forum again, hardly able to tear herself away.XITA: Believe that Tara would never go...
XITA AND KITTEN: Joss said he loved her and I trusted him so
But now we know
KITTEN / (XITA):Cuz Joss is not around (Marti’s at play)
Doing Firefly, (With our girls)
I hope it crashes to the ground (And look at what she’s done)
I can't adjust to this disgust I feel (She took the pain of Joss’ world)
Oh I wish that she could… (And then she gave it some)
XITA AND KITTEN:Wish she could stay
Wish she could stay
Wish she could... stay...
Both Xita and the newbie Kitten close their browsers slowly and sadly, shutting down their computers. Suddenly DrLloyd bursts into the Spoiler thread pulling with him brand new spoilers gleaned from his extensive interviews of everyone from extras to the catering crew on set. Everyone turns to look.DRLLOYD: Lookie lookie what I found.
XITA: Is-is this something we don’t already know?
DRLLOYD: Works for Joss. Has a nice little story for the Kittens, don't you? Come on, then.
(Shoves the spoiler source forward) Tell.
The music swells up dramatically as if to introduce a big musical number, but the spoiler source simply speaks in normal voice.
SPOILER SOURCE: My master Joss has the lesbian killed because he lacks the courage of his convictions and wanted to really shove
it up the dykes’ -
XITA: (interrupts) What does he want?
SPOILER SOURCE: (shrugs) More money. A new show. I dunno.
DRLLOYD: (scoffs) If that's all you've got to say, then-
DrLloyd tries to probe the spoiler source some more but fearing the wrath of the almighty Joss, the source runs off.DRLLOYD: (surprised) Afraid. Someday he'll get a real job.
XITA: So. Tara’s life and sense of well being is threated. Must be episode 19.
GARFIELD: I-I just fell asleep for a few minutes. Missed that spoiler.
XITA: Oh, it's not your fault. So what's the plan?
GARFIELD: Plan, schman. Let's mount up. Kick that sucker’s ass.
XITA: No.
LEN: Uh, DrLloyd may have had the wrong idea in summoning this spoiler source, but ... I've seen some of these lesbian TV cliché deals and, and they never end well. Well, maybe once. But you know…
(shrugs helplessly)…she turned into a bird.
WEB WARLOCK: We're not just gonna stay here.
AUTUMN: Yes we are.
(looks intently at Xita) Xita's going alone.
WEB WARLOCK: (disgusted laugh) Gah! Don't be a stupid git. There is no-
AUTUMN:If I want your opinion, Web Warlock, I'll-
(pauses to consider) Actually, your opinion’s pretty good.
(they smile at one another)BRIAN:I could unleash the Canadian rage and -
AUTUMN:No!
(Brian looks surprised) I mean, I don't think it'll help.
GARFIELD: (to Xita) Look, forget them, Xita. I've got your back.
XITA:I thought you wanted me to kick Joss’ ass. Make your mind up.
GARFIELD: (to himself) I’m phenomenal. Amber and Joss said so.
AUTUMN: (coughing behind her hand) Suckup.
LEN:Let it go, Autumn.
GARFIELD: (to Xita, angrily) Fine. I hope you moderate till you burn when this shit goes down. You and the lesbros.
Garfield exits. Xita looks at the other Kittens.XITA:You're really not coming.
AUTUMN: (walks up to her) It's up to you, Xita.
XITA: (upset) What do you expect me to do?
AUTUMN:Go to Santa Barbra. Cry. Crack Amber.
Xita stares at her.
Cut to kittenchat. It's dark outside, the bitterness in chat is strong. Some kittens are doing their own avatars, others are writing smut while in chat. Pan down to focus on Autumn’s brightly colored font, saying hello to everyone. She clicks onto voice and sighs.
AUTUMN:I read the spoiler and it queases me
Who wrote this shit, was it some hack?
Where's the appeal?
This story is surreal
I want my Tara back
Autumn scrolls down the board, but can’t bring herself to read any of it.Now in this joke, she falls on TV
From a bullet in the back
To pave the way
For an evil gay cliche
I guess they're all on crack
So I will mock though it's dire
'Cause Joss is just some schmuck
I will mock though it's dire
And it all -
Cut to Ruth glaring at her computer, smoking a cigarette which she then stubs out in an ashtray that’s already full.RUTH:The hate I bear is great in me
While others cry I let it out
So dry your eyes
Let's talk of luscious thighs
and Willow's sexy pout
Xita encourages Ruth to write more smut by making her an avatar of Willow and Tara kissing.XITA & RUTH:'Cause at least they have sex first
Still it seems that it's bad luck
As it appears she is then cursed
And it all --
Cut to Bob gathering up his photographic gear and picking up his car keys.BOB:Will this shoot reveal the ending?
Is it worth what I'm expending?
Is my show now too far gone to care?
Cut back to chat and the spoiler talk.RALLY:What if wishes can't delete it?
WEB WARLOCK:The end is nigh we are defeated!
Or we could just talk of Willow's hair.
WEB WARLOCK, BOB, BRIAN, LEN, AND RALLY:We'll come unglued
Because like Tara we got screwed
So we will mock though it's dire
AUTUMN AND (BRIAN):So thread by thread they all have snapped
I guess my friends can't find the hope
(I will erase)
The trust is broke
Our show is now a joke
(And make threads better)
No wonder we all mope
WEB WARLOCK and (XITA):She is in the grave those wankers! (So one by one, they all agree)
RUTH and (XITA):If he kills her, I'll have more rancor (This is the greatest of betrayals)
BRIAN:All my rage is spilling out full force
AUTUMN and (XITA):Feeling these emotions (The writing's shit)
RUTH and (XITA):God those bastards, took her anchor (It's sure to make me quit)
LEN and (XITA):I think this show's in the tanker (Well, after they do it)
Cut to Bob scanning the Californian countryside for signs of a nearby shoot.BOB:What if I missed the answer while I parked?
AUTUMN and (XITA):These endless days
Are all ending this us crazed
(She will come then I split!)
AUTUMN, WEB WARLOCK, BOB, RUTH, BRIAN, LEN, AND RALLY:And we are caught in this mire
The plot with no return
So we will mock though it's dire
And it all sucks!
It all sucks
It all sucks
It all sucks!
Silence in chat for a moment, and then…XITA: (spoken) This show's slime.
That was no fun
You guys and gals put us through Hell
And there's not a one who will say
This ended well
All those secrets
You've been concealing
Bob found them out,
Spying on location reeling
I hope this is done
Cause this has been real Hell.
Where can I get a beer?
The season’s done,
And it wasn’t any fun
So we will drink away our tears
Where can I get a beer?
Why did we hold her so dear?
When Joss is a pain in the rear.
Joss, we Understand
This story is your grand plan
But there is something you need to hear,
Screw You!
Where can I get a beer?
It’s the cliché that we all fear.
Heh. Bugger you!
When do the Oz-shippers cheer?
If the curtains close
On a corpse Joss knows
He’ll hear about this for years…
Ruth posts sadly on the board, then finds herself on the Bronze Beta where Joss is making an unannounced appearance.JOSS: I love a good entrance.
RUTH: No Joss, you love good death scenes.
Joss just chuckles.RUTH: You got a heart?
JOSS: I've got a hundred. And I’ll rip ‘em all out, over and over.
RUTH: Well I ought to know what you plan to do if I’m going to carry on watching the show.
BETA POSTER: Joss! Joss! Oh my god! You’re the bomb, man! Firefly! That rocks so much!
RUTH: (looks at Bronze Beta poster with disdain) Don’t worry, his new show isn’t going anywhere.
BETA POSTER: What?
(Joss looks interested, sits forward)RUTH: (to Joss) Deal's this. You kill Tara? You’ve lost half your audience.
JOSS: (scoffs) I killed Buffy. People still watched then.
RUTH: (deadpan) Trust me. Won't help. It’s not the Slayer we want. It’s the lesbian.
Without the whole TV death cliché shit.
JOSS: Hm, that's gay!
RUTH: That's our life.
JOSS: (chuckles) Come now, is that really what you feel?
Aren’t I a clever bunny for killing the one character that everybody really liked?
RUTH: I think you already know.
RUTH:It's just a show
And we all play our parts
And when the May sweeps start
Joss will rip out all our hearts.
It's no good
If Tara comes out dead
And Joss fucks with my head
There’s Firefly instead…
Where there's death
It sucks
Who wrote this?
Some fucks?
Wishes might
Come true
Bristle while
You chat
So hard
All night
To be like other girls
To fit in an embittering world
Don’t give me cliches
The other reliable kittens run into the Bronze Beta. Everyone’s there, facing down Joss.DR G: (spoken) She needs backup. Shannon, Xita.
RUTH: Don't give me cliches.
Shannon and Xita take up positions behind Ruth to be her backup singers and dancers.
The three of them move in sync.RUTH: Give me some reason to watch the show.
SHANNON/XITA: Ahhhhh...
RUTH: I need something to cream about.
SHANNON/XITA: Ahhhhh...
RUTH:It's just a show
Like some mad demon curse
And all that seems perverse
You don’t get to reverse
The music changes to a rock beat; the three girls dance to it together,
until Xita spins out of control and bumps into a pillar behind her, smacking her nose rather hard.
Clasping her hand to her face, she mutters “fucking fuck” as blood begins to trickle down her lip.
Ruth puts up a hand as if to shield herself from the sight of her friends.Still my friends
Don't know why I abhor
All their lives little chores
That make me want to snore
All the joy
Joss writes
Has all gone
To shite
Floating o’s
And spells
It’s all shot
To Hell
Well that
Offends
Because this plotline blows
(looking around at the Chat Room)And now I’ve lost faith in the show
(walking up the steps to the stage)She’s in a shroud
I hope you’re proud
Just left with pain
Cheated, I doubt
That there’s a way out
In Seven
(Looks back at the others. Dr G and Bob looking surprised)So that's my disdain.
(Autumn looking horrified in her stylish yet affordable boots)I live in Hell
(Bob looking horrified)'Cause she’s been expelled
From Seven
I hope that she’s in Seven
(Autumn looking horrified)So give me something to dream about
(Whirls around to look at Joss)Please
Give me something...
Joss shakes his head.
Ruth gives a desperate look, turns and flips off the stage onto the floor.
Ruth dances, faster and faster.
Rally watches in dismay.
Joss leans forward expectantly.
Ruth spins wildly round and round and round, smoke begins to curl off her.
Suddenly Brian appears, stops her by grabbing her upper arms.
Ruth gives him a desperately unhappy look.
BRIAN:Now it’s all wrong
We’ve lost lesbo bliss
Cause Joss was remiss
By killing
We try to stay strong
(Rally stands up)The pain that we feel
Has lost its appeal
By killing
(Ruth looks about to cry) We need Tara living
So both girls they are living
Ruth stares at Brian.
Rally walks forward to the edge of the stage.RALLY: (spoken) The hardest thing about this show…is to watch it.
Ruth looks at Rally, then back at Brian.
Shot of Xita trying to comfort Autumn.
Joss applauds.
JOSS:Now that was a show-stopping number.
(The Kittens turn to look at him) Not quite the persuasion I was looking for.
The dyke’s still dead.
XITA:Get out of here.
JOSS:Mm, I smell bitterness.
(stands) I guess the memory of sweet Tara and I should be on our way
(Rally backing away from him in fear, sitting back down)GARFIELD:That's never going to happen.
JOSS: (chuckling) I don't make the rules.
RALLY: (confused) Yes you fucking do!
JOSS: But you always used to like the pain, sweet thing.
Joss reaches out to touch Rally but she shrinks away from him, shaking her head vociferously.RALLY: (very nervous) Oh, but, no, I, I, um, uh, this, at, at the end of Season Two, I was,
I was never a big Angel shipper anyway and I…I um…I never wanted this much pain…
JOSS: Well now, that's a twist.
GARFIELD: Well if it was someone in the fandom…or even in the show…
Beat. They all look around at each other.
Slowly Xander raises his hand.ALL: Xander?!
XANDER: Well, I didn't know what was gonna happen!
I just thought there was gonna be your usual dyke drama!
I didn’t think he’d kill her!
And I just wanted…
(looks round nervously at everyone) I just wanted to be the hero for a change.
Instead of being everyone’s whipping boy.
JOSS: (chuckling) I think everything worked out just fine.
XANDER:Does this mean that I have to... (gulp) be a replacement lesbian?
With the bad wardrobe and everything?
(The kittens look rather nauseous)JOSS: It's tempting.
(Xander looking apprehensive) But I think we'll waive that clause just this once.
Xander is intensely relieved. Everyone else just continues watching Joss.JOSS: Big smiles everyone! My new show is on soon enough and it’s big budget. No lesbians though.
He does a quick spinJOSS: (same tune as his first number)What a lot of fun
You guys have been real swell
(Chuckles and begins ticking off names on his “To Kill” list)And there’s not a one
Who can say it’s not Sapphic hell
All those hopes you put in Will and Tara
And I’ve gone and killed one without care
Now I gotta run
I know you dykes so…
He turns into a ball of light that swirls around their heads, leaving a sparkly trail.