The Script
by Anne-Lise
[reviews]
It was late at night. Willow sat at her computer, sprawled out over her keyboard in a death like sleep. It had been two months since Buffy had died. The dorm reeked of her own filth, and the floor around her was littered with pizza delivery boxes. Suddenly the screen went blank. Instantly she awoke, hands already on the keys. After a moment of silence, she checked to see if her monitor was on. It was... and then horror struck.
"Not my Voodoo card! No!" But her fears were quickly washed away when suddenly DOS text appeared on the screen.
Wake up, Willow.
"Huh?" she said.
The Script has you.
"What?" Willow hit the ESC key.
Knock Knock.
Suddenly there came a knocking sound at the door. After a moment Willow got up and answered the door. Tara stood there, chewing her lip in her usual bovine way, as if regurgitating cud. She looked about anxiously.
"Are you okay," Tara said.
"No." Willow replied, and made to slam the door.
"W... Wait!." Tara sighed. "You need to get out. Why don't you come to The Bronze with me? Your friends are all worried about you."
*
All the chairs were taken when Willow and Tara arrived at The Bronze, and feeling antisocial, she just stood in the corner doing nothing.
Suddenly a strange woman came up to her.
"Hello Willow." She said.
"How do you know my name?" Willow asked.
"That doesn't matter," the stranger said waving her hand in the familiar Jedi mind-trick way. "You're in grave danger."
"I am?" Willow asked.
"From them," she replied.
"That is the vaguest answer I've ever heard in my life. In no way at all am I even remotely concerned for my safety, because you have given me nothing to base my fears on." Willow said. "What's your name?"
"Trinity." The stranger replied.
"The Trinity? The one from hackers.com?"
"Yep, that's me."
"Hey, I thought you were a guy!"
"Most people do."
Trinity came up to Willow then, and began whispering in her ear. "I know what it is that drives you, Willow. I know why you live alone, and why night after night you sit at your computer, crying. Its the question that drives you, Willow."
"What will happen to Buffy in Season 6?" Willow whispered.
"The answer is looking for you Willow." She said, then with a smile, turned and left.
*
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
"Oh shit!" Willow said waking up. The alarm said 9:15.
After she arrived at her lecture, her professor quickly gave her a dressing down.
"Miss Rosenberg... there seems to be a problem. When there is a problem with a student, there is a problem with this university. If you can't get over your personal problems and come to lectures on time, then don't bother coming at all. Understand?"
"Sweet! I'm going home then." Willow said.
"What? No! No, I'm saying don't come back ever!" the balding lecturer said, looking angrily at Willow.
"Oh. Okay! I got better things to do anyway. Later!"
And with that Willow left the building.
*
After she returned home, Willow logged on to the 'net. Suddenly, she received a TalkCity chat request!
Joss: "Hello, Willow."
Willow: "Joss..."
Joss: "Yes. I've been looking for you Willow. Do you want to meet with me?"
Willow: "Yes."
Joss: "Very well."
Suddenly Joss appeared in a bright flash of light, fully decked out in his shabby jeans and designer stubble.
"Willow," he said. "It is an honour to finally meet you."
Willow only stared in awe. "You're actually real..."
Joss smiled. "I bet your feeling a bit like Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole, hmm?"
Willow nodded. "Sort of."
Joss frowned. "You have the look of a woman who accepts what she sees because she's been cast in her role for far too long. You're delusional from lack of sleep and have lost focus on reality. You lost your girlfriend and life to the Slayer, and soon your mind will be gone as well. Just lake Tara's did because we thought it'd be funny!"
Willow agreed. "Yep, that's pretty much it."
Joss crossed his arms. "I bet you have some questions for me."
"How will you bring Buffy back in Season 6? What's the Script?"
Joss laughed. "The Script is all around you. Its everything. From the silly Dances of Joy the demons do, to the unfeasible martial arts new-born vampires can perform. From the bovine sidekicks that make you look better, to the silly plotlines that make others laugh whilst you suffer. Its the world that's been pulled over your eyes to hide you from the truth."
Willow blinked. "What truth?"
Joss stared at her. "That you are a slave, Willow. That your only purpose is to generate money for commercial networks who're bigger bloodsuckers than anything Buffy ever fought. You are in a prison, a prison for your mind and soul."
With a sigh, Joss leaned back.
Joss shrugged. "Unfortunately, no one can be told what the script is. You have to guess it for yourself."
With these wise words, Joss pulled out two pills and showed them to Willow.
"Take the blue pill," Joss said, "and you wake up in your chair, and think whatever you want. Take the red pill, and I show you how deep the bullshit goes."
Willow began to reach for the red pill, when Joss stopped her.
"Remember, I'm only offering the truth. And Angel has cool hair."
Willow, with a shrug, ate the red pill.
Joss smiled. "Follow me."
The pair entered the next room. It was fully decked out with the latest government gear, including a full VR immersion chair. To this, Joss directed Willow.
Willow sat down into the chair while Joss pulled the helmet over her fiery hair.
"Buckle your safety belt, because reality is going bye-bye."
*
"You're in *my* world now. The world that's been pulled over your eyes. In my reality, this is what is."
Suddenly the room was replaced with a conference table, surrounded by middle-aged men. A sign on the wall read 'NBC'.
Man A: "Ratings are up 12%."
Man B: "Excellent."
Man C: "Sir, French viewers claim they want more lesbian action."
Man B: "Hmm. Put Anya in a bunny costume so the French shut up. As long as we get their cash, it doesn't matter."
Willow stared. "No... No! This can't be!"
"I'm sorry," Joss shrugged. "This is the truth."
"No!"
"This is the reason Joyce really died. If you aren't sexy, you get canned. But you can change all that!"
Willow frowned. "What are you saying, I need a boob job?"
"No Willow. We'll find an unfeasible way to resurrect Buffy, then you get to do some one-on-one with her. You know you want it, you know the ratings need it..." Joss paused. "Hell, it'll make conventions a lot more fun."
Willow stared.