[Transcript of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" episode The Harvest at buffyology.com.]
In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.
LUKE pins BUFFY in the crypt and extends his fangs, inches from sinking them into her neck. Suddenly he jerks back in pain and surprise as he burns himself on the cross hanging around her neck. Buffy seizes the opportunity, drawing her legs between them and catapulting him out of the crypt. She quickly climbs out and races outside.
Buffy runs to catch up with Willow, Xander and Jesse. She hears a vampire roar and a girl screaming and runs toward the sound.
WILLOW on the ground, about to be bitten.
No! Get off!
Hey!
The vampire looks up in time to take a vicious kick to the head from Buffy. He gets up, staggers and runs away. Willow stares at Buffy, shocked. Buffy wastes no time with explanations and quickly moves away to help the others. Willow gets up and runs after her.
XANDER being dragged away by two vampires. Willow appears between two gravestones.
Xander!
The vampires are distracted and Buffy takes advantage of the opening, punching and kicking with phenomenal force. She notices a dry branch on a tree and breaks
it off. As one of the vampires gets up, she slams the tree limb into him and he vaporizes instantaneously. Willow rushes over to Xander who's still on the ground.
Xander, are you okay?
Man, something hit me.
Where's Jesse?
I don't know! They surrounded us.
That girl grabbed him and took off.
Which way?
I don't know.
She stands up straight and slowly scans the cemetery.
Jesse!
Opening credit sequence.
The globe is spinning. GILES stops it while he lectures and makes his way down to where Buffy, Willow and Xander are sitting at the reading table.
This world is older than any of you know. Contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their... their Hell. But in time they lost their purchase on this reality. The
way was made for mortal animals, for man. All that remains of the Old Ones are vestiges, certain magicks, certain creatures...
And vampires.
Okay, this is where I have a problem. See, because we're talking about vampires. We're having a talk with vampires in it.
Isn't that what we saw last night?
No. No, those weren't vampires, those were just guys in thundering need of a facial. Or maybe they had rabies. It could have been rabies. And that guy turning to dust? Just a trick of light. (off Xander's look) That's exactly what I said the first time I saw a vampire. Well, after I was done with the screaming part.
Oh, I need to sit down.
You are sitting down.
Oh. Good for me.
So vampires are demons?
The books tell the last demon to leave this reality fed off a human, mixed their blood. He was a human form possessed, infected by the demon's soul. He bit another, and another, and so they walk the Earth, feeding. Killing some, mixing their blood with others to make more of their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out, and the Old Ones to return.
DARLA and Luke are forcing JESSE along toward the Master's lair.
Move!
Luke forces Jesse down the slope to the floor below. The MASTER approaches.
Is this for me?
An offering, Master.
He's a good one. His blood is pure.
You've tasted it.
Darla looks down in shame.
I'm your... faithful dog. You bring me scraps.
I didn't mean it...
I have waited. For three score years I have waited. While you come and go I am stuck here, here in this house of... (contempt) worship! My ascension is almost at hand. Pray that when it comes, (takes Darla by the neck) I'm in a better mood.
Master, forgive me! We had more offerings, but there was trouble. A girl!
There was a girl, Master. She fought well and she knew of our breed. It is possible that she may be--
A Slayer!
And that would be a what?
For as long as there have been vampires, there's been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One.
He loves doing this part.
All right. The Slayer hunts vampires. Buffy is a Slayer. Don't tell anyone. Well, I think that's all the vampire information you need.
Except for one thing. How do you kill them?
You don't. I do.
Well, Jesse's my--
Jesse is my responsibility. I let him get taken.
That's not true.
If you hadn't shown up they would have taken us, too. Does anybody mind if I pass out?
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe. (to Giles) This big guy, Luke. He talked about an offering to the Master. Now, I don't know what or who, but if they weren't just feeding then Jesse may still be alive. I'm gonna find him.
This may be the dumb question, but shouldn't we call the police?
And they'd believe us, of course.
Well, we don't have to say vampires. We could just say that there's a bad man.
They couldn't handle it even of they did show up. They'd only come with guns.
You have no idea where they took Jesse?
I looked around, but soon as they got clear of the graveyard, they could have just, voom!
They can fly?
They can drive.
Oh.
I don't remember hearing a car.
Let's take an enormous intuitive leap, shall we, and say they went underground.
Vampires really jam on sewer systems. You can get anywhere in the entire town without catching any rays. But I didn't see any access around there.
Well, there's an electrical tunnel that runs under the whole town.
If we had a diagnostic of the tunnel system it might indicate a meeting place, it would-- I suppose we could go to the Building Commission.
We so don't have time.
Uh, guys? There may be another way.
A Slayer! Have you any proof?
Only that she fought me and yet lives.
Hmm, very nearly proof enough. I can't remember the last time that happened.
1843, Madrid. He caught me sleeping.
She mustn't be allowed to interfere with the Harvest.
I would never let that happen.
Don't worry about it. I believe she'll come to us. We have something she wants.
Luke smiles at Jesse.
If she is a Slayer, and this boy lives, she'll try to save him.
I thought you nothing more than a meal, boy.
He moves behind Jesse and seizes his neck.
Congratulations. You've just been upgraded. To bait.
Willow has the city plans up on the computer monitor.
There it is.
That runs under the graveyard.
I don't see any access.
So, all the city plans are just open to the public?
Well, in a way. I sort of stumbled onto them when I accidentally decrypted the city council's security system.
Someone's been naughty.
There's nothing here, this is useless!
I think you're being a bit hard on yourself.
You're the one that told me that I wasn't prepared enough. Understatement! I thought I was on top of everything, and then that monster Luke came out of nowhere...
Beat as she flashes back to the fight in the mausoleum.
What?
He didn't come out of nowhere. He came from behind me. I was facing the entrance. He came from behind me and he didn't follow me out. The access to the tunnels is in the mausoleum! The girl must have doubled back with Jesse after I got out. God, I am so mentally challenged!
So, what's the plan? We saddle up, right?
There's no 'we', okay? I'm the Slayer and you're not.
I knew you'd throw that back in my face.
Xander, this is deeply dangerous.
I'm inadequate. That's fine. I'm less than a man.
Buffy, I'm not anxious to go into a dark place full of monsters. But I do want to help. I need to.
Well, then help me. I've been researching this Harvest affair. It seems to be some sort of pre-ordained massacre. Rivers of blood, Hell on Earth, quite charmless. I'm a bit fuzzy, however, on the details. It may be that you can wrest some information from that dread machine.
Everyone stares at him. He looks back at them all.
That was a bit, um, British, wasn't it?
Welcome to the New World.
I want you to go on the Net.
Oh, sure, I can do that.
Then I'm outta here. If Jesse's alive, I'll bring him back.
Do I have to tell you to be careful?
Buffy gives Giles a withering look and exits.
Buffy is headings for a side gate to the school grounds. Principal FLUTIE stops her.
And where do we think we're going?
We? I... Me...
We're not leaving school grounds, are we?
No! No, I'm... just admiring the fence. You know, this is quality fence work.
Because if we were leaving schools grounds on our second day at a new school, after getting kicked out of our old school for delinquent behavior... Do you see where I'm going with this?
Mr. Giles...
What?
He asked me to get a book for him. Uh, from the store, 'cause I have a free period, and I'm a big reader. Did it mention that in my transcripts?
Mr. Giles?
Ask him.
Well, maybe that's how they do things in Britain. They've got that royal family and all kinds of problems, but here at Sunnydale nobody leaves campus while school's in session. Are we clear?
We're clear.
That's the Buffy Summers I want in my school. Sensible girl with her feet on the ground!
He turns and leaves. Buffy watches him go. After he's gone, she squats down and effortlessly leaps the 12-foot fence.
Willow and Xander walking down a hall.
Murder, death, disaster. What else?
Paranormal, unexplained, did you get natural disasters?
Earthquake, flood.
Rain of toads.
Right.
Rain of toads! Do you think they'd have anything like that in the paper?
I'll put it on the computer search. If it's in there, it'll turn up. Anything that'll lead us to vampires.
And I, in the meantime, will help by standing around like an idiot.
Not like an idiot, just... standing. Buffy doesn't want you getting hurt.
They stop in front of their next class.
I don't want you getting hurt.
This is just too much. I mean, yesterday my life's like, 'Uh-oh, pop quiz'. Today it's 'Rain of toads'.
I know. And everyone else thinks it's just a normal day.
Nobody knows. It's like we've got this big secret.
We do. That's what a secret is, when you know something other guys don't.
Right. Look, maybe you should get to class.
You mean 'we'. We should get to class.
Yeah.
Buffy'll be okay. Whatever's down there, I think she can handle it.
Yeah, I do too.
So do I!
Buffy slowly enters, looking and listening. Satisfied that she's alone, she walks down the steps to the floor. She starts at a rustling behind her, then continues her search for the tunnel access. She finds it, near the rear of the tomb, a camouflaged door, locked with a chain. She examines the lock. Angel enters behind her.
I don't suppose you've got a key on you?
They really don't like me dropping in.
Why not?
They really don't like me.
How could that possibly be?
I knew you'd figure out this entryway sooner or later. Actually, I thought it was gonna be a little sooner.
Sorry you had to wait. Okay. Look, if you're gonna be popping up with this cryptic wise man act on a regular basis can you at least tell me your name?
Angel.
Angel. It's a pretty name.
She turns to the tunnel entrance.
Don't... go down there.
Deal with my going.
You shouldn't be putting yourself at risk. Tonight is the Harvest. Unless you can prevent it, the Master walks.
Well, if this Harvest thing is such a suckfest why don't you stop it?
Because I'm afraid.
She looks at him for a moment and then spins around quickly, kicking the door to the tunnel and shattering it.
They'll be expecting you.
I've got a friend down there. Or at least a potential friend. Do you know what it's like to have a friend?
He lowers his eyes and looks away.
That wasn't supposed to be a stumper.
Beat while they stare at each other.
When you hit the tunnels head east toward the school. That's where you're likely to find them.
You gonna wish me luck?
Angel says nothing. They look at each other for another moment, then Buffy turns and heads into the tunnels. He watches her go.
Good luck.
Buffy descends a flight of stairs and looks around. She hears rats and one crawls across her feet. She slowly starts down the tunnel in the direction Angel indicated. There are lights at regular intervals, indicating these tunnels are, indeed used regularly by someone-- or something. She reaches an intersection just as Xander surprises her from behind.
Did you see anything?
Xander, what are you doing here?!
Something stupid. I followed you.
Well, you--
I couldn't just sit at home and do nothing.
I understand. Now, go away!
No!
Xander, you're gonna have to.
Look, Jesse's my bud, okay? If I can help him out, that's what I gotta do.
Buffy considers, then concedes and indicates for him to follow. She starts down the tunnel again.
Besides, it's this or chem class.
The duo is climbing an ancient set of stone steps.
Okay, so crosses, garlic, stake through the heart.
That'll get it done.
Cool! Of course, I don't actually have any of those things.
Good thinking.
Well, the part of my brain that would tell me to bring that stuff is still busy telling me not to come down here. I have this, though.
Xander turns on a flashlight.
Turn that off!
Okay! Okay! So, what else?
What else what?
For vampire slayage.
Oh, fire, beheading, sunlight, holy water, the usual.
You've done some beheading in your time?
Oh, yeah. There was this time I was pinned down by this guy that played left tackle for varsity... well, at least he used to before he was a vampire. Anyway, he had this really, really thick neck, and all I had was a little, little Exact-O knife...
Xander laughs nervously.
You're not loving this story.
No, actually, I find it oddly comforting.
Giles is reading from an ancient volume.
'For they will gather and be gathered. From the Vessel pours life.' Pours life...
He turns the page back to the picture of Satan feeding power to a man.
'On the night of the crescent moon, the first past the solstice it will come...' Of course. That's tonight!
Cordelia and HARMONY are struggling with their class assignment. Harmony is a vapid, but attractive blonde, one of the many "popular girls" who constantly surround Cordelia and do her bidding as if she is their queen-- which, in a way, she is.
No! It's supposed to find the syntax and match it. Or wait...
Are we going to the Bronze tonight?
No, we're going to the other cool place in Sunnydale.
Harmony looks confused.
Of course we're going to the Bronze. Friday night? No cover? But you should have been there last night. 'Cause I ran into Buffy...
Willow, sitting nearby, overhears the conversation.
...and can she be any weirder? She attacked me! Do you believe it?
I think we did this part wrong.
Why do we have to devise these programs? Isn't that what nerds are for? (whispers, indicating Willow's work) What'd she do?
She's doing something else.
Okay, and then pattern run, right? Or GO TO end? That's it!
Maybe!
So anyway, I come out of the bathroom, and she comes running at me. Screaming, with a stick! 'I'm gonna kill you! I'm gonna kill you!' I swear!
Who?
Buffy!
The new girl?
What's her deal?
Well, she's crazed.
Did you hear about her old school?
Cordelia and the boy both shake their heads.
Booted.
Well, I exhibit no surprise.
Why was she kicked out?
Because she's a psycho loony?
No, she's not.
What?
She's not a psycho. You don't even know her.
Excuse me? Who gave you permission to exist?
Willow turns away, ashamed.
Do I horn in on your private discussions? No. Why? Because you're boring.
Willow gets up and heads to the printer.
Okay, I think the program's done.
Finally the nightmare ends! Okay, so how do we save it?
Deliver.
Deliver? Where's that? (searching the keyboard) Oh, this must be it.
She hits the 'Del' key and her program disappears.
Buffy motions for Xander to slow down.
They're close.
How can you tell?
No more rats.
They round a corner and as Buffy peers into the gloom, Xander turns on his flashlight and sees Jesse lying on the ground in the center of a natural chamber.
Jesse!
Oh, no!
Jesse responds and jumps up, happy to see them.
Jesse!
Xander!
The two boys embrace.
Jesse, man, are you okay?
I am not okay, on an epic scale.
Buffy shines the light on the shackles around Jesse's ankle.
We gotta get outta here!
It's cool, Buffy's a superhero.
Hold on...
She takes the shackle chain in her hands, twists it, and snaps it in two.
Do you think anyone heard that?
As if in response, shadows move along the walls, coming down the tunnel toward them. Vampires come around the corner-- and find the chamber empty.
Xander, Buffy and Jesse further along the tunnel.
They knew you were gonna come. They said that I... I was the bait.
Oh, great. Now you tell us.
They round a corner and are met by a group of vampires who snarl and lunge at them.
Oops!
Oh, no, no, no, no!
Do you know another way out?
I don't know. Maybe. C'mon!
They turn down a side tunnel. As they enter yet another intersection, they see glowing yellow eyes coming at them through the darkness.
Wait, wait. They brought me through here. There should be a way up. I hope!
Jesse leads them into a chamber.
I don't think this is the way out!
We can't fight our way back through those things. What do we do?
I got an idea.
His face morphs, revealing him to be a vampire.
You can die!
Xander looks in horror at Jesse's demonic features.
Jesse, man. I'm sorry.
Sorry? I feel good, Xander! I feel strong. I'm connected, man, to everything.
I can hear the worms in the earth.
That's a plus.
I know what the Master wants. I'll serve his purpose. That means you die. And I feed.
Xander, the cross!
He holds the cross up to Jesse's face. Jesse steps back and hisses.
Jesse, man. We're buds, don't you remember?
You're like a shadow to me now.
Then get outta my face.
Jesse knocks Xander's arm to the side, sending him into the wall. Buffy grabs Jesse from behind and throws him out of the chamber into the advancing vampires, sending them sprawling. She struggles with the steel door, trying to close it.
Help me!
Xander jumps up to help and together they get it to move. It closes on a vampire's arm. The vampire jerks its arm back and Buffy slams the door shut and sets the latch. Muffled pounding as the vampires try and batter the door.
We need to get out of here.
There is no out of here.
Xander shines his flashlight around and spots a grate in the ceiling.
Up there!
Buffy leaps on top of a barrel and begins prying the grate open.
The door is beginning to buckle under the vampires' onslaught.
Buffy succeeds in forcing the grate open.
Go!
She boosts Xander up into a ventilation duct.
A vampire struggles through the twisted door. It reaches in and pulls the latch open as Xander slips through the grate.
Buffy follows him quickly as the first vampire enters the chamber. He follows them through the grate into the duct.
Xander and Buffy crawl like mad. Xander finds a ladder leading up to a manhole and starts climbing with Buffy close behind.
The vampire is right on their heels.
Xander pushes open the manhole cover and climbs out into daylight. He turns to help Buffy out. Just as Buffy is nearly clear, the vampire seizes her ankle and tries to pull her back down.
Xander, pull!
Xander pulls harder and the vampire's arm is exposed to the sunlight and instantly begins charring. The vampire lets go, and they tumble backward to the ground.
The Master is enraged at Buffy's escape.
She escaped? She walks free when I should be drinking her heart's blood right now? Careless...
Master, we had her trapped!
Oh, are you going to make excuses?
Colin remains silent.
You are all weak. It has been too long since you have faced the Slayer. It is no matter to me. She will not stop the Harvest. It just means there'll be someone worth killing when I reach the surface. Is Luke ready?
He waits.
It's time. Bring him to me.
Colin turns to exit.
Ah, Colin... you failed me. Tell me you're sorry.
Colin stops and turns back.
I'm sorry.
There. That wasn't so bad, was it? Hold on...
He stabs his talon into Colin's face, impaling his eyeball.
You've got something in your eye.
Giles is still researching. He pauses as he hears someone enter.
Buffy?
It's just me. So there's no word?
Not as yet, no.
Well, I'm sure they're... great.
Did you find anything of interest?
I think, maybe... I surfed through the old newspapers around the time of that big earthquake back in '37. And for several months before there were a rash of murders.
Great! I mean, well not 'great' in a good way. Go on.
Well, they sound like the kind you were looking for. (flipping through the printouts) Throats, blood...
It's all coming together. I rather wish it weren't.
Luke approaches the Master and kneels before him and the Master offers his hand. Luke takes it and kisses it. The Master turns it over to offer the underside of his wrist. Darla is watching and smiles. Luke opens the cuff of the Master's sleeve and pulls it back. Luke takes the Master's hand again, sinking his fangs into the wrist and drinking deeply.
My blood is your blood. My soul is your soul.
My body is your instrument.
The Master steps down to Luke and, with the blood still flowing from his wrist, draws a Satanic symbol on Luke's forehead.
On this most hallowed night... we are as one. Luke is the Vessel!
Darla smiles even wider.
Every soul he takes will feed me. And their souls will grant me the strength to free myself. Tonight I shall walk the Earth, and the stars themselves will hide!
Willow is looking through one of Giles' volumes. She hears the door open and looks up to see Xander and Buffy enter.
Did you find Jesse?
Yeah.
Was he dead?
Worse. I'm sorry, Willow. We were too late. And they were waiting for us.
At least you two are okay.
Xander kicks a trash can violently.
I don't like vampires. I'm gonna take a stand and say they're not good.
So Giles! Got anything that can make this day any worse?
He goes over to the whiteboard and puts down his pen.
How about the end of the world?
Knew I could count on you.
This is what we know. Some sixty years ago, a very old, very powerful vampire came to this shore, not just to feed.
He came 'cause this town's a mystical who's it.
Yes. The Spanish who first settled here called it Boca del Infierno. Roughly translated: 'Hellmouth'. It's a sort of a portal between this reality and the next. This vampire hopes to open it.
Bring the demons back.
End of the world.
But he blew it! Or, I mean, there was an earthquake that swallowed half the town, and him too.
You see, opening dimensional portals is a tricky business. Odds are he got himself stuck, rather like a cork in a bottle.
And this Harvest thing is to get him out.
It comes once in a century, on this night. The Master can draw power from one of his minions while it feeds. Enough power to break free and open the portal. The minion is called the Vessel and he bears this symbol.
He draws the same Satanic symbol on the whiteboard.
So, I dust anyone sporting that symbol and no Harvest.
Simply put, yes.
Any idea where this little get-together is being held?
There are a number of possibilities.
They're going to the Bronze.
Are you sure?
Come on. All those tasty young morsels all over the place? Anyway, that's where Jesse's gonna be, trust me.
Giles grabs his coat and starts out of the library. The follow.
Then we should get there. The sun will be down before long.
I gotta make a stop. Won't take long.
What for?
Supplies.
Buffy opens her closet and pulls out a heavy black jacket. Her mother walks into the room.
Buffy?
Mom!
You're going out?
I have to.
I didn't hear you come in last night.
I was really quiet.
It's happening again, isn't it? I got a call from your new principal. Says you missed some classes today.
I was running an errand.
We haven't finished unpacking and I'm getting calls from the principal.
Mom, I promise it is not gonna be like before. But I have to go.
No.
Mom?
The tapes all say I should get used to saying it. No.
This is really, really important.
I know. If you don't go out it'll be the end of the world. Everything is life or death when you're a sixteen-year-old girl.
Look, I don't have time to talk about this.
Buffy, you've got all the time in the world, you're not going anywhere. Now, if you want to stay up here and sulk, I won't hold it against you. But if you want to come down, I'll make us some dinner.
She leaves the room, pulling the door closed behind her. Buffy can't believe what's just happened. She leans against the closet door, takes a deep breath and exhales.
Then she turns and opens the closet again and pulls out a chest. It has a large box in it full of her stuff. She pulls out the box to reveal what's underneath. Stakes, crosses, garlic, bottles of holy water. She loads many of these items into her sports bag and conceals a particularly sharp stake in her jacket sleeve.
She closes the chest, zips the bag and moves to the door to make sure her mother isn't nearby. Then she grabs the bag, slides it out of the window onto the roof and climbs out after it.
Establishing. The DOORMAN is checking ID's.
Cordelia and her entourage find a table. Cordelia is holding court, the center of attention, just the way she likes it.
Senior boys are the only way to go. Guys from our grade, forget about it. They're children, y'know? Like Jesse. Did you see him last night, following me around like a little puppy dog? You just want to put him to sleep. But senior boys, hmm, they have mystery. They have... what's the word I'm searching for? (short beat) Cars! I just am not the type to settle, y'know? It's like when I go shopping. I have to have the most expensive thing. Not because it's expensive, but because it costs more.
You know, I--
Hello! Miss Motormouth, can I get a sentence finished? Oh, I love this song! Come on!
Cordelia and her gang make their way to the dance floor and start to dance.
Off to the side, Jesse watches Cordelia. He walks onto the dance floor. The song is over and Cordelia stops dancing. She starts to leave, but Jesse is standing in front of her, fingers on his lips.
What do you want?
Another song starts. Jesse lowers his hand, takes hers and leads her back onto the dance floor.
Hey! Hello! Caveman brain! What are you doing?
Shut up.
He begins to dance with her, sensuously.
Well, just one dance.
In spite of herself, Cordelia is intrigued with the "new" Jesse and they dance close, bodies pressed together.
The doorman is counting money. Darla appears out of the shadows with a bouncy walk. Other vampires emerge into the light behind her. She approaches the doorman, fangs glistening, yellow eyes blazing.
The vampires head into the club.
Need ID. (looks up) Hey! Nobody gets inside until I get some sorta--
Get inside.
The vampires enter, pushing the doorman in with them. The last one shuts the door and stands guard.
One of the vampires makes his way to the upper level. Another one finds the main power switch and shuts it off. The patrons start complaining and muttering. Luke moves to the stage.
Ladies and gentlemen! There is no cause for alarm. Actually, there is cause for alarm. It just won't do any good.
There are screams from the crowd as they notice Luke's face. He laughs.
I thought there wasn't any band tonight.
She looks at Jesse next to her. He's now showing the demon within and she inhales in fright.
This is a glorious night! It is also the last one any of you shall ever see. Bring me the first.
A vampire brings the doorman to Luke.
What do you guys want, man, huh? You want money? Man, what's wrong with your faces?
Luke grabs him by the throat. He wraps his other arm around the doorman's head.
Watch me, people. Fear is like an elixir. It's almost like blood.
He sinks his fangs into the doorman and feeds on him. The doorman screams.
He raises his gaze to the ceiling in ecstasy as he feels the first of the souls that will be taken for him.
Luke drops the doorman's body to the floor.
Next!
The team arrives, running. Buffy tries the door.
It's locked!
We're too late.
I didn't know I was gonna get grounded!
Can you break it down?
No, not that thing. You guys try the back entrance and I'll find my own way.
Right. Come on.
Uh, wait! Guys, here! (hands Willow her bag) You get the exit cleared and the people out. That's all! Don't go Wild Bunch on me.
See you inside, then.
Follow Giles, Xander and Willow as they run around to the back. Willow tries the door. It's locked, too.
No joy!
We've gotta get in there before Jesse does something stupider that usual.
You listen to me! Jesse is dead. You have to remember that when you see him, you're not looking at your friend. You're looking at the thing that killed him.
The Master is testing his confines.
Luke is feeding on a girl.
Almost free!
Luke is still feeding on the girl.
Give me more!
Luke is finished with the girl and drops her body. Darla and Jesse are holding Cordelia; Darla shoves her forward toward Luke.
This one's mine!
They're all for the Master.
I don't get one?
Buffy breaking an upper window and crawling in.
I feel the Master's strength growing!
Buffy assesses the situation: the vampires subduing the patrons, Luke on stage, surrounded by dead bodies.
I feel him rising. Every soul brings him closer. I need another!
The Vessel.
A vampire on the upper level sees Buffy and snarls.
Tonight is his ascension. Tonight will be history at its end. Yours is a glorious sacrifice. Degradation most holy. What? No volunteers?
Here's a pretty one.
Cordelia screams as she takes in Luke's horrifying visage. He caresses her face. He's about to bite into her when the vampire from the upper level crashes down onto the stage in front of Luke.
Oh, I'm sorry, were you in the middle of something?
You!
You didn't think I'd miss this. Did you?
I hoped you'd come.
Be right down!
Buffy leaps from the balcony and somersaults onto a pool table. A vampire attacks from her right. Buffy grabs a pool cue, executes a backflip and slams it through the chest of her attacker who explodes to dust.
Okay, Vessel boy. You want blood?
I want yours! (releasing Cordelia) Only yours!
Works for me.
She runs with superhuman speed toward the stage, jumping and slamming her foot into Luke's face with phenomenal force. Luke staggers into a pile of chairs. Buffy assumes a fighting stance as Luke rises, snarling. She removes the stake from her coat and lunges at him. He blocks, knocking the stake from her grip. He lifts her up and throws her into a pile of boxes.
The rear of the stage. Giles, Willow and Xander break in.
Hurry!
Xander scans the crowd as Giles begins ushering them backstage.
C'mon! Let's go! C'mon! C'mon! C'mon! C'mon!
Giles guides the patrons to the back door.
Hurry up! Come on! Through this door! Come on! This way!
Buffy spins around and lands a backhand punch to Luke's jaw, knocking him backward into a wall. He's dazed. Buffy turns in time to see a vampire grab Xander. She lifts a cymbal from the drum set and arrows it at the vampire like a Frisbee. Xander sees it coming and ducks. The cymbal decapitates the vampire who disintegrates.
Head's up!
Luke grabs Buffy from behind. Cordelia is on the floor with Jesse above her. She struggles as he grabs her arms.
Hold still. You're not making this easy.
Xander comes up behind Jesse, stake in hand.
Jesse, man! Don't make me do it.
Jesse looks up at Xander.
Buddy!
Buffy being squeezed in a bear-hug by Luke.
I always wanted to kill a Slayer.
The rear where Giles and Willow are still guiding people out.
One at a time! Quickly! Quickly!
He crosses to the other side of the room in front of some stairs. Darla is standing on the steps above him.
We're going to have to open the front as well.
Darla leaps onto him from behind, knocking him to the floor.
Xander and Jesse.
Jesse! I know there's still a part of you in there.
Okay...let's deal with this. Jesse was an excruciating loser who couldn't get a date with anyone in the sighted community. Look at me. I'm a new man!
Buffy and Luke.
Master! Taste of this... and be free!
Luke roars and lowers his fangs to Buffy's neck. She snaps her head back, landing a headbutt to his face, knocking him off of her and back to the wall. She turns to him, winded.
How'd it taste?
Giles and Darla struggling on the floor. Willow approaches them, taking out a vial of holy water.
Get off of him!
Darla, distracted, looks up. Willow throws the holy water on her. It burns her face and steams. She flees from the club, screaming.
Jesse and Xander. Jesse grabs Xander by the jacket and slams him against a wall. Xander has the stake pointed at Jesse's chest.
All right. Put me out of my misery. You don't have the guts.
A fleeing patron bumps into Jesse, forcing him forward onto Xander's stake. Xander lets go of the stake as Jesse begins to fall. Jesse is ash before he hits the floor. Two new vampires grab Xander.
Buffy. She grabs the microphone stand and holds it like a javelin.
You forget, metal can't hurt me.
There's something you forgot about, too. Sunrise!
She throws the stand through the window behind Luke, shattering it. Light streams into the Bronze. Buffy sees the stake she dropped on the stage and seizes it. Luke rises, shielding his face with his hands, expecting to be burned. When nothing happens, he realizes it was only a bright lamp behind the window. Too late, he realizes Buffy has used the distraction to rush him from behind and with dawning horror he comprehends his time is at an end. She slams the stake home.
It's in about nine hours, moron!
Luke staggers off of the stage and explodes into dust.
The Master is testing the strength of his confines. Suddenly he feels Luke's death and falls to his knees, screaming with frustration and rage.
Buffy stares at Luke's ashes. Two vampires still have Xander. She lifts her gaze to meet theirs. Seeing what has just happened to Luke and the cold steel in Buffy's eyes, they panic and run.
The vampires run past Angel who is standing behind some boxes stacked against a wall. He watches them run, then looks back the other way.
She did it. I'll be damned!
He turns and walks off.
Buffy hops down to the floor. Giles and Willow meet her.
I take it it's over.
Did we win?
Well, we averted the apocalypse. I give us points for that.
One thing's for sure, nothing's ever gonna be the same.
Everything appears normal. Buffy, walking along, overhears Cordelia holding forth to her social minions.
Well, I heard it was rival gangs. You know, fighting for turf? But all I can tell you is they were an ugly way of looking. And Buffy like knew them! Which is just too weird. I mean, I don't even remember that much but I'm telling you, it was a freak show!
Oh, I wish I'd been there!
You should have been there. It was so creepy...
She and her friend walk off. Xander approaches, looking around confused at the normalcy of it all.
What exactly were you expecting?
I don't know, something. I mean, the dead rose. We should at least have an assembly.
They run into Giles and Willow and the four continue to walk.
People have a tendency to rationalize what they can and forget what they can't.
Believe me, I've seen it happen.
Well, I'll never forget it. None of it.
Good! Next time you'll be prepared.
Next time?
Next time is why?
We've prevented the Master from freeing himself and opening the mouth of Hell. That's not to say he's going to stop trying. I'd say the fun is just beginning.
More vampires?
They stop walking.
Not just vampires. The next threat we face may be something quite different.
I can hardly wait!
We're at the center of a mystical convergence here. We may, in fact, stand between the Earth and its total destruction.
Well, I gotta look on the bright side. Maybe I can still get kicked out of school.
The three students continue to class while Giles stays behind and watches them go.
Oh, yeah, that's a plan. 'Cause lots of schools aren't on Hellmouths.
Maybe you could blow something up. They're really strict about that.
I was thinking of a more subtle approach, y'know, like excessive not studying.
Shaking his head, Giles turns to go back to his library.
The Earth is doomed!