Drawn Together

Drawn Together

Teaser

Story by CN Winters and XAmountOfWords

Written, Directed and Produced by CN Winters

Edited by Angie Wilson

Sound by CSR

Art Direction by Robert Kidman and CN Winters

Cartoon Art by Jin Hayte

Artists – CN Winters, Jin Hayte, Robert Kidman, Humaira and Matt

Fade In:

Int.

Watchers Council – Coven Room – Day

A hand slapped down a comic book on top of a stack of bound hardcover books.

"It’s in," Andrew said excitedly.

Willow and Dawn walked over for a closer look.

"What’s that?" Dawn asked. "Another escape from your drab life in the kitchen via action comics?"

Willow grinned.

"Noooo," Andrew said offended. "Okay, so my life does get drab sometimes, yes, but this my dear coven-ettes is the latest double issue installment of the graphic novel based on the greatest slayer in history."

"Buffy?" Willow and Dawn asked simultaneously and moved even closer.

"No, you sillies! Faith! Who’s ever seen Buffy slay anything?"

"Oh you’re kidding," Dawn remarked.

"Has Faith seen this?" Willow asked.

"Seen and approved," Andrew replied. "She didn’t tell you guys?"

Dawn and Willow looked at each other and then said, "No."

"I’m not surprised," Andrew said confidently.

"But she told you?" Dawn asked incredulously.

Andrew shifted his feet nervously. "Well, no, she didn’t tell me either, or anyone here I think," he replied quickly.

"At least I don’t feel out of the loop," Willow replied.

"I think she’s keeping it kind of hush hush," Andrew replied. "At this point though, everybody knows."

"Everybody?" Dawn asked. "We didn’t know," she said motioning between herself and Willow.

"Well, everybody under thirteen," Andrew replied.

"And you," Willow teased.

"Hey, I work with those girls in the kitchen everyday. They talk…That and I saw a previous issue at the comic book store a month ago."

Willow and Dawn both chuckled.

"So fill us in," Willow said. "What derring-do does our darling Faith get into with this adventure?"

Dawn picked it up and started to thumb through it.

"I haven’t read it yet but this is supposed to be the big romance issue," he replied. "Seems most of the folks buying it are tweens and you gotta have romance when it comes to adolescent and pre-adolescent girls."

"I can’t believe Faith would let them do this," Dawn said. "And look at this outfit she’s in," she said as she handed the book to Willow. "You can’t slay in something like that…Where would she put her weapons?"

Willow took it with a chuckle and thumbed through it.

"From what Faith told me," Andrew began, "she only agreed to do it if her proceeds went to the American Cancer Society."

"Oh, that’s sweet," Willow remarked as she handed the book back to Andrew. "And thanks to her generosity I can’t tease her mercilessly about it."

"You’ll work it in somehow. I believe in you," Dawn told her with a grin.

Willow smiled. "Well, let’s get started guys. I’ve got the ingredients all ready so we can start magically binding these babies," she said as she motioned to the books. "Dawn, can you get the small cauldron from the work bench?" she asked.

Dawn nodded and picked up the cauldron bringing it toward Willow as the high priestess began a chant. On her way over her heel broke and she tumbled forward spilling the contents across the floor.

Andrew, who was holding his comic book in his hand instinctively dropped the book as he tried to catch Dawn before she hit the ground. He wasn’t successful in catching her and both he and Dawn tumbled to the floor. The liquid from the cauldron approached the outer edge of the comic as Willow reached down to help both Andrew and Dawn.

"Are you okay?" Willow asked.

"Yeah," Dawn remarked. "Stupid heel. I know I…" she trailed off as she saw an orange mist start to rise from the comic book and head toward the three of them.

"Uh oh," Andrew replied.

"Get out!" Willow shouted. "Now!"

Andrew and Dawn, trying to run and hobble at the same time, headed toward the door. They turned back to see the mist closing in on them and to see Willow getting sucked into the book on the floor.

"Oh goddess," Andrew exclaimed as they tried to pick up the pace. He grabbed Dawn by the arm to try to support her so she could move quicker but it was no use. The mist grabbed both of them and with a scream the two of them also streamed into the comic book.

As quickly as it came, the mist was gone…along with everyone in the room.

Fade to Black

End of Teaser

Act One

Starring:

Lacey Chabert as Skye, Caroline Dhavernas as Grace Hatherley, Elijah Wood as Jeffrey Lindquist, Helen Shaver as Becca Giles and Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers

Guest Starring:

Jennifer Connelly as Althenea Dimmons, Thora Birch as Tracey Hausser, Gary Oldman as Jason Felix, Laura Prepon as Lori, Jordana Brewster as Carli and Cote de Pablo as Amira

Fade In:

Int.

Watchers Council – Coven Room – Later That Day

Faith, Buffy and Rowena stood in the coven room looking around. Tracey walked through the door and Rowena turned to her.

"Anything on Andrew?" the watcher asked.

Tracey shook her head. "No messages and no one’s seen him since this morning."

"They can’t just disappear," Faith said. "On second thought, with all we’ve been through chances are they could, but-"

Rowena began to look scared.

"Not helping," Buffy told Faith.

"Sorry," Faith muttered.

Robin then walked inside. "You want the good news or the bad news?" he asked.

"Good news," Buffy told him.

"It wasn’t Heli."

Buffy’s sigh was quite audible.

"The bad news?" Faith asked.

"My guess? They’re possibly in one of the books," Robin replied.

"Come again?" Rowena asked.

"The security tape shows Willow motioning to everyone to leave the room," Robin continued.

"The spilled cauldron," Rowena noted quietly, more to herself than anyone in the room, making Robin nod.

"Dawn and Andrew took off running toward the door, out of camera shot," he continued. "But they were followed by a mist that enveloped Willow. The mist disappeared in this location," he pointed to the books and added, "along with Willow."

"But what about Dawn and Andrew?" Buffy asked, making Tracey nod her head in agreement.

"I’m willing to bet they weren’t fast enough," Robin replied. "The same mist that followed Willow was after them too then…disappeared."

Xander walked into the room. "No one’s seen them so far," he announced.

"We’ve got a lead," Buffy said as she started to walk toward the table covered with books in the room’s center. Buffy quirked her head to one side and she looked at the floor. "What’s this?" she wondered out loud.

Faith came to look over her shoulder and her eyes went wide.

"Comic book," she said snatching it up before Buffy could get a good look at it. "Probably nothing, just Andy’s goofy stuff."

"Let me see it," Buffy said holding out her hand.

"What’s to see, B? It’s just a comic book."

"And one in which our friends might be trapped," she replied. "Hand it over."

"No," Faith said sharply.

"Excuse me?" Rowena and Buffy both asked.

"I said it’s nothing."

"Alright, fine," Buffy said acting as if she was turning away. With her slayer reflexes she snatched the book from Faith’s hands and looked at the cover.

"Faith?"

"Yes."

"No, I mean the book. The comic book is called Faith. Is…is this about you?"

Faith nervously rubbed her shoulder. "Yes, it’s about me," she finally replied unable to look anyone in the eyes as she spoke. "Loosely about me…very loosely."

"You have your own comic? I never had my own comic," Buffy pouted.

"That’s what happens when you die and come back to life," Faith replied.

"Hey, I died twice! I never got a comic," Buffy retorted. "And why wasn’t I consulted on this? Don’t I have to sign off on this kinda thing – copyrights and all that jazz?"

"You did," Faith replied. "I slipped the request in with some other forms you were signing."

"You what?" Buffy exclaimed.

"I didn’t want you guys to know, okay? It’s kind of embarrassing," Faith answered. "They were going to do it either way and at least this way…I had some creative control or some garbage like that."

"You also get to use your celebrity as a slayer to make some pretty good money on the side too I take it?" Buffy asked.

"For your information, no," the dark-haired slayer replied. "Anything I’d make I give to the American Cancer Society."

"Oh, that’s sweet," Rowena said mimicking Willow’s earlier comment. Faith rolled her eyes.

Everyone stopped when they heard Willow’s muffled voice.

"Did anyone else hear that?" Buffy asked.

Xander walked over and took the comic.

"It came from the book," he said as he opened up the cover and moved to the first page.

They all looked to see a picture of cartoon Willow talking to them. "I said, ‘That’s what I said,’" she repeated. "It’s sweet Faith’s giving the money to charity. And for the record, Faith, don’t be embarrassed – that’s very generous."

"You can hear us?" Xander asked.

"And you can hear me too it seems. But the big question is how do you get us out of here?" she said pitching a thumb behind her to where Andrew and Dawn stood.

"Boy, I don’t know Will," Xander replied. "Hey, wait a minute. Here’s an idea. Let’s ask the coven high priestess." He grinned.

"Not funny," she replied.

"I’m calling Al," Rowena said as she put the phone she had already dialed to her ear.

"Can you see yourself?" Xander asked.

Willow put her hand in front of her face for a moment and then lowered it. "Yeah, I’m a friggin’ cartoon, Xander," Willow barked.

"And a pretty damn hot one," he added. "You look like Jessica Rabbit," he continued before turning to the others around him. "Doesn’t she?" he asked.

Buffy and Faith tried not to laugh.

"Again, no to the funny," Willow replied.

Rowena walked back over to look at the comic while speaking into the phone. "Well, Xander says she looks like Roger Rabbit’s wife…" Rowena was quiet for a few moments but then said, "Al, please stop laughing."

"Hey!" Willow said pointing a finger. "You tell that little…witch, she better help us here."

Rowena put one finger in her ear to block out Willow’s rant. "Okay, I’ll have them ready. See you soon." Rowena hung up. "Al’s on her way to Heathrow. I’m going to have the plane there on standby for her," she said as she began to dial again.

"Faith," Buffy said turning to her. "Please see if you can get Giles to come over. He’s worked in magics. He might have some ideas."

She nodded and walked a short distance away, reaching for her cell phone.

"How did this happen?" Xander asked no one in particular.

"My fault," Dawn said from the back and took a step closer. "Broken heel, spilled cauldron, chaos ensued – the usual."

"Yeah…Dawn’s in trouble. Must be Tuesday," Buffy sighed. Dawn stuck out her tongue in response.

Rowena hung up again and stepped closer. Buffy handed her the book and the watcher looked at it as if deep in thought. Tracey looked over her shoulder and grinned.

"Andrew always wanted his own comic," she told her. "I’m not sure this is what he had in mind though."

"No, it’s not what I had in mind, Missy," Andrew replied. "Besides, it’s not even my comic. It’s Faith’s…speaking of which, I wonder if we’ll see her?"

"She’s talking to Giles," Buffy replied.

"Nooo," Andrew replied. "Comic Faith. I’m sure she’s in here somewhere," he said looking around. "I’m gonna poke around over there," he pointed and started to walk away. When he did, he moved out of frame.

"Where’s Andrew?" Rowena and Tracey both asked, sounding scared.

Willow turned and pointed outside the frame. "Right there," she replied.

"You can see him?" Rowena asked.

"Yeah."

"We can’t," Tracey said and then added, "unless…" She turned the page to see Andrew in the next frame waving at them. "Ha!" Tracey exclaimed. "That’s cool! You guys can move from frame to frame."

Willow came into the next frame and gave Andrew a shove. Suddenly, he disappeared but materialized in the next frame on the page.

"There’s nothing cool about this. Nothing at all," Willow said. "Look at me! I’m a cartoon, guys! We’re all cartoons and you’ve got to find some way to get us out of here…and the sooner the better."

"Giles is on his way," Faith told the group.

"And another thing," Willow went on. "Have you stopped to consider that what happens in here might happen in real life? If we meet up with a cartoon vamp you know there’s the real possibility that…" Willow trailed off. "Xander, Ro – you listening?"

"Sorry," Xander and Rowena both replied.

"You were saying?" Rowena added.

"Guys! Quit staring at my…" Willow looked at her bust and grabbed it. She finished with, "You know what!"

"In our defense," Xander added. "It’s kind of hard not to, Will, you’re…"

"Very endowed," Rowena said.

"Thank you!" Xander exclaimed. "That’s the word – endowed."

"Oh goddess," Willow sighed. "You guys start to ask me to do gratuitous comic poses and I swear-"

"Look," Buffy began. "Giles is on the way; Al is on the way. We’ll get you guys out of there somehow. I promise." After a moment she paused and looked to Faith. "What’s a gratuitous comic pose?" she asked.

"Uh, why don’t you show her Will?" Rowena proposed. Xander grinned and nodded. "I-I-mean purely for academic purposes. It’s easier to see it than explain it," she added. Xander grinned and nodded even more enthusiastically.

"N-O," Willow told them firmly, spelling out the letters in her refusal. Xander looked disappointed. Willow turned to Buffy. "A gratuitous comic pose would be something like me on all fours with a shot of my butt in the air facing you, for starters..." Willow replied. "This has got to be some kind of karmic payback for all those lesbian slut comics you buy me, Xander. Thanks a lot."

"Why don’t we just focus on fixing this?" Robin suggested.

"Yeah, where’s Jeff?" Buffy asked. "He’s got a lot of power. Maybe he can zap them out or something?"

"I’ll see if I can find him," Robin said as he left the room.

Xander looked back into the comic. "You don’t have to do an all-fours shot, Will. Maybe you can-"

"Alexander LaVelle Harris," Willow told him. "If you finish that sentence you better hope I’m stuck in here forever."

Xander nervously licked his lips. "Shutting up now."

Cut To:

Int.

Slayer Rec Room – Moments Later

A rail-thin girl with long black hair closely examined the Double Stuf Oreo she held between her fingers. After a long moment, she twisted the two halves apart, and smiled when she got filling on both sides.

"I didn’t think that was physically possible, Carli," said one ofseveral girls that were sitting around on couches in the slayer rec room. She was thumbing through the latest issue of Faith. "Sure you’re not one of Rosenberg’s crew?"

"Definitely not," Carli protested with a full mouth. "These are good. Didn’t get these at home."

"Didn’t get what?" Amira asked. She was standing behind one of the couches, arms crossed, a plain black scarf covering her hair. All the girls straightened up self-consciously in their seats.

"Oh, um, we were just reminiscing about the good old days," Carli said quickly. "You know, the Black Ops squad, just hangin’ out…" It was like talking to a wall. Carli melted under the scrutiny and quickly finished up. "This is fun, we should do this more often."

Amira sighed and climbed over the couch, sitting down next to Carli. "You have any more of those things?"

"Oh, yeah, sure," Carli said, handing over the entire box of Oreos.

"Is that why you ran away from home?" Amira asked her. "No cookies?"

"Um, well, there were also some issues where my mom put all my stuff in a plastic bag and put it out by the curb."

Amira took a tentative bite out of an Oreo, not sure what she was getting into, then nodded in satisfaction. "You are right…these are good."

The rest of the Black Ops team sat in silence and watched their leader eat her cookie. "We are not on duty," she said after a moment. "You can still have fun when I’m here."

"We used to have fun all the time," Carli said under her breath.

Amira shot her a look. "When I got here, you were sloppy," she said, her words clipped. "Sloppy with automatic weapons is not acceptable. Whatever you may have been told before, this work is serious." She glanced around at the group, who mostly sat with downcast eyes and slumped shoulders. "We do not kill because it is fun. We kill because someone has to do it, to save more lives, so they send the best. I needed you to learn to be the best."